PROJECTION HEADLIGHT FOR VEHICLES

Abstract

A projection headlight for vehicles, having a first lighting unit containing a light source and a primary optical unit for pre-shaping light exiting the light source, a second lighting unit containing a light source and a primary optical unit for pre-shaping the light exiting the light source, a secondary optical unit for imaging the light exiting the primary optical unit of the first lighting unit in a region in front of the vehicle as a first light distribution and light exiting the primary optical unit of the second lighting unit as a second light distribution, an actuator for actuating the first lighting unit and the second lighting unit in order to generate the light distribution consisting of the first light distribution and the second light distribution, a diaphragm with a diaphragm edge for producing a light-dark boundary in the first light distribution.

Claims

1. A projection headlight for vehicles, the projection headlight comprising: a first lighting unit comprising a light source and a primary optical unit for pre-shaping light exiting the light source; a second lighting unit comprising a light source and a primary optical unit for pre-shaping the light exiting the light source; a secondary optic for imaging the light exiting the primary optical unit of the first lighting unit in a region in front of the vehicle as a first light distribution and the light exiting the primary optical unit of the second lighting unit as a second light distribution; an actuator for actuating the first lighting unit and the second lighting unit in order to generate the light distribution consisting of the first light distribution and the second light distribution; a diaphragm with a diaphragm edge to produce a light-dark boundary in the first light distribution, wherein the primary optical unit of the first lighting unit and/or the second lighting unit comprises a plurality of light guide elements which are designed to be formed differently such that the light exiting the light guide elements is imaged into different sub-light distributions of the first light distribution or the second light distribution by a secondary optical unit paired with the first lighting unit and the second lighting unit.

2. The projection headlight according to claim 1, wherein the primary optical unit of the first lighting unit and the primary optical unit of the second lighting unit and the diaphragm are connected to each other in one piece.

3. The projection headlight according to claim 1, wherein the primary optical unit of the first lighting unit has a light coupling surface on a side facing the light source and a light decoupling surface on a side facing away from the light source, wherein the light decoupling surface is shaped such that the light decoupled from the several light decoupling surfaces of the same is decoupled in different directions, so that it is imaged by the same secondary optical unit to the different sub-light distributions.

4. The projection headlight according to claim 1, wherein the primary optical unit of the second lighting unit has a light coupling surface on a side facing the light source and has a light decoupling surface on a side facing away from the light source, wherein the light decoupling surface is shaped such that the light pre-shaped from several light deflection surfaces is decoupled in different directions, so that it is imaged by the same secondary optical unit to the different sub-light distributions.

5. The projection headlight according to claim 1, wherein the secondary optical unit is formed as a single lens.

6. The projection headlight according to claim 5, wherein the lens is formed as a converging lens with a single optical axis.

7. The projection headlight according to claim 1, wherein the primary optical unit of the first lighting unit and the second lighting unit and the diaphragm form a common structural unit produced by injection molding.

8. The projection headlight according to claim 7, wherein the diaphragm is connected to the primary optical unit of the first and second lighting unit by overmolding the same.

9. The projection headlight according to claim 1, wherein an extension of the primary optical unit of the first lighting unit and/or the second lighting unit in the main beam direction is less than half an extension of the diaphragm.

10. The projection headlight according to claim 1, wherein the diaphragm has a diaphragm edge forwardly disposed in the main beam direction, which is shaped in such a way that the first light distribution has a predetermined light-dark boundary with exclusive actuation of the light sources of the first lighting unit.

11. The projection headlight according to claim 1, wherein the primary optical unit of the first lighting unit is designed such that via the secondary optical unit the first light distribution is generated as a basic light distribution below a horizontal zero line, and that the primary optical unit of the second lighting unit is formed in such a way that by means of the secondary optical unit the second light distribution is generated as a range light distribution above the horizontal zero line.

12. The projection headlight according to claim 1, wherein the diaphragm is at least partially coated with a reflective material.

13. The projection headlight according to claim 1, wherein the optical axis of the light sources runs in the main beam direction.

14. The projection headlight according to claim 1, wherein the primary optical units of the first lighting unit are arranged vertically above the primary optical units of the second lighting unit.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus, are not limitive of the present invention, and wherein:

[0017] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a projection headlight according to an embodiment of the invention,

[0018] FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the projection headlight,

[0019] FIG. 3 is a side view of the projection headlight,

[0020] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a light distribution on a measuring wall at a 25 m distance, which is generated by the projection headlight according to the invention,

[0021] FIG. 5 is a plan view of a projection headlight according to an embodiment of the invention and

[0022] FIG. 6 is a side view of the projection headlight according to FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] A projection headlight for vehicles is installed in the front region of a vehicle. The projection headlight has a housing within which the optical components described below are arranged. An opening of the housing is closed by a transparent cover.

[0024] According to an example embodiment of the invention according to FIGS. 1 to 3, the projection headlight has a first lighting unit 1 and a second lighting unit 2, which are paired with a common secondary optical unit 3, which is arranged in the main beam direction H in front of the first lighting unit 1 and the second lighting unit 2.

[0025] The secondary optical unit 3 is designed as a lens with a single optical axis A. The lens 3 is formed as a converging lens, in particular as a plano-convex lens, wherein a flat surface 4 of the lens 3 serves as a light entry surface and a convex surface 5 of the lens 3 serves as a light exit surface. Alternatively, the lens 3 may also be biconvex or have another lens geometry.

[0026] The optical axis A of the secondary optical unit 3 runs in a horizontal interface G, which connects the first lighting unit 1 with the second lighting unit 2 and/or in which a diaphragm 6 comprising a front diaphragm edge 7′ in the main beam direction H runs. The diaphragm edge 7′ of the diaphragm 6 is located in a focal point of the lens 3.

[0027] The first lighting unit 1 is arranged above the interface G or the optical axis A and has a plurality of light sources 8 and a plurality of primary optical units 9. In the present embodiment, the first lighting unit 1 has five primary optical units 9.sub.1, 9.sub.2, 9.sub.3, 9.sub.4, 9.sub.5, which are arranged next to each other in the horizontal direction. The primary optical units 9.sub.1, 9.sub.2, 9.sub.3, 9.sub.4, 9.sub.5, are each paired with a separate light source 8. The primary optical units 9.sub.1, 9.sub.2, 9.sub.3, 9.sub.4, 9.sub.5, are each designed as light guide elements, which have a light coupling surface 10 facing the light source (8) and light decoupling surfaces (11.sub.1, 11.sub.2, 11.sub.3, 11.sub.4, 11.sub.5) on a side facing away from the light source. The light decoupling surfaces 11.sub.1, 11.sub.2, 11.sub.3, 11.sub.4, 11.sub.5 are shaped to be different, so that with appropriate actuation or activation of the light sources 8 of the first lighting unit 1, decoupled light 20 is produced by the lens 3 to generate different sub-light distributions TL.sub.12, TL.sub.13, TL.sub.14, TL.sub.15, which by superimposition form a first light distribution Li generated by the first lighting unit 1. The light coupling surfaces 10 of the primary optical units 9.sub.1, 9.sub.2, 9.sub.3, 9.sub.4, 9.sub.5, are preferably equally formed. When switching on all light sources 8 of the first lighting unit 1, a dipped beam distribution L.sub.1 is thus displayed on the measuring screen according to FIG. 4 by means of the secondary optical unit 3. The sub-light distributions TL.sub.11, TL.sub.12, TL.sub.13, TL.sub.14, TL.sub.15 overlap into the dipped beam distribution L.sub.1. The diaphragm edge 7 is imaged into a light-dark boundary HDG of the dipped beam distribution L.sub.1.

[0028] In the vertical direction below the first lighting unit 1, the second lighting unit 2 is arranged, which has a plurality of primary optical units 12.sub.1, 12.sub.2, 12.sub.3, each of which is paired with a light source 8. The primary optical units 12.sub.1, 12.sub.2, 12.sub.3, of the second lighting unit 2 are designed as light guide elements, each of which has a light coupling surface 13 and a light deflection surface 14.sub.1, 14.sub.2, 14.sub.3 facing the light source 8. The light deflection surfaces 14.sub.1, 14.sub.2, 14.sub.3 of the primary optical units 12.sub.1, 12.sub.2, 12.sub.3, are each formed by a lateral surface of the primary optical units 12.sub.1, 12.sub.2, 12.sub.3, which transmits the light 21 coupled into the primary optical units 12.sub.1, 12.sub.2, 12.sub.3, by total reflection in a longitudinal direction of light guidance, which in the present case coincides with the main beam direction H, so that in the region of a front side of the primary optical units 12.sub.1, 12.sub.2, 12.sub.3, and/or of the diaphragm 6 the coupled light 21 is decoupled. In the present embodiment, the coupled light 21 is exclusively decoupled at a front 7 of the diaphragm 6 formed as a light decoupling surface. The light 21 decoupled at the front 7 of the diaphragm 6 will be imaged by means of the secondary optical unit 3 into sub-light distributions TL.sub.21, TL.sub.22, TL.sub.23, wherein these sub-light distributions overlap into a second light distribution L.sub.2.

[0029] The second light distribution L.sub.2 of the second lighting unit 2 thus serves as a range light distribution, whereas the light distribution Li of the first lighting unit 1 serves as a basic light distribution. When the light sources 8 of the first lighting unit 1 and the second lighting unit 2, for which the assembly according to the invention has an actuator for actuating, are switched on, the first light distribution L.sub.1 and the second light distribution L.sub.2 are superimposed into a high beam distribution.

[0030] Depending on the formation or design of the light decoupling surfaces 11.sub.1, 11.sub.2, 11.sub.3, 11.sub.4, 11.sub.5 or the light deflection surfaces 14.sub.1, 14.sub.2, 14.sub.3, sub-light distributions TL.sub.11, TL.sub.12, TL.sub.13, TL.sub.14, TL.sub.15, are thus produced, wherein adjacent sub-light distributions overlap. Alternatively, the light decoupling surfaces 11.sub.1, 11.sub.2, 11.sub.3, 11.sub.4, 11.sub.5 may also be designed in such a way that adjacent sub-light distributions TL.sub.11, TL.sub.12, TL.sub.13, TL.sub.14, TL.sub.15, are directly adjacent to each other.

[0031] Identical components or component functions are provided with the same reference signs.

[0032] FIG. 3 shows that primary optical units 12.sub.1, 12.sub.2, 12.sub.3 of the second lighting unit 2 have a relatively large extension in the main beam direction H, i.e., a relatively large horizontal length I.sub.2 as compared to the horizontal length of the primary optical units 9.sub.1, 9.sub.2, 9.sub.3, 9.sub.4, 9.sub.5. The total light deflection surface 14.sub.1, 14.sub.2, 14.sub.3 of the primary optical units 12.sub.1, 12.sub.2, 12.sub.3 extends to a front region of the diaphragm 6, in which the light exit surface 7 with the diaphragm edge 7′ is located. The length I.sub.1 of the primary optical units 9.sub.1, 9.sub.2, 9.sub.3, 9.sub.4, 9.sub.5, of the first lighting unit 1 is less than half a length I.sub.B of the diaphragm 6, whereas the length I.sub.2 of the primary optical units 12.sub.1, 12.sub.2, 12.sub.3 is greater than half the length I.sub.B of the diaphragm 6 or the distance between the light decoupling surface 7 and the light sources 8 or light coupling surfaces 10, 13.

[0033] The light sources 8 are preferably designed as LED light sources, which are preferably arranged in a vertical common plane. Accordingly, the light coupling surfaces 10, 13 of the first lighting unit 1 and of the second lighting unit 2 are also arranged in the same vertical plane.

[0034] The diaphragm 6 and primary optical units 9.sub.1, 9.sub.2, 9.sub.3, 9.sub.4, 9.sub.5, and primary optical units 12.sub.1, 12.sub.2, 12.sub.3 of the first lighting unit 1 and the second lighting unit 2 are connected to each other in one piece. They are made by injection molding.

[0035] According to an example embodiment in accordance with FIGS. 5 and 6, a projection headlight is provided which differs from the projection headlight in accordance with FIGS. 1 to 3 in that it has a different second lighting unit 2′ and a different diaphragm 6′.

[0036] The second lighting unit 2′ has primary optical units 15.sub.1, 15.sub.2, 15.sub.3, of which the extension in the main beam direction H or of which the horizontal length I.sub.2′ is less than half the length I.sub.B of the diaphragm 6′. The dimension of the primary optical units 15.sub.1, 15.sub.2, 15.sub.3 of the second lighting unit 2′ is thus comparable to the primary optical units 9.sub.1, 9.sub.2, 9.sub.3, 9.sub.4, 9.sub.5, of the first lighting unit 1. The primary optical units 15.sub.1, 15.sub.2, 15.sub.3 each have lateral surfaces or light deflection surfaces for total reflection of the coupled light 21 as well as light decoupling surfaces 22, just like each of the primary optical units 9.sub.1, 9.sub.2, 9.sub.3, 9.sub.4, 9.sub.5.

[0037] The diaphragm 6′ is tapered in the main beam direction H while forming the diaphragm edge 7′.

[0038] The diaphragm 6′ is inserted as a finished component in a molding tool of an injection molding machine as an insert and subsequently overmolded by plastic mass for the formation of the primary optical units 9.sub.1, 9.sub.2, 9.sub.3, 9.sub.4, 9.sub.5, of the first lighting unit 1 and the primary optical units 15.sub.1, 15.sub.2, 15.sub.3 of the second lighting unit 2′. The first lighting unit 1 and the second lighting unit 2′ as well as the diaphragm 6′ are also—as in the first embodiment—made in one piece or as a single-piece component.

[0039] The primary optical units 15.sub.1, 15.sub.2, 15.sub.3 of the second lighting unit 2′ have light decoupling surfaces 16 such that, with appropriate actuation of the light sources 8, the sub-light distributions TL.sub.21, TL.sub.22, TL.sub.23 are generated by the converging lens.

[0040] There may also be a different number of primary optical units of the first lighting unit 1 and of the second lighting unit 2, 2′.

[0041] The diaphragm 6, 6′ is coated with a reflective material, for example evaporated with a reflecting surface.

[0042] The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are to be included within the scope of the following claims.