WO2015086140A1

WO2015086140A1 - Fibre bundle arrangement and method for producing said type of fibre bundle arrangement

Info

Publication number: WO2015086140A1
Application number: PCT/EP2014/003278
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tina Zimmermann
Original assignee: Daimler Ag
Priority date: 2013-12-12
Filing date: 2014-12-06
Publication date: 2015-06-18
Also published as: DE102013020552A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a fibre bundle arrangement comprising at least one fibre bundle (12) having a plurality of optical fibres (14) which are received at least partially in at least one receiving element (18) of a holding element (16) of the fibre bundle arrangement (10) and are held together by means of the holding element (16). Said holding element (16) is elastically deformed by optical fibres housed in the receiving element (18) and can be elastically reformed back into the original state by reducing an inner periphery of the receiving element (8). The invention also relates to a method for producing said type of fibre bundle arrangement (10).

Description

Fiber bundle arrangement and method for producing such

Fiber bundle assembly

The invention relates to a fiber bundle arrangement according to the preamble of

Claim 1 and a method for producing such

Fiber bundle arrangement according to the preamble of claim 8.

Such a fiber bundle arrangement and such a method can be found, for example, in DE 197 32 051 C1 as known. The fiber bundle arrangement comprises at least one fiber bundle with a plurality of optical fibers, which are accommodated at least partially in at least one receptacle of a holding element, in particular a sleeve or bush, of the fiber bundle arrangement. The individual optical fibers are held together by means of the retaining element.

In the context of the method for producing the fiber bundle arrangement, the optical fibers are arranged at least partially in the receptacle of the holding element. For this purpose, the optical fibers are inserted, for example, in the receptacle in a plug-in direction. After arranging the optical fibers in the holding element, the holding element according to DE 197 32 051 C1 is pressed by magnetic pulse forming on the fiber bundle, i. plastically deformed or reshaped.

DE 10 2004 028 310 A1 discloses a method for producing the termination of a fiber optic bundle, in which a sleeve is pushed onto the end section of the optical fiber bundle and the sleeve is pressed in a forming tool at least under the action of pressure on the end section. It is envisaged that the end portion of the optical fiber bundle is introduced and positioned together with the deferred sleeve without pressure on the sleeve in the pressing tool and that after the positioning of the pressure in the radial direction is exerted on the sleeve. Usually, therefore, to hold together the individual Optical fibers, a rigid holding element, such as a sleeve or a socket used, which is pressed with the optical fibers.

For example, it is also known from the general state of the art, for holding together, that is for bundling the optical fibers into a common strand, to use aluminum sleeves which are slipped over the optical fibers and then mechanically crimped. As a further possibility for fiber bundling, it is known to use nickel silver sleeves, which are not crimped, but are glued with an optically matched adhesive with the optical fibers. Furthermore, it is known to use adhesive in addition to crimping.

Usually, the production of the fiber bundle arrangement with pressing and / or bonding of the holding element is time-consuming and expensive. In addition, it has been found that, with increasing life of the fiber bundle arrangement, the cohesion or fixation of the individual optical fibers is released. If the fiber bundle arrangement is used for example in a lighting system, and the holding element falls from the optical fibers, so that the

From this, a functional failure of the fiber bundle arrangement and thus of the lighting system as a whole can result.

Object of the present invention is therefore to provide a fiber bundle assembly and a method for producing such a fiber bundle arrangement, which allow a particularly simple, time-consuming and cost-effective production and a firm and permanent cohesion of the optical fibers.

This object is achieved by a fiber bundle arrangement with the features of

Patent claim 1 and solved by a method having the features of claim 8. Advantageous embodiments with appropriate and non-trivial

Further developments of the invention are specified in the remaining claims.

To create a fiber bundle arrangement, which is simple, time and inexpensive to produce and in which a solid and durable cohesion of

Optical fibers can be ensured, it is provided according to the invention that the holding element is elastically deformed by the recorded in the receptacle optical fibers and elastically deformable to reduce an inner circumference of the receptacle in an initial state. In other words, the holding element of the fiber bundle arrangement is in an elastically deformed state. Become

For example, the optical fibers completely removed from the recording or it comes for example, a thermally induced shrinkage of the optical fibers

or the fiber bundle, which is accompanied by a reduction of an outer circumference of the fiber bundle, the retaining element resiliently, ie automatically or independently springs back into a state (initial state), in which the recording compared to the elastically deformed state a smaller inner circumference, in particular one small inner diameter.

By material testing of fiber bundles, especially with crimped

Aluminum sleeves as holding elements, it was found that the optical fibers begin to shrink under thermal action, so that their respective

Outside circumference is lower. As a result of this shrinkage of the optical fibers, a clamping force usually caused by the holding element decreases to hold the optical fibers together, this clamping force usually being realized by crimping or plastic deformation of the holding element. By shrinking the optical fibers thus usually increases the risk that the aluminum sleeve slips from the optical fibers, so that the aluminum sleeve can no longer adequately fix the optical fibers. Such a thermal effect, that is to say such high temperatures, can occur, for example, in lighting systems which are used in doors, in particular side doors, of motor vehicles, in particular passenger cars. Would the holding element at high temperatures of the

Dropping optical fibers, it would be with a malfunction of the

Accompanied lighting system. The consequence would be that lighting systems with such a fiber bundle arrangement could not be used in motor vehicles, especially in doors.

Since, however, the elastically deformed or elastically deformable retaining element is used in the fiber bundle arrangement according to the invention, the retaining element can be elastically displaced in the direction of shrinkage of the optical fibers

Starting state spring back. In other words, the retaining element follows due to its property to be able to spring back elastically, a material shrinkage of the optical fibers, so that they are held together as a fiber bundle permanently by means of the retaining element. The fiber bundle arrangement according to the invention can thus also be used in lighting systems that are in areas with high

Temperatures, that is to be installed with high thermal impact. The fiber bundle arrangement according to the invention allows the use of such

Lighting system in doors, especially in side doors, of motor vehicles, with a permanent functioning of the lighting system is ensured. At a shrinkage of the optical fibers, the elastically recoverable

or spring-back and thus movable holding element to compensate for the shrunken fiber bundle outer circumference and even with a shrinkage of the

Optical fibers exert a sufficient clamping force on the optical fibers, so that they continue to be firmly held together and, for example, firmly anchored sitting in the holding element.

The fiber bundle arrangement according to the invention can also be produced in a particularly simple, time-consuming and cost-effective manner, since, in comparison with conventional ones

Fiber bundle arrangements a process for plastic deformation or crimping and / or bonding of the retaining element is not provided and is not required. For arranging the optical fibers in the receptacle, the holding element is merely elastically deformed. A retaining force acting on the optical fibers from the retaining element for holding the optical fibers is already effected by the elastically deformed state of the retaining element, in which the receptacle relative to the initial state has a larger inner circumference, in particular a larger inner diameter. Thus, compared to the prior art

Steps and materials for producing the fiber bundle arrangement can be saved.

For elastic deformation of the holding element and the associated

Enlarging or expanding the inner circumference can be sufficient, for example, the optical fibers in the holding element or in the

Insert the recording. In other words, the insertion of the optical fibers into the receptacle may be accompanied by the enlargement of the inner circumference of the receptacle at the same time. As a result, a simple production, in particular a simple handling, can be displayed.

In an advantageous embodiment, the holding element is formed from a plastic.

In this way, a particularly advantageous elastic deformability of the retaining element can be created. In addition, the holding element can be designed particularly inexpensive.

A further embodiment is characterized in that a light mixer is provided which has a second end face facing a respective first end side of the optical fibers, on which the respective second end faces of the optical fibers issue. In other words, the optical fibers are at one end on their first end faces on the light mixer or on the second end face. The resulting direct contact with the Lichtleitmischer allows the presentation of a particularly high light efficiency, since unwanted and unnecessary distances between the optical fibers and the light mixer and resulting from such distances light losses can be avoided or at least kept low.

Another embodiment is characterized in that an insertion aid is provided, which has a channel, in which the optical fibers are inserted in a plug-in direction. It is envisaged that the channel tapers in the insertion direction. The insertion aid is designed for example as a funnel attachment, wherein the channel is used for easy guidance of the optical fibers. As a result, the optical fibers can be plugged in the not bundled state in a simple manner in the insertion or in the channel. In particular, it is possible to supply individual optical fibers. The bundling or merging of the individual optical fibers to the fiber bundle is then carried out by the tapered channel by the optical fibers inserted in the insertion direction in the channel

or be put through it. Of course, it is also conceivable to pre-bundled the optical fibers into the receptacle and / or the channel.

It has proven particularly advantageous if the insertion aid is connected to the holding element. In particular, it can be provided that the insertion aid is reversibly releasably attached to the holding element. Alternatively or additionally, it may be provided that the insertion aid is arranged in the insertion direction in front of the retaining element. Thus, the fibers are already bundled before insertion into the receptacle of the holding member by means of the insertion.

A further embodiment is characterized in that the light mixer is arranged in the insertion direction after the insertion and after the holding element. When inserting the optical fibers they are thus initially bundled by the insertion and can then be moved over their first end faces in contact with the second end face in a simple manner.

It has proven to be particularly advantageous if the fiber bundle arrangement comprises a first light source and at least one second light source. The first light source serves to feed light with a perceptible to the human eye first color, wherein the second light source for feeding light with one of the first color different, second color is used in the optical fibers. The respective light emitted by the respective light source can be mixed specifically in the light mixer, for example. By providing the two light sources it is

for example, for a user of the fiber bundle arrangement, in particular one

Lighting system with the fiber bundle arrangement, possible to adjust the color of the light emitted by the illumination system as needed. The light mixer may comprise a plurality of reflectors and / or a lens system.

To provide a method by which a fiber bundle assembly made in a simple, time and cost-effective manner and a solid and durable

Cohesion of the optical fibers can be realized, it is according to the invention provided that the holding element by enlarging an inner circumference of the

Receiving is transferred from an initial state in an elastically deformed state and held by placing the optical fibers in the receptacle in an elastically deformed state in which the inner circumference of the receptacle is greater than in

Initial state is. Advantageous embodiments of the invention

Fiber bundle arrangement are to be regarded as advantageous embodiments of the method according to the invention and vice versa.

In the context of the method, it is possible, for example, to provide the holding element in an initial state. In this initial state, the retaining element is not elastically deformed. Finally, the optical fibers are inserted in a plug-in direction in the recording. By inserting the optical fibers into the receptacle, the retaining element is elastically deformed in such a way that the inner circumference of the receptacle is enlarged in comparison to the initial state. Through the in the recording

inserted optical fibers, the holding element is held in this elastically deformed state. Since the retaining element is elastically deformed, this acts upon

Holding element, the optical fibers with a clamping force or a holding force, by means of which the individual optical fibers are held together to form the fiber bundle. If the optical fibers are completely removed from the receptacle, the retaining element can spring back into or towards the initial state, which is accompanied by a reduction in the inner circumference of the receptacle.

Alternatively, it can happen that there is a shrinkage of the inserted into the receptacle optical fibers. Such a shrinkage can occur, for example, by exposure of the optical fibers to high temperatures. Such a shrinkage causes a reduction in an outer circumference of the in Recording inserted fiber bundle. However, since the Halteeler ent elastically spring back into or in the direction of the initial state, the holding element can move along with the shrinkage of the optical fibers and compensate for this shrinkage, after shrinking the holding element is for example in an elastically deformed state in which the inner circumference of Recording is still greater than in the initial state. As a result, the optical fibers are acted upon even after shrinking with a sufficient clamping force of the holding element and thereby further firmly held together.

Further advantages, features and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment and from the drawing; this shows in the single figure a schematic sectional view through a

Fiber bundle arrangement, in particular for a lighting system of a motor vehicle, having at least one fiber bundle with a plurality of optical fibers, which at least partially in at least one receptacle of a holding element of the

Fiber bundle arrangement accommodated and held together by means of the holding element, wherein the holding element is elastically deformed by the optical fibers received in the receptacle and is elastically deformable while reducing an inner circumference of the receptacle in an initial state.

The FIGURE shows a schematic longitudinal sectional view of a fiber bundle arrangement denoted as a whole by 10. The fiber bundle arrangement 10 can, for example, in a lighting system of a motor vehicle, in particular a

Passenger car, to be used. Such a lighting system is installed, for example, in a door, in particular a side door of the motor vehicle. The lighting system can be installed, for example, in a door center panel of the door to provide a back-lit by means of the lighting system door center panel. The illumination system serves to illuminate at least a portion of the interior of the motor vehicle. In this way, a so-called ambient lighting of the interior can be created, so that a pleasant and comfortable sense of space in the interior can be created.

The fiber bundle arrangement 10 comprises at least one fiber bundle 12 with a

Plurality of optical fibers 14. The optical fibers are for example Glass fibers that can conduct or transmit light along its longitudinal direction. The optical fibers 14 may be flexible.

The fiber bundle arrangement 10 further comprises a holding element 16 with a receptacle 8. As can be seen from the figure, the optical fibers 14 are accommodated at least partially in the receptacle 18 and held together by means of the holding element 16. For this purpose, the optical fibers 14 are inserted into the receptacle 18, for example, in an insertion direction illustrated by a directional arrow 20.

The holding element 16 comprises a sleeve 22 and clamps 24. The sleeve 22 is formed for example of a plastic. The terminals 24 act as clamping springs and are for example also made of a plastic or of a metallic material. As can be seen from the figure, a respective first end of the clamps 24 is attached to an inner peripheral side surface of the sleeve 22. A respective, opposite the respective first end, the second end of the terminals 24 projects in the radial direction of the sleeve 22 inwardly. In other words, the terminals 24 protrude from the inner peripheral side shell surface of the sleeve 22 in the radial direction tongue-shaped inwardly, wherein the receptacle 18 is at least partially limited by the terminals 24.

The holding element 16 is elastically deformable. Here, the terminals 24 are resiliently held on the sleeve 22. In other words, the clamps 24 may be moved relative to the sleeve 22 with at least partial elastic deformation of the clamps 24. For example, the clamps 24 can be moved toward the sleeve 22 in the radial direction, which corresponds to the enlargement of an inner circumference, in particular one

Inside diameter of the receptacle 18 is accompanied. To move the clamps 24 toward the sleeve 22, the clamps 24 are to be acted upon by a force acting in the direction of the sleeve 22. If this application of force ceases, the clamps spring back into their elastically undeformed state or in the direction of the elastic

undeformed conditions. This springing goes with a reduction in the

Inner circumference of the receptacle 18 is accompanied.

If the optical fibers 14 are inserted into the receptacle 18 during the production of the fiber bundle arrangement 10, the terminals 24 are thereby moved apart or away from one another in the direction of the sleeve 22 and thereby elastically deformed. The holding element 16, in particular the clamps 24, are thus elastically deformed by the optical fibers 14 arranged or received in the receptacle 18. As a result of this elastic deformation, the optical fibers 14 from the terminals 24 with a holding force or a clamping force

acted by means of which the optical fibers 14 to the fiber bundle 12th

held together.

The terminals 24 are thereby reducing the inner circumference of the receptacle 18 in the initial state or in the direction of the initial state

reformable. In other words, when the optical fibers 14 are pulled out of the receptacle 18, the clips 24 can resiliently return towards their

Initial state or feathers in their initial state.

For example, if there is a thermally induced shrinkage of the optical fibers 14, which is associated with a reduction of an outer circumference of the fiber bundle 12, this reduction of the outer circumference of the fiber bundle 2 by the elastic springback, that is, by the elastic mobility of the terminals 24 relative to the sleeve 22nd , be compensated. As a result of the shrinkage of the optical fibers 14, the clamps 24 can thus elastically spring against one another, which is accompanied by a reduction of the inner circumference of the receptacle 18. The optical fibers 14 can thus continue with their shrinkage with a clamping force from the terminals 24th

be acted upon, since the terminals 24 are still elastically deformed even after the shrinkage of the optical fibers 14 and not in their elastically undeformed

Initial state are located.

In the case of the fiber bundle arrangement 10, the terminals 24, which are movable relative to the sleeve 22, are thus used to hold or fix the optical fibers 14, which are moved apart when the optical fibers 14 are inserted into the receptacle 18 and can spring against one another when the optical fibers 14 shrink. As a result, the terminals 24 exert a sufficient clamping force on the optical fibers 14 even after the optical fibers 14 have shrunk, so that they continue to be firmly anchored in the sleeve 22.

The fiber bundle arrangement 10 thus enables fiber bundling of the individual optical fibers 14 even during or after a shrinkage of the optical fibers 14. In addition, the number of working steps for producing the

Fiber bundle assembly 10 are kept low because the optical fibers 14th

For example, can be easily inserted into the receptacle 18. Time- and cost-intensive pre and post work are not required. The clamps 24 provide a clamping system within the sleeve 22, so that conventionally provided, crimped aluminum sleeves can be omitted. Since the sleeve 22 is formed of a plastic, there is also a risk of corrosion. The fiber bundle arrangement 10 also includes a light mixer 26, which is arranged behind or behind the holding element 16 in the insertion direction. The light mixer 26 may be connected to the holding element 16, in particular reversibly releasably connected. The light mixer 26 is received in a holder 28.

From the figure, a light source 30 for feeding light into the optical fibers 14 can be seen. The light emitted by the light source 30 is first fed into the light mixer 26, which ensures a uniform distribution of light.

Preferably, the fiber bundle assembly 10 includes at least a second light source. It is preferably provided that the first light source 30 for feeding light with a perceptible by the human eye, first color in the

Light mixer 26 is designed. The second light source is preferably designed to feed light with a second color perceivable by the human eye and different from the first color into the light mixer 26. As a result, for example, an occupant of the motor vehicle can adjust the light color as needed.

The sleeve 22 may be attached directly to the holder 28 of the light mixer 26, wherein the optical fibers 14 at its end facing the light mixer 26 on the light mixer 26 stand up. In other words, the light mixer 26 preferably has a second end face facing a respective first end side of the optical fibers 14, at which end the respective second end faces of the optical fibers

preferably lie flat. The resulting direct contact between the optical fibers 14 and the light mixer 26 leads to a particularly advantageous and high light efficiency.

The fiber bundle assembly 10 further comprises an insertion aid in the form of a funnel attachment 32, which is arranged on the sleeve 22 and preferably reversibly detachably connected thereto. The funnel top 32 has a channel 34, wherein the optical fibers 14 penetrate the channel 34. In other words, those are

Optical fibers 14 inserted in the direction of insertion through the channel 34 therethrough. In this case, the channel 34 tapers in the insertion direction. In other words, an inner circumference of the channel 34 becomes smaller along the plugging direction. By means of the funnel attachment 32, the optical fibers 14, which are initially still individual and not or only slightly bundled together, can be easily inserted into the funnel attachment 32 and are inserted through it, whereby they bundled together when passing through and can be plugged into the receptacle 18 in a simple manner. By means of the terminals 24, the optical fibers 14 are then finally held together to form the fiber bundle 12.

The funnel top 32 thus serves for simplified guidance of the optical fibers 14.

As a result, for example, the optical fibers 14 can be supplied individually. To realize a particularly simple production of the fiber bundle arrangement, the funnel attachment 32 is arranged in the insertion direction in front of the holding element. Further, the light mixer 26 is in the insertion direction after the funnel top 32 and after

Holding element 16 is arranged.

Claims

claims

A fiber bundle arrangement, comprising at least one fiber bundle (12) with a plurality of optical fibers (14) at least partially received in at least one receptacle (18) of a holding element (16) of the fiber bundle arrangement (10) and held together by means of the holding element (16) .

characterized in that

the holding element (16) by the in the receptacle (18) received

Optical fibers (14) is elastically deformed and reducing a

Inner circumference of the receptacle (18) elastically in an initial state

is deformable.

2. fiber bundle arrangement according to claim 1,

characterized in that

the holding element (16) is formed from a plastic.

3. fiber bundle arrangement according to one of claims 1 or 2,

characterized in that

a light mixer (26) is provided, which has a respective first end side of the optical fibers (14) facing the second end face against which abut the respective second end faces of the optical fibers (14).

4. fiber bundle arrangement according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that

an insertion aid (32) is provided, which has a channel (34), in which the optical fibers (14) are inserted in an insertion direction, wherein the channel (34) tapers in the insertion direction.

5. fiber bundle arrangement according to claim 4,

characterized in that

the insertion aid (32) is connected to the retaining element (16) and / or in

Plug-in direction is arranged in front of the holding element (16).

6. fiber bundle arrangement according to claim 3 and one of claims 4 or 5,

characterized in that

the light mixer (26) in the insertion direction after the insertion aid (32) and after the holding element (16) is arranged.

7. fiber bundle arrangement according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that

a first light source (30) for injecting light having a first color perceptible to the human eye into the optical fibers (14) and at least one second light source for injecting light having a second color perceptible to the human eye and different from the first colors are provided in the optical fibers.

8. A method of manufacturing a fiber bundle assembly (10) in which

at least one fiber bundle (12) having a plurality of optical fibers (14) is arranged at least partially in at least one receptacle (18) of a holding element (16) for holding the optical fibers (14) together,

characterized in that

the holding member (16) is increased from an initial state to an elastically deformed state by enlarging an inner circumference of the receptacle (18) and held in an elastically deformed state by arranging the optical fibers (14) in the receptacle (18) in which the inner circumference of the Recording (18) is greater than in the initial state.