ES2500740B1 - Lighting device for a vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

Lighting device for a vehicle comprising at least one light emitter linked to a light transmitting means, a partially translucent upper layer, wherein the light transmitting means is essentially flat and comprises an area with at least one optical structure that deflects light towards the upper layer, an opaque mask with at least one transparent area superimposed, between the transmitting means and the upper layer where said lighting device comprises a reflective lower layer adjacent to the light transmitting means located on the opposite side of the mask opaque with at least one transparent area. Thus, said lighting device is invisible in its off state, having, by its arrangement, the ability to emit complex shapes across a surface that apparently is not a component of a light element.

Description

DESCRIPTION

Lighting device for a vehicle

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OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present patent application is a lighting device for a vehicle according to claim 1, which incorporates notable innovations and advantages.

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Inside the interior of a vehicle, lighting devices are used as highlights, or as indicators of a certain element or function. Said 15 lighting devices are usually visible even in their off state, and emit a luminosity in a simple geometric form, as a point, circle or line. It is therefore desirable to have lighting devices that are not visible in their off state, and that, at the same time allow to show complex geometric shapes, and even words or symbols as messages. All this without significant energy expenditure 20, given that the increasing number of electrical devices inside the vehicle leads to an increase in consumption.

At present, various solutions are known for a lighting device for a vehicle, which use a transmitter and a light guide. Said lighting is used, either directly, the light guide itself being the element illuminated and observed by the user, or indirectly, the light being transmitted by the light guide observed only when illuminating an additional element to beautifier mode In this second case the light is transmitted through the air medium and affects the surface of said beautifying element.

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It is also known in the state of the art, as reflected in document US8449161, in which a luminous decorative coating insert for vehicles having an opaque support structure is described. A reflective layer is disposed on the opaque support structure. A light tube is adjacent to the reflective layer and operatively connected to a light source. An optical layer is arranged in the light tube. A total internal reflection (IRR) of the protective layer is arranged on the light tube. A diffuser layer is disposed on the TIR protective layer. A decorative transmission layer is arranged on the diffusion layer. An optical layer creates a light effect on the visible decorative insert only when the light source is activated. An environmental layer is arranged on the transmission layer. 5

Thus, there is still a need to have a lighting device for a vehicle that is invisible in its off state, and which, by its arrangement, has the ability to emit complex shapes across a surface that apparently is not a component of a luminous element. 10

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, this task is solved by means of a vehicle lighting device 15 according to independent claim 1. Additional advantages of the invention are presented in the claims dependent on the description that follows.

The present invention encompasses within the field of ambient lighting systems 20 inside a motor vehicle, in particular, illuminated beautifiers in interior parts of the vehicle interior. It consists in particular of a molding, for example for a door panel, which can be illuminated. This is achieved by the following construction: Support structure, reflective plate, light guide with laser engraving, opaque mask with ornaments in transparent, darkened cover. The user perceives an illuminated figure thanks to the transfer of light through the transparent areas of the opaque mask.

The light illuminates a beautifier to be customized, obtaining illuminated silkscreens in the different interior finishes of the vehicle. This concept is integrated into the decorative moldings 30 that can be found in the door panels, instrument panels or dashboards, center consoles, decorative covers, etc., allowing to obtain illuminated silkscreen prints on different types of surfaces, being especially visible on dark surfaces .

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It is an object of the invention to illuminate beautifiers so that, when the light emitting assembly is switched off, the existence of a lighting system is not appreciated and the user perceives an interior trim or molding of the same quality and appearance as those currently mounted in a motor vehicle. On the contrary, when the light emitting assembly is on, the user perceives a trim or molding with a silkscreen or illuminated figure.

Thus, the lighting device for a vehicle of the present invention comprises at least one light emitter linked to a light transmitting means, a partially translucent upper layer, wherein the light transmitting means is essentially flat and comprises an area with at least one optical structure that deflects light towards the partially translucent upper layer, an essentially opaque mask with at least one substantially transparent area superimposed on the area with at least one optical structure of the light transmitting medium, between the transmitting medium and the upper layer partially translucent wherein said lighting device comprises a reflective lower layer 15 adjacent to the light transmitting means located on the opposite side of the essentially opaque mask with at least one substantially transparent area.

In this way the following advantages are achieved:

• Generation of a novel concept of interior ambient light that increases the quality in the lighting of trims on interior parts of the interior of the vehicle.

• Possibility of customization in multiple finishes depending on the color of the light and the illuminated figure.

• Possibility of making all kinds of engravings / silkscreens illuminated on different 25 trim and interior frames of the vehicle, whether new concepts or existing elements.

• Lighting device for a more compact vehicle and consequently better packaged for transport, compared to other ambient lighting systems.

• Less dispersion of light and greater definition of the illuminated figure thanks to the proximity between the light transmitting means, the mask and the top layer.

Advantageously, said reflective bottom layer is substantially white and with a substantially matte finish. Thus, more intense lighting is achieved and at the same time the unwanted light output is reduced. The optical structure in the light transmitting medium refracts said light mostly towards the upper layer and, to a lesser extent, towards the lower layer. The fact of using the white reflective lower layer allows to recover the refracted light towards the lower layer. In this way a more intense and clear lighting is achieved. With this configuration, a diffuser layer can be saved above the light guide or mask. 5

According to another aspect of the invention, said at least one light emitter is mounted on said reflective bottom layer. Thus the reflective plate is the base plate itself for the electronic circuitry of the lighting system. In this way, component savings are achieved by unifying several functions in the same element. 10

More specifically, the area with at least one optical structure is an engraving on a surface of the light transmitting means adjacent to the essentially opaque mask with at least one substantially transparent area. As mentioned, said substantially transparent area allows light to exit through the drawing with a uniform light distribution. Thus, the essentially opaque mask blocks the light output on the rest of the surface. In a preferred embodiment, said essentially opaque mask is a folio or transparent plastic film to which a black painting or printing process is applied over its entire surface leaving the figure that the user perceives through the paint unpainted. upper layer, thus allowing the transfer of light through it. 20 Alternatively, the essentially opaque mask is a dark colored material on which a weakened laser is applied, making the drawing essentially transparent. Alternatively, the essentially opaque mask is a dark colored material in which the areas of the figure are hollow.

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In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the transmitting medium is of high transparency PMMA. Said material has good light flow transmission properties.

According to another aspect of the invention, the transmitting means is an essentially flat light guide and comprises at least one of its side walls a plurality of notches. 30 Said notches of the light guide are optical elements that refract the light into the transmitting means. Thus, said light guide integrates at least one set of optics in the upper and / or lower part, which are a series of small notches or grooves that refract and divert the light into the transmitting means.

It is worth mentioning that these notches are of greater dimensions the greater the distance to the emitter, with the aim of compensating the losses in the transmission of the light and the refractions towards the interior of the transmitting means or light guide.

This transmitting means, or panel-shaped light guide, has a nuanced area located 5 behind the area where the mask graphics are located through which the light is transmitted. Said nuanced area is preferably a rectangular region etched by laser or the transmitting means can leave the mold with the rectangular region engraved. More particularly, said etched area has substantially equal dimensions to the substantially transparent area of the essentially opaque mask. 10

Advantageously, the light guide of the transmitting means comprises an extension, in order to better capture the light emitted by the emitter, by way of example, an LED. More specifically, the at least one light emitter is linked to the light guide of the light transmitting means at one end of the extension. fifteen

According to another aspect of the invention, the upper layer comprises an essentially opaque portion and a translucent window of smoked finish superimposed on the substantially transparent area of the mask. Thus, the top layer is a darkened cover that gives the final finish to the molding. More particularly, it is preferably smoked and / or obscured with the same color as the opaque part of the mask underneath. Said top layer is preferably of high hardness PMMA so as to avoid possible scratches and is of smoky translucent surface finish, so that the outer appearance is dark and preferably bright. Thus, when the LED is off, the top or embellishing layer behaves like an opaque element (which 25 does not allow to see through it) and when the LED is on, it allows the passage of light and leaves the ornament visible or Mask drawing. In addition, it is the element that covers and protects the internal components of the assembly.

Advantageously, the smoky finish translucent window of the upper layer is essentially the same color as the essentially opaque part of the mask underneath. Specifically, the smoked finish translucent window of the top layer (or panel or trim trim) is made of translucent black smoked material, which looks completely glossy black when the LEDs are off and yet allows you to see the figure when they are on. 35

On the other hand, the essentially opaque portion of the top layer is essentially the same color as the translucent smoky finish window of the top layer. Thus the visual appearance of the translucent area of the upper layer, when the light emitter is off, is essentially equal to that of the non-translucent contour of said upper layer. 5 Said visual appearance of the translucent zone of the upper layer is obtained as a sum of colors of the translucent smoked finish of the partially translucent zone and of the mask black. Said darkened cover has a protective function and at the same time gives the final finish to the molding. Its color, preferably smoked / darkened, is the same as the opaque part of the mask underneath. 10

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, it comprises a capacitive sensor responsible for switching the light emitter on and off. Said capacitive sensor is preferably housed in the housing, being integrated in the electronic board of the LEDs. Said sensor works to the touch so that, when the user passes the hand over the top layer, the lighting is activated, facilitating the operation of ignition.

The attached drawings show, by way of non-limiting example, a lighting device for a vehicle, constituted according to the invention. Other features and advantages of said lighting device for a vehicle, object of the present invention, will be apparent from the description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment, which is illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the drawings to be accompany, in which:

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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1.- It is a perspective view of the exploded view of the lighting device for a vehicle, in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2.- It is a plan view and elevation of several of the components of the lighting device for an unmounted vehicle in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 3A.- It is a view of the interior of a door of a vehicle, with the lighting device for a vehicle once mounted, in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 3B.- It is a perspective view of the interior of a door of a vehicle, with the lighting device for an exploded outgoing vehicle, in accordance with the present invention;

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DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In view of the aforementioned figures and, according to the numbering adopted, an example of a preferred embodiment of the invention can be observed therein, which comprises the parts and elements indicated and described in detail below. 10

Thus, as seen in Figures 1 and 3B, the lighting device for a vehicle comprises at least one light emitter 1 linked to a light transmitting means 2, a partially translucent upper layer 4, wherein the transmitting means 2 of light is essentially flat and comprises an area 22 with at least one optical structure 22a that deflects light towards the partially translucent upper layer 4, an essentially opaque mask 3 with at least one substantially transparent area 31 superimposed on the area 22 with at least one optical structure 22a of the light transmitting means 2, between the transmitting means 2 and the partially translucent upper layer 4 comprising a reflective lower layer 5 adjacent to the light transmitting means 2 located on the opposite side of the essentially opaque mask 3 20 with the minus a substantially transparent zone 31. Said mask 3 is preferably a transparent piece on which the entire bottom of the ornament is painted (for example with ink) of an opaque color leaving only the lines and shapes of the ornaments transparent, where the light comes out. It can also be a directly opaque piece with holes that make up the shapes and lines of the ornament. 25

More specifically, as can be seen in Figures 1 and 2, said reflective lower layer 5 is substantially white and substantially matte, in order to recover the light that can escape through the lower plane of said transmitter means 2 of light. Thus, said light is reflected on the surface of said reflective lower layer 5, and re-enters the light transmitting means 2, improving the performance of this optical device.

More particularly, as seen in Figure 2, said at least one light emitter 1 is mounted on said reflective lower layer 5, and also the electronics necessary for the light emitter. Said reflective bottom layer 5 is a matt white base plate. Said reflective plate saves a diffuser layer above the light transmitting means 2 or the mask 3. In a specific embodiment, the at least one light emitter 1 is an LED.

It should be mentioned, as can be seen in Figures 1 and 2, that electronic elements of said lighting device are mounted on the lower layer 5, in particular the 5 corresponding to the power supply and connection.

According to another aspect of the invention, as seen in Figures 1 and 3B, the area 22 with at least one optical structure 22a is an engraving on a surface of the light transmitting means 2 adjacent to the essentially opaque mask 3 with at least a substantially transparent area 31 10. The at least one light transmitter means 2 is at least one light guide. Said engraving, ground or laser, for the refraction of light in the light guide is preferably a rectangle and is located below the transparent areas of the mask 3. Mention, as seen in Figure 2, that the majority of the light rays have a total reflection between the upper and lower plane of the light guide 2, but a light scattering effect occurs in the recorded area.

On the other hand, as can be seen in Figures 1, 2 and 3B, the transmitting medium 2 is of high transparency PMMA, specifically of a value between 95% and 100% transparency where, 100% is ideal theoretical transparency and 0 % is opaque. More particularly, it is translucent PMMA 20, commonly referred to as methacrylate.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, as seen in Figure 2, the transmitting means 2 is an essentially flat light guide and comprises at least one of its side walls 21 a plurality of notches 23. Thus, the upper walls and lower 25 of the light guide 2 are not completely straight, but have small prisms or notches 23 that distribute the light throughout the surface of the light guide 2.

Additionally, as seen in Figures 1 and 2, the light guide of the transmitting means 2 comprises an extension 24. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the light guide is constructed of a flat piece of transparent material, which It has four light inputs located at the four vertices. The light source is side-LEDs, that is, LEDs that do not emit light from the top, but from the side (see figure 2).

More particularly, as seen in Figure 2, the at least one light emitter 1 is linked to the light guide of the light transmitting means 2 at one end of the extension 24. Said extension 24 has a protrusion shape square with a flat surface receiving the light emitted by the at least one light emitter 1.

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According to another aspect of the invention, as seen in Figures 1 and 2, the upper layer 4 comprises an essentially opaque portion 42 and a translucent smoked finish window 41 superimposed on the substantially transparent area 31 of the mask 3. The window 41 of the upper layer 4 partially translucent is of high hardness PMMA. The material is translucent smoked black, which looks completely bright black when the 10 LEDs are off and allows you to see the figure that the user perceives through the top layer when the LEDs are on.

More particularly, as seen in Figures 1, 3A and 3B, the smoked finish translucent window 41 of the upper layer 4 is essentially the same color as the essentially opaque part 15 of the mask 3. Thus the upper layer 4 consists of an opaque panel 42 with a window 41 translucent in black smoke. Said top layer 4 is also the element that covers and protects the internal components of the assembly and, in turn, acts as a trim element of the interior of the car.

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On the other hand, as seen in Figures 1, 3A and 3B, the essentially opaque portion 42 of the upper layer 4 is essentially the same color as the translucent smoky finish window 41 of the upper layer 4.

According to another aspect of the invention, as seen in Figures 1 and 3B, the lighting device 25 for a vehicle comprises a capacitive sensor 6 responsible for switching the light emitter 1 on and off. The particularity of using a capacitive sensor 6 is that a direct contact or mechanical actuation is not required to activate the system. Approaching the finger on the surface of the upper layer 4, the capacity of the condenser below is modified and, thus, the system is switched on or off.

It should be mentioned, as can be seen in Figures 1 and 3B, that the lighting device for a vehicle comprises a housing 7 which, by means of clips, fixes the assembly to the environment and allows the rest of the components to be accommodated. The environment is, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the support of the assembly to the door panel (and in general to the part of the interior of the vehicle in which the molding is).

The details, shapes, dimensions and other accessory elements, as well as the components used in the implementation of said lighting device for a vehicle may be conveniently replaced by others that are technically equivalent, and do not depart from the essentiality of the invention or the scope defined by the claims that are included after the following list.

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List references:

(1) Light emitter

(2) Light transmitter medium (light guide)

(21) Side walls 15

(22) Area

(22a) Optical structure (engraving)

(23) Notch

(24) Extension

(3) Mask 20

(31) Zone

(4) Top layer

(41) Window

(42) Essentially opaque portion

(5) Reflective bottom layer (printed circuit board) 25

(6) Capacitive sensor

(7) Housing

Claims (4)

1.- Lighting device for a vehicle comprising at least one light emitter (1) linked to a light transmitting means (2), a partially translucent upper layer (4), wherein the light transmitting means (2) It is essentially flat and comprises an area (22) with at least one optical structure (22a) that deflects light towards the partially translucent upper layer (4), an essentially opaque mask (3) with at least one substantially transparent area (31) superimposed on the area (22) with at least one optical structure (22a) of the light transmitting means (2), between the transmitting means (2) and the partially translucent upper layer (4) characterized in that said lighting device comprises a layer lower (5) reflective adjacent to the light transmitting means (2) located on the opposite side of the essentially opaque mask (3) with at least one substantially transparent area (31). 2. Lighting device for a vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that said reflective bottom layer (5) is substantially white and substantially matte finish. 3. Lighting device for a vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least one light emitter (1) is mounted on said reflective lower layer (5) 20. 4. Lighting device for a vehicle according to claim 1 characterized in that electronic elements of said lighting device is mounted on the lower layer (5). 25 5- Lighting device for a vehicle according to claim 1 characterized in that the area (22) with at least one optical structure (22a) is an engraving on a surface of the light transmitting means (2) adjacent to the mask (3) essentially opaque with at least one substantially transparent zone (31). 30 6- Lighting device for a vehicle according to claim 1 characterized in that the transmitting means (2) is of high transparency PMMA. 7- Lighting device for a vehicle according to claim 1 characterized in that the transmitting means (2) is an essentially flat light guide and comprises at least one of its side walls (21) a plurality of notches (23). 8- Lighting device for a vehicle according to claim 7 characterized in that the light guide of the transmitting means (2) comprises an extension (24). 9. Lighting device for a vehicle according to claim 8 characterized in that the at least one light emitter (1) is linked to the light guide of the light transmitting means (2) at one end of the extension (24). 10 10. Lighting device for a vehicle according to claim 1 characterized in that the upper layer (4) comprises an essentially opaque portion (42) and a translucent window of smoked finish superimposed on the substantially transparent area (31) of the mask (3). fifteen 11- Lighting device for a vehicle according to claim 10 characterized in that the translucent window (41) of smoked finish of the upper layer (4) is essentially the same color as the essentially opaque part of the mask (3).  twenty 12- Lighting device for a vehicle according to claim 10 characterized in that the essentially opaque portion (42) of the upper layer (4) is essentially the same color as the translucent window (41) of smoked finish of the upper layer (4) . 13- Lighting device for a vehicle according to claim 1 characterized in that it comprises a capacitive sensor (6) responsible for switching the light emitter (1) on and off.