LOGO LAMP DEVICE, REAR VIEW SYSTEM, VEHICLE AND METHOD FOR ASSEMBLING

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a logo lamp device for a vehicle which may include an inner housing and an outer housing, the inner housing and the outer housing having an open end; an encapsulant configured opposite to the open end of the inner housing and the outer housing; a printed circuit board (PCB) enclosed within the inner housing; at least one light source connected to the PCB and enclosed within the inner housing; and an optical assembly having plurality of lenses, wherein the plurality of lenses comprises at least one first lens and at least one second lens. The logo lamp device may include at least one retaining mechanism configured between the at least one first lens and the inner housing, wherein the at least one first lens is configured to push the at least one second lens against the inner housing, and/or the at least one first lens is detachably mounted onto the inner housing.

Claims

1-13. (canceled)

14. A logo lamp device for a vehicle, comprising an inner housing and an outer housing, the inner housing and the outer housing having an open end; an encapsulant disposed opposite to the open end of the inner housing and the outer housing; a printed circuit board (PCB) enclosed within the inner housing; a light source connected to the PCB and enclosed within the inner housing; an optical assembly having plurality of lenses, wherein the plurality of lenses include a first lens and a second lens; and a retaining mechanism between the first lens and the inner housing, wherein the first lens is configured to push the second lens against the inner housing.

15. The logo lamp device of claim 14, wherein the first lens is detachably mounted onto the inner housing.

16. The logo lamp device of to claim 14, wherein the retaining mechanism comprises a snap fit mechanism.

17. The logo lamp device of claim 16, wherein the first lens comprises an extended arm having a retaining end, and the inner housing comprises a receiving portion for receiving the retaining end of the extended arm of the at least one first lens.

18. The logo lamp device of claim 14, wherein the retaining mechanism comprises a threaded mechanism.

19. The logo lamp device of claim 18, wherein the first lens comprises an extended arm having threads, and the inner housing comprises threads complementary to the threads of the extended arm of the first lens.

20. The logo lamp device of claim 14, wherein the retaining mechanism comprises a bayonet mechanism.

21. The logo lamp device of claim 20, wherein the first lens comprises an extended arm having a bayonet end, and the inner housing comprises a bayonet receiving portion for receiving the bayonet end of the extended arm of the first lens.

22. The logo lamp device of claim 14, wherein the first lens is a condenser lens and the second lens is a projector lens.

23. The logo lamp device of claim 14, further comprising a plurality of second lenses.

24. The logo lamp device of claim 14, wherein the optical assembly further comprises a mask interposed between the first lens and the second lens.

25. The logo lamp device of claim 24, wherein the mask is provided with a cut-out for determining a projection.

26. The logo lamp device of claim 14, wherein the inner housing and the outer housing are made in one piece.

27. The logo lamp device of claim 14, wherein the inner housing and the outer housing are made in separate pieces.

28. The logo lamp device of claim 14, wherein the outer housing has a cylindrical portion, an arm, a wing, and a hole configured for positioning and fixing the logo lamp device on a rear view system.

29. An external rear view system of a vehicle comprising at least one logo lamp device according to claim 14.

30. A vehicle comprising at least one logo lamp device according to claim 14.

31. The vehicle according to in claim 30, wherein one or more logo lamp device is mounted on the vehicle at a mounting location selected from a group consisting of: at a front portion, at a rear portion, on a side portion, on a front bumper, on a rear bumper, on a left door, and on a right door of the vehicle.

32. A method for assembling a logo lamp device ,comprising: providing an inner housing, an outer housing, and an optical assembly having a plurality of lenses and a mask, wherein the inner housing is enclosed within the outer housing, and wherein the plurality of lenses comprises a first lens and a second lens; arranging the second lens of the optical assembly within the inner housing; arranging the mask on top of the second lens; bringing the first lens with an assembling tool, wherein the first lens axially faces the mask and is axially aligned with the second lens; fixing the first lens on the inner housing by using the assembling tool to obtain a closed-fit arrangement of the first lens, the mask and the second lens, wherein the first lens, the mask and the second lens are arranged on a common axis; arranging a printed circuit board (PCB) on top of the first lens, wherein the PCB has a light source facing the first lens; and disposing an encapsulant over the PCB, the inner housing and the outer housing to obtain the logo lamp device.

33. The method according to in claim 32, wherein the first lens is provided with a protrusion detachably attaching the assembling tool.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0039] FIGS. 1a and 1b: illustrate an exploded view and a sectional view of a logo lamp device according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0040] FIG. 2: illustrates a sectional view of a logo lamp device illustrating a second embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0041] FIG. 3: a sectional view of a logo lamp device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0042] FIG. 4: a sectional view of a logo lamp device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0043] FIGS. 5a to 5c: illustrate sectional views of the logo lamp device of FIGS. 1a and 1b showing the showing the assembling steps of the at least one first lens; and

[0044] FIG. 6: is a schematic illustration of a vehicle mounted with the logo lamp device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0045] It is to be understood that the embodiments described are merely exemplary of the present disclosure that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present disclosure.

[0046] FIGS. 1a and 1b illustrate a logo lamp device 100 according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. The logo lamp device 100 comprises an outer housing 102 and an inner housing 104. The inner housing 104 is enclosed within the outer housing 102. Both the inner housing 104 and the outer housing 102 have an open end 106. The open ends 106 of the inner housing 104 and the outer housing 102 allow light rays to exit the logo lamp device 100.

[0047] The inner housing 104 and the outer housing 102 may be molded in one piece. In another embodiment the inner housing 104 and the outer housing 102 may be molded in separate pieces and joined together by using a joining element, such as a mechanical fastener, adhesive or welding. The outer housing 102 is configured to be disposed within a rear view system (not shown) of a motor vehicle.

[0048] The outer housing 102 comprises a cylindrical portion 102a. The cylindrical portion 102a has a longitudinal axis A-A. The logo lamp device 100 is configured to be rotated around said axis A-A within a housing of the rear view system (not shown). The outer housing 102 further comprises at least one arm 102b, at least one wing 102c and at least one hole 102d. The at least one arm 102b of the outer housing 102 is configured to sit on the housing of the rear view system. The at least one wing 102c having the at least one hole 102d is configured to fix the logo lamp device 100 on the housing of the rear view system. In the illustrated embodiment, the outer housing 102 has three arms 102b, one wing 102c having one extended hole 102d.

[0049] During assembly of the logo lamp device 100 in the rear view system, the cylindrical portion 102a of the outer housing 102 is inserted into the housing of the rear view system in such a way that the at least one arm 102b of the outer housing 102 sits on the housing of the rear view system and the extended hole 102d of the outer housing 102 aligns with a hole in the housing of the rear view system. The logo lamp device 100 is then adjusted by rotating the logo lamp device 100 about the axis A-A. After rotational adjustment, the logo lamp device 100 is fastened on the rear view system by a fastener, which is inserted and fastened into the extended hole 102d of the outer housing 102 and the hole of the housing of the rear view system. Various other embodiments are possible in which the logo lamp device 100 may be mounted directly on the vehicle independent of the rear view system.

[0050] The logo lamp device 100 further comprises a printed circuit board (PCB) 110 enclosed within the inner housing 104. The PCB 110 comprises at least one light source 112 and other electronic elements for controlling the at least one light source 112.

[0051] The logo lamp device 100 further comprises an encapsulant 108 configured opposite to the open ends 106 of the inner housing 104 and the outer housing 102. The encapsulant 108 acts as a sealant for sealing the respective ends of the inner housing 104 and the outer housing 102. The encapsulant 108 may be a liquid material that is configured to be cured on the inner housing 104, the outer housing 102 and the PCB 110 to form a hardened material in response to being cured.

[0052] The logo lamp device 100 further comprises an optical assembly 114 having plurality of lenses facing the at least one light source 112. The plurality of lenses comprises at least one first lens 116 and at least one second lens 118. Various numbers of lenses are possible for each of the at least one first lens 116 and the at least one second lens 118 based on the projection requirement. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1a and 1b, the at least one first lens 116 comprises one lens and the at least one second lens 118 comprises three lenses 118a, 118b, 118c, stacked one over the other on the common axis A-A such that no tolerance is present between the at least one first lens 118 and the at least one second lens 116.

[0053] The at least one first lens 116 may be a condenser lens and the at least one second lens 118 may be a projector lens. The at least one first lens 116 may be used to condense the light rays coming from the at least one light source 112, and the at least one second lens 118 may be used to direct and project the light rays outside the logo lamp device 100.

[0054] The optical assembly 114 further comprises a mask 120 interposed between the at least one first lens 116 and the at least one second lens 118. The mask 120 may be made of an opaque material having one or more cut-outs of an image, shape, symbol, logo, icon or text such that the cut-out portion of the mask 120 allows the light to pass through and the opaque portion of the mask 120 stops the light rays to pass through the mask 120. In this manner, the projection of the image, shape, symbol, logo, icon or text is possible via the logo lamp device 100. Other embodiments of the mask 120 may include a colored sheet for projecting various colored projections through the logo lamp device 100.

[0055] FIG. 2 illustrates a second embodiment of the logo lamp device 100 with a different optical assembly 114. The optical assembly 114 of FIG. 2 still comprises a plurality of lenses with at least one first lens 116 and at least one second lens 118. While the at least one first lens 116 has one lens, the at least one second lens 118 has six lenses 118a, 118b, 118c, 118d, 118e, 118f. Three of the lenses 118a, 118b, 118c are arranged in one stack and three of the lenses 118d, 118e, 118f are arranged in another stack in a parallel combination. The optical assembly 114 further comprises one mask 120 interposed between the at least one first lens 116 and the two stacks of the at least one second lens 118.

[0056] The mask 120 may have more than one cut-outs for projecting more than one projection selected from of an image, shape, symbol logo, icon and/or text. In the illustrated embodiment, the mask 120 has two cut-outs for two simultaneous projections.

[0057] The at least one first lens 116 may be a condenser lens and the at least one second lens 118 may be a plurality of projector lenses. Thus, in this embodiment, one condenser lens, one mask and six projector lenses are illustrated. The advantage of having such an arrangement of lenses is that a common condenser lens and a common mask are sufficient to project more than one projection.

[0058] Various other possible arrangement of lenses and mask is also possible. For example, the at least one first lens 116 may have one lens, the mask may have one mask, and the at least one second lens may have two or three stacks of lenses, each stack may have four or five lenses.

[0059] The logo lamp device 100 further comprises at least one retaining mechanism for locking the optical assembly 114 on the inner housing 104. The retaining mechanism is configured between the at least one first lens 116 and the inner housing 104. The retaining mechanism retains the optical assembly 114 in the inner housing 104 in a closed-fit manner such that there is no tolerance between plurality of lenses. The retaining mechanism is also configured in a manner that a residual force is acting all the time between optical assembly 114 and the inner housing 104. Thus, the optical assembly 114 is rattle free even when the logo lamp device 100 is exposed to shock or vibration.

[0060] In the illustrated embodiment shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b, the retaining mechanism is a snap-fit mechanism. As shown, the at least one first lens 116 comprises at least one extended arm 122 having a retaining end 124 (more clearly shown in FIG. 1b). The inner housing 104 comprises a receiving portion 126 for receiving the retaining end 124 of the extended arm 122 of the at least one first lens 116. The extended arm 122 of the at least one first lens 116 is in the form of U-shape or V-shape which is configured to be deflected when assembly is initiated. When assembled, the retaining end 124 of the at least one first lens 116 sits on the receiving portion 124 of the inner housing 104, and the extended arm 122 regains its original shape, hence the at least one first lens 116 is locked on the inner housing 104. The at least one first lens 116 is supported by the PCB 110 from the top and the at least one second lens 118 on the bottom having the mask 120 interposed between the at least one first lens 116 and the at least one second lens 118. Thus, a compact assembly is obtained, and a residual force is always acting on the at least one first lens 116, the mask 120 and the at least one second lens 118 due to the configuration of the at least one first lens 116, the at least one second lens 118 and the snap fit mechanism between the at least one first lens 116 and the inner housing 104.

[0061] FIG. 3 shows a third embodiment of a logo lamp device 200 without showing the outer housing 102 for the sake of simplicity. This embodiment is similar to the principles of the above embodiments with at least one first lens 216, a mask 120 and a least one second lens 118, except for significant modifications in the retaining mechanism which are discussed herein. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the retaining mechanism is a threaded mechanism. The at least one first lens 216 comprises for that purpose at least one extended arm 222 having threads 224. The inner housing 204 comprises threads 226 complementary to the threads 224 of the at least one first lens 216. During assembly, the threads 224 of the at least one first lens 216 mate with the threads 226 of the inner housing 204. Again, the at least one first lens 216 is supported by the PCB 110 from the top and the at least one second lens 118 on the bottom having the mask 120 interposed between the at least one first lens 216 and the at least one second lens 118. Thus, a compact assembly is obtained, and a residual force is always acting on the at least one first lens 216, the mask 120 and the at least one second lens 118 due to the configuration of the at least one first lens 216, the at least one second lens 118 and the threaded mechanism between the at least one first lens 216 and the inner housing 204.

[0062] FIG. 4 shows a fourth embodiment of a logo lamp device 300 without showing the outer housing 102 for the sake of simplicity. This embodiment is similar to the principles of the above embodiments with at least one first lens 316, a mask 120 and a least one second lens 118, except for significant modifications in the retaining mechanism which are discussed herein. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the retaining mechanism is a bayonet mechanism. The at least one first lens 316 comprises at least one extended arm 322 having a bayonet end 324. The inner housing 304 comprises a bayonet receiving portion 326. During assembly, the bayonet end 324 of the at least one first lens 316 mate with the bayonet receiving portion 326 of the inner housing 304. Again, the at least one first lens 316 is supported by the PCB 110 from the top and the at least one second lens 118 on the bottom having the mask 120 interposed between the at least one first lens 316 and the at least one second lens 118. Thus, a compact assembly is obtained, and a residual force is always acting on the at least one first lens 316, the mask 120 and the at least one second lens 118 due to the configuration of the at least one first lens 316, the at least one second lens 118 and the bayonet mechanism between the at least one first lens 316 and the inner housing 304.

[0063] The present disclosure also provides a method of assembling the logo lamp device 100, 200, 300 according to the previous embodiments, as illustrated in FIGS. 5a to 5:

[0064] The method comprises the step of providing an inner housing 104, 204, 304, an outer housing 102 and an optical assembly 114 having a plurality of lenses and a mask 120. The inner housing 104, 204, 304 is enclosed within the outer housing 102. The plurality of lenses comprises at least one first lens 116, 216, 316 and at least one second lens 118.

[0065] The method further comprises the step of arranging the at least one second lens 118 of the optical assembly 114 within the inner housing 104, 204, 304. The at least one second lens 118 may comprise one or more lenses. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5a to 5c, the at least one second lens 118 comprises three lenses 118a, 118b, 118c stacked one over the other on a common axis A-A such that no tolerance is present between the at least one second lens 118.

[0066] The method further comprises the step of arranging the mask 120 on top of the at least one second lens 118. In this present embodiment, the mask 120 is arranged on top of the lens 118a.

[0067] The method further comprises the step of bringing the at least one first lens 116, 216, 316 with an assembling tool 400 in such a way that the at least one first lens 116, 216, 316 faces the mask 120 and is axially aligned with at least one second lens 118.

[0068] The method further comprises the step of fixing the at least one first lens 116, 216, 316 on the inner housing 104, 204, 304 by using the assembling tool 400 to obtain a closed-fit arrangement of the at least one first lens 116, 216, 316, the mask 120 and the at least one second lens 118. The at least one first lens 116, 216, 316, the mask 120 and the at least one second lens 118 are arranged on a common axis A-A.

[0069] The method further comprises the step of arranging a printed circuit board (PCB) 110 on top of the at least one first lens 116, 216, 316. The PCB 110 has at least one light source 112 facing the at least one first lens 116, 216, 316.

[0070] The method further comprises the step of disposing an encapsulant 108 over the PCB 110, the inner housing 104, 204, 304 and the outer housing 102 to obtain the logo lamp device 100, 200, 300.

[0071] FIGS. 5a to 5c illustrate sectional views of the logo lamp device 100 of FIGS. 1a and 1b showing the assembly of the logo lamp device 100 of FIGS. 1a and 1b, particularly the assembly of at least one first lens 116 on the inner housing 104 by using an assembling tool 400. As shown in FIG. 5a, the at least one second lens 118 having three lenses 118a, 118b, 118c and the mask 120 are arranged in the inner housing 104. FIG. 5a also shows the at least one first lens 116 being arranged on the inner housing 104 in unassembled state. The at least one first lens 116 comprises a protrusion 128 for holding a holder 402 of the assembling tool 400. The holder 402 of the assembling tool 400 comprises a constriction 404 configured to be attached to the protrusion 128 of the at least one first lens 116 during assembly. FIG. 5b illustrates an intermediate state in which the at least one first lens 116 is pushed down in the inner housing 104 by the assembling tool 400 but not snap-fitted completely. FIG. 5c illustrates an assembled state in which the at least one first lens 116 is further pushed down and snap-fitting of the at least one first lens 116 and the inner housing 104 is completed. After fitting the at least one first lens 116 on the inner housing 104, the assembling tool 400 is removed. The PCB 110 is then configured on the at least one first lens 116, and the encapsulant 108 is arranged on the PCB 110, the inner housing 104 and the outer housing 102 to obtain the fully assembled logo lamp device 100.

[0072] FIG. 6 shows an illustrative example of a logo projection by the logo lamp device 100, 200, 300 and the arrangement of the logo lamp device 100, 200, 300 on a vehicle 500. The logo lamp device 100, 200, 300 is mounted on a mounting location of the vehicle 500. In this embodiment, the logo lamp device 100, 200, 300 is mounted on the door of the vehicle 500. In other embodiments, one or more logo lamp device 100, 200, 300 may be mounted on the vehicle 500 at the mounting location selected from a group at the front portion, at the rear portion, on a side portion, on front bumper, on the rear bumper, on a left door and on a right door of the vehicle 500.

[0073] Although the subject matter of the present disclosure has been described in language specific to structural features and/or acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as examples of implementing the claims and other equivalent features and acts are intended to be within the scope of the claims. I.e. the features disclosed in the foregoing description, the claims, and the drawings may be essential, both individually and in any combination, for accomplishing the present disclosure in its various embodiments. The embodiments shown herein are only examples of the present disclosure and must therefore not be understood as being restrictive. Alternative embodiments considered by the skilled person are equally covered by the scope of protection of the present disclosure.

Reference Signs

[0074] 100: logo lamp device [0075] 102: outer housing [0076] 102a: cylindrical portion of outer housing [0077] 102b: at least one arm of outer housing [0078] 102c: at least one wing of outer housing [0079] 102d: at least one hole of outer housing [0080] 104: inner housing [0081] 106: open end [0082] 108: encapsulant [0083] 110: printed circuit board [0084] 112: at least one light source [0085] 114: optical assembly [0086] 116: at least one first lens [0087] 118, 118a-118f: at least one second lens [0088] 120: mask [0089] 122: extended arm [0090] 124: retaining end of at least one first arm [0091] 200: logo lamp device [0092] 204: inner housing [0093] 216: at least one first lens [0094] 222: extended arm [0095] 224: threads of at least one first arm [0096] 300: logo lamp device [0097] 304: inner housing [0098] 316: at least one first lens [0099] 322: extended arm [0100] 324: bayonet end of at least one first arm [0101] 126: receiving portion of inner housing [0102] 226: threads of the inner housing [0103] 326: bayonet receiving portion of inner housing [0104] 128: protrusion of at least one first lens [0105] 400: assembling tool [0106] 402: holder of the assembling tool [0107] 404: constriction of holder [0108] 500: vehicle [0109] A-A axis