TRAVEL DIRECTION INDICATOR MODULE AND EXTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR ARRANGEMENT

Abstract

The present invention relates to a travel direction indicator module for an exterior rearview mirror arrangement for a motor vehicle having at least one light source, a first light conductor comprising a multiplicity of light decoupling points, and a second light conductor, wherein the light source couples a first beam part into the first light conductor at a first end and a second beam part into the second light conductor at a first end, and a module housing is formed as one injection molded part in common with the first light conductor and the second light conductor, which emits light into a single light decoupling area, which is arranged in an area of the second end of the first light conductor situated opposite the first end of the first light conductor, and an exterior rearview mirror arrangement having such a travel direction indicator module.

Claims

1. Travel direction indicator module for an exterior rearview mirror arrangement for a motor vehicle having at least one light source, a first light conductor comprising a multiplicity of light decoupling points, and a second light conductor, wherein the light source couples a first beam part into the first light conductor at a first end and a second beam part into the second light conductor at a first end, and the light decoupling points are distributed across the entire length of the first light conductor between its first and second end and are provided by optical elements, wherein a module housing is formed as one injection molded part in common with the first light conductor and the second light conductor, which emits light into a single light decoupling area, which is arranged in an area of the second end of the first light conductor situated opposite the first end of the first light conductor, wherein the first light conductor, the second light conductor, the module housing and the optical elements are formed in common.

2. Travel direction indicator module according to claim 1, wherein at least one connecting element, especially for a detachable connection like a snap-on connection, or a welding surface for an undetachable connection like a weld joint, is provided on at least one edge region of the module housing for the connection to the exterior rearview mirror arrangement and/or to an inner housing of the travel direction indicator module.

3. Travel direction indicator module according to claim 1, wherein the second end of the second light conductor terminates before or within the light decoupling area, wherein a gap is preferably provided between the second end of the second light conductor and the light decoupling area.

4. Travel direction indicator module according to claim 1, wherein the first and the second light conductor run at least partially in parallel, and/or the first and the second light conductor run at least partially one above the other or next to one another relative to the direction of view of a driver of the motor vehicle.

5. Travel direction indicator module for an exterior rearview minor arrangement for a motor vehicle having at least one light source, a first light conductor comprising a multiplicity of light decoupling points, and a second light conductor, wherein the light source couples a beam part into the first light conductor at a first end, and the light decoupling points are distributed across the entire length of the first light conductor between its first and second end and are provided by optical elements, wherein the first and the second light conductor is formed as one injection molded part, the first light conductor, the second light conductor and the optical elements are formed in common, and wherein the first light conductor and the second light conductor are arranged one behind the other relative to the direction of view of a driver.

6. Travel direction indicator module according to claim 5, wherein, the first and the second light conductor are arranged essentially in a horizontal plane, wherein the first light conductor is arranged essentially behind the second light conductor and is adjusted to emit light into the second light conductor.

7. Travel direction indicator module according to claim 5, wherein, the first light conductor features a magnifying optics.

8. Travel direction indicator module according to claim 7, wherein the magnifying optics comprises a surface curving outwards.

9. Travel direction indicator module according to claim 8, wherein the magnifying optics comprises a circular arc, especially a circular arc having a ¼ circumference.

10. Travel direction indicator module according to claim 9, wherein the circle forming the basis of the circular arc features a radius in the range of 1 mm to 6 mm.

11. Travel direction indicator module according to claim 7, wherein the magnifying optics points downwards relative to the direction of view of a driver.

12. Travel direction indicator module according to claim 7, wherein the optical elements are arranged in a surface of the first light conductor, wherein the surface is arranged essentially perpendicular to the magnifying optics.

13. Travel direction indicator module according to claim 12, wherein, the magnifying optics is adjusted to represent the optical elements in an enlarged manner.

14. Travel direction indicator module according to claim 13, wherein, the second light conductor features a deflection surface, especially a deflection prism or an inclined plane, wherein the deflection surface is essentially arranged opposite the magnifying optics and is adjusted to deflect light from the magnifying optics, preferably upwards relative to the direction of view of a driver, especially to deflect up to 10° upwards relative to an optical axis.

15. Travel direction indicator module according to claim 14, wherein light is emitted by an emission region on the second light conductor, wherein the emission region on the second light conductor runs essentially between its first and second end, and wherein the deflection surface runs at least partially behind the emission region.

16. Travel direction indicator module according to claim 5 featuring a module housing, wherein the first light conductor, the second light conductor, the module housing and the optical elements are formed in common, and wherein at least one connecting element, especially for a detachable connection like a snap-on connection, or a welding surface, especially for an undetachable connection like a weld joint, is provided on at least one edge region of the module housing for the connection to the exterior rearview minor arrangement and/or to an inner housing of the travel direction indicator module.

17. Travel direction indicator module according to claim 5, wherein, the light source couples another beam part into the second light conductor at a first end.

18. Exterior rearview minor arrangement for a motor vehicle having a minor head which can swivel relative to a minor base, wherein at least one minor and one travel direction indicator module according to claim 1 are provided in the housing of the minor head.

19. Exterior rearview minor arrangement according to claim 18, wherein the housing of the minor head features a light exit opening, which is filled up at least by the first light conductor according to claim 1 or at least by the second light conductor according to claim 5.

20. Exterior rearview minor arrangement according to claim 18, wherein each connecting element or each welding surface of the module housing and/or the inner housing connects the travel direction indicator module to the housing of the minor head.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] FIG. 1 depicts a schematic view of a travel direction indicator module according to the invention;

[0034] FIGS. 2a and 2b depicts the travel direction indicator module of FIG. 1 and a section view of same along a plane A;

[0035] FIGS. 3a and 3b depicts the travel direction indicator module of FIG. 1 and a section view of same along a plane B;

[0036] FIGS. 4a and 4b depicts the travel direction indicator module of FIG. 1 and a section view of same along a plane C;

[0037] FIG. 5 depicts a schematic view of two light conductors and a light source of the travel direction indicator module of FIG. 1;

[0038] FIGS. 6a and 6b depicts a schematic view of a travel direction indicator module according to the invention in accordance with another embodiment of the invention and a section view of same along a plane D;

[0039] FIG. 6c depicts the section view of FIG. 6b with an exemplary beam path;

[0040] FIGS. 7a, 7b, 7c depicts section views of other embodiments of the travel direction indicator module according to the invention; and

[0041] FIG. 8 depicts a schematic view of a known exterior rearview mirror arrangement for a motor vehicle having a travel direction indicator module.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0042] FIG. 1 depicts a travel direction indicator module according to the invention which will frequently also simply be called blinker module 1. This blinker module 1 comprises not only a module housing or housing part 2 and a first light conductor 3, but also a second light conductor 5. The first light conductor 3 represents a design light conductor having a multiplicity of decoupling points as in the form of a profile within the meaning of EP 0858932 B2 for example. Light from a light source (not illustrated in FIG. 1), which comprises at least one LED, arrived in the first light conductor 3 at a first end, shown on the left in FIG. 1, and loses luminance on its way to the second end opposite the first end, illustrated on the right in FIG. 1, via the decoupling points, so that in an emission region 9 on the second end of the first light conductor 3, a legally sufficient luminance is ensured only by the second light conductor 5. The second light conductor 5 is therefore also called function light conductor, wherein light from the light source can impinge upon it on its first end, illustrated on the left in FIG. 1, and it emits this light into the emission region 9 essentially without loss, so that the emission region 9 actually also meets ECE R6.

[0043] A driver of a vehicle which is equipped with the blinker module 1 of FIG. 1 looks at the blinker module 1 from left to right. In the direction of view of the driver, the two light conductors 3 and 5 according to FIG. 1 run at least partially in parallel and one above the other. But the invention is not limited to this, but also comprises an at least partially parallel arrangement of the two light conductors next to one another. To this end, for example, the light conductor 3 can run in the plane of the page of FIG. 1 and the light conductor 5 can run below the plane of the page.

[0044] FIGS. 2a, 3a and 4a illustrate views according to FIG. 1 in which a sectional plane is additionally illustrated in each, and the corresponding section views are found in FIGS. 2b, 3b and 4b respectively. The relative path of the two light conductors 3, 5 can be distinguished on the basis of these figures. To be exact, from their respective first ends 3′ or 5′, the two light conductors 3, 5 run in parallel over a large portion of the blinker module 1 and only on its second end 5″ does the second light conductor 5 approach the second end 3″ of the first light conductor 3 in order to feed light beams 11 across a gap 7 into the emission region 9. Alternatively, the second light conductor can also flow directly into the emission region of the first light conductor.

[0045] Moreover, the geometry of the housing part 2, which is formed together with the two light conductors 3 and 5 as one injection molded part, is evident from the FIGS. 2a, 3a and 4b. On its open, opposing edge regions 2′, 2″, the housing part 2 can be formed with connecting elements or welding surfaces, which enable blinker module 1 to be connected to an unillustrated inner housing of blinker module 1 or else directly to the exterior rearview mirror arrangement. To this end, the connecting elements of the blinker module 1 can engage complementary connecting elements of the exterior rearview mirror arrangement, or else the welding surfaces make it possible to weld the housing part 2 to an inner housing, which represents another housing part by means of which an attachment of the blinker module 1 to the remaining exterior rearview mirror arrangement is then possible.

[0046] FIG. 5 schematically indicates how a light source 13 couples light into the first end 3′ of the first light conductor 3 and into the first end 5′ of the second light conductor 5. To this end, light decoupling points 15 are also indicated in the first light conductor 3. Not visible in FIG. 5 are the two respective ends of the two light conductors 3, 5, for which we refer particularly to the FIGS. 4a and 4b.

[0047] The blinker module 1 according to the invention can be introduced into an exterior rearview mirror arrangement (not illustrated) in conventional manner, as described in EP 0858932 B2 for example. It is characterized by its diverse design options with respect to the first light conductor 3 without losing luminance in the emission region 9 due to the second light conductor 5, which is formed in common with the first light conductor 3.

[0048] FIG. 6a depicts a schematic view of a travel direction indicator module 1a according to the invention in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. FIG. 6a additionally shows a sectional plane D. The corresponding section view is found in FIGS. 6b and 6c. The relative path of the two light conductors 3a, 5a can be discerned on the basis of FIG. 6a. To be exact, from their respective first ends the two light conductors 3a, 5a run in parallel over a large portion of the travel direction indicator module 1a. However, the person skilled in the art knows that the light source 13a can also couple another beam part into the second light conductor 5a at a first end (not illustrated in FIG. 6a).

[0049] FIG. 6b depicts a section view of the travel direction indicator module 1a of FIG. 6a along the sectional plane D. The section view depicted in FIG. 6b is similar to the section views shown in the FIGS. 2b, 3b and 4b, but FIG. 6b shows only the first light conductor 3a and the second light conductor 5a. However, the person skilled in the art knows that the light conductors 3a, 5a illustrated in FIG. 6b can be connected to a housing as shown in FIGS. 2b, 3b and 4b. The position of the cut which is shown in FIG. 6b could also essentially relate to any point between the first and the second ends of the light conductors 3a, 5a.

[0050] As depicted in FIG. 6b, the first light conductor 3a comprises a multiplicity of light decoupling points 15a. The person skilled in the art knows that the light decoupling points 15a can be formed by any geometry that is suitable for decoupling coupled light from one end face essentially opposite to and/or transversely to the travel direction. FIG. 6b also shows that the first and the second light conductor 3a, 5a is essentially arranged in a horizontal plane, and the first light conductor 3a is arranged behind the second light conductor 5a, so that the decoupled light from the first light conductor 3a can be emitted into the second light conductor 5a. The magnifying optics 17a illustrated on the first light conductor 3a is shown as a ¼-circular area in order to enlarge the light decoupling points 15a and their acting surface. The light from the magnifying optics 17a is deflected upwards by the deflection surface 19a on the second light conductor 5a and emerges from the emission region 9a illustrated in FIG. 6 into the second light conductor 5a. To this end, the light can be emitted at an angle of up to 10° upwards relative to an optical axis (not illustrated). FIG. 6c therefore illustrates the section view depicted in FIG. 6b with an exemplary beam path. As already described in relation to FIG. 6b, the depicted light beams 11a-11n, 11a′-11n′ are deflected upwards. As an example, FIG. 6 illustrates yet another embodiment in which a convex curvature is arranged on the deflection surface 19a in order to achieve a wider scattering of the light beams 11a′-11n′. But the person skilled in the art knows that this convex curvature is not essential for the functionality of the travel direction module.

[0051] FIGS. 7a, 7b and 7c depict section views of other embodiments of the travel direction indicator module according to the invention. In the depicted embodiments, the first and the second light conductors 3a′-3a′″, 5a′-5a ′″ are each realized by different configurations.

[0052] The features of the invention disclosed in the above description and appended claims and in the drawings can be essential for the realization of the invention in its various embodiments both individually and also in any desired combination.

[0053] The principle and mode of operation of this invention have been explained and illustrated in its preferred embodiment. However, it must be understood that this invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically explained and illustrated without departing from its spirit or scope.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

[0054] 1, 1a blinker module

[0055] 2 housing part

[0056] 2’ edge region

[0057] 2″ edge region

[0058] 3, 3a, 3a′, 3a″, 3a′″ light conductor

[0059] 3′ first end

[0060] 3″ second end

[0061] 5, 5a, 5a′, 5a″, 5a′″ light conductor

[0062] 5′ first end

[0063] 5″ second end

[0064] 7 gap

[0065] 9, 9a emission region according to ECE R6

[0066] 11, 11a-11n, 11a′-11n′ light beam

[0067] 13, 13a light source

[0068] 15, 15a decoupling point

[0069] 17a magnifying optics

[0070] 19a deflection surface

[0071] 100 external rearview mirror arrangement

[0072] 200 minor base

[0073] 300 minor head

[0074] 400 blinker module

[0075] 500 housing

[0076] A, B, C, D sectional plane