EP1561070B1 - Light guide for lighting vehicles, preferably motor vehicles - Google Patents

Light guide for lighting vehicles, preferably motor vehicles Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1561070B1
EP1561070B1 EP03775085A EP03775085A EP1561070B1 EP 1561070 B1 EP1561070 B1 EP 1561070B1 EP 03775085 A EP03775085 A EP 03775085A EP 03775085 A EP03775085 A EP 03775085A EP 1561070 B1 EP1561070 B1 EP 1561070B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
light guide
reflecting surfaces
light
guide according
lighting means
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Fee Related
Application number
EP03775085A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1561070A2 (en
Inventor
Andreas Erber
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Odelo GmbH
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Odelo GmbH
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Filing date
Publication date
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Publication of EP1561070A2 publication Critical patent/EP1561070A2/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1561070B1 publication Critical patent/EP1561070B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
    • F21S43/00—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights
    • F21S43/20—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights characterised by refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters
    • F21S43/235—Light guides
    • F21S43/247—Light guides with a single light source being coupled into the light guide
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
    • F21S43/00—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights
    • F21S43/10—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights characterised by the light source
    • F21S43/13—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights characterised by the light source characterised by the type of light source
    • F21S43/14—Light emitting diodes [LED]
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
    • F21S43/00—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights
    • F21S43/20—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights characterised by refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters
    • F21S43/235—Light guides
    • F21S43/236—Light guides characterised by the shape of the light guide
    • F21S43/237—Light guides characterised by the shape of the light guide rod-shaped
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
    • F21S43/00—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights
    • F21S43/20—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights characterised by refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters
    • F21S43/235—Light guides
    • F21S43/236—Light guides characterised by the shape of the light guide
    • F21S43/239—Light guides characterised by the shape of the light guide plate-shaped
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
    • F21S43/00—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights
    • F21S43/20—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights characterised by refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters
    • F21S43/235—Light guides
    • F21S43/242—Light guides characterised by the emission area
    • F21S43/245—Light guides characterised by the emission area emitting light from one or more of its major surfaces

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a light guide for lights of vehicles, preferably of motor vehicles, according to the preamble of claim 1.
  • a generic light guide is from the US 4,737,896 A known.
  • the invention has the object of providing the generic light guide in such a way that optimum illumination of the light guide is ensured with a simple structural design.
  • the reflection surfaces seen in the beam direction, are offset from one another.
  • the reflection surfaces are arranged so that they, as seen in the beam direction, connect to each other substantially gapless. As a result, no shadowing occurs between the individual reflection surfaces, so that the light emitted by the light source is optimally utilized.
  • the light exit side is illuminated perfectly due to the formation of the invention.
  • the light guide 1 is provided for lights of motor vehicles and consists in a known manner from licht compassiondem material.
  • the light guide 1 has in plan view rectangular outline with two mutually parallel planar side walls 2, 3. On their longitudinal sides, the side walls 2, 3 are interconnected by a light exit surface 4, which has a rectangular plan view in plan view.
  • the light guide 1 is formed in one piece, but consists of two light guide parts 5 and 6, which each have a rectangular shape in plan view.
  • the light guide parts 5, 6 are substantially the same design, but arranged rotated by 180 ° to each other.
  • the two light guide parts 5, 6 have the common light exit surface 4.
  • the light guide part 5 is provided on one end face with a flat end face 7 which extends over the entire width and height of the light guide member 5 and to which a light source 8, preferably an LED, connected is. From this front page 7 takes the height of the light guide member 5 in the direction of the opposite end face 9, which extends over the entire width of the light guide member 5.
  • the other light guide part 6 also has a view in rectangular face 10, which is just like the end face 7 is flat and to which a further light source 11, preferably an LED is connected.
  • the height of the light guide member 6 decreases from this end face 10 to the opposite end face 12 from. It has only a small height, but extends over the entire width of the light guide part 6.
  • Fig. 2 results, the end faces 7, 12 and 9, 10 are each in a common plane.
  • the end faces 7, 10 are just like the end faces 9, 12 diagonally opposite each other.
  • the light exit surface 4 opposite side of the two light guide parts 5, 6 is provided with reflection surfaces 13, 14, at which the light emitted by the respective bulbs 8, 11 light is reflected to the light exit surface 4.
  • the reflection surfaces 13, 14 are arranged inclined with respect to the beam direction so that light rays exit from the light exit surface 4 at an angle of 90 °.
  • the reflection surfaces 13, 14 it is of course possible, the reflection surfaces 13, 14 to be arranged inclined at different angles, so that the light rays from the light exit surface 4 at different angles than 90 ° exit.
  • the reflection surfaces 13, 14 are each flat and extend, as Fig. 2
  • the reflective surfaces of the light guide member 5 are also opposite inclined to the reflection surfaces 14 of the light guide member 6.
  • the reflection surfaces 13 of the light guide member 5 are parallel to each other.
  • the reflection surfaces 14 of the light guide part 6 are parallel to each other.
  • the reflection surfaces 13 respectively adjoin obliquely extending oblique surfaces 15, which in turn adjoin side surfaces 16 at an acute angle, which are perpendicular to the light exit surface 4. These side surfaces 16 close at an obtuse angle to the respective reflection surfaces 13.
  • the inclined surfaces 15 and the side surfaces 16 form the side walls of cross-sectionally triangular projections 14.
  • the reflection surfaces 14 of the light guide part 6 close at an obtuse angle to perpendicular to the light exit surface 4 lying side surfaces 18, which in turn pass at an acute angle in inclined surfaces 19. They connect to the reflection surfaces 14.
  • the side surfaces 18 and the inclined surfaces 19 form side walls of triangular projections 20 in cross section.
  • the reflection surfaces 13 are, as is apparent from the Fig. 1 and 2 Accordingly, the width of the reflecting surfaces 13 measured in the beam direction is the same as the width of the inclined surfaces 19 measured in the same direction. Conversely, the width of the reflecting surfaces 14 measured in the beam direction is equal to the width measured in the same direction Sloping surfaces 15.
  • the reflection surfaces 13 of the light guide part 5 arranged one behind the other have increasingly smaller distances from the light exit surface 4 from the end face 7.
  • the reflection surfaces 14 of the light guide part 6 also have progressively smaller distances from the light exit surface 4 starting from the end face 10 of this light guide part 6
  • Half the length of the light guide 1 lying reflection surface 13 'of the light guide member 5 passes into the inclined surface 19' of the light guide member 6, with which it lies in a common plane. From this common surface 13 ', 19' in the direction of the end face 7 projects beyond the light guide part 5 the light guide part 6, while conversely from the common surface 13 ', 19' in the direction of the end face 10 of the light guide member 6 projects beyond the light guide member 5.
  • the light guide part 5, 6 has in its respective projecting region a planar side wall 21, 22, which is parallel to the side walls 2, 3 of the light guide 1.
  • each light guide member 5, 6 at the reflection surfaces 13, 14 light bands 23, 24, of which in Fig. 1 three light bands are shown.
  • the light bands 23, 24 of each light guide part 5, 6 are spaced from each other.
  • the light strip 24 radiates, in side view according to Fig. 1 seen, in the area between the light bands 23 of the light guide member 5.
  • a continuous light field is generated.
  • the reflection surfaces 13, 14 are each arranged so that they, as seen in the beam direction, connect to each other. This means that the front edge 25 in the beam direction of the adjoining the end surface 7 reflection surface 13, viewed in the beam direction, is at the same height as the rear edge in the beam direction 26 of the next reflection surface 13. In this way, the reflection surfaces 13 of the light guide member 5 and the reflection surfaces 14 of the light guide member 6 arranged one behind the other.
  • the two bulbs 8, 11 are provided at the two ends of the light guide 1, there is an optimal light yield in a compact design of the light guide 1.
  • the light is fed into the light guide 1, that the light rays in the light guide 1 almost spread in parallel.
  • the staircase-like reflection surfaces 13, 14 with the projections 17, 20 located between them direct the light rays in the manner described to the light exit surface 4.
  • the distribution of the deflection optics in opposing profiles allow a very uniform illumination of the light exit surface 4. It can additionally with scattering and / or refractive elements to achieve a targeted and desired light distribution.
  • the light exit surface 4 is provided with pillow-shaped optical elements 27 which connect directly to each other over the entire surface of the light exit surface 4.
  • the two light sources 8, 11 radiate the same color light. It is also possible that the two light sources 8, 11 emit light of different colors. Then, the light exit surface 4 is illuminated as a checkerboard by the respective color due to the described arrangement of the reflection surfaces 13, 14.
  • optical waveguide parts 5, 6 instead of the two optical waveguide parts 5, 6 to provide further optical waveguide parts, which are then each rotated by 180 ° to the respective adjacent optical waveguide part.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Microelectronics & Electronic Packaging (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Planar Illumination Modules (AREA)
  • Non-Portable Lighting Devices Or Systems Thereof (AREA)

Abstract

The aim of the invention is to achieve an optimal illumination provided by a light guide having a structurally simple design. To this end, the reflecting surfaces (13, 14) are offset to one another while extending transversal to the beam direction of the lighting means (8, 11) and, when viewed in the beam direction, they join one another without forming, in essence, any gaps. As a result, no shadows are formed between the individual reflecting surfaces (13, 14) thereby enabling an optimal utilization of light emitted by the lighting means (8, 11). The inventive light guide is provided for lighting motor vehicles.

Description

Die Erfindung betrifft einen Lichtleiter für Leuchten von Fahrzeugen, vorzugsweise von Kraftfahrzeugen, nach dem Oberbegriff des Anspruches 1.The invention relates to a light guide for lights of vehicles, preferably of motor vehicles, according to the preamble of claim 1.

Es sind Lichtleiter bekannt, die im wesentlichen Rechteckform haben und an einer Schmalseite in Reihe nebeneinander angeordnete Leuchtmittel in Form von LEDs aufweisen. Mit ihnen wird Licht in den Lichtleiter eingespeist, das an Reflexionsflächen zur Lichtaustrittsseite hin reflektiert wird. Eine gleichmäßige Ausleuchtung ist hierbei nicht gewährleistet. Ein gattungsgemäßer Lichtleiter ist aus der US 4 737 896 A bekannt.There are known light guides, which have a substantially rectangular shape and have on a narrow side in series juxtaposed lamps in the form of LEDs. With them light is fed into the light guide, which is reflected at reflection surfaces to the light exit side. A uniform illumination is not guaranteed here. A generic light guide is from the US 4,737,896 A known.

Der Erfindung liegt die Aufgabe zugrunde, den gattungsgemäßen Lichtleiter so auszubilden, daß eine optimale Ausleuchtung des Lichtleiters bei einfacher konstruktiver Ausgestaltung sichergestellt ist.The invention has the object of providing the generic light guide in such a way that optimum illumination of the light guide is ensured with a simple structural design.

Diese Aufgabe wird beim gattungsgemäßen Lichtleiter erfindungsgemäß mit den kennzeichnenden Merkmalen des Anspruches 1 gelöst.This object is achieved in the generic light guide according to the invention with the characterizing features of claim 1.

Beim erfindungsgemäßen Lichtleiter liegen die Reflexionsflächen, in Strahlrichtung gesehen, versetzt zueinander. Dabei sind die Reflexionsflächen so angeordnet, daß sie, in Strahlrichtung gesehen, im wesentlichen lückenlos aneinander anschließen. Dadurch tritt zwischen den einzelnen Reflexionsflächen keine Schattenbildung auf, so daß das vom Leuchtmittel ausgesandte Licht optimal ausgenutzt wird.In the light guide according to the invention, the reflection surfaces, seen in the beam direction, are offset from one another. The reflection surfaces are arranged so that they, as seen in the beam direction, connect to each other substantially gapless. As a result, no shadowing occurs between the individual reflection surfaces, so that the light emitted by the light source is optimally utilized.

Die Lichtaustrittseite wird infolge der erfindungsgemäßen Ausbildung einwandfrei ausgeleuchtet.The light exit side is illuminated perfectly due to the formation of the invention.

Weitere Merkmale der Erfindung ergeben sich aus den weiteren Ansprüchen, der Beschreibung und den Zeichnungen.Further features of the invention will become apparent from the other claims, the description and the drawings.

Die Erfindung wird anhand eines in den Zeichnungen dargestellten Ausführungsbeispieles näher erläutert. Es zeigen

Fig. 1
einen erfindungsgemäßen Lichtleiter in Ansicht, dessen Lichtleiterteile getrennt dargestellt sind,
Fig. 2
den Lichtleiter nach Fig. 1 in perspektivischer Darstellung,
Fig. 3
den Lichtleiter in einer Ansicht gemäß Pfeil III in Fig. 1.
The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawings. Show it
Fig. 1
a light guide according to the invention in view, the light guide parts are shown separately,
Fig. 2
the light guide after Fig. 1 in perspective,
Fig. 3
the light guide in a view according to arrow III in Fig. 1 ,

Der Lichtleiter 1 ist für Leuchten von Kraftfahrzeugen vorgesehen und besteht in bekannter Weise aus lichtleitendem Material. Der Lichtleiter 1 hat in Draufsicht rechteckigen Umriß mit zwei zueinander parallelen ebenen Seitenwänden 2, 3. An ihren Längsseiten sind die Seitenwände 2, 3 durch eine Lichtaustrittsfläche 4 miteinander verbunden, die in Draufsicht rechteckigen Grundriß hat.The light guide 1 is provided for lights of motor vehicles and consists in a known manner from lichtleitendem material. The light guide 1 has in plan view rectangular outline with two mutually parallel planar side walls 2, 3. On their longitudinal sides, the side walls 2, 3 are interconnected by a light exit surface 4, which has a rectangular plan view in plan view.

Der Lichtleiter 1 ist einstückig ausgebildet, besteht jedoch aus zwei Lichtleiterteilen 5 und 6, die in Draufsicht jeweils Rechteckform haben. Die Lichtleiterteile 5, 6 sind im wesentlichen gleich ausgebildet, jedoch um 180° verdreht zueinander liegend angeordnet. Die beiden Lichtleiterteile 5, 6 haben die gemeinsame Lichtaustrittsfläche 4. Der Lichtleiterteil 5 ist an einer Stirnseite mit einer ebenen Stirnfläche 7 versehen, die sich über die gesamte Breite und Höhe des Lichtleiterteiles 5 erstreckt und an die ein Leuchtmittel 8, vorzugsweise eine LED, angeschlossen ist. Von dieser Stirnseite 7 aus nimmt die Höhe des Lichtleiterteiles 5 in Richtung auf die gegenüberliegende Stirnseite 9 ab, die sich über die gesamte Breite des Lichtleiterteiles 5 erstreckt.The light guide 1 is formed in one piece, but consists of two light guide parts 5 and 6, which each have a rectangular shape in plan view. The light guide parts 5, 6 are substantially the same design, but arranged rotated by 180 ° to each other. The two light guide parts 5, 6 have the common light exit surface 4. The light guide part 5 is provided on one end face with a flat end face 7 which extends over the entire width and height of the light guide member 5 and to which a light source 8, preferably an LED, connected is. From this front page 7 takes the height of the light guide member 5 in the direction of the opposite end face 9, which extends over the entire width of the light guide member 5.

Der andere Lichtleiterteil 6 weist ebenfalls eine in Ansicht rechteckige Stirnfläche 10 auf, die ebenso wie die Stirnfläche 7 eben ausgebildet ist und an die ein weiteres Leuchtmittel 11, vorzugsweise eine LED, angeschlossen ist. Die Höhe des Lichtleiterteiles 6 nimmt von dieser Stirnseite 10 aus bis zur gegenüberliegenden Stirnseite 12 ab. Sie hat nur eine geringe Höhe, erstreckt sich aber über die gesamte Breite des Lichtleiterteiles 6. Wie sich aus Fig. 2 ergibt, liegen die Stirnflächen 7, 12 und 9, 10 jeweils in einer gemeinsamen Ebene. Die Stirnflächen 7, 10 liegen ebenso wie die Stirnflächen 9, 12 diagonal einander gegenüber.The other light guide part 6 also has a view in rectangular face 10, which is just like the end face 7 is flat and to which a further light source 11, preferably an LED is connected. The height of the light guide member 6 decreases from this end face 10 to the opposite end face 12 from. It has only a small height, but extends over the entire width of the light guide part 6. As is made Fig. 2 results, the end faces 7, 12 and 9, 10 are each in a common plane. The end faces 7, 10 are just like the end faces 9, 12 diagonally opposite each other.

Die der Lichtaustrittsfläche 4 gegenüberliegende Seite der beiden Lichtleiterteile 5, 6 ist mit Reflexionsflächen 13, 14 versehen, an denen das vom jeweiligen Leuchtmittel 8, 11 ausgestrahlte Licht zur Lichtaustrittsfläche 4 reflektiert wird. Die Reflexionsflächen 13, 14 sind so in bezug auf die Strahlrichtung geneigt angeordnet, daß dir Lichtstrahlen unter einem Winkel von 90° aus der Lichtaustrittsfläche 4 austreten. Je nach Anwendungsfall ist es selbstverständlich möglich, die Reflexionsflächen 13, 14 auch unter anderen Winkeln geneigt anzuordnen, so daß die Lichtstrahlen aus der Lichtaustrittsfläche 4 unter anderen Winkeln als 90° äustreten.The light exit surface 4 opposite side of the two light guide parts 5, 6 is provided with reflection surfaces 13, 14, at which the light emitted by the respective bulbs 8, 11 light is reflected to the light exit surface 4. The reflection surfaces 13, 14 are arranged inclined with respect to the beam direction so that light rays exit from the light exit surface 4 at an angle of 90 °. Depending on the application, it is of course possible, the reflection surfaces 13, 14 to be arranged inclined at different angles, so that the light rays from the light exit surface 4 at different angles than 90 ° exit.

Die Reflexionsflächen 13, 14 sind jeweils eben und erstrecken sich, wie Fig. 2 zeigt, über die Breite des jeweiligen Lichtleiterteiles 5, 6. Die Reflexionsflächen des Lichtleiterteiles 5 sind außerdem entgegengesetzt geneigt zu den Reflexionsflächen 14 des Lichtleiterteiles 6. Im Ausführungsbeispiel liegen die Reflexionsflächen 13 des Lichtleiterteiles 5 parallel zueinander. Auch die Reflexionsflächen 14 des Lichtleiterteiles 6 liegen parallel zueinander.The reflection surfaces 13, 14 are each flat and extend, as Fig. 2 The reflective surfaces of the light guide member 5 are also opposite inclined to the reflection surfaces 14 of the light guide member 6. In the embodiment, the reflection surfaces 13 of the light guide member 5 are parallel to each other. The reflection surfaces 14 of the light guide part 6 are parallel to each other.

Die Reflexionsflächen 13 schließen jeweils an entgegengesetzt zu ihnen geneigt verlaufende Schrägflächen 15 an, die ihrerseits spitzwinklig an Seitenflächen 16 anschließen, die senkrecht zur Lichtaustrittsfläche 4 liegen. Diese Seitenflächen 16 schließen stumpfwinklig an die jeweiligen Reflexionsflächen 13 an. Die Schrägflächen 15 und die Seitenflächen 16 bilden die Seitenwände von im Querschnitt dreieckförmigen Vorsprüngen 14.The reflection surfaces 13 respectively adjoin obliquely extending oblique surfaces 15, which in turn adjoin side surfaces 16 at an acute angle, which are perpendicular to the light exit surface 4. These side surfaces 16 close at an obtuse angle to the respective reflection surfaces 13. The inclined surfaces 15 and the side surfaces 16 form the side walls of cross-sectionally triangular projections 14.

In gleicher Weise schließen die Reflexionsflächen 14 des Lichtleiterteiles 6 stumpfwinklig an senkrecht zur Lichtaustrittsfläche 4 liegende Seitenflächen 18 an, die ihrerseits spitzwinklig in Schrägflächen 19 übergehen. Sie schließen an die Reflexionsflächen 14 an. Die Seitenflächen 18 und die Schrägflächen 19 bilden Seitenwände von im Querschnitt dreieckförmigen Vorsprüngen 20.In the same way, the reflection surfaces 14 of the light guide part 6 close at an obtuse angle to perpendicular to the light exit surface 4 lying side surfaces 18, which in turn pass at an acute angle in inclined surfaces 19. They connect to the reflection surfaces 14. The side surfaces 18 and the inclined surfaces 19 form side walls of triangular projections 20 in cross section.

Die Reflexionsflächen 13 liegen, wie sich aus den Fig. 1 und 2 ergibt, auf Lücke zu den Reflexionsflächen 14. Dementsprechend ist die in Strahlrichtung gemessene Breite der Reflexionsflächen 13 gleich groß wie die in gleicher Richtung gemessene Breite der Schrägflächen 19. Umgekehrt ist die in Strahlrichtung gemessene Breite der Reflexionsflächen 14 gleich der in gleicher Richtung gemessenen Breite der Schrägflächen 15.The reflection surfaces 13 are, as is apparent from the Fig. 1 and 2 Accordingly, the width of the reflecting surfaces 13 measured in the beam direction is the same as the width of the inclined surfaces 19 measured in the same direction. Conversely, the width of the reflecting surfaces 14 measured in the beam direction is equal to the width measured in the same direction Sloping surfaces 15.

Die hintereinander angeordneten Reflexionsftächen 13 des Lichtleiterteiles 5 haben von der Stirnfläche 7 aus zunehmend kleineren Abstand von der Lichtaustrittsfläche 4. Auch die Reflexionsflächen 14 des Lichtleiterteiles 6 haben, ausgehend von der Stirnfläche 10 dieses Lichtleiterteiles 6, zunehmend kleineren Abstand von der Lichtaustrittsfläche 4. Die in halber Länge des Lichtleiters 1 liegende Reflexionsfläche 13' des Lichtleiterteiles 5 geht in die Schrägfläche 19' des Lichtleiterteiles 6 über, mit der sie in einer gemeinsamen Ebene liegt. Von dieser gemeinsamen Fläche 13', 19' aus in Richtung auf die Stirnfläche 7 überragt der Lichtleiterteil 5 den Lichtleiterteil 6, während umgekehrt von der gemeinsamen Fläche 13', 19' aus in Richtung auf die Stirnfläche 10 der Lichtleiterteil 6 den Lichtleiterteil 5 überragt. Der Lichtleiterteil 5, 6 hat in seinem jeweils überstehenden Bereich eine ebene Seitenwand 21, 22, die parallel zu den Seitenwänden 2, 3 des Lichtleiters 1 liegt.The reflection surfaces 13 of the light guide part 5 arranged one behind the other have increasingly smaller distances from the light exit surface 4 from the end face 7. The reflection surfaces 14 of the light guide part 6 also have progressively smaller distances from the light exit surface 4 starting from the end face 10 of this light guide part 6 Half the length of the light guide 1 lying reflection surface 13 'of the light guide member 5 passes into the inclined surface 19' of the light guide member 6, with which it lies in a common plane. From this common surface 13 ', 19' in the direction of the end face 7 projects beyond the light guide part 5 the light guide part 6, while conversely from the common surface 13 ', 19' in the direction of the end face 10 of the light guide member 6 projects beyond the light guide member 5. The light guide part 5, 6 has in its respective projecting region a planar side wall 21, 22, which is parallel to the side walls 2, 3 of the light guide 1.

Aufgrund der gestuften Anordnung der Reflexionsflächen 13, 14 und der versetzten Anordnung zueinander wird erreicht, daß die von der LED 8, 11 ausgesandten Strahlen an den Reflexionsflächen 13, 14 zur Lichtaustrittsfläche 4 reflektiert werden. Dabei erzeugt jeder Lichtleiterteil 5, 6 an den Reflexionsflächen 13, 14 Leuchtbänder 23, 24, von denen in Fig. 1 drei Leuchtbänder dargestellt sind. Die Leuchtbänder 23, 24 jedes Lichtleiterteiles 5, 6 liegen mit Abstand voneinander. Infolge der versetzten Anordnung der Reflexionsflächen 13, 14 zueinander strahlt das Leuchtband 24, in Seitenansicht gemäß Fig. 1 gesehen, in den Bereich zwischen den Leuchtbändern 23 des Lichtleiterteiles 5. Dadurch wird, in Seitenansicht gesehen, ein durchgehendes Leuchtfeld erzeugt.Due to the stepped arrangement of the reflection surfaces 13, 14 and the staggered arrangement to one another it is achieved that the rays emitted by the LED 8, 11 are reflected at the reflection surfaces 13, 14 to the light exit surface 4. In this case, each light guide member 5, 6 at the reflection surfaces 13, 14 light bands 23, 24, of which in Fig. 1 three light bands are shown. The light bands 23, 24 of each light guide part 5, 6 are spaced from each other. As a result of the staggered arrangement of the reflection surfaces 13, 14 to each other, the light strip 24 radiates, in side view according to Fig. 1 seen, in the area between the light bands 23 of the light guide member 5. As a result, seen in side view, a continuous light field is generated.

Die Reflexionsflächen 13, 14 sind jeweils so angeordnet, daß sie, in Strahlrichtung gesehen, aneinander anschließen. Dies bedeutet, daß der in Strahlrichtung vordere Rand 25 der an die Stirnfläche 7 anschließenden Reflexionsfläche 13, in Strahlrichtung gesehen, auf gleicher Höhe liegt wie der in Strahlrichtung rückwärtige Rand 26 der nächsten Reflexionsfläche 13. Auf diese Weise sind die Reflexionsflächen 13 des Lichtleiterteiles 5 und die Reflexionsflächen 14 des Lichtleiterteiles 6 hintereinander angeordnet.The reflection surfaces 13, 14 are each arranged so that they, as seen in the beam direction, connect to each other. This means that the front edge 25 in the beam direction of the adjoining the end surface 7 reflection surface 13, viewed in the beam direction, is at the same height as the rear edge in the beam direction 26 of the next reflection surface 13. In this way, the reflection surfaces 13 of the light guide member 5 and the reflection surfaces 14 of the light guide member 6 arranged one behind the other.

Da die beiden Leuchtmittel 8, 11 an den beiden Enden des Lichtleiters 1 vorgesehen sind, ergibt sich eine optimale Lichtausbeute bei kompakter Bauform des Lichtleiters 1. Das Licht wird so in den Lichtleiter 1 eingespeist, daß sich die Lichtstrahlen im Lichtleiter 1 nahezu parallel ausbreiten. Die treppenartig angelegten Reflexionsflächen 13, 14 mit den zwischen ihnen liegenden Vorsprüngen 17, 20 lenken die Lichtstrahlen in der beschriebenen Weise zur Lichtaustrittsfläche 4. Die Aufteilung der Umlenkoptiken in gegenläufigen Profilen ermöglichen eine sehr gleichmäßige Beleuchtung der Lichtaustrittsfläche 4. Sie kann zusätzlich mit streuenden und/oder brechenden Elementen versehen werden, um eine gezielte und gewünschte Lichtverteilung zu erreichen. Im Ausführungsbeispiel (Fig. 3) ist die Lichtaustrittsfläche 4 mit kissenförmigen Optikelementen 27 versehen, die über die gesamte Fläche der Lichtaustrittsfläche 4 unmittelbar aneinander anschließen.Since the two bulbs 8, 11 are provided at the two ends of the light guide 1, there is an optimal light yield in a compact design of the light guide 1. The light is fed into the light guide 1, that the light rays in the light guide 1 almost spread in parallel. The staircase-like reflection surfaces 13, 14 with the projections 17, 20 located between them direct the light rays in the manner described to the light exit surface 4. The distribution of the deflection optics in opposing profiles allow a very uniform illumination of the light exit surface 4. It can additionally with scattering and / or refractive elements to achieve a targeted and desired light distribution. In the embodiment ( Fig. 3 ), the light exit surface 4 is provided with pillow-shaped optical elements 27 which connect directly to each other over the entire surface of the light exit surface 4.

Die beiden Lichtquellen 8, 11 strahlen gleichfarbiges Licht aus. Es ist auch möglich, daß die beiden Lichtquellen 8, 11 verschiedenfarbiges Licht ausstrahlen. Dann wird die Lichtaustrittsfläche 4 infolge der beschriebenen Anordnung der Reflexionsflächen 13, 14 von der jeweiligen Farbe schachbrettartig ausgeleuchtet.The two light sources 8, 11 radiate the same color light. It is also possible that the two light sources 8, 11 emit light of different colors. Then, the light exit surface 4 is illuminated as a checkerboard by the respective color due to the described arrangement of the reflection surfaces 13, 14.

Es ist auch möglich, anstelle der zwei Lichtleiterteile 5, 6 weitere Lichtleiterteile vorzusehen, die dann jeweils um 180° verdreht zum jeweils benachbaren Lichtleiterteil angeordnet sind.It is also possible, instead of the two optical waveguide parts 5, 6 to provide further optical waveguide parts, which are then each rotated by 180 ° to the respective adjacent optical waveguide part.

Claims (17)

  1. Light guide (1) for lights of vehicles, preferably of motor vehicles,
    characterized by two light guide parts (5, 6) with respectively a connection side (7, 10) for at least one lighting means (8, 11), with reflecting surfaces (13, 14) lying respectively transversely to the ray direction of the light rays emitted by the lighting means (8, 11), and with a shared light exit side (4), in which light guide parts (5, 6) the reflecting surfaces (13, 14) lie respectively offset to each other transversely to the ray direction of the respective lighting means (8, 11) and, viewed in the ray direction, adjoin each other substantially without a gap, so that the height of each light guide part (5, 6) decreases from its connection side (7, 10) towards an opposite side (9, 12), wherein the light guide parts (5, 6) are rotated to each other through 180° and, viewed in the ray direction, are arranged lying adjacent to each other and have a shared contact surface (21, 22) running parallel to the ray direction.
  2. Light guide according to Claim 1,
    characterized in that the reflecting surfaces (13, 14) are of equal size.
  3. Light guide according to Claim 1 or 2,
    characterized in that the reflecting surfaces (13, 14) lie parallel to each other.
  4. Light guide according to one of the preceding claims,
    characterized in that
    the reflecting surfaces (13, 14) lie at 45° to the ray direction of the lighting means (8, 11).
  5. Light guide according to one of Claims 1 to 4,
    characterized in that adjacent reflecting surfaces (13, 14) lie at a distance from each other.
  6. Light guide according to one of the preceding claims,
    characterized in that adjacent reflecting surfaces (13, 14) are separated from each other by projections (17, 20) of the light guide (1).
  7. Light guide according to one of the preceding claims,
    characterized in that the light guide (1) is made in one piece.
  8. Light guide according to one of the preceding claims,
    characterized in that the reflecting surfaces (13, 14) of the light guide parts (5, 6) are in a staggered arrangement.
  9. Light guide according to one of the preceding claims,
    characterized in that the light guide parts (5, 6) are identical in shape.
  10. Light guide according to one of the preceding claims,
    characterized in that the connection side (7, 10) for the lighting means (8, 11) is the front face of the light guide (1) and lies perpendicularly to the ray direction of the lighting means (8, 11).
  11. Light guide according to one of the preceding claims,
    characterized in that the reflecting surfaces (13, 14) of the two light guide parts, which are arranged adjacent to each other, are arranged offset to each other.
  12. Light guide according to one of the preceding claims,
    characterized in that the width of the reflecting surfaces (13, 14) of one light guide part (5, 6), measured in the ray direction, corresponds to the distance of adjacent reflecting surfaces (14, 13) of the other light guide part (6, 5).
  13. Light guide according to one of the preceding claims,
    characterized in that the two light guide parts (5, 6) are of equal width.
  14. Light guide according to one of the preceding claims,
    characterized in that the reflecting surfaces (13, 14) of the two light guide parts (5, 6) are of equal size.
  15. Light guide according to one of the preceding claims,
    characterized in that the two light guide parts (5, 6) are constructed in one piece with each other.
  16. Light guide according to one of the preceding claims,
    characterized in that the lighting means (8, 11) is at least one LED.
  17. Light guide according to one of Claims 1 to 16,
    characterized in that the light exit side (4) is provided with scattering and/or refracting optics (27).
EP03775085A 2002-11-07 2003-10-25 Light guide for lighting vehicles, preferably motor vehicles Expired - Fee Related EP1561070B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE10251849A DE10251849A1 (en) 2002-11-07 2002-11-07 Optical conductor for vehicles, preferably motor vehicles, has reflection surfaces offset relative to each other and, looking in radiation direction, bounding on each other essentially with no gaps
DE10251849 2002-11-07
PCT/DE2003/003546 WO2004042271A2 (en) 2002-11-07 2003-10-25 Light guide for lighting vehicles, preferably motor vehicles

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1561070A2 EP1561070A2 (en) 2005-08-10
EP1561070B1 true EP1561070B1 (en) 2009-12-09

Family

ID=32115339

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP03775085A Expired - Fee Related EP1561070B1 (en) 2002-11-07 2003-10-25 Light guide for lighting vehicles, preferably motor vehicles

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US7410280B2 (en)
EP (1) EP1561070B1 (en)
AU (1) AU2003283197A1 (en)
DE (3) DE10251849A1 (en)
WO (1) WO2004042271A2 (en)

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EP2554897A1 (en) 2011-08-04 2013-02-06 Odelo GmbH Optical fibre, illuminant and motor vehicle light
EP2570827A1 (en) 2011-09-13 2013-03-20 Odelo GmbH Optical fibre, illuminant and motor vehicle light

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2543540A1 (en) 2011-07-07 2013-01-09 Odelo GmbH Optical fibre, illuminant and motor vehicle light
EP2554897A1 (en) 2011-08-04 2013-02-06 Odelo GmbH Optical fibre, illuminant and motor vehicle light
EP2570827A1 (en) 2011-09-13 2013-03-20 Odelo GmbH Optical fibre, illuminant and motor vehicle light

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU2003283197A1 (en) 2004-06-07
AU2003283197A8 (en) 2004-06-07
WO2004042271A2 (en) 2004-05-21
US20060104076A1 (en) 2006-05-18
US7410280B2 (en) 2008-08-12
EP1561070A2 (en) 2005-08-10
DE10394049D2 (en) 2005-11-03
DE10251849A1 (en) 2004-05-19
WO2004042271A3 (en) 2004-07-15
DE50312215D1 (en) 2010-01-21

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