Optical Device, Arrangement, Vehicle Lamp and Method

Abstract

An optical device comprising at least one lamp is disclosed. The lamp comprises an output face for the light, and an image mask is mounted on said output face.

Claims

1-14. (canceled)

15. An optical device, comprising: a light source having an output surface; a downstream converter having an input face and an output face; and an image mask disposed adjacent to the output face, wherein the image mask is configured such that picture information is projected as light is emitted by the light source from the output surface, through the downstream converter and through the image mask.

16. The optical device of claim 15, further comprising: an optical element disposed downstream of the light source and through which light emitted by the light source passes.

17. The optical device of claim 15, wherein the image mask is at least partially made of metal.

18. The optical device of claim 15, wherein the image mask includes at least two regions of different thickness and thereby different translucence causing a light picture projected by the optical device to have regions of different brightness.

19. The optical device of claim 15, wherein the image mask includes at least two regions having differently arranged holes and thereby different translucence causing a light picture projected by the optical device to have regions of different brightness.

20. The optical device of claim 15, wherein the image mask is formed as a screen.

21. The optical device of claim 15, wherein the image mask is electrically conductive such that a defect in the image mask can be detected by a change in resistance of the image mask.

22. The optical device of claim 15, wherein the image mask is electrically conductive such that the light source is supplied with energy through the image mask.

23. The optical device of claim 15, further comprising: a heat conductor disposed adjacent to the image mask.

24. The optical device of claim 15, further comprising: a second light source; and a circuit board, wherein the light source and the second light source are both connected to the circuit board.

25. The optical device of claim 15, wherein the downstream converter converts the light emitted by the light source into white light.

26. The optical device of claim 15, wherein the optical device is part of a vehicle lamp.

27. The optical device of claim 15, wherein the optical device is included in an optical arrangement that includes a second optical device.

28. An optical device, comprising: a light source having an output surface; a downstream converter having an input face and an output face; and an image mask disposed between the output surface and the input face, wherein the image mask is configured such that picture information is projected as light is emitted by the light source from the output surface, through the image mask, and through the downstream converter.

29. The optical device of claim 28, further comprising: an optical element disposed downstream of the downstream converter and through which light emitted by the light source passes.

30. The optical device of claim 28, wherein the image mask includes a first region and a second region that have differently arranged holes, and wherein the light that is emitted through the first region has a different brightness than does the light that is emitted through the second region.

31. A method of manufacturing an optical device, comprising: coating an output face of a downstream converter with a material from which an image mask is formed, wherein the downstream converter has an input face and the output face, and wherein an output surface of a light source is disposed adjacent to the input face of the downstream converter; removing a portion of the material so as to form the image mask, wherein the image mask is disposed adjacent to the output face of the downstream converter, and wherein the image mask is configured such that picture information is projected as light is emitted by the light source from the output surface, through the downstream converter and through the image mask.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the portion of the material is removed by etching.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the portion of the material is removed by laser ablation using a laser beam.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the portion of the material is removed to form holes in the image mask, and wherein the amplitude of the laser beam is varied so as to form holes of different sizes.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the holes are arranged uniformly across a region of the image mask.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0043] The accompanying drawings, where like numerals indicate like components, illustrate embodiments of the invention.

[0044] FIG. 1 is a schematic structure of the optical device in accordance with an embodiment.

[0045] FIG. 2 is a size comparison of the optical device with an object.

[0046] FIG. 3 is a top view of a lamp with an image mask in accordance with a further embodiment.

[0047] FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of an image mask with a structure.

[0048] FIG. 5 is an image mask that was processed with laser ablation in accordance with two different embodiments.

[0049] FIG. 6 is a schematic structure of an optical device in accordance with a further embodiment.

[0050] FIG. 7A is a schematic view of an optical device in accordance with another embodiment.

[0051] FIG. 7B is a schematic view of an optical device in accordance with yet another embodiment.

[0052] FIG. 8 is an arrangement with optical devices in accordance with an embodiment.

[0053] FIG. 9 is a schematic structure of an arrangement with optical devices in accordance with a further embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0054] Reference will now be made in detail to some embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

[0055] FIG. 1 illustrates an optical device 1 comprising a light source 2, such as for instance, an LED. Furthermore, the optical device 1 includes a converter 4 that is positioned downstream of the light source 2 and is disposed on the light source 2. An image mask 10 is mounted on the converter 4. The image mask 10 is directly mounted on the converter 4 without a further carrier material. Furthermore, the optical device 1 comprises an optical element 12 that is preferably imaging optics so that the projection of the optical device is sharper and/or more efficient.

[0056] FIG. 2 illustrates an optical device 14 comprising an optical element 16 that covers, in this illustration, both the light source and the image mask. (See FIG. 1) The optical element 16 is arranged on a circuit board 18. Next to the optical device 14 a eurocent 20 is positioned, demonstrating that the optical device 14 is very compact and thus requires only a small installation space.

[0057] FIG. 3 illustrates a converter 22 on which an image mask 24 is mounted. The image mask 24 is mounted such that a motif 26 is generated, wherein the projection produced by the image mask 24 shows the negative logo.

[0058] FIG. 4 illustrates an image mask 26 in a schematic structure, wherein it is divided into four different regions 28, 30, 32, 34. In a first region 28, the image mask 26 includes exposed point recesses, i.e., translucent points that are distributed evenly in the region 28 such that they always have the same distance from each other.

[0059] In the region 30, the image mask 26 also includes exposed point recesses, wherein they have the same distance as in region 28, but have a larger diameter. This means that the light picture that may be generated by this region is somewhat brighter than the light picture of the region 28.

[0060] In the region 32, the point recesses are arranged at a regular distance from each other, wherein in a respective direction the point recesses have the same distance, wherein the distance in one direction is larger than in another direction. Additionally, they have approximately the same size as the point recesses in the region 28.

[0061] In the region 34 of the image mask 26, the point recesses are spaced apart by different distances in different directions, wherein the point recesses in one direction have no distance from each other and are partially overlapping, and the points in the other direction have a distance from each other and are not overlapping. Thus, rows with overlapping point recesses are produced, wherein the rows are evenly spaced from each other. Additionally, the distance of the rows with overlapping point recesses is the smallest in the region 34.

[0062] The different regions 28, 30, 32, 34 appear in the projection with different brightnesses when the image mask is penetrated by radiation. The larger the density of points and/or the larger the points, the brighter the region 28, 30, 32, 34 of the image mask 26 appears. The region 34 is the brightest, and the region 32 is the darkest.

[0063] FIG. 5 illustrates two different image masks 36 and 38, wherein they have different structures. Both image masks 36, 38 are generated by means of laser ablation, wherein in the case of the mask 36, the frequency was modulated during manufacturing, i.e., a differently fine grid of point recesses which are translucent was produced with a fixed point size. The point recesses in image mask 36 become increasingly narrow from one side to a second side, wherein they overlap at the second side and hence the image mask is almost completely translucent in the second region.

[0064] In image mask 38, to the contrary, the amplitude was modulated during processing so that differently large point recesses are produced in a constant grid. This means that the point recesses have the same distance from each other across the entire image mask 38, but the size of the point recesses is varied. From a first side to a second side of the image mask 38, the point recesses become increasingly larger. At the first side, the point recesses are of rather small dimension while at the second side they are so large that they overlap at least partially or even completely. In both image masks, the brightness is changed continuously and/or successively so that a light picture may be designed flexibly.

[0065] FIG. 6 illustrates an optical device 40 comprising a light source 48, a converter 50, and a light-proof layer 52. Various color screens 54, 56, 58 are arranged between the converter 50 and the light-proof layer 52, wherein they may, for instance, have the colors red, green, and blue. The color screens 54, 56, 58 and the light-proof layer 52 form an image mask 59. Furthermore, the converter 50 is adapted to convert the light of the light source 48 into white light. This is advantageous because the colors of the color screens 54, 56, 58 are, for instance, better to mix, and thus, for instance from a blue and a yellow color screen, a green region may be represented in a light produced picture.

[0066] Furthermore, a resulting light picture 60 is illustrated schematically in FIG. 6. It is produced when the light source 48 is switched on. In this example, the color screens 54, 56, 58 are structured such that, in a first section 62 of the light picture 60, no color screen 54, 56, 58 is provided between the converter and an output face for the light of the optical device 46. This means that an observer perceives the section 62 of a light picture 60 as white. A section 66 following the section 62 will be observed as black and/or as not being illuminated by an observer of the light picture 60 because the light of the light source 48 is shielded by the light-proof layer 52. Below the light-proof layer 52, the color screens 54, 46, 58 are still formed in this region. There is also the possibility that the color screens 54, 46, 58 are exposed in this region. The light picture 60 would nevertheless show the same. In a section 68 that follows the section 66, the observer will perceive the color of the color screen 54. This section 68 is followed in this embodiment by a further section 66 that is perceived as black, and which is followed by a section 70 that has the color of the color screen 56 in the light picture 60. It is moreover followed by a further section 66, which is followed by a section 72 that has the color of the color screen 58. Finally, a further section 66 follows the section 72.

[0067] FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B each illustrate an embodiment of an optical device with a respective directly emitting LED 74 and 76 as a light source. On the LED 74 an image mask 78 is arranged that is designed to be conductive. Furthermore, it includes a contacting place 79 at which, for instance, a current source may be connected so as to supply the LED 74 with electrical energy. Furthermore, the image mask 78 is designed such that it projects a regular strip pattern when penetrated by radiation from the LED 74. On the LED 76, an image mask 80 is arranged that is also conductive and is adapted to supply the directly emitting LED 76 with current. The image mask 80 shows a logo.

[0068] Additionally, a heat conductor 81 may be arranged on the image mask 80. It is preferably designed such that it does not cover the logo of the image mask 80. In this example, the heat conductor 81 may, for instance, cover a light-proof region of the image mask 80. The heat conductor 81 may dissipate heat that, for instance, is emitted by the LED 76.

[0069] FIG. 8 illustrates an arrangement 82 that includes four identical optical devices 84 which are arranged on a joint circuit board 85. Each of these optical devices 84 comprises a respective light source, not illustrated here, with a respective converter 86. On the output face of the converter or the light source 86 or on the input face of the converter, a respective image mask is arranged which is not shown in this illustration and which comprises the motif 87 that is illustrated separately. Moreover, each optical device 84 includes an optical element 88 that, in this example, is a dispersing lens or biconcave lens. The four optical devices 84 produce a light picture 92, wherein the optical elements enlarge the light picture 92. The light picture 92 shows four times the motif 87 of the image mask, which is provided in each of the optical devices 84, wherein they are illustrated one below the other in the light picture 92. The arrangement 82 may, for instance, be used in a vehicle as an additional direction indicator, wherein the light picture 92 is, for instance, visible in front of and/or behind of a car when the driver actuates a direction indicator control. If the optical devices 84 are switched on and off consecutively, a kind of animation may moreover be produced.

[0070] FIG. 9 illustrates a further example of an arrangement 94 that includes six optical devices 96, 98, 100, 102, 104, 106, wherein an optical element is not shown here. The arrangement 94 may, for instance, be used to inform a driver in a vehicle about the approximate status of the tank level. For this purpose, a respective optical device 96, 98, 100, 102, 104, 106 comprises a different motif. The motif of the image mask of the optical device 96 illustrates in a first section 110 of a light picture 108 “tank is” when a light source of the optical device 96 is switched on. The light picture 108 is illustrated, for the sake of convenience, directly next to the optical devices 96, 98, 100, 102, 104, 106.

[0071] The optical devices 98, 100, 102 show different motifs. The optical device 98 projects the motif “completely”, the optical device 100 projects “half”, and the optical device 102 projects “quarter”. The projection of the optical devices 98, 100, 102 is always projected to the same position in a section 112 of the photographic image 108. In other words, preferably only one of the light sources of the optical devices 98, 100, 102 is switched on. If they are all switched on, the motifs of the three optical devices 98, 100, 102 are illustrated simultaneously in section 112 of the light picture. In order to prevent this, the optical devices 96, 98, 100, 102, 104, 106 may, for instance, be connectable with an intelligent current control that is adapted to control which light sources are switched on, so that preferably maximally one of the light sources of the optical devices 98, 100, 102 is switched on. The optical devices 98, 100, 102 are preferably arranged side by side, wherein a respective imaging optics, not illustrated here, of the respective optical devices 98, 100, 102 may be designed such that the optical devices 98, 100, 102 always project their respective light picture into the section 112.

[0072] Also the optical devices 104, 106 are preferably arranged side by side such that the optical device 104 projects the motif “full” and the optical device 106 projects the motif “empty”. The optical devices 104, 106 are, like the optical devices 98, 100, 102, designed such that they project into the same section 114. This means that the optical devices 104, 106 project their respective light picture onto the same position, the section 114 of the light picture 108.

[0073] In FIG. 9 the light sources of the optical devices 96, 100, and 104 are switched on so that the light picture 108 indicates “tank is half full”. If, instead of the light source of the optical device 100, the light source of the optical device 98 were switched on, the light picture 108 would indicate “tank is completely full”. The motifs “half” and “completely” are indicated in the same section 112.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0074]

TABLE-US-00001 optical device 1, 14, 46, 84, 96-106 light source 2, 48, 74, 76 converter 4, 22, 50, 86 image mask 10, 24, 36, 38, 59, 78, 80 motif 26, 87 optical element 12, 16, 88 circuit board 18, 85 cent 20 region of an image mask 28-34 light-proof layer 52 color screen 54-58 section 62, 66, 68, 70, 72, 110-114 light picture 60, 92, 108 directly emitting LED 74, 76 contacting place 79 heat conductor 81 arrangement 82, 94

[0075] Although the present invention has been described in connection with certain specific embodiments for instructional purposes, the present invention is not limited thereto. Accordingly, various modifications, adaptations, and combinations of various features of the described embodiments can be practiced without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.