EP4027052A1

EP4027052A1 - Optical element of vehicle light

Info

Publication number: EP4027052A1
Application number: EP20878309.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: He ZHU; Zhiping QIU; Wenhui SANG
Original assignee: HASCO Vision Technology Co Ltd
Current assignee: HASCO Vision Technology Co Ltd
Priority date: 2019-10-25
Filing date: 2020-10-20
Publication date: 2022-07-13
Also published as: JP2022548750A; JP7322286B2; CN210740266U; EP4027052A4; WO2021078115A1

Abstract

Disclosed is an optical element of a vehicle light, the optical element comprising two optical parts, each of which is bent and comprising a light-condensing channel(13) and a light guide channel(14) connected to each other, with a junction therebetween being provided with a reflecting surface(15), wherein one end of the light-condensing channel(13) is provided with a plurality of light-condensing structures(11), and a front end of the light guide channel(14) is provided with an emergent light surface; and the two optical parts are arranged vertically, and the two light guide channels(14) are connected at the top and the bottom. The optical element of a vehicle light has the benefits of: 1, reducing the size of the optical element of a vehicle light in a fore-and-aft direction to reduce the space required for installation; 2, forming a primary optical element and a secondary optical element in the prior art as an integrated member; 3, providing a separation slot to achieve secondary light distribution so as to improve the flexibility of light distribution, and providing a sharp slot to achieve a passing light cut-off line and also simplify the structure of a vehicle light module; and 4, providing a groove so as to achieve both high beam and low beam functions in the integrated optical element of a vehicle light, such that the optical element of a vehicle light has diversified functions.

Description

Cross Reference to Related Applications

This application claims the priority of China Patent Application No. 201921809883.5, filed on October 25, 2019 , which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to vehicle lights, in particular to an optical element of a vehicle light.

Background of the Invention

In the technical field of vehicle lights, a vehicle light module generally refers to a device that uses a plastic or glass lens or an equivalent structure as a final light exit element and is used for illumination of an automobile headlight. An optical element of a vehicle light is an important part of the vehicle light module. After the light emitted by a light source is emitted via the optical element of a vehicle light, a required light shape of a vehicle light can be formed.
The vehicle light module in the prior art has a primary optical element and a secondary optical element. The required light shape is obtained by performing light distribution adjustment twice by the primary optical element and the secondary optical element. Compared to light distribution adjustment performed once by only one optical element, performing the light distribution adjustments twice is more flexible. This is because the light shape can be adjusted by means of adjusting light distribution parameters of the two optical elements. There are many adjustable light distribution parameters. For example, a light inlet surface or a light outlet surface of the primary optical element and a light inlet surface or a light outlet surface of the secondary optical element can be adjusted.
The prior art has the following shortcomings:

1. Generally, a condenser with a plurality of light-concentrating structures is used as the primary optical element; the condenser approximately extends in a fore-and-aft direction; and a lens arranged at a front end of the condenser is used as the secondary optical element. This will increase the overall size of the vehicle light module and occupy a large space. In addition, relative positions of the two optical elements need to be ensured to be accurate, which has a high requirement for assembling accuracy.
2. When the condenser is used as a low beam optical element, it is also necessary to mount a light-shielding plate in front of the condenser to form a low-beam cut-off line, which will further result in a complicated structure of the vehicle light module and an increase in size.
3. The optical element has a single function. Only one function of low beam, high beam, auxiliary low beam and auxiliary high beam can be realized.

Summary of the Invention

For the above shortcomings, the basic technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an optical element of a vehicle light, which can effectively reduce a space required for installation and meet a working requirement.
The present invention provides an optical element of a vehicle light, comprising two optical parts, each of which being bent and comprising a light-condensing channel and a light guide channel connected to each other, with a junction therebetween being provided with a reflecting surface, wherein one end of the light-condensing channel is provided with a plurality of light-condensing structures, and a front end of the light guide channel is provided with an emergent high surface; the two optical parts are arranged in a up and down direction, thereby the two light guide channels are connected at the top of one of the two light guide channels and the bottom of the other of the two light guide channels.
Preferably, the emergent light surface is an arc-shaped surface sunken towards the inner side; and the two emergent light surfaces of the two light guide channels are connected to form a first emergent light surface cooperating with a lens.
Preferably, the first emergent light surface is a smooth surface.
Preferably, the emergent light surface is an arc-shaped surface which protrude outwards; and the two emergent light surfaces of the two light guide channels are connected to form a smooth continuous second emergent light surface.
Preferably, the second emergent light surface is a convex lens surface or an arc-shaped surface that extends in a left-right direction.
Preferably, a separation slot is formed in the optical element of a vehicle light, and the separation slot penetrates through the two light guide channels and includes a light outlet surface and a light inlet surface which are disposed oppositely.
Preferably, extending directions of the light outlet surface and the light inlet surface are the same as an extending direction of the emergent light surface.
Preferably, a sharp slot with a V-shaped longitudinal section is formed in one of the light guide channels in the optical element of a vehicle light; and the sharp slot comprises a sharp slot reflecting surface away from the second emergent light surface and a sharp slot side surface close to the second emergent light surface.
Preferably, extending directions of the sharp slot reflecting surface and the sharp slot side surface are the same as the extending direction of the emergent light surface.
Preferably, a groove is formed in one of the light guide channels in the optical element of the vehicle light; the groove comprises a front side surface and a rear side surface which are disposed oppositely; and the front side surface and the rear side surface are connected by a connection surface.
Preferably, extending directions of the front side surface and the rear side surface are the same as an extending direction of the emergent light surface.
Preferably, the groove is formed in a bottom surface of the light guide channel located below.
Preferably, the light-condensing structure is a light-condensing cup structure with a concave cavity, or a solid body of a curved structure, or a protrusion that protrudes outwards.
The present invention has the following beneficial effects.

1. The optical element includes the two bent optical parts, which reduces the size of the optical element of a vehicle light in a fore-and-aft direction and reduces the space required for installation.
2. The primary optical element and the secondary optical element in the prior art are made into a one-piece member, which can effectively reduce the number of parts. During installation, it is not necessary to ensure the relative position accuracy of the primary optical element and the secondary optical element, so that the stability of the light shape of the vehicle light can be better ensured, and the size of the vehicle light module is also reduced.
3. By providing the separation slot, secondary light distribution can be achieved in the integrated optical element of a vehicle light, which improves the flexibility of light distribution; by providing the sharp slot to replace the existing light-shielding plate, a low-beam cut-off line is achieved, the structure of the vehicle light module is simplified, and the overall size is reduced.
4. By providing the groove, both high beam and low beam functions can be simultaneously achieved in the integrated optical element of a vehicle light, so that the optical element of a vehicle light has diversified functions.

Brief Description of the Drawings

FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional diagram I of Embodiment I;
FIG. 2 is a three-dimensional diagram II of Embodiment I;
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of cooperation between Embodiment I and a lens;
FIG. 4 is an optical path diagram of Embodiment I;
FIG. 5 is a three-dimensional diagram of Embodiment II;
FIG. 6 is an optical path diagram of Embodiment II;
FIG. 7 is a three-dimensional diagram of Embodiment III;
FIG. 8 is an optical path diagram of Embodiment III;
FIG. 9 is an optical path diagram of Embodiment IV;
FIG. 10 is an optical path diagram of Embodiment V;
FIG. 11 is a low beam optical path diagram of Embodiment VI;
FIG. 12 is a high beam optical path diagram of Embodiment VI.

Reference signs in the drawings:

1	Optical element of vehicle light	11	Light-condensing structure
12	First emergent light surface	121	Smooth emergent light surface
13	Light-condensing channel	14	Light guide channel
15	Reflecting surface	151	First reflecting surface
152	Second reflecting surface	16	Second emergent light surface
2	Lens	21	Lens emergent light surface
22	Lens incident light surface	3	Circuit board
31	Light source	4	Separation slot
41	Light outlet surface	42	Light inlet surface
5	Sharp slot	51	Sharp slot reflecting surface
52	Sharp slot side surface	53	Junction
6	Groove	61	Rear side surface
62	Front side surface	63	Connection surface
64	Front edge

Detailed Description of the Embodiments

The specific implementation modes of the present invention are further described below in detail in combination with the accompanying drawings. These implementation modes are merely illustrative of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the present invention.
In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that directional or positional relationships indicated by the terms "longitudinal", "transverse", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside" and the like are directional or positional relationships as shown in the drawings, and are only for the purpose of facilitating and simplifying the description of the present invention instead of indicating or implying that devices or elements indicated must have particular orientations, and be constructed and operated in the particular orientations, so that these terms should not be construed as limiting the present invention. In addition, the terms "first" and "second" are only for the purpose of description, and may not be understood as indicating or implying the relative importance.
In the description of the present invention, it should be further noted that unless otherwise explicitly specified and defined, the terms "mounted", "coupled" and "connected" shall be understood broadly, and may be, for example, fixedly connected, or detachably connected, or integrally connected. For those of ordinary skill in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood according to specific situations.
In addition, in the description of the present invention, unless otherwise indicated, "plurality" means two or more.
In the following description, the accompanying drawing in FIG. 4 is a reference basis of directions. The direction to the upper side of the drawing paper is an upper direction, the direction to the lower side of the drawing paper is a lower direction, the direction to the right side, where a first emergent light surface 12 is located, of the drawing paper is a front direction, the direction to the left side of the drawing paper is a rear direction, the direction perpendicular to the drawing paper and facing inward is the left direction, and the direction perpendicular to the drawing paper and facing outward is the right direction. All single-point lines in the drawings represent optical axes.
As shown in FIG. 1, the present invention provides an optical element 1 of a vehicle light. The optical element includes two optical parts, each of which is bent and includes a light-condensing channel 13 and a light guide channel 14 connected to each other, and a junction between the light-condensing channel 13 and the light guide channel 14 is provided with a reflecting surface 15. The light-condensing channel 13 approximately extends in an up-down direction and is provided with a plurality of light-condensing structures 11 at one end. The light guide channel 14 approximately extends in a fore-and-aft direction and is provided with an emergent light surface at a front end. The two optical parts are arranged in a up and down direction; and the two light guide channels 14 are connected at the top of one of the two light guide channels 14 and the bottom of the other of the two light guide channels 14. That is, a bottom surface of the light guide channel 14 at the upper side and a top surface of the light guide channel 14 at the lower side are connected, so that the optical element 1 of a vehicle light looks roughly like a ├ shape. In this arrangement, the size of the optical element 1 of a vehicle light in the fore-and-aft direction is reduced, and the space for installation is correspondingly reduced.
Several application embodiments of the present invention are described below:

Embodiment I

As shown in FIGS. 1-4, an emergent light surface of each optical part is an arc-shaped surface that is sunken towards an inner side of an optical element 1 of a vehicle light. The two emergent light surfaces are connected to form a first emergent light surface 12 cooperating with an object focus plane of a lens 2. The two emergent light surfaces can also be preferably set to be a smooth emergent light surface 121, which eliminates a boundary line therebetween, thereby improving the continuity and uniformity of an emergent light shape at a junction between the two optical parts. During working, the optical element 1 of a vehicle light is used as a primary optical element, and the lens 2 is used as a secondary optical element; a light source 31 on a circuit board 3 emits incident light; the light-condensing structures 11 can receive and condense the incident light; the condensed incident light enters light-condensing channels 13, is reflected by the reflecting surface 15, enters the light guide channels 14, and is emitted from the first emergent light surface 12; the light is then emitted by a lens incident light surface 22 and a lens emergent light surface 21 in sequence and is projected in front of a vehicle after completing secondary light distribution. The combination of the optical element 1 of a vehicle light and the lens 2 can be used for achieving one function of low beam, high beam, auxiliary low beam, auxiliary high beam, or low beam and high beam integration.

Embodiment II

The optical element of a vehicle light of this embodiment is further improved on the basis of Embodiment I. As shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the emergent light surfaces of the two optical parts are both arc-shaped surfaces that protrude outwards, and the two emergent light surfaces are connected to form a smooth continuous second emergent light surface 16. The second emergent light surface 16 can be an arc-shaped surface that extends in a left-right direction of the optical element 1 of a vehicle light, or a convex lens surface. The convex lens surface here specifically refers to a revolution surface obtained after a light outlet surface cut-off line of a convex lens revolves. During working, the light-condensing structures 11 receive and condense the incident light. The condensed incident light enters the light-condensing channels 13, is reflected via the reflecting surface 15, enters the light guide channels 14, then is emitted via the second emergent light surface 16, and is projected in front of a vehicle. In Embodiment II, the primary optical element and the secondary optical element in the prior art are used as one piece. During installation, it is not necessary to ensure the relative position accuracy of the primary optical element and the secondary optical element, and the stability of a light shape can be better ensured.

Embodiment III

In order to better adjust an emergent light shape on the basis of the integrated optical element of a vehicle light, the optical element of a vehicle light of this embodiment is further improved on the basis of Embodiment II. As shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, a separation slot 4 is formed in the optical element 1 of a vehicle light. The separation slot 4 penetrates through the two light guide channels 14 and includes a light outlet surface 41 and a light inlet surface 42 which are disposed oppositely. Preferably, extending directions of the light outlet surface 41 and the light inlet surface 42 are the same as an extending direction of the second emergent light surface 16. The integrated optical element 1 of a vehicle light is divided into a front part and a rear part by the separation slot 4. The part located on the front side corresponds the existing secondary optical element, and the part located on the rear side corresponds to the existing primary optical element, so that the optical element 1 of a vehicle light can also achieve secondary light distribution while having the advantages of a one-piece member. During working, the incident light enters the light-condensing channels 13 via the light-condensing structures 11, is reflected by the reflecting surface 15, enters the light guide channel 14, then is emitted via the light outlet surface 41, the light inlet surface 42, and the second emergent light surface 16 in sequence, and is projected in front of a vehicle. The separation slot 4 may be vertically penetrating and/or laterally penetrating. The light outlet surface 41 and the light inlet surface 42 of the separation slot 4 may have various forms, such as a plane, a concave surface, or a convex surface.

Embodiment IV

In order to form a low-beam cut-off line while removing a light-shielding plate, the optical element of a vehicle light of this embodiment is further improved on the basis of Embodiment II. As shown in FIG. 9, a sharp slot 5 with a V-shaped longitudinal section is formed in a bottom surface of the light guide channel 14 located below. The sharp slot 5 is upwards sunken, and includes a sharp slot reflecting surface 51 away from the second emergent light surface 16 and a sharp slot side surface 52 close to the second emergent light surface 16. Preferably, extending directions of the sharp slot reflecting surface 51 and the sharp slot side surface 52 are the same as the extending direction of the second emergent light surface 16. A shape of a junction 53 (namely a top of the sharp slot 5) between the sharp slot reflecting surface 51 and the sharp slot side surface 52 adapts to a shape of a low-beam cut-off line to form the low-beam cut-off line. The shape is different as the shape of the low-beam cut-off line is different. The light emitted by an upper light source (not shown) enters from the light-condensing structures 11 located above, is reflected by the reflecting surface 15, is cut off at the junction 53, and is emitted from the second emergent light surface 16 to form the low-beam cut-off line. The light emitted by a lower light source (not shown) enters from the light-condensing structures 11 located below. Most of the incident light is reflected by the reflecting surface 15 to the sharp slot reflecting surface 51 for total reflection. Therefore, during working, the utilization rate of light of the lower light source is lower, and only a small part of the light can be directly emitted from the second emergent light surface 16 after being reflected by the reflecting surface 15.

Embodiment V

As shown in FIG. 10, in order to increase the utilization rate of the light of the lower light source (not shown) in Embodiment IV, Embodiment V is further improved on the basis of Embodiment IV. The height of the sharp slot 5 is reduced, namely the height of the sharp slot reflecting surface 51 is reduced, so that more incident light entering from the light-condensing structures 11 located below can be avoided from being totally reflected by the sharp slot reflecting surface 51 after being reflected by the reflecting surface 15 and directly emitted from the second emergent light surface 16. Preferably, in order to facilitate machining the sharp slot 5 on the bottom surface of the light guide channel 14 located at the lower side, the junction 53 can be set to be a shape beside a sharp corner, such as a plane extending by a relatively short distance in the fore-and-aft direction or an arc surface with a relatively small radius.

Embodiment VI

In order to achieve a low-beam and high-beam integration mode, the optical element of a vehicle light of this embodiment is further improved on the basis of Embodiment II. As shown in FIG. 11 and FIG. 12, an upwards sunken groove 6 is formed in a bottom surface of the light guide channel 14 located below. The groove 6 includes a front side surface 62 and a rear side surface 61 which are disposed oppositely and are connected by a connection surface 63. Extending directions of the front side surface 62 and the rear side surface 61 are the same as the extending direction of the second emergent light surface 16, and the front side surface 62 is closer to the second emergent light surface 16 with respect to the rear side surface 61. A junction between the connection surface 63 and the front side surface 62 is a front edge 64. The shape of the front edge 64 adapts to a shape of a low-beam cut-off line to form the low-beam cut-off line. The shape is different as the shape of the low-beam cut-off line is different.
As shown in FIG. 11, the optical part located above has a first reflecting surface 151. The first reflecting surface 151 reflects most of the incident light emitted by the upper light source to the front edge 64 of the groove 6. Specifically, the incident light emitted by the upper light source enters from the light-condensing structures 11 located above. A path is divided into three parts. The first part of incident light A is reflected by the first reflecting surface 151 to the front edge 64, but is not reflected on the front edge 64, and is directly refracted out from the second emergent light surface 16. The second part of incident light B is directly reflected by the first reflecting surface 151 to the top of the second emergent light surface 16 and exits from the second emergent light surface 16 in a downwards tilting direction towards an optical axis. The third part of incident light C is reflected by the first reflecting surface 151 to the connection surface 63, is then reflected by the connection surface 63 to the top of the second emergent light surface 16, and exits from the second emergent light surface 16 in the downwards tilting direction towards the optical axis. Most of the light emitted to the connection surface 63 is totally reflected. The foregoing three parts of light A, B, and C can be used for generating a light shape of a low beam.
As shown in FIG. 12, the optical part located below has a second reflecting surface 152. The second reflecting surface 152 reflects most of the incident light emitted by the lower light source to the rear side surface 61 of the groove 6. The light passes by the groove 6 and is refracted by the front side surface 62 to the second emergent light surface 16. Specifically, the incident light emitted by the lower light source enters from the light-condensing structures 11 located below. A path is divided into two parts. One part of incident light D is reflected by the second reflecting surface 152 to the rear side surface 61, is then refracted to the front edge 64, and is directly emitted from the top of the second emergent light surface 16. The other part of incident light E is reflected by the second reflecting surface 152 to the rear side surface 61, is then refracted to the front side surface 62, and is emitted after being refracted to the second emergent light surface 16. The foregoing two parts of light D and E can be used for generating a light shape of a high beam that is connected to the light shape of the low beam.
In addition, the above-mentioned light-condensing structures 11 have various representation forms. Firstly, it can be of the light-condensing cup structure with the concave cavity as shown in FIG. 8, the external contour of which is of a curved structure that gradually increases from a place at which the light source is located to a place at which the reflecting surface 15 is located; an opening of the concave cavity of the light-condensing cup structure faces a side away from the light-condensing channel 13; and a bottom of the concave cavity is provided with a protrusion that protrudes towards the side away from the light-condensing channel 13. Secondly, no concave cavity is formed inside the light-condensing structure 11, and the light-condensing structure is only a solid body, the external contour of which is of a curved structure that gradually increases from the place at which the light source is located to the place at which the reflecting surface 15 is located; a shape of the light inlet surface of the light-condensing structure is planar or curved. Thirdly, the light-condensing structure 11 may also be a protrusion arranged at an end part of the light-condensing channel 13 and protruding towards the side (the outer side) away from the light-condensing channel 13. There may be one row or multiple rows of light-condensing structures 11 which are conductive to well collecting and collimating the light emitted by the light sources to increase the utilization rate of light.
In conclusion, the present invention has the following beneficial effects.

1. The optical element of a vehicle light includes the two bent optical parts, which reduces the size of the optical element of a vehicle light in a fore-and-aft direction and reduces the space required for installation.
2. The primary optical element and the secondary optical element in the prior art are made into one piece, which can effectively reduce the number of parts. During installation, it is not necessary to ensure the relative position accuracy of the primary optical element and the secondary optical element, so that the stability of the light shape of a vehicle light can be better ensured, and the size of a vehicle light module is also reduced.
3. By providing the separation slot, secondary light distribution can be achieved in the integrated optical element of a vehicle light, which improves the flexibility of light distribution; by providing the sharp slot to replace the existing light-shielding plate, a low-beam cut-off line is achieved, the structure of the vehicle light module is simplified, and the overall size is reduced.
4. By providing the groove, both high beam and low beam functions can be simultaneously achieved in the integrated optical element of a vehicle light, so that the optical element of a vehicle light has diversified functions.

The above descriptions are only the preferred implementation modes of the present invention. It should be noted that for those of ordinary skill in the art, several improvements and substitutions can be made without departing from the technical principles of the present invention. For example, on the basis of the optical element of a vehicle light of Embodiment I, a separation slot, a sharp slot, or a groove is formed, and a lens is used as the secondary optical element to realize the corresponding functions. Those skilled in the art can make flexible adjustment as needed, and these improvements and substitutions shall also fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

An optical element of a vehicle light, characterized in that comprising two optical parts, each of which being bent and comprising a light-condensing channel (13) and a light guide channel (14) connected to each other, with a junction therebetween being provided with a reflecting surface (15), wherein one end of the light-condensing channel (13) is provided with a plurality of light-condensing structures (11), and a front end of the light guide channel (14) is provided with an emergent light surface; the two optical parts are arranged in a up and down direction, thereby the two light guide channels (14) are connected at the top of one of the two light guide channels (14) and the bottom of the other of the two light guide channels (14); the emergent light surface is an arc-shaped surface which protrude outwards, and the two emergent light surfaces of the two light guide channels (14) are connected to form a smooth continuous second emergent light surface (16); and the second emergent light surface (16) is a convex lens surface or an arc-shaped surface extending in a left-right direction.
The optical element of the vehicle light according to claim 1, characterized in that a separation slot (4) is formed in the optical element (1) of the vehicle light, and the separation slot (4) penetrates through the two light guide channels (14) and comprises a light outlet surface (41) and a light inlet surface (42) which are disposed oppositely.
The optical element of the vehicle light according to claim 2, characterized in that extending directions of the light outlet surface (41) and the light inlet surface (42) are the same as an extending direction of the emergent light surface.
The optical element of the vehicle light according to claim 1, characterized in that a sharp slot (5) with a V-shaped longitudinal section is formed in one of the light guide channels (14) in the optical element (1) of the vehicle light; and the sharp slot (5) comprises a sharp slot reflecting surface (51) away from the second emergent light surface (16) and a sharp slot side surface (52) close to the second emergent light surface (16).
The optical element of the vehicle light according to claim 4, characterized in that extending directions of the sharp slot reflecting surface (51) and the sharp slot side surface (52) are the same as an extending direction of the emergent light surface.
The optical element of the vehicle light according to claim 1, characterized in that a groove (6) is formed in one of the light guide channels (14) in the optical element (1) of the vehicle light; the groove (6) comprises a front side surface (62) and a rear side surface (61) which are disposed oppositely; and the front side surface (62) and the rear side surface (61) are connected by a connection surface (63).
The optical element of the vehicle light according to claim 6, characterized in that extending directions of the front side surface (62) and the rear side surface (61) are the same as an extending direction of the emergent light surface.
The optical element of the vehicle light according to claim 6, characterized in that the groove (6) is formed in a bottom surface of the light guide channel (14) located below.
The optical element of the vehicle light according to claim 1, characterized in that the light-condensing structure (11) is a light-condensing cup structure with a concave cavity, or a solid body of a curved structure, or a protrusion that protrudes outwards.