IT202100008030A1 - HYBRID LIGHT GUIDE SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED LIGHTING DEVICE - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

of the patent for industrial invention entitled:

?HYBRID LIGHT GUIDE SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED LIGHTING DEVICE?

Technical field of the invention

The present invention refers to a light guide optical system which can be defined as a "hybrid", in that it combines a light guide proper with a blade optic. The invention also refers to a lighting device for vehicles, particularly but not exclusively a lamp, provided with this optical system and in which the light source is? consisting of an LED or a battery of LEDs.

Known technique

As ? known, on modern vehicles, in particular motor vehicles, are often adopted, both for technical and stylistic reasons, headlights or, more? often, lights in which the lighting body ? made up of a plurality of emission elements or "gems", which are arranged spaced from one another according to a predetermined pattern (for example along a straight or curved line) directly through the vehicle bodywork and/or through a light body or headlamp body made in a opaque material.

Each emission element must be equipped with one or more? corresponding light sources, typically LEDs, which emit/emit a light beam perpendicularly to a rear face of the emitting element.

Such a configuration, as well as being expensive, ? bulky and difficult to make as the LEDs must be supported and powered by a printed circuit which must follow the design formed by the emission elements, or by a plurality of? of support bases electrically connected to each other and which must be in some way individually fixed to the bodywork and/or to the light body or headlamp body.

It would therefore be useful to use a light guide to bring a light beam produced by a single LED or battery of LEDs towards the emitting elements. However such a solution has the? drawback that the? intensity? of illumination of the single emission elements would be different and in any case not uniform, not even on the single emission element.

Summary of the invention

Purpose of the present invention? that of providing a light guide optical system that overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks, allowing to illuminate uniformly and with the same intensity? and using a single LED or battery of LEDs a plurality? of light emitting elements of any shape and arranged along a pre-set trajectory, separated from each other.

The present invention ? therefore relating to a light guide optical system for a lighting device for vehicles made according to what is provided in the appended claims.

The invention? also relating to an associated lighting device, equipped with one or more? of these optical systems to light guide, as well as? to a vehicle equipped with such a lighting device.

In particular, the light guide optical system comprises a plurality of of light emitting elements arranged spaced apart along a trajectory forming a predetermined pattern and configured to receive a light beam perpendicularly to a rear face thereof and to emit said light beam through an opposite front surface thereof facing the rear face.

The light guide optical system according to the invention comprises a blade optic made of a material pervious to light and which connects all the emission elements together, and a total reflection light guide operatively associated with the blade optic ; the blade optics extends longitudinally along the aforementioned trajectory and defines the rear face of each emission element with part of its front face, the emission elements being integrally formed in one piece with the blade optics and protruding from the its front face and from the opposite band to a rear face of the blade optics.

The guide of light ? configured to operatively cooperate with a light source and comprises a first section, a first end of which? ? configured to be directly facing the light source, and a second section, arranged on the opposite side of the first end? and facing the blade optics, in front of and parallel to the rear face of the same and separated from the latter by a gap of pre-set and constant width.

The second trait of the light guide? instead provided by the opposite band to the rear face of the blade optics of a plurality? of first light-extracting optical elements configured to divert the light from? inside the light guide towards the blade optics and the rear face of the latter? provided with a plurality of second optical elements configured to define, together with the gap, an air lens configured to uniformly diffuse the light received from the light guide within the emitting elements.

The light guide has a preferably quadrangular cross section, and even more so? preferably rectangular, and with at least one pair of respective rounded edges arranged on the opposite side of the blade optics; the cross section? substantially identical in width in the first and second sections and ? delimited by a front face facing the blade optics and by an opposite rear face provided only along the second section with first light-extracting optical elements.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the light guide and the blade optics are made integral with each other, integral in a single piece, being made of the same material pervious to light, preferably consisting of a synthetic plastic material, and having been obtained in a single piece by means of a single molding operation.

According to a possible alternative embodiment, the light guide and the blade optics are obtained as two separate and independent elements, which are however? connected integrally in one piece to each other, in any convenient way, such as by bonding, laser or ultrasonic welding, or snapping.

The front face of the light guide ? immediately facing the rear face of the blade optics equipped with the second optical elements, ? separated from it only by the aforementioned gap, which ? preferably but not necessarily fixed and constant, and ? configured as a flat and smooth face.

The blade optic comprises: a central body having a transversal section also preferably quadrangular and transversely projecting, on the opposite side of the light guide, with the emission elements.

The central body preferably has substantially the same width as the cross section of the light guide.

The central body ends with a pair of extremities? opposite each other, obtained integrally with the central body and shaped towards the light guide as L-shaped spacer feet, which feet determine the gap between the light guide and the blade optics.

The first end? of the first section of the light guide? providing integrally and integrally with a light mixing optical element configured to face the light source in use; the light mixing optical element comprises a plurality? of first and second cylindrical lenses, oriented to each other at right angles and arranged cross-over.

The optical system according to the invention can? finally comprising a support shaped like a channel and having a C-shape in cross section, one end wall of which is not? pervious to light.

The channel support houses inside the light guide and the blade optics, the light guide on the side of the back wall and the blade optics on the side opposite the back wall and substantially flush with respective longitudinal edges of a pair of sidewalls of the channel support; the emission elements protrude from the channel support, perpendicular to the back wall.

Finally, the invention also extends to a lighting device comprising such an optical system and to a vehicle comprising such a lighting device.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become clearer from the following description of a non-limiting embodiment thereof, made with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which:

figure 1 schematically illustrates a perspective view of a light guide optical system made according to the invention and an associated lighting device;

figure 2 is a schematic and enlarged perspective view sectioned along a line II-II of the optical system of figure 1;

figure 3 schematically illustrates a perspective view of a possible variant according to the invention of the light guide optical system of figure 1;

figure 4 schematically illustrates on an enlarged scale a perspective view sectioned along a line IV-IV of the light guide optical system of figure 3; And

figure 5 schematically illustrates the light guide optical system of figure 3 in an assembly configuration.

Detailed description

With reference to figures 1 and 2, with the reference number 1 ? shown as a whole a lighting device for a vehicle (figure 1), the vehicle being known and not shown for simplicity?

The lighting device 1 comprises a light source 2 illustrated only schematically and consisting of an LED or a battery of LEDs, per se? known, and a body or housing 3 for an optical system 4 operatively associated with the light source 2.

Housing 3 can? consist of a cup-shaped body of a headlight of the aforesaid vehicle or even, directly, of a portion of the bodywork of the vehicle itself.

The optical system 4 comprises a plurality? of light emitting elements 5 arranged spaced apart, therefore distant from each other, along a rectilinear and/or curved trajectory T, configured to form a predetermined pattern on the outside of the housing 3.

Each light emitting element 5 ? configured to receive transversely to its rear face 6 and in the way that will be seen? a light beam F (figure 1) emitted by the light source 2, and to emit this light beam F (or a portion thereof) through its front surface 7, opposite and facing the rear face 6.

The optical system 4 is, according to one aspect of the invention, a light guide optical system, since it comprises a light guide 8 operatively associated with a blade optics 9.

The 9 blade optics ? made of a material pervious to light and ? configured to connect all the emission elements mechanically and optically 5.

The light guide 8 ? also made of a material pervious to light and ? of the total reflection type, the cio? ? configured to collect the light beam F emitted by the source 2 to transport it along the longitudinal extension of the light guide 8, making it ?bounce? in a known way between its rear face 10 and its front face 11.

The blade optics 9 extends longitudinally along the trajectory T and defines the rear face 6 of each emission element 5 with part of its front face 12; in fact, the emission elements 5 are obtained integrally with the blade optics 9 in the same material and protrude from the front face 12 of the latter, from the opposite band to a rear face 13 of the blade optics 9, opposite and facing face 12.

In particular, the light guide 8 ? configured to operatively cooperate with the light source 2 and comprises a first longitudinal section 14 and a second longitudinal section 15 arranged immediately downstream of the section 14 with respect to the trajectory T and the emission direction of the light beam F.

Does the first section 14 comprise a first end? 16 what? configured to be placed in use directly facing the light source 2; the second section 15 ? arranged by the opposite band at the first extremity? 16 and ? arranged entirely facing and parallel to the blade optics 9, facing and parallel to the rear face 13 of the same.

According to one aspect of the invention, the second portion 15 of the light guide 8 is separated from the back face 13 to which ? facing a gap or empty space 18, of predetermined and constant width, in which gap 18 ? therefore ambient air is present.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the second section 15 of the light guide 8 is also provided, on the opposite side to the rear face 13, of the blade optics 9 and, therefore, in correspondence with its rear face 10, of a plurality? of first optical elements 19, in this case of the light extractor type, such as prisms, micro-prisms, holograms, etc., configured to divert the light from inside the light guide 8 and towards the blade optics 9 and the rear face 13 of the latter.

In combination with the foregoing, the rear face 13 of the blade optic 9 is provided with a plurality of second optical elements 20, preferably consisting of cylindrical optics, configured to define, also together with the gap 18, an air lens 21 capable of uniformly diffusing the light received by the light guide 8 within the emission elements 5.

Basically, thanks to the configuration described, the light beam F emitted by the source 2 is collected by the light guide 8 at its end. 16 and spreads uniformly along the portions 14 and 15 of the light guide 8, according to a trajectory schematized in a purely pictorial way in figure 1; when the light beam F arrives in section 15, during its ?bounces? it is partly intercepted by the optical elements 19 which send parts F1 of the beam F out of the light guide 8, perpendicularly to the faces 11 of the latter and 13 of the blade optics 9.

At this point, the beams F1 are intercepted by the second optical elements 20, which ?open? dispersing them uniformly within each emission element 5, which in turn diffuses them outwards through the surface 7.

According to a further aspect of the invention, yes? experimentally found that to further improve the uniformit? of illuminance of the emission elements 5, the light guide 8 preferably has a substantially quadrangular cross section and even more? preferably rectangular and with at least one pair (FIG. 2) of its respective corners 22 which are rounded; in particular the rounded edges 22 are opposed to the blade optic 9.

Furthermore, the cross section of the light guide 8 is of substantially identical width (area) both in the first section 14 and in the second section 15 thereof and ? delimited by the front faces 11 facing the blade optics 9 and rear 10, opposite the front face 11 and which carries the optical elements 19.

In particular, the rear face 10 of the light guide 8 is provided with light-extracting optical elements 19 only along the second section 15, so that all the light energy of the beam F affects the blade optics 9 without being first dispersed.

The light guide 8 and the blade optics 9 are preferably made integral with each other and integral in a single piece, being made of the same material pervious to light, preferably consisting of a synthetic plastic material, and having been obtained in a single part by a single molding operation, for example injection molding.

According to a possible variant, however, the light guide 8 and the blade optics 9 could be obtained as two separate and independent elements, which were then connected integrally to each other in a single piece in any convenient way, for example for welding (laser or ultrasonic), gluing, snapping, etc.

The front face 11 of the light guide 8 ? immediately facing the rear face 13 of the blade optics 9 provided with the second optical elements 20, ? separated from it only by the gap 18, preferably but not necessarily fixed and constant, and ? configured, according to one aspect of the invention, as a flat and smooth face. Yes ? in fact it has been found that by making the face 11 flat and smooth in combination with optical elements 20 consisting of cylindrical optics, the best results of uniform and identical illumination of all the emission elements 5 are obtained.

The blade optic 9 (figure 2) comprises a central body 23 which preferably but not necessarily has a quadrangular cross-section like that of the light guide 8, preferably but not necessarily also having substantially the same width (area).

The central body 23 ? provided transversally cantilevered, on the opposite side of the light guide 8, with emission elements 5, which extend perpendicularly to the face 12.

The blade optic 9 also comprises a pair of opposite ends 24 with which the central body 23 ends and which are obtained integrally with the central body 23.

The extremities? 24 are shaped towards the light guide 8 as L-shaped spacer feet, and their shape, therefore in their function as spacer feet, determines the gap 18 between the light guide 8 and the blade optics 9 and, in particular, between the face 11 and the optics 20.

With reference now also to figures 3 and 4, in them ? illustrated a variant 4b of the optical system 4 described up to now. Are the details similar or equal to those described for simplicity? with the same reference numbers.

The optical system 4b of figures 3 and 4 differs from the previous one only in the shape and length of its first portion 14b of the light guide 8; this section 14b ? more along the section 14 and curved on the side of the extremity? 16, so that the emitting elements 5 can also be installed at a considerable distance from the light source 2.

Finally, in both embodiments 4 and 4b, the first end? 16 of the first section 14 of the light guide 8 ? integral and integrally fitted with a light mixing optical element 25 configured to be turned in use towards the light source 2.

The light-mixing optical element 25 is, in the non-limiting example illustrated, preferably but not exclusively shaped like a plate 26 and in any case ? configured to be turned in use towards a light source and ? endowed with a plurality of first cylindrical lenses 27 and of second cylindrical lenses 28.

The cylindrical lenses 27 and 28 are oriented to each other at right angles (at 90?) and are arranged crossed with each other, so as to let the beam F enter the light guide 8 in the most efficient way. uniform as possible, in particular to compensate for the fact that normally the extremity? 16 is not exactly in focus of light source 2, especially when this is ? consisting of a battery of LEDs.

In order to be able to easily assemble the optical system 4 (or 4b) according to the invention, this comprises (figure 5) a channel-shaped support 29 having a C-shape in cross section and a bottom wall 30 of which is not? pervious to light.

The channel support 29, for example made by molding in a synthetic plastic material not permeable to light, opaque or glossy, houses inside it both the light guide 8 and the blade optic 9.

The light guide 8 ? arranged on the side of the back wall 30, for example against the latter, while the blade optics 9 ? arranged on the opposite side to the bottom wall 30 and substantially flush with respective longitudinal edges 31 of a pair of side walls 32 of the channel support 29.

The emission elements 5 protrude from the channel support 29, perpendicularly to the back wall 30.

In this way ? It is possible to pre-assemble the light guide 8 with the blade optic 9 integral with it in the support 29 and then through the latter, fix the optical system 4/4b on the vehicle, directly to the bodywork or inside a housing 3 of a headlight or headlight.

All the objects of the invention are therefore achieved.

Claims (11)

The light guide optical system (4;4b) for a lighting device (1) for vehicles, the optical system comprising a plurality of of light emitting elements (5) arranged spaced apart along a trajectory (T) which forms a predetermined pattern and configured to receive a light beam (F) transversely to their rear face (6) and to emit this light beam through their front surface (7) opposite and facing the rear face; characterized in that it comprises: a blade optic (9) made of a material permeable to light and which connects all the emission elements (5) together, and a total reflection light guide (8) operatively associated with the? blade optics (9); the blade optics (9) extending longitudinally along said trajectory (T) and defining the rear face (6) of each emission element with part of its front face (12), the emission elements (5) being integrally obtained integral with the blade optics (9) and protruding from said front face (12) of the latter and from the opposite band to a rear face (13) of the same; the light guide (8) being configured to operatively cooperate with a light source (2) and comprising a first portion (14), a first end of which? (16) ? configured to be directly facing the light source, and a second section (15), arranged on the opposite side of the first end? (16) and facing the blade optic (9), in front of and parallel to the rear face (13) of the same and separated from the latter by a gap (18) of predetermined width; the second portion (15) of the light guide being provided on the opposite side to the rear face (13) of the blade optics (9) with a plurality? of first light-extracting optical elements (19) configured to divert the light from inside the light guide (8) towards the blade optics (9) and the rear face (13) of the latter being provided with a plurality ? of second optical elements (20) configured to define, together with said gap (18), an air lens (21) able to diffuse the light received from the light guide (8) within the emission elements (5). 2. Optical system according to claim 1, characterized in that the light guide (8) has a preferably quadrangular cross-section, even more? preferably rectangular, and with at least one pair of respective rounded edges (22) opposite the blade optics (9), of substantially identical width in the first (14) and in the second (15) section and delimited by a front face (11) facing towards the blade optics (9) and from a rear face (10), opposite its front face (11). 3. Optical system according to claim 2, characterized in that the rear face (10) of the light guide (8) is? provided only along said second section (15) with said first light-extracting optical elements (19). 4. Optical system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the light guide (8) and the blade optics (9) are integrally formed, integral in a single piece, being constituted by the same material permeable to light, preferably consisting of a synthetic plastic material, and having been formed in one piece by a single molding operation. 5. Optical system according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the light guide (8) and the blade optics (9) are obtained as two separate and independent elements, which have been integrally connected in a single piece in any convenient way. 6. Optical system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the front face (11) of the light guide ? immediately facing the rear face (13) of the blade optics (9) provided with said second optical elements (20), ? separated from it only by the said gap (18), which ? preferably constant, and ? configured as a flat and smooth face. 7. Optical system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the blade optics (9) comprises: a central body (23) also having a quadrangular cross-section and provided transversely with a cantilever, on the opposite side to the light guide (8 ), of said emission elements (5), said central body (23) having substantially the same width as the cross section of the light guide (8); and a pair of extremities? (24) opposite each other, made integral in one piece with the central body (23) and shaped towards the light guide (8) as L-shaped spacer feet, which feet determine said gap (18) between the light guide and the blade optics. 8. Optical system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first end? (16) of the first section (14) of the light guide (8) ? integrally and integrally provided with a light-mixing optical element (25) configured to be directed in use towards a light source (2); the light mixing optical element (25) preferably comprising a plurality? of first (27) and second (28) cylindrical lenses, mutually oriented at right angles and arranged cross-over. 9. Optical system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a channel-shaped support (29) having a C-shape in cross section and a bottom wall (30) of which? does not pass through the light, the channel support (29) housing the light guide (8) and the blade optics (9) inside it, the light guide (8) on the side of the back wall (30) and the blade optics (9) on the opposite side to the bottom wall and substantially flush with respective longitudinal edges (31) of a pair of side walls (32) of the channel support (29); the emission elements (5) protruding cantilevered from the channel support (29), perpendicularly to the back wall (30). 10. Lighting device (1) comprising an optical system (4;4b) according to any one of claims 1 to 9. 11. Vehicle comprising a lighting device (1), headlamp or lantern, according to claim 10.