KR20180132149A - Lighting unit for automotive headlights to create light bundles with light-dark boundary - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a lighting unit for an automotive headlight for producing a light bundle having light-dark boundaries, which comprises a light source (1), a collimator (2), a light source (1) And a focal line region 4 disposed between the at least one collimator 2 and the exit lens 3, wherein the collimator 2 comprises at least one collimator 2, Is focused in the vertical direction so that the light beam S2 emerging from the light source 2 is directed onto the focal line FL or directly to the focal line area 4. [

Description

Lighting unit for automotive headlights to create light bundles with light-dark boundary

The invention relates to a lighting unit for an automotive headlight for producing light bundles with light-dark boundaries, wherein the lighting unit comprises:

At least one light source

- at least one collimator

- one light source for each collimator,

An outgoing lens having an outer surface,

- a focal line area disposed between the at least one collimator and the exit lens,

The at least one collimator aligns a light beam supplied from a light source assigned thereto to a collimator to form a bundle of light beams,

Wherein the light beam of light bundles emerging from at least one collimator enters a focal line that lies within the focal line area or within the focal line area and the light beams from the at least one collimator are transmitted through the light- Wherein the light-dark boundary is obtained as an image of the focal line or focal line area through the exit lens, and at least one of the collimator, exit lens and focal line area is And the light beam traveling in the light-transmissive body is totally reflected at at least one interface of the at least one collimator.

The invention also relates to a lighting device having at least two such lighting units, wherein the light-transmitting bodies of the lighting units are preferably placed adjacent to each other and / or on top of each other in the horizontal direction, The light-transmissive bodies are interconnected, preferably integrally formed.

Finally, the invention relates to at least one such lighting unit or a vehicle headlight with such a lighting device.

The illumination unit associated with the present invention can be used in automotive headlights, for example, to implement a portion of a dipped beam distribution (particularly the front light distribution of the deep beam distribution) or to implement a fog light.

Current design trends require a headlight having a light exit aperture that is narrow in the vertical direction and wide in the horizontal direction. The first-mentioned illumination unit can be realized in the region of the light exit surface having a low overall height, which may be a maximum of 10 mm or a maximum of 15 mm in height in order to obtain a slit-shaped light exit surface extending in the horizontal direction in a specific embodiment.

In a typical illumination unit disclosed in the prior art, such as described in DE 60 2006 000 180 T2, the light supplied to the light guiding body is deflected onto the exit lens by the total reflection reflector formed in the light guiding body.

A light emitting device comprising a substantially cylindrical optical body with light incidence and light exit areas is known from FR 3 010 772 A1. The light beam propagates from the light incidence area to the light exit area through the optical body, and the light beam is partially absorbed in the central area formed by the concave part of the optical body.

The object of the invention is to realize a lighting unit with a much smaller installation height.

This object is achieved in accordance with the invention by means of the above-mentioned illumination unit in which at least one collimator is constructed and arranged in such a way that the light beam emerging from at least one collimator is concentrated on the focus line in a vertical direction.

Due to the corresponding arrangement of the collimator, it is not necessary to deflect the light beam exiting the reflector and hence the collimator, so that the installation height of the optical guiding optical body and hence the height of the illumination unit can be considerably reduced .

In the above-mentioned DE 60 2006 000 180 T2, it is defined that the light exit surface, that is, the outer surface of the exit lens is made smoothly. In this case, it has been found that the attainable light pattern or attainable light distribution through it is sometimes not sufficiently wide in the horizontal direction and that the illumination of the road interferes with it.

The optical body is preferably a solid body.

In the illumination device of the present invention, it is preferable that the outer surface of the exit lens is formed by a groove-like structure in a smooth basal plane, the groove forming the groove-like structure extends in a substantially vertical direction, In each case two separate adjacent grooves in the horizontal direction are in particular separated by an elevation which extends substantially vertically and which preferably extends over the entire vertical extent of the groove have. The smooth basal plane is preferably CO-continuous and in particular does not have a horizontally extending edge.

As initially described, the width required for the desired light pattern is not achievable through the smooth outer surface of the exit lens, especially with respect to the front light distribution of the deep headlight distribution. In particular, when dispensing the deflective reflector provided in the present invention, this can be a problem. The horizontal blurring of the emerging light beam is achieved by the structure provided on the outer surface of the exit lens, so that a light distribution of the desired width can be achieved.

Preferably, at least one interface of at least one collimator is emitted in such a way that the light of the light source assigned to its collimator, which is totally reflected at its at least one interface, converges vertically, So as to be focused.

In particular, the central coupling-in region of at least one collimator is emitted in the form of a lens, in particular in a manner such that the light coupled with the collimator through the central coupling-in region converges vertically, And may be configured in a free-form mode in which focusing is performed with a focus line area.

It may also be advantageous that all light beams emanating from the collimator are focused on the focal line or in the vertical direction to the focal line area.

The at least one interface and / or the central coupling-in area of at least one collimator, in particular the at least one collimator, can be configured in such a way that the light beams exiting the at least one collimator extend parallel to each other in the horizontal direction .

In this way, improved homogeneity of the light beam in the region of the exit lens can be achieved.

The at least one interface and / or the central coupling-in area of at least one collimator, in particular the at least one collimator, is arranged in such a way that the light beams exiting the at least one collimator converge horizontally, In the vicinity of the area of the lens, specifically in the vicinity of the outer surface area of the exit lens.

In this way, the width of the light distribution can be increased with respect to a given width of the light-guiding (optical) body.

The lens area is generally a free-form lens having positive refractive index, not rotational symmetry. The so-called east / west / south / north curves of the outer side of the collimator are also preferably free-form curves. These curves are in the form of concentric (convergent beam bundles), simply an array of roughly elliptical curved sections, and in the case of parallel arrangements, a roughly parabolic curve is obtained. If these curves are determined, for example, the aforesaid east / west / south / north curves (or other curves or different numbers of curves), they are connected and preferably, for example, For a given plane), at least two G1-continuous surfaces are formed in such a way that the two assigned curve points lie on the ellipse. With a proper selection of the tangent direction at these connection points, a closed contour curve is formed that meets the requirements of G1 continuity.

Preferably, the illumination unit comprises exactly one collimator having an assigned light source. The automotive headlight is, for example, composed of 8 to 15 lighting units according to the present invention.

Preferably, the at least one collimator and the exit lens are arranged relative to each other in such a way that the light coming from the at least one collimator directly reaches the exit lens, in particular without prior deflection and / or reflection.

Preferably, the light source with its assigned collimator lies at one end of the optically-transparent optical body, the exit lens lies at the opposite end, and there is only a focal line area with a focal line therebetween, May be omitted and the optical body may be significantly lowered.

For example, the light exit surface of at least one collimator is provided to be substantially perpendicular to the optical axis of the exit lens.

Each collimator has a flat light-emitting surface, and the collimator is preferably made of an ideal material as a one-piece, and its light-emitting surface has no optical effect.

In particular, at least one light source may be provided as follows.

- lower than the focal line area or focal line,

- higher than the focal line area or focal line, or

- the same height as the focal line area or focal line.

On the bottom surface of the optical body, the two optical body outer surfaces that go toward each other form a body line that lies in the focal line area, or the focal line area, or forms the focal line area. By choosing the vertical normal distance of the body edge from the optical axis or focal line, the diminution magnitude of the dimmed-out light distribution can be specified.

In this case, the outer surface of the optical body facing the at least one collimator is configured to move in at least some of the area, preferably its entire area, to the light incident on the outer surface of the optical body, Respectively.

For example, the corresponding outer surface of the optical body may possibly be covered with a black cover element, such as a screen or a corresponding coating. In this way, the possibility of light escaping uncontrollably from the optical body or reflecting back to the optical body and proceeding in an uncontrollable manner can be avoided.

Further, as described above, in the present illumination unit, the outer surface of the emergent lens is preferably formed by a groove-like structure in a smooth basal plane. In this regard, it is preferable that the first base intersection curve obtained when the smooth base surface and the first non-perpendicular intersection plane intersect is a straight line extending from the first base intersection curve to the first base intersection curve obtained when the outer side intersects the first intersection plane, The outline intersection curve has a sinusoidal profile.

In particular, in relation to the base intersection curve of each first intersection plane, the first outline intersection curve in the first intersection plane may extend in proportion to sin ^N (k * x), where N = 1, 2, 3 , X is a coordinate along each base intersection curve, and k is a constant.

In this case, a zero crossing of the first outline crossing curve of the regular wave can be placed on the first base intersection curve.

Therefore, we keep the profile proportional to sin ^N (k * x), where c = 0.

In particular, the value for the constant k may equally be provided for all first outward crossing curves.

It may further be preferable to be configured such that the second base intersection curve obtained when the smooth base plane intersects with the second perpendicular intersection plane extending parallel to the optical axis of the exit lens is curved, particularly curved outwardly, The second base intersection curve is continuous.

In this case, it is preferable that the second outside intersection curve obtained when the outer side surface intersects with the formed second intersection plane interconnects points of the outer side surface having the maximum distance with respect to the base surface.

In particular, when proceeding along a second base intersection curve in a formed intersection plane, it is advantageous that the normal distance from the second outsider intersection curve is a function s of the parameter, s, which specifies the position on the second base intersection curve .

The second crossing plane is a vertical plane parallel to the optical axis of the light-transmitting body, that is, the exit lens of the light body. The optical axis can be understood as the optical axis of the optical body, in particular, the centerline of the optical body defined with respect to the apex of the exit lens.

At the point of view on the basal plane, the first intersection plane is obtained as follows. The first intersection plane at the point of observation is a plane perpendicular to the tangential plane to the basal plane, where this plane, i. E., The first intersection plane, is also perpendicular to the second intersection plane at which the points lie. As already explained, the second plane of the intersection is a perpendicular intersection plane through a smooth basal plane extending parallel (or through the optical axis) to the optical axis and on which the point of view lies.

The angle between adjacent first intersecting planes varies with respect to the optical axis, wherein in the horizontal direction perpendicular to the optical axis, all intersecting planes They extend in a straight line and parallel to each other.

In this case, it is advantageous to increase the normal distance A (s) when proceeding along the second base intersection curve, where the normal distance at the lower edge of the base is preferably shorter than the normal distance at the upper edge of the base, At this time, the normal distance a (s) is, for example, the relation _{a (s) = a 0 *} - is obtained by using the (K s), where s [0, 1] is, s = 0 indicates the top edge s = 1 represents the lower edge, and K = 1 or K > 1.

If K = 1 then A ₀ is the normal distance at the top or bottom, preferably at the top edge (S = 0) and bottom edge (S = 1) of the basal plane BF, 0 < / RTI >

For K> 1, the normal distance at the top edge (s = 0) is A (0) = K * A ₀ and the normal distance at the bottom edge (A1) = A ₀ * (K - 1)> 0.

In the case of K> 1, sometimes better optical efficiency appears at K = 1.

Therefore, in this configuration, in each case of " zero crossing " located on top of each other, that is, those areas where the outer surface and the basal plane coincide, in this case the corresponding second outer surface & When intersected by a crossing curve, there is a vertical second crossing plane.

In a strictly identical manner, there is a second intersecting plane where the second outermost intersection curve interconnects the negative normal distance / amplitude. However, for clarification, it is sufficient to specify a second outline intersection curve for the " positive " normal distance / amplitude, but other relationships are also obtained by the sinusoid profile in the first intersection plane.

For example, the outer surface of the exit lens may be curved outwardly in the vertical direction, preferably straight in the horizontal direction, and formed by a cylindrical surface having a straight section along an outwardly convex curve, for example . An example of such an outward convex curve is the outline of an aspherical lens.

For example, it is a preform lens curved outward in the vertical direction and not curved in the horizontal direction.

The at least one light source preferably comprises at least one semiconductor light emitting diode, for example a light emitting diode or a plurality of light emitting diodes and / or at least one laser diode, for example comprising at least one laser diode with at least one conversion layer. .

In general, it is preferable to use a light source having a flat light emitting surface, or a light source whose light emitting surface is located in one plane, for example, one of the light sources described above. Also, preferably, the normal to this flat light emitting surface or plane (of the light emitting surface) is normal to the light emitting surface of the collimator that extends parallel to the optical axis of the exit lens and is assigned to the light source. A tilt angle between the normal direction and the optical axis, in particular, a tilt angle of 10 degrees at maximum, is feasible. This may be advantageous, for example, in the combination of several adjacent illumination units, where the exit lens is tilted with respect to the traveling direction (car track) so that the LEDs can be mounted on a common board.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a sinusoidal groove optical element is provided in the foregoing description, wherein the sine function is perpendicular to the lens surface, i.e., the smooth basal plane of the exit lens. The period is preferably kept unchanged, while the groove depth (amplitude) is determined by a predetermined initial value A ₀ or A ₀ * K at the upper edge of the light exit surface, for example, as described above (K-1) at the lower edge of the lens from the value of A ₀ * (K - 1), in particular linearly.

Thus, it has been found that the light distribution can be achieved as desired, and it has surprisingly been found that the light-dark boundary is not bent outwardly, as in the case of a straight line of the light-transmitting body.

The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the following drawings.
Figure 1 shows essential components of a lighting unit according to the invention for a motor vehicle headlight in a first perspective view.
Fig. 1A shows the illumination unit of Fig. 1 in another perspective view.
Figure 2 shows a top view of the illumination unit of Figure 1;
Figure 2a shows a vertical section of the illumination unit of Figure 1;
2B shows a detail view of the focal line area (the position of the body edge with respect to the optical axis with offset).
Fig. 3 shows the beam profile of the optical body of the illumination unit in the vertical direction in the plane including the optical axis.
3A shows a first profile of the optical body of the illumination unit in the vertical direction in a plane including the optical axis.
Fig. 3B shows a second profile of the optical body of the illumination unit in the vertical direction in a plane including the optical axis.
Figure 3c shows a third profile of the optical body of the illumination unit in the vertical direction in a plane including the optical axis.
Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of the front part of the illumination unit with the light-transmitting body in which the exit lens has no groove structure.
4A shows the light distribution produced by the illumination unit of FIG.
Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of a front portion of an illumination unit having a light-transmitting body with an exit lens having a groove structure.
5A shows the light distribution created thereby.
Fig. 6 shows a magnified cross-section of the light-transmitting body of Fig. 5 in a vertical section between its focal line and light exit surface.
Fig. 7 shows the profile of the light exit surface of the exit lens of the light-transmitting body in cross section along the exemplary first crossing plane SE1 of Fig.
Figure 8 again shows the vertical section of Figure 6 with exemplary cross sections AA, BB, CC, and DD.
Figures 9A-9D show profiles of the light exit surface of the exit lens of the light-transmitting body at various cross-sections AA, BB, CC and DD P according to Figure 8 when K = 1.
Figs. 10A to 10D show the profiles of the light exit surface of the exit lens of the light-transmitting body at various cross-sections AA, BB, CC and DD P according to Fig. 8 when K >
Figure 11 shows a lighting device comprising four lighting units according to the invention.
12 shows a front view of a lighting device having six lighting units.

In the framework of this description, the terms "above", "below", "horizontal", "vertical" should be understood as the details of alignment when the unit is placed in a vehicle- do.

Figures 1, 1a, 2 and 2a illustrate an illumination unit 100 according to the invention for an automotive headlight for producing light bundles with light-dark boundaries. The illumination unit includes a light source 1, a collimator 2, an exit lens 3 having an outer surface 3a, and a focal line area 4 disposed between the collimator 2 and the exit lens 3 .

The collimator 2, the exit lens 3 and the focal line area 4 are formed as an integral light transmissive body 101 (the "optical body") and the optical body 101 has a solid body, (That is, not limited in the present embodiment).

The light-transmitting material forming the body 101 preferably has a refractive index larger than that of air. This material preferably contains, for example, PMMA (polymethylmethacrylate) or PC (polycarbonate), particularly those formed of these materials. However, the body 101 may be made of an inorganic glass material.

In the example shown, the optical body 1 has two optical body outer surfaces 1a and 1b on its underside which converge to the body edge 4 '. This body edge 4 'lies in the focal line (FL) region of the exit lens, or in the focal line region (4). In this case, the outer surface 1a of the optical body facing the collimator 2 is incident on the outer surface 1a of the optical body 1 and is incident on the optical body 1 in at least a part of the light traveling in the optical body 1, And is configured to absorb light outside thereof in the entire region.

For example, the corresponding optical body outer surface 1a may be covered with a black cover element, for example a screen or corresponding coding, if possible. In this way, it is possible to prevent light from escaping uncontrollably from the optical body or reflecting back to the optical body and proceeding in an uncontrollable manner.

The light source 1 comprises at least one semiconductor light-emitting device, for example a light-emitting diode or a plurality of light-emitting diodes and / or at least one laser light source, for example comprising at least one laser diode with at least one conversion layer . In the example shown, the light source 1 is lower than the focal line area 4 or the focal line FL.

The collimator 2 is designed so that all or at least a part of the light beam S1 supplied from the light source 1 to the collimator 2 is incident on the focal line FL or onto the focal line area 4, (Light beam S2) from the collimator 2 in such a manner as to be converged vertically into the collimator 2, as shown in FIG.

To this end, the interface 2a of the collimator 2 is designed so that the light totally reflected on its interface 2a is emitted in a horizontal converging manner and is focused onto the focus area FL or into the focus line area 4 It is preferable to provide the system in such a manner as to be provided.

The collimator 2 has a coupling-in recess 2 'with a side coupling-in surface 2c through which the coupled light S1 from the light source 1 is incident on the interface 2a .

The coupling-in recess 2 'also allows the light S 1 coupled to the collimator 2 to pass through the central coupling-in area 2 b on the focal line FL or in the focal line area In particular in the form of a pre-form lens 2b ', in such a way as to be emitted in a vertically converging manner (light beam S2) - phosphorous region 2b.

The light beam S2 emerging from the collimator 2 is directed at least in the vertical direction by the exit lens 3 in such a manner that the light beam S3 emerging from the exit lens 3 forms a light distribution with light- V), which is obtained as an image of the focal line FL or the focal line area 4 through the exit lens 3.

As shown in FIG. 2A, in the illustrated embodiment, the focal line FL located on the optical axis Z of the exit lens is approximately at or slightly below the height of the body edge 4 'in the vertical direction. Fig. 2b shows another possible embodiment in which the body edge 4 'lies above the focal line FL of the exit lens 3. The degree of reduction of the light-dark boundary in the light pattern can be adjusted vertically by this height difference.

Figure 3A shows an example of how the " emerging " light beam S2 from the collimator 2 travels in the horizontal direction. 3a, its interface 2 and its central coupling-in area 2b in the form of a collimator 2, specifically a pre-form lens 2b ', extends horizontally from at least one collimator 2 And preferably the light beam is emitted from the area of the outgoing lens 3, specifically, the area of the outward side 3a of the outgoing lens 3 or the area of the exit lens 3a of the outgoing lens 3, In the upstream direction. Furthermore, a part of the light beam, in particular the light beam from the central region 2b, may already be intersecting in the region of the focal line FL or upstream of the focal line FL. In this way, the width of the optical guiding (optical) body can be increased and the width of the light distribution can be increased.

3B shows an example of how the " outgoing " light beam S2 from the collimator 2 travels in the horizontal direction. According to figure 3b, the collimator 2, in particular its interface 2a and the central coupling-in area 2b in the form of a pre-form lens 2b ', emits a light beam " S2 extend parallel to each other, preferably parallel to the optical axis Z. In this way, improved homogeneity of the light beam in the region of the exit lens and light distribution is achieved.

Figure 3c shows a finally mixed embodiment in which the light beams which have passed through the coupling-in area 2b of the collimator 2 are arranged in such a way that they are arranged in the horizontal direction upstream of the exit lens, While the light beams passing through the region 2c but not passing through the central coupling-in region proceed parallel to each other in the horizontal direction, in particular parallel to the optical axis Z .

3, 3a, 3b as well as Figures 1, 1a and 2, 2a, the collimator 2 and the exit lens 3 are arranged in such a way that the light S3 from the collimator 2, Are arranged with respect to each other in such a way that they reach the direct emission lens 3 without deflection and / or reflection refraction.

Specifically, the light source 1 having the assigned collimator 2 is placed at one end of the light-transmitting optical body 101, the exit lens 3 is placed at the opposite end, and the focus line FL Only the focal line area 4 with the deflective reflector is present and the optical body 101 can be significantly lowered.

For example, the light exit surface 2d of the collimator 2 is substantially perpendicular to the optical axis Z of the exit lens 3. The collimator 2 has a light exit surface 2d configured to be flat so that the collimator 2 is preferably integral with the remaining optical body made of the same material such that the light exit surface 2d has an optical effect I do not have.

The focal line FL lies within the focal line area 4 of the body 101 and preferably substantially coincides with the focal line of the exit lens 3. [

The focal line area 4 is disposed around the edge in the body 101. The HD line is formed by imaging an edge 4, which in particular comprises a curve with some curvature, or particularly preferably a straight line.

The light emerging from the edge 4 through the surface 1a possibly underneath the edge 4 may be reflected by a screen or dark, e.g., black or brown coating, on the outside thereof to prevent error / scattering of light, Shielding / blocking or absorbing by shielding the surface 1a.

The outer surface 3a of the exit lens 3 of the body 101 preferably has an outer side in the vertical direction in such a manner that the exit surface in the light exit direction is more forward than its upper or lower edge zone . In the horizontal direction, the exit lens preferably extends in a straight line, for example, by a cylindrical surface having a straight cross section along an outwardly convex curve, or by a pre-curved surface curved outwardly in the vertical direction and not curved in the horizontal direction, And is formed by a form lens.

4 shows a first half of a lighting unit 101 'which can be derived from a lighting unit 101 according to the invention as shown in principle in the preceding figures. The illumination unit 101 'has an exit lens 3' having a smooth outer surface 3a '.

4A shows a light distribution having a light-dark boundary, e.g., a deep headlight distribution, or a portion of a deep headlight distribution, e.g., a front section. This light distribution has a specific width shown in Fig. 4A.

Starting from this lighting unit 101 ', Fig. 5 shows the front part of the lighting unit 101 already described with reference to Figs. 1, 1a, 2, 2a and 3, 3a, 3b.

4 differs from the design according to Fig. 4 in that in the illumination unit 101 according to Fig. 5, the outer surface 3a of the exit lens 3 is a smooth base surface BF provided with a groove- '), And the groove 3b forming the groove-like structure here extends in the vertical direction, that is, from top to bottom. Specifically, the outer surface 3a of the emergent lens 3 is formed by a groove-like structure in the smooth basal plane BF, the groove 3b forming the groove-like structure extends in a substantially vertical direction, The two grooves 3b horizontally adjacent in each case are preferably separated by a particularly substantially vertically extending elevation extending over the entire vertical length of the groove 3b.

As already described at the outset, the width required for the desired light pattern often can not be achieved through the smooth outer surface (BF) 3a 'of the exit lens, and is particularly advantageous for the front light distribution of the deep headlight distribution Can not be. Horizontal blurring of the emitted light beam is achieved by the structure on the outer surface of the exit lens, so that the desired width of the light distribution is achieved as schematically shown in Fig. 5a. In addition, the quality of the light distribution is significantly improved because the impression of homogeneity is enhanced by the structure on the outer surface of the exit lens.

Figures 6-8, 9a-9d, 10a-10d illustrate another preferred configuration of this groove structure according to the invention.

Figs. 6 and 8 show a vertical section through the body 101 and, in each case, in particular, an enlarged cross-section of the light-transmitting body between its focal line FL and the light exit surface 3a .

Figure 6 shows a second vertical section including a view point P on the base plane BF and Figure 8 shows a second vertical section SE2 with four viewpoints PA, PB, PC and PD, ).

If the smooth basal plane BF intersects the first non-perpendicular intersection plane SE1 (these intersection planes SE1 will be described in more detail below), for example at point P (Fig. 6) A first base intersecting curve BSK1 extending along a straight line is obtained along AA, BB, CC and DD (Fig. 8). At this time, the outer surface 3a and the first intersecting plane SE1 (Corresponding to the profile of the outer surface of the lens in SE1) intersect, the first outline crossing curve SK1 has a sinusoidal profile.

The smooth basal plane is a conceptual construction that is referred to in order to describe the actual aspects implemented. The first non-perpendicular crossing plane SE1 more accurately includes a plurality of such non-perpendicular crossing planes defined below.

In the preferred embodiment shown, the first outside intersection curve SK1 in the first intersection plane SE1 in relation to the base intersection curve BSK1 of each first intersection plane SE1 is sin ^N (k * x , Where N = 1, 2, 3, ... (N = 1 in the illustrated example), x is the coordinate along each base intersection curve BSK1, and k is a constant .

The zero crossing of the sinusoidal first outer side intersection curve SK1 may then be provided to lie on the first base intersection curve BSK1. Therefore, the profile is kept proportional to sin ^N (k * x) + c, where c = 0.

Figure 7 shows an exemplary first crossing plane SE1 with a point P lying perpendicular to the tangential plane TE at point P (Figure 6) for a general description of the relationship. In this section, the lens outer surface is shown in relation to the first base intersection curve BSK1. The base intersection curve BSK1 is straight and has a parameter x along this straight line BSK1. The outline of the lens in this cross section is the first outward crossing curve SK1 proportional to sin (k * x) in this example. The maximum amplitude is A (SP) as shown in Fig. 7, depending on the position s (i.e., s = sP in the cross section according to Fig. 6) corresponding to the point P . The determination of the amplitude will also be described in more detail below.

Fig. 8 shows a cross section along a second vertical intersection plane SE2 parallel to the optical axis Z having four observation points PA, PB, PC and PD as an example.

The first intersection plane SE1 is shown at these four points and the resulting second outward intersection curve SK2 (corresponding to the cross sections AA, BB, CC, DD) for the four selected intersection planes SE1 ) Is shown in Figures 9A-9D. For greater clarity in each case, the double amplitude, i.e. the distance between the maximum and minimum deflection, is shown in cross-section.

The sinusoidal profile of the second outward crossing curve SK2 can be reconfirmed corresponding to FIG. 6, where k = 2 *? / T is maintained for k, and T is the cycle length. Preferably, the value for the constant k is the same for all first outside lateral crossover curves SE1.

Generally, regardless of the illustrated embodiment, typical values for the cycle length T [mm] are within a range of up to 2.50 mm, preferably up to 2.00 mm. In particular, preferred values are in the range of 0.10 mm to 2.00 mm, such as 0.25 mm to 0.75 mm.

The preferred value for the maximum amplitude A ₀ [mm] lies within the range of 25 [mu] m to 350 [mu] m, regardless of the illustrated embodiment, with a typical value of 50 [mu] m.

It has been found that the advantageous value range for the size ratio of A ₀ to T is, for example, 0.075 &lt; (A ₀ / T) < 0.250.

The above information applies when K = 1 (for parameter K, see above for the description of the opening part of the description), a similar consideration applies if K > 1, in which case A ₀ should be replaced by A ₀ * K.

Fig. 8 also shows that the second base intersection curve BSK2 obtained in the case of intersection of the second vertical intersection plane SE2 extending parallel to the optical axis Z of the exit lens 3 and the smooth basal plane BF is curved , And the second base intersection curve BSK2 is preferably continuous.

In this connection, the second outermost intersection curve SK2 obtained at the intersection of the outer surface 3a and the second intersection plane SE2 formed here is the outer surface intersection curve SK2 of the outer surface 3a having the maximum distance to the base surface BF Interconnect the points. Thus, the second plane SE is preferably a vertical intersecting plane parallel to the optical axis Z, to maintain a size of sin ^N (k * x) = 1. These two planes are sufficient for the definition of the lens outer surface, and the area between these vertical planes is defined by the sine function as described above.

The normal distance of the second outermost intersection curve SK2 with respect to the second base intersection curve BSK2 when proceeding along the second base intersection curve BSK2 in the defined intersection plane SE2 is the second base intersection curve BSK2, (S) of the parameter s that provides a position on the BSK2.

6) (PA, PB, PC, PD) (Fig. 8) on the basal plane BF, the first intersection plane SE1 is obtained as follows The first intersection plane SE1 at the observation points P, PA, ... is a plane perpendicular to the tangential plane TE with respect to the base plane BF and this plane (= intersection plane SE1) Is perpendicular to the second intersection plane SE2 on which the point P lies. The second intersection plane extends parallel to the optical axis Z (or passes through this optical axis Z), as already described above, Is a perpendicular intersection plane passing through the base surface BF on which the observation point P lies. The first intersection plane SE1 is at an angle of 90 degrees with the second base intersection curve BSK2.

In the case of a base surface which is curved in the vertical direction and proceeds in a straight line in the horizontal direction perpendicular to the optical axis Z, the angle changes between the adjacent first intersection plane SE1 with respect to the optical axis Z, Z), all the intersecting planes proceed in a straight line and " parallel " to each other.

Returning now to the profile of the second vertical intersection plane SE2 and of the outer side intersection curve SK2, for example, the function A (s) has the relation A (s) = A ₀ * (1 - s) , Where A ₀ is the normal distance at the upper edge of the base plane BF.

Here, s = 0 is the position at the upper edge of the basal plane maintaining A (0) = A ₀ and A (1) = 0 at the lower edge. Therefore, this parameter is the normalized arc length along the intersection curve BSK2.

For the parameter s at the four points according to Fig. 9, the following relationship is maintained.

- PA: s = _sPA = 1,

- PB: s = _sPB , _sPB <1,

- PC: s = s _PC , s _PC < s _PB , and

- PD: s = s _PD = 0.

_{A (s PA) = A 0} * 0 = 0, A (s PD) = A 0 * 1 = A 0, and _{0 <A (s PB) <} A (s PC) <A (s PD) = A 0 to be.

Therefore, in such a configuration, the " zero crossing ", that is, the regions where the outer surface and the basal plane coincide with each other in each case is located on a corresponding second outward intersection curve coinciding with the second base intersection curve in this case Lt; RTI ID = 0.0 &gt; intersecting &lt; / RTI &gt;

In exactly the same way, there is a second intersecting plane where the second outermost intersection curve interconnects the negative normal distance / amplitude. It is sufficient to provide a second outward intersection curve for the " positive " normal distance / amplitude for clarity, but other relationships are obtained by the sinusoid profile of the first intersection plane.

The above-mentioned relation A (s) = A ₀ * (K - s) is a special case of the more general case A = A ₀ * (1 - s), where K = 1. In some cases it has been found that the optical efficiency for K &gt; 1 is better than for K = 1. Typical values for parameter K are in the range of 1.2 - 1.45, preferably about 1.33.

In this case shown in Figs. 10A to 10D, the following is maintained.

_{A (s PA) = A 0} * (K - 1)> 0, A (s PD) = A 0 * K, and _{A 0 * (K - 1)} <A (s P B) <A (s PC) &_Lt; A (s _PD ) = A ₀ * K.

In summary, the outline of the outer surface 3a can be represented by the " virtual " basis plane BF as follows.

z (s, x) = A (s) * sin N (k * x)

In one embodiment of the invention, in summary, a sinusoidal groove optical element is provided, wherein the sine function is perpendicular to the lens surface, i.e., the smooth base of the exit lens. The groove depth (amplitude) is preferably not changed, and the groove depth (amplitude) is preferably set to a value of zero at the bottom edge of the lens from a certain initial value A ₀ (the width of the light distribution can be adjusted through this value) To a value of &lt; / RTI &gt; Thus, it has been found that the desired light distribution can be achieved and, surprisingly, the light-dark boundary does not bend outwardly, as is the case with a straight line of the light-transparent body.

Fig. 11 shows a lighting device including four lighting units 100 according to the present invention having the above-described structure. The optical bodies of the respective illumination units 100 are also arranged adjacently in the horizontal direction in the same manner as the light sources 1. Preferably, the optical body forms a common integral optical body 1101. In the illustrated example, the exit surface of the exit lens 3 forms a continuous surface forming a straight line in a horizontal section.

12 shows in a front view another illumination device having a structure similar in principle to the structure of Fig. 11 (for example, having an integral optical body or an individual optical body can also be separated) A plurality of illumination units and thus six emission lenses (once again, may be integral or detachable) are mounted.

As a result of the light supply in the direction of emission (= advancing direction) according to the invention, some lighting units according to the invention may be modularly arranged adjacent to each other and / or at an offset height, The optical axis of which follows DK. This is possible because the exit lens can be trimmed more simply and the corresponding design requirements can be met. In addition, by the oblique trimming of the exit lens (or the total exit lens, which is the sum of all the individual exit lenses 3), the width of the individual illumination units can be reduced and / or adapted to the desired car headlight sweep.

Claims (26)

An illumination unit for an automotive headlight for producing a light bundle having a light-dark boundary, the illumination unit (100) comprising:
At least one light source (1),
- at least one collimator (2),
- one light source (1) for each collimator (2)
An outgoing lens 3 having an outer surface 3a,
- a focal line area (4) arranged between said at least one collimator (2) and said exit lens (3)
The at least one collimator 2 aligns the light beam S1 supplied from the light source 1 assigned thereto to the collimator 2 to form a light beam S2 of the light bundle,
A light beam S2 of bundles of light emerging from said at least one collimator 2 enters a focal line FL (4) lying in or in the focal line area 4,
The light beam S2 from the at least one collimator 2 is incident on the exit lens 3 in such a manner that the light beam S3 from the exit lens 3 forms a light distribution with light- Is bounded at least in the vertical direction (V) by means of the exit lens (3), the light-dark boundary is obtained as an image of the focal line (FL) through the exit lens (3)
The at least one collimator (2), the exit lens (3) and the focal line region (4) are integrally formed from a light-transmissive body (101) S1, S2) are totaled at at least one interface (2a) of said at least one collimator (2)
Characterized in that said at least one collimator (2) is constructed and arranged such that a light beam (S2) from said at least one collimator (2) is concentrated in a vertical direction onto said focal line (FL) Lighting unit for automotive headlights to produce light bundles with light - dark boundaries. 2. The image display device according to claim 1, wherein the outer surface (3a) of the exit lens (3) is formed by a groove-like structure in a smooth bottom surface (BF), and the groove (3b) Two vertically extending grooves 3b in each case preferably in each case in the horizontal direction are preferably arranged so as to have a particularly substantially vertically extending rise extending over the entire vertical extent of said groove 3b, Wherein the light bundle is divided by a plurality of light-branching portions. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said at least one interface (2a) of said at least one collimator (2) comprises a light source (1) assigned to said collimator (2) ) Is emitted in such a way that it converges in a vertical direction so that it is concentrated on the focal line (FL) or into the focal line area (4). Lighting unit for car headlights to create. 4. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the central coupling-in region (2b) of the at least one collimator (2) is connected to the collimator (2) In the form of a lens in such a manner that the light which is incident on the focal line FL is emitted in such a way that the light which is connected to the focal line FL is converged in the vertical direction and converged on the focal line FL or into the focal line area 4. In particular, Wherein the light bundle is formed in the shape of a light beam having a light-dark boundary. 5. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that all the light beams (S2) emerging from the collimator (2) are concentrated in the vertical direction onto the focal line (FL) The light bundle having a light-dark boundary. 6. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the at least one collimator (2), in particular at least one interface (2a) and / or central coupling The area (2b) is configured in such a way that the light beams from the at least one collimator (2) proceed parallel to each other in the horizontal direction. The headlamp for producing a light bundle with light- Lighting unit. 4. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one collimator (2), in particular at least one interface (2a) and / or a central coupling-in area (2b) The light beam emitted from the collimator is configured to travel in a manner such that the light beam converges in the horizontal direction and preferably the light beam is incident on the outer surface 3a of the exit lens 3 in the region of the exit lens 3, ) Of the light-branching portion of the light-branching portion. The illumination unit for an automobile headlight for producing a light bundle having light-dark boundaries. 8. A vehicle headlight (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it comprises exactly one collimator (2) per assigned light source (1) Illumination unit. 9. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one collimator (2) and said exit lens (3) are arranged such that light from said at least one collimator (2) Wherein said light bundles are arranged with respect to each other in such a manner that they reach the direct emission lens (3) without reflection. 10. The light source according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the light exit surface (2d) of the at least one collimator (2) is substantially perpendicular to the optical axis of the exit lens (3) Lighting unit for automotive headlights for producing light bundles with boundaries. 11. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the at least one light source comprises:
- lower than the focal line area (4) or the focal line (FL)
- higher than the focal line area (4) or the focal line (FL), or
- is at the same height as the focal line area (4) or the focal line (FL). The optical element according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein two optical body outer surfaces (1a, 1b) extending toward each other on the bottom surface of the optical body (1) Or a body edge (4 ') lying within the focal line area (4) or forming the focal line area, characterized in that the light source . 13. The optical system according to claim 12, wherein the optical body outer side face (1a) opposed to the at least one collimator (2) is arranged to face the optical body (1) , And is configured to absorb light at the outside thereof, at least in some areas, preferably over the entire area. 14. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 13, wherein the first base intersection curve BSK1 obtained when the base surface (BF) and the first non-perpendicular intersection plane (SE1) intersect extends in a straight line, Wherein the first outer cross-over curve SK1 obtained when the outer surface 3a intersects the first intersection plane SE1 has a sinusoidal profile. Lighting unit for automotive headlights. 15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the first outline intersection curve SE1 in the first intersection plane SE1 in relation to the base intersection curve BSK1 of each first intersection plane SE1 is sin ^N (k * x) , Wherein N = 1, 2, 3, ..., x is a coordinate along each base intersection curve SE1, and k is a constant. Lighting unit for automotive headlights to create light bundles. 16. A vehicle according to claim 15, characterized in that the zero crossing of the sinusoidal first outline intersection curve (SE1) lies on the first base intersection curve (BSK1) Lighting unit for headlights. The lighting unit for an automotive headlight according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the value of the constant k is the same for all first outward crossing curves (SE1) to produce a light bundle with light- . 18. A projection optical system according to any one of claims 2 to 17, wherein the second base (12) obtained when the base plane intersects with the second perpendicular intersection plane (SE2) extending parallel to the optical axis (Z) The intersection curve BSK2 is configured to be curved, in particular to curve outwardly, and preferably the second base intersection curve BSK2 is continuous. Lighting unit for headlights. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the second outer side intersection curve (SK2) obtained when the outer side surface (3a) intersects the formed second intersection plane (SE2) And a plurality of points on the side surface (3a) are interconnected to form a light bundle having light-dark boundaries. 20. The method of claim 19, wherein proceeding along a second base intersection curve (BSK2) in a formed intersection plane (SE2), the normal distance from the second outer side intersection curve (SK2) And a function s (s) of a parameter s specifying the light-dark boundary. 21. The method according to claim 20, wherein, when proceeding along a second base intersection curve (BSK2), the normal distance A (s) continuously increases and the normal distance at the lower edge of the base surface (BF) and the normal line is shorter than the distance, the normal distance a (s) is becomes for example obtained using the relationship _{a (s) = a 0 *} (Ks), where, s [0, 1] at, s = 0 is the top Characterized in that s = 1 represents the lower edge and K = 1 or K &gt; 1 and A ₀ is the normal distance at the upper or lower edge of the base surface (BF), preferably at the upper edge A lighting unit for an automotive headlight to produce light bundles with a light-dark boundary. 22. The light-emitting device according to any one of claims 2 to 21, wherein the outer surface (3a) of the emergent lens (3) is curved outward in the vertical direction and preferably extends straight in the horizontal direction, Wherein the light source is formed by a cylindrical surface having a straight section along an outwardly convex curve. 23. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one light source (1) comprises at least one semiconductor-based light emitting element, for example a light emitting diode or a plurality of light emitting diodes, and / And at least one laser light source including at least one laser diode having at least one laser diode having a light-dark boundary. The lighting unit for an automotive headlight for producing a light bundle having light-dark boundaries. 24. Light-transmissive body (101) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the light-transmissive bodies (101) of the illumination unit are preferably positioned adjacent to each other and / or on top of each other in the horizontal direction A lighting unit for an automotive headlight to produce a bundle of light having. 25. The light-emitting device according to claim 24, wherein the light-transmitting bodies (101) of the at least two illumination units are interconnected, preferably integrally formed. Lighting unit. At least one lighting unit according to any one of claims 1 to 23 or at least one lighting unit according to claim 24 or 25.

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