Light-conductive optical system, especially for a light device of a vehicle

Abstract

The light-conductive optical system comprises a planarly shaped light guide (1) made from an optically transparent material with an associated light unit (3) and a collimating element (2). The light guide (1) comprises an output surface (12) for the output of light rays (10) and a binding surface (11) to bind light rays (10) to the light guide (1). The output surface (12) and the binding surface (11) are situated on surfaces that transversally connect the top (5) and bottom surface (6) of the light guide (1) and the binding surface (11) comprises a partial surface (11c) situated opposite the output surface (22) of the collimating element (2) and a lateral partial surface (11a, 11b) at one or both sides of the partial surface (11c). The height (v) of the output surface (22) is bigger than the thickness (t) of the light guide (1) so the output surface (22) reaches above the top surface (5) and/or below the bottom surface (6) of the light guide (1) with its overlapping part (8, 9). The light guide (1) is, for each overlapping part (8, 9), fitted with at least a pair of reflective means (4a, 4b; 4c) comprising the first reflective means (4a, 4b) situated opposite the overlapping part (8, 9) to bind at least a part of light rays (10) exiting from the overlapping part (8, 9) and to reflect them to the second reflective means (4c) adapted to direct light rays (10) against the lateral partial surface (11a, 11b).

Claims

1. A light-conductive optical system comprising at least one planarly shaped light guide made from an optically transparent material with an associated light unit and a collimating element to collimate light rays emitted from the light unit, wherein an edge of the light guide comprises a binding surface to bind the light rays collimated by the collimating element to the light guide and an output surface for output of the light rays out of the light guide, wherein the output surface and the binding surface are situated on surfaces that transversally connect a top surface and a bottom surface of the light guide, wherein the binding surface comprises a primary surface situated opposite an exit surface of the collimating element, and at one or both sides of the primary surface, a secondary surface integrally continuing the primary surface, wherein a height (v) of the exit surface is bigger than a height (t) of the binding surface so that the exit surface protrudes above the top surface and/or below the bottom surface of the light guide with an overlapping part, wherein the light guide is, for each overlapping part, fitted with one or more pairs of reflective means, wherein in each of the pairs of reflective means, a first reflective means is situated with an input surface opposite the overlapping part to bind at least a part of the light rays exiting from the overlapping part to the first reflective means and to reflect the light rays to a second reflective means adapted to direct the light rays against a secondary surface by reflection.

2. The light-conductive optical system according to claim 1, wherein an output surface of the second reflective means is situated opposite the secondary surface.

3. The light-conductive optical system according to claim 1, wherein the optical system comprises two overlapping parts.

4. The light-conductive optical system according to claim 3, wherein the height (v) of the exit surface amounts to three times the thickness (t) of the binding surface and the heights of the overlapping parts are equal to the height (t) of the binding surface.

5. The light-conductive optical system according to claim 3, wherein the light guide is, for each of the overlapping parts, equipped with at least two pairs of reflective means, the first reflective means of the at least two pairs of reflective means being positioned on each other so that their input surfaces positioned one over another form a continuous input surface and a projection of the overlapping part in a direction of the output of the light rays from the overlapping part is completely included in this continuous input surface.

6. The light-conductive optical system according to claim 5, wherein the second reflective means of the at least two pairs of reflective means are situated next to each other with their output surfaces opposite the partial lateral surface.

7. The light-conductive optical system according to claim 5, wherein a number (n) of the at least two pairs of reflective means for each overlapping part is based on the relationship:
n=(vt)/2t, where t is the height of the binding surface, v is the height of the exit surface, the values t and v being selected in such a way that n can be a natural number.

8. The light-conductive optical system according to claim 1, wherein a normal to an input surface of the collimating element makes an acute, right or obtuse angle with a normal of the exit surface of the collimating element, wherein an inner reflective surface is situated between the input surface of the collimating element and the exit surface of the collimating element to direct the light rays to the exit surface of the collimating element.

9. The light-conductive optical system according to claim 1, wherein the top surface and the bottom surface of the light guide are planar and parallel to each other.

10. The light-conductive optical system according to claim 1, wherein the light guide comprises two planarly shaped parts that make an acute, right and obtuse angle together and are connected on a plane that is approximately perpendicular to the exit surface of the collimating element and divides the exit surface of the collimating element into two parts of an approximately equal size.

11. The light-conductive optical system according to claim 1, wherein the light guide and the reflective means that the light guide is fitted with are designed in such a way that they form one integral body.

12. The light-conductive optical system according to claim 11, wherein the light guide, the reflective means that the light guide is fitted with, and the collimating element are designed in such a way that they form one integral body.

13. The light-conductive optical system according to claim 1, wherein the optical system comprises several planarly shaped light guides connected in such a way that their top surfaces, bottom surfaces and output surfaces form respective continuous surfaces.

14. The light-conductive system according to claim 13, wherein the planarly shaped light guides are designed in such a way that they form one integral body.

Description

CLARIFICATION OF DRAWINGS

(1) The present invention will be further clarified in more detail with the use of embodiment examples of the invention, referring to the enclosed drawings where:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a perspective top view of the first embodiment example of a light-conductive optical system according to the invention,

(3) FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the light-conductive optical system of FIG. 1,

(4) FIG. 3 shows a top view of the light-conductive optical system of FIG. 1,

(5) FIG. 4a shows a view in the A-A direction of the light-conductive optical system of FIG. 3,

(6) FIG. 4b shows the B-B cross-section of the light-conductive optical system of FIG. 3,

(7) FIG. 5 shows the E-E cross-section of the light-conductive optical system of FIG. 3,

(8) FIG. 6 shows the C-C view of the lateral side of the light-conductive optical system of FIG. 3,

(9) FIG. 7 shows the D-D view of the top side of the light-conductive optical system of FIG. 6,

(10) FIG. 8 shows a perspective top view of the second embodiment example of a light-conductive optical system according to the invention,

(11) FIG. 9 shows a top view of the light-conductive optical system of FIG. 8,

(12) FIG. 10 shows a side view of the light-conductive optical system of FIG. 8,

(13) FIG. 11 shows a rear view of the light-conductive optical system of FIG. 8,

(14) FIG. 12 shows a perspective top view of the third embodiment example of a light-conductive optical system according to the invention,

(15) FIG. 13 shows a top view of the light-conductive optical system of FIG. 12,

(16) FIG. 14 shows a side view of the light-conductive optical system of FIG. 12,

(17) FIG. 15 shows a rear view of the light-conductive optical system of FIG. 12,

(18) FIG. 16 shows a perspective top view of the fourth embodiment example of a light-conductive optical system according to the invention,

(19) FIG. 17 shows a top view of the light-conductive optical system of FIG. 16,

(20) FIG. 18 shows a side view of the light-conductive optical system of FIG. 16,

(21) FIG. 19 shows a rear view of the light-conductive optical system of FIG. 16,

(22) FIG. 20 shows a perspective top view of the fifth embodiment example of a light-conductive optical system according to the invention, and

(23) FIG. 21 shows a perspective top view of the sixth embodiment example of a light-conductive optical system according to the invention.

EXAMPLES OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

(24) FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4a, 4b, 5, 6 and 7 show the first embodiment example of a light-conductive optical system according to the present invention, which comprises a planarly shaped light guide 1 having the shape of a plate and a collimating element 2 having the form of a rotary body and a light-conductive reflective array 4 of four reflective means 4a, 4b, 4c. The light guide 1, the collimating element 2 and the reflective means 4a, 4b, 4c preferably form an integral body that is made from an optically transparent material and is used to guide light rays 10 emitted by the light unit 3 comprising at least one light source 31, e.g. LED.

(25) The collimating element 2 is oriented with its input surface 21 towards the light source 31 to bind light rays 10 emitted in the horizontal direction and with its output surface 22 it is oriented towards the input surface 41a of the top reflective means 4a, towards the input surface 41b of the bottom reflective means 4b as well as to the partial surface 11c of the light guide 1. The binding surface 11 comprises a partial surface 11c positioned opposite the output surface 22 of the collimating element 2, and a partial surface 11a, 11b continuing the partial surface 11c at both the sides of the partial surface 11c.

(26) The height v of the output surface 22 of the collimating element 2 is bigger than the thickness t of the light guide 1 in the place opposite the output surface 22 so that the output surface 22 with its overlapping part 8 protrudes above the top surface 5 and with its overlapping part 9 below the bottom surface 6 of the light guide 1. The light guide 1 is, for each overlapping part 8, 9, fitted with one pair of reflective means 4a, 4b; 4c while in this pair, the reflective means 4a, 4b is positioned with its input surface 41a, 41b opposite the respective overlapping part 8, 9 to bind at least a part of light rays 10 exiting from the overlapping part 8, 9 to the reflective means 4a, 4b, and to reflect them to the reflective means 4c adapted to direct the light rays 10 against the lateral partial surface 11a, 11b by reflection.

(27) The reflective means 4a, 4b is designed as a pentahedron comprising a central surface 40a, 40b, two lateral reflective surfaces 42a, 42b, 43a, 43b intersecting each other along the contact edge 44a, 44b, and two light-conductive inactive surfaces 45a, 45b. Two reflective means 4c are designed as pentahedra comprising a central surface 40c, two reflective surfaces 42c, 43c, intersecting each other along the contact edge 44c, and two lateral light-conductive inactive surfaces 45c. The central surface 40c of the rear reflective means 4c consists of an input surface 41c and output surface 46c. The reflective surfaces 42c, 43c of the rear reflective means 4c make the angle of 90 together.

(28) The surfaces 41a, 41b, 41c, 42a, 42b, 42c, 43a, 43b, 43c, 46a, 46b, 46c have the shape of a quadrangle while the first lateral reflective surfaces 42a, 42b of the reflective means 4a, 4b are configured for total reflection of light rays 10 and to direct them to the second lateral reflective surfaces 43a, 43b. The second lateral reflective surfaces 43a, 43b are configured for total reflection of light rays 10 and to direct them to the output surfaces 46a, 46b. The output surfaces 46a, 46b of the reflective means 4a, 4b correspond to the input surfaces 41c of the reflective means 4c with their shape. The reflective surfaces 42c of the reflective means 4c are configured for total reflection of light rays 10 and to direct them to the second reflective surfaces 43c. The second reflective surfaces 43c are configured for total reflection of light rays 10 and to direct them to the output surfaces 46c. The output surfaces 46c of the reflective means 4c correspond to the lateral partials surfaces 11b, 11a of the light guide 1 with their shape. Light rays 10 can be emitted from the collimating element 2 to the output surface 12 of the light guide 1 directly as well as indirectly through the light-conductive reflective array 4.

(29) Generally, the light guide 1 used by the light-conductive system according to the invention is a planarly shaped light guide, i.e. a light guide whose thickness t (see FIG. 2) is substantially smaller than its two remaining dimensions. The light guide 1 has the top surface 5 and bottom surface 6 (see FIG. 2 and FIG. 21), which may be e.g. planar (FIG. 2), but they may also be e.g. broken (FIG. 21). The collimating element 2 has an output surface 22 that has the height v (see FIG. 2) measured in the same direction in which the thickness t is measured. If the collimating element 2 is in its intended position where the partial surface 11c, which is part of the binding surface 11 of the light guide 1, is located opposite the output surface 22 of the collimating element 2, a part of the output surface 22this part is referred to as the overlapping part 8, 9 (see FIG. 5)reaches above the top surface 5 and/or the bottom surface 6 of the light guide 1. This is because according to the invention the height v of the output surface 22 of the collimating element 2 is always bigger than the thickness t of the light guide 1 measured in the place opposite the output surface 22.

(30) FIGS. 8, 9, 10 and 11 show the second embodiment example of a light-conductive optical system according to the present invention wherein the collimating element 2 is oriented with its input surface 21 towards the light source 31 in the direction of the vertical axis z and with its output surface 22 in the direction of axis x towards the light-conductive reflective array 4 of reflective means 4a, 4b and 4c while in the collimating element 2 in the direction of light rays 10, between the input surface 21 and the output surface 22 an inner reflective surface 23 is situated to direct the light rays 10 in the desired direction.

(31) FIGS. 12, 13, 14 and 15 show the third embodiment example of a light-conductive optical system according to the present invention wherein the collimating element 2 is oriented with its output surface 22 towards the light guide 1 and towards the light-conductive reflective array 4 comprising two top reflective means 4a arranged above each other and two bottom reflective means 4b arranged below each other, adapted to bind and direct light rays 10. Two pairs of rear reflective means 4c adapted to direct light rays 10 to the light guide 1 continue the top and bottom reflective means 4a, 4b.

(32) FIGS. 16, 17, 18 and 19 show the fourth embodiment example of a light-conductive optical system according to the present invention wherein the collimating element 2 is oriented with its output surface 22 towards the light guide 1 and towards the light-conductive reflective array 4 comprising two top reflective means 4a arranged above each other, adapted to bind and direct light rays 10. Two pairs of rear reflective means 4c adapted to direct light rays 10 to two planarly shaped parts 1 of the light guide 1 continue the bottom reflective means 4b. The output surfaces 12 of the planarly shaped parts 1 form the output surface 12 of the light guide 1, the longitudinal axes of the output surfaces 12 making the angle .

(33) In general, it is preferable for the overlapping part 8, 9 to have a height that is a whole multiple of the thickness t of the light guide 1. In such a case, the number n of the pairs of reflective means 4a, 4b; 4c wherein each of the pairs comprises one reflective means 4a, 4b and the associated one reflective means 4c for each overlapping part 8, 9, is preferably based on the relationship:
n=(vh)/2h, where
h is the thickness of the light guide 1 in the place opposite the output surface 22 of the collimating element 2, and v is the height of the output surface 22 while, as mentioned above, the values h and v are selected in such a way that n can be a natural number.

(34) As indicated in FIG. 20, showing the fifth exemplary embodiment of a light-conductive optical system according to the invention, individual light guides 1 can be situated next to each other and preferably made as an integral molding to produce a combined light guide with a continuous output surface 12 of light rays 10. Light rays 10 are sent to the output surface 12 by means of several light-conductive reflective arrays 4, each of them comprising reflective means 4a, 4b and 4c and one collimating element 2 being assigned to it.

(35) As indicated in FIG. 21, showing the sixth exemplary embodiment of a light-conductive optical system according to the invention, the light guide 1 can be fitted with an inner reflective surface 13 to direct light rays 10 to the output surface 12 of light rays 10.

LIST OF REFERENCE MARKS

(36) 1light guide 1planarly shaped part (of the light guide) 5top surface 6bottom surface 8, 9overlapping part 11binding surface 11a, 11blateral partial surface 11cpartial surface 12output surface 13inner reflective surface 2collimating element 21input surface 22output surface 23reflective surface 3light unit 31light source 4light-conductive reflective means 4a, 4b, 4creflective means 40a, 40b, 40c-central surface 41a, 41b, 41c-input surface 42a, 42b-lateral reflective surface 42c-reflective surface 43a, 43b-lateral reflective surface 43c-reflective surface 44a, 44b, 44ccontact edge 45a, 45b, 45c-inactive surface 46a, 46b, 46c-output surface 10light ray nnumber vheight tthickness xoptical axis