ILLUMINATION DEVICE COMPRISING A SCREEN AND OPTICAL WAVEGUIDES FOR DISPLAYING A LINEAR LIGHT; MOTOR VEHICLE AND METHOD FOR OPERATING AN ILLUMINATION DEVICE

Abstract

An illumination device for a motor vehicle for displaying a linear light including a plurality of optical waveguides, an illuminating element having a plurality of light sources for coupling light into a respective first end face of the plurality of optical waveguides, and an emitting part for generating a linear light distribution, the optical waveguides being arranged with a respective second end face, which is different from the first end face, through the emitting part relative to one another along precisely one line.

Claims

1-12. (canceled)

13. An illumination device for a motor vehicle for displaying a linear light, comprising: a plurality of optical waveguides, an illuminating element having a plurality of light sources for coupling light into a respective first end face of the plurality of optical waveguides, and an emitting part for generating a linear light distribution, the optical waveguides being arranged with a respective second end face, which is different from the first end face, through the emitting part relative to one another along precisely one line, wherein the illuminating element is embodied as a screen, the plurality of light sources being provided by pixels of the screen, and the illumination device is configured to influence the linear light distribution along the precisely one line by the targeted actuation of various pixels of the screen.

14. The illumination device according to claim 13, wherein a coupling element for transforming an emission angle of the screen to an angle of incidence of the optical waveguides is arranged between the plurality of optical waveguides and the screen.

15. The illumination device according to claim 13, wherein the optical waveguides are arranged in the region of their respective second end faces in a plane that runs at least substantially parallel to a main emission direction of the illumination device.

16. The illumination device according to claim 13, wherein a fixing element of the illumination device is configured to optically couple the respective first end faces of each of the plurality of optical waveguides exclusively to only one or to multiple predetermined pixels of the screen.

17. The illumination device according to claim 13, wherein at least one diffuser plate (8) is configured to diffuse light emitted through the optical waveguides.

18. The illumination device according to claim 17, wherein the precisely one line by which the linear light distribution is defined does not have a bend of more than 90°, in particular of more than 45°.

19. A motor vehicle having an illumination device according to claim 13, wherein the emitting part is arranged on a vehicle component, in particular a door or a dashboard, of the motor vehicle.

20. A method for operating an illumination device in a motor vehicle, comprising the following steps: coupling of light into a plurality of optical waveguides via a respective first end face of the optical waveguides, coupling of the light out of the optical waveguides via a respective second end face of the optical waveguides, which is different from the first end face, and emission of a single common linear light distribution through the second end faces of the optical waveguides, arranged along precisely one line, wherein the light is coupled in by means of a screen, and the linear light distribution along the precisely one line is influenced by the targeted actuation of pixels of the screen.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein for calibrating the illumination device, it is determined which of the pixels of the screen couple light into a respective one of the optical waveguides and these pixels are assigned to the respective optical waveguide, and this assignment is taken into account in the targeted actuation of the various pixels.

22. The method according to claim 20, wherein the illumination device is adapted to a user's brightness requirement by means of a brightness control, in particular dimming, of individual light sources.

23. The according to claim 20, wherein aging effects of the pixels of the screen are countered by a pixel-by-pixel brightness calibration of the illumination device, in particular of the screen.

24. The method according to claim 20, wherein for the targeted actuation, each of the pixels of the screen is assigned precisely one coordinate along the precisely one line.

25. The illumination device according to claim 14, wherein the optical waveguides are arranged in the region of their respective second end faces in a plane that runs at least substantially parallel to a main emission direction of the illumination device.

26. The illumination device according to claim 14, wherein a fixing element of the illumination device is configured to optically couple the respective first end faces of each of the plurality of optical waveguides exclusively to only one or to multiple predetermined pixels of the screen.

27. The illumination device according to claim 15, wherein a fixing element of the illumination device is configured to optically couple the respective first end faces of each of the plurality of optical waveguides exclusively to only one or to multiple predetermined pixels of the screen.

28. The illumination device according to claim 14, wherein at least one diffuser plate is configured to diffuse light emitted through the optical waveguides.

29. The illumination device according to claim 15, wherein at least one diffuser plate is configured to diffuse light emitted through the optical waveguides.

30. The illumination device according to claim 16, wherein at least one diffuser plate is configured to diffuse light emitted through the optical waveguides.

31. The method according to claim 21, wherein the illumination device is adapted to a user's brightness requirement by means of a brightness control, in particular dimming, of individual light sources.

32. The according to claim 21, wherein aging effects of the pixels of the screen are countered by a pixel-by-pixel brightness calibration of the illumination device, in particular of the screen.

Description

[0025] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in the following. In the figures:

[0026] FIG. 1 is a schematic overview of an illumination device with optical waveguides; and

[0027] FIG. 2 schematically depicts a vehicle with such an illumination device.

[0028] The exemplary embodiments discussed in the following are preferred embodiments of the invention. In the exemplary embodiments, the described components of the embodiments each represent individual features of the invention to be considered independently of one another, which each also refine the invention independently of one another. The disclosure is therefore intended to include combinations of the features of the embodiments other than those shown. Furthermore, the described embodiments can also be supplemented by further features of the invention that have already been described.

[0029] In the figures, the same reference numerals designate elements that have the same function.

[0030] FIG. 1 is a highly schematic depiction of an illumination device 1. The illumination device 1 comprises a plurality of optical waveguides 2, a screen 3, and an emitting part 9. Each of the optical waveguides 2 has a first end face 4 at one end and a second end face 5 at its second end. The screen 3 has a plurality of pixels 7.

[0031] The optical waveguides 2 are arranged with their first end face 4 on the screen 3. This arrangement is provided such that the screen 3 or its pixels 7 couple light into the optical waveguides 2 via the respective first end faces 4 of the optical waveguides 2. In other words, when the illumination device 1 is in operation, light is coupled into the optical waveguides 2 by means of the screen 3 or by means of the pixels 7. Each of the pixels 7 can be understood as an independent light source.

[0032] The optical waveguides 2 are configured to transport light coupled into the respective first end face 4 to the respective second end face 5. The optical waveguides 2 are further configured to emit the light that is coupled in via the first end face 4 via the respective second end face 5. In other words, when the illumination device 1 is in operation, light is emitted by the optical waveguides 2 via their respective second end faces 5. The optical waveguides can be embodied as glass fibers or as optical fibers, for example. For example, the optical waveguides 2 may be made of quartz glass or plastic, in particular of polymers.

[0033] The second end faces 5 are arranged in an emitting part 9 along precisely one line 6. The precisely one line 6 can define a direction of extension of the emitting part 9. The emitting part 9 is designed to generate a linear light distribution, with the optical waveguides 2 being arranged with their respective second end faces 5 along the precisely one line 6. Each of the optical waveguides 2 is adjacent to no more than two other optical waveguides 2 in the region of the emitting part 9. The line 6 can be at least substantially straight. Alternatively, it is provided that the line 6 does not have a bend of more than 90°, a bend of more than 45°, or a bend of more than 20°. This results particularly advantageously in a linear light. In the region of their respective second end faces 5, the optical waveguides 2 are arranged in a plane that runs at least substantially parallel to a main emission direction of the illumination device 1. In the present FIG. 1, this plane is defined by the line 6 and by the main emission direction of the illumination device 1. In particular, said plane is arranged at right angles to the second end faces 5 of the optical waveguides 2.

[0034] The illumination device 1 may have one diffuser plate 8 or multiple diffuser plates 8 in the region of the second end faces 5. The diffuser plates 8 or the diffuser plate 8 are arranged, in particular, directly on the respective second end faces 5. The diffuser plates 8 or the diffuser plate 8 can generally be arranged on the emitting part 9 in such a way that light emitted through the optical waveguides 2 is diffused by the diffuser plate 8 or the diffuser plates 8. As a result, the light emitted by the illumination device 1 becomes diffused. In particular, the visibility of the individual optical waveguides 2 from the outside is reduced. The light output by the illumination device 1 thus appears more homogeneous. In the region of the first end face 4, in particular between the first end face 4 and the screen 3, respective coupling elements can be provided. In the interest of clarity, the coupling elements are not shown in the present FIG. 1. Such a coupling element is designed to transform an emission angle of the screen 3 to an angle of incidence of the optical waveguides 2. This ensures that a particularly large proportion of the light output emitted by the screen 3 can be coupled into the optical waveguides 2.

[0035] FIG. 1 additionally shows another optical waveguide 10 with another second end face 11. The additional optical waveguide 10 can be provided for lighting purposes independently of the linear light distribution of the emitting part 9. In the present illumination device, however, it is provided that at least half of the optical waveguides 2, 10 of the illumination device 1 are guided to the emitting part 9. In other words, at least half of the optical waveguides 2 of the illumination device 1 contribute to the display of the linear light along the line 6. In other embodiments it can be provided that a higher proportion of optical waveguides 2, for example at least 70%, at least 80% or at least 90%, contribute to the display of the linear light. Accordingly, it can be provided that the screen 3 is designed to couple at least 50%, 70%, 80%, or 90% of its pixels 7 into optical waveguides 2, which contribute to the display of the linear light along the line 6.

[0036] For the targeted influencing of the linear light distribution along the precisely one line 6, pixels 7 of the screen 3 must be assigned to a respective one of the optical waveguides 2. Each of the pixels 7 is assigned to precisely one optical waveguide 2 into which it can couple light. This can be accomplished, for example, by means of a fixing element 15. The fixing element 15 brings each of the optical waveguides 2 into a predetermined position relative to the pixels 7 of the screen 3. Accordingly, each of the pixels 7 couples light into a previously determined one of the optical waveguides 2. The fixing element 15 can be configured, for example, as a ferrule which combines the plurality of optical waveguides 2 to form a bundle.

[0037] Alternatively or additionally, the assignment can take place as part of a calibration. Such a calibration is carried out in particular a single time during manufacturing of the illumination device 1. As part of the calibration, it can be determined which of the pixels 7 couples light into a respective one of the optical waveguides 2 during operation of the illumination device 1 and said pixel is assigned to the respective optical waveguide 2. In particular, each of the pixels 7 is assigned to no more than one of the optical waveguides 2. In this process it can be provided that one of the pixels 7 is assigned to one of the optical waveguides 2 only if it can couple light precisely into one of the optical waveguides 2. As part of the calibration, the pixels 7 can each be actuated briefly one after the other to emit light. During the respective light emission, it can be checked to determine which of the optical waveguides 2 is illuminated. The respective pixel 7 can then be assigned to that optical waveguide 2. This assignment can be stored in a control unit 16 of the illumination device 1, for example. This procedure is also valid if, due to an increased resolution of the screen 3, a plurality of pixels lie under each optical waveguide 2.

[0038] The control unit 16 can be designed to actuate the screen 3 or the pixels 7. The linear light distribution along the precisely one line 6 can be influenced by the targeted actuation of the screen 3 or the pixels 7. In particular, the pixels 7 are assigned a respective one-dimensional coordinate along the precisely one line 6. The pixels 7 can have a respective two-dimensional coordinate with respect to the screen 3. Depending on this two-dimensional coordinate, the pixels 7 can be assigned a respective one-dimensional coordinate along the line 6. Thus a coordinate transformation takes place. The one-dimensional coordinate along the line 6, which is assigned to an pixel 7, is provided in particular by the location along the line 6 of the respective optical waveguide 2 into which the respective pixel 7 can couple light.

[0039] Finally, FIG. 2 shows the interior 13 of a motor vehicle, in which the emitting part 9 is arranged on a vehicle component 14 of the motor vehicle. In the present case, the vehicle component 14 is configured as a dashboard. In the present case, a control panel 12 is also arranged on the vehicle component 14. In FIG. 2, additional optical waveguides 10 are used to illuminate the control panel 12. Accordingly, second end faces 11 of the additional optical waveguides 10 are arranged on the control panel 12. The illumination of the control panel 12 can be independent of the linear light distribution. Additional optical waveguides 10 can also be used to illuminate additional vehicle components other than the vehicle component 14. As described above, however, it must be ensured that at least half the optical waveguides 2 are used to display the linear light along the line 6.

[0040] Overall, the exemplary embodiment demonstrates how an improved display of linear light can be generated in a motor vehicle.