Optical Device, Assembly, Vehicle and Method

Abstract

An optical device including at least two optical systems comprising a respective light source that is individually controllable. Furthermore, a respective optical system includes a light guide into which the light of the respective light source can be input. Additionally, a respective optical system has a light output side, and the second optical system additionally has a light input side into which light exiting from the light output side of the first optical system irradiates. Moreover, an image mask is arranged between the optical systems, the image mask being provided in the optical path between the light output side of the first optical system and the light input side of the second optical system.

Claims

1-16. (canceled)

17. An optical device, comprising: a first optical system including a first light source, a first light guide and a first light output side, wherein the first light source is adapted to be individually controlled, and wherein the first light guide is adapted to receive light output by the first light source; a second optical system including a second light source, a second light guide, a second light output side and a light input side, wherein the second light source is adapted to be individually controlled, wherein the second light guide is adapted to receive light output by the second light source, and wherein light exiting from the first light output side of the first optical system enters the light input side of the second optical system and is guided through the second light guide to the second light output side; and an image mask disposed between the first light output side of the first optical system and the light input side of the second optical system, wherein the image mask prevents a portion of the light that exits from the first light output side of the first optical system from entering the light input side of the second optical system so as to generate a pattern in the light that exits the second light output side.

18. The optical device of claim 17, wherein the first light output side of the first optical system is adjacent to the light input side of the second optical system.

19. The optical device of claim 17, wherein the first optical system, the image mask and the second optical system are formed as layers on top of each other.

20. The optical device of claim 19, wherein the first light guide is formed as a partial layer of the first optical system.

21. The optical device of claim 17, wherein the second light guide includes an input large surface, an output large surface and a circumferential wall, and wherein light from the second light source enters the second light guide through the circumferential wall.

22. The optical device of claim 21, wherein light from the first light source enters the second light guide through the input large surface.

23. The optical device of claim 17, wherein the second optical system further includes a second light influencing layer, wherein the second optical system is formed in layers, and wherein the second light guide and the second light influencing layer are formed as layers on top of each other.

24. The optical device of claim 23, wherein light exiting the second light guide enters the second light influencing layer before exiting the second light output side of the second optical system.

25. The optical device of claim 17, wherein the first optical system further includes a reflector disposed adjacent to the first light guide, and wherein the first light guide is disposed between the reflector and the first light output side.

26. The optical device of claim 17, wherein the first light source emits light of a color that is different than that of the light emitted by the second light source.

27. The optical device of claim 17, further comprising: a sensor through which the optical device receives information from a user of the optical device.

28. The optical device of claim 27, wherein the sensor is selected from the group consisting of: a camera and a touch screen.

29. The optical device of claim 17, further comprising: a third optical system disposed between the first optical system and the second optical system, wherein the image mask is disposed between the third optical system and the second optical system, and wherein a second image mask is disposed between the first optical system and the third optical system.

30. The optical device of claim 17, wherein the first light source is of a type selected from the group consisting of: a light emitting diode (LED), an organic LED (OLED), a laser diode, a luminant operating pursuant to a Laser Activated Remote Phosphor (LARP) principle, and a projector operating pursuant to a Digital Light Processing (DLP) principle.

31. The optical device of claim 17, wherein the pattern is selected from the group consisting of: a symbol, a logo, a picture, a progress bar, a message, and a warning notice.

32. The optical device of claim 17, wherein the image mask is a graphical optical blackout.

33. The optical device of claim 17, wherein the optical device is included in an assembly that includes a second optical device.

34. The optical device of claim 17, wherein the optical device is part of a vehicle.

35. A method of using an optical device, comprising: actuating a sensor of the optical device so as to switch on a first light source of a first optical system, wherein the optical device includes the first optical system, a second optical system and an image mask, wherein the first optical system includes the first light source, a first light guide and a first light output side, wherein the first light guide is adapted to receive light output by the first light source, wherein the second optical system includes a second light source, a second light guide, a second light output side and a light input side, wherein the second light guide is adapted to receive light output by the second light source, wherein light exiting from the first light output side of the first optical system enters the light input side of the second optical system and is guided through the second light guide to the second light output side, wherein the image mask is disposed between the first light output side of the first optical system and the light input side of the second optical system, wherein the image mask prevents a portion of the light that exits from the first light output side of the first optical system from entering the light input side of the second optical system so as to generate a pattern in the light that exits the second light output side.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the sensor is a camera or a touch screen, and wherein the pattern is selected from the group consisting of: a symbol, a logo, a picture, a progress bar, a message, and a warning notice.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] The accompanying drawings, where like numerals indicate like components, illustrate embodiments of the invention.

[0037] FIG. 1 is a schematic structure of an optical device in accordance with a first embodiment.

[0038] FIG. 2A is an example of a first mode of an optical device in accordance with a second embodiment.

[0039] FIG. 2B an example of a second mode of an optical device in accordance with the second embodiment.

[0040] FIG. 3 shows examples of information and/or a message displayed by an optical device in accordance with a further embodiment.

[0041] FIG. 4 shows the relation between a picture illustrated by an optical device and the switching on and/or switching off of light sources of the optical systems of the optical device in accordance with a further embodiment.

[0042] FIG. 5 is an optical device with a plurality of optical systems in accordance with a further embodiment.

[0043] FIG. 6A is an example of an interaction with an assembly of optical devices in accordance with an embodiment.

[0044] FIG. 6B is another example of an interaction with an assembly of optical devices in accordance with an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0045] Reference will now be made in detail to some embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

[0046] FIG. 1 illustrates an optical device 1 that includes a second optical system 2 and a first optical system 4. They each include a light source that is formed as an LED 6, 8. Furthermore, each respective optical system 2, 4 includes a light influencing layer 10, 12 and a respective layered light guide 14, 16. The first optical system 4 moreover includes a reflector 18. Additionally, an image mask 20 is arranged between the optical systems 2, 4, which are arranged in a sandwich-like manner.

[0047] Both optical systems 2, 4 include a light output side 22, 24. The light output sides 22, 24, from which light of the respective optical system 2, 4 can be output, are parallel or at least opposite to each other. The second optical system 2 moreover includes a light input side 26 facing the light output side 24 of the optical system 4. In other words, light leaving the light output side 24 may enter the light input side 26. The image mask 20 is arranged between the light output side 24 and the light input side 26. In other words, the light leaves the optical system 4 via the light output side 24, is influenced by the image mask 20, and enters the light input side 26 of the optical system 2.

[0048] A respective optical system 2, 4 has a layer-wise structure. In this embodiment, the second optical system 2 includes two layers, the light guide 14 and the light influencing layer 10. In this example, the light influencing layer 10 includes the light output side 22. The light guide 14, however, includes the light input side 26. In other words, light entering through the light input side 26 is first influenced by the light guide 14 and then by the light influencing layer 10 before it exits the optical device 1 through the light output side 22. The light guide 14 moreover has two large surfaces 28, 30, wherein the large surface 28 forms the light input side 26, and the large surface 30 faces the light influencing layer 10. Light may then exit from the large surface 30. In addition to the large surfaces 28, 30, the light guide 14 includes a circumferential wall 32 that is an input face for the LED 6. In other words, light of the LED 6 is input through the circumferential wall 32 into the light guide 14.

[0049] The first optical system 4, with respect to the light influencing layer 12, the light guide 16 and the LED 8, has the same structure as that of the optical system 2. In other words, the light guide 16 also includes two large surfaces 34, 36 and a circumferential wall 38, wherein this one serves as an input face of the light of the LED 8. Additionally, the large surface 34 is adjacent to the light influencing layer 12, wherein layer 12 includes the light output side 24. In contrast to the second optical system 2, the first optical system 4 includes the reflector 18, which is also integrated layer-wise into the optical system 4 and which is adjacent to the large surface 36. The reflector 18 is adapted to reflect light radiating in the direction away from the light output side 24 back in the direction of the light output side 24.

[0050] In FIG. 2A, an optical device 40 operated in a third mode is shown. The optical device 40 may, for example, be constructed like the optical device 1 of FIG. 1. This means that the optical device 40 has two optical systems, wherein an image mask is arranged between the optical systems, and the light output side 42 of the second optical system is visible.

[0051] In FIG. 2A, the optical device 40 glows over the whole area. This corresponds to a state, with respect to FIG. 1, in which the LED 6 glows and the LED 8 is switched on or off.

[0052] In FIG. 2B, the optical device 40 is shown in a different second mode. The optical device 40 includes a symbol at the light output side 42. In order to produce this message, the LED 8 is, with respect to FIG. 1, switched on while the LED 6 is switched off.

[0053] FIG. 3 also illustrates an optical device 44 in two different modes. In a third mode, the light output side 42 shows a vehicle symbol 48, while in the second mode 50, the vehicle symbol 48 is supplemented by a warning signal 52. With respect to FIG. 1, the optical device 1 may, so as to obtain the picture of FIG. 3, be supplemented by a further image mask that is arranged in the optical path after the light output side 22. In other words, the mode 46 would be visible if the LED 6 in FIG. 1 were switched on. The image mask 20 of FIG. 1 would show the warning sign 52, and in order to illustrate the mode 50 the LED 8 would be switched on (see FIG. 1).

[0054] In FIG. 4 a second optical system 54 and a first optical system 56 are illustrated, both forming together an optical device 57. The optical device 57 is illustrated five times in different states. The optical systems 54 and 56 are arranged on top of each other in the optical device 57 and are illustrated side by side in FIG. 4 for better illustration; compare to optical systems 2, 4 of FIG. 1. The optical systems 54, 56 are illustrated in a schematic top view, which also shows LEDs 58, only one of which is labeled with a reference numeral for the sake of convenience. Each optical system 54, 56 has five LEDs 58 which irradiate laterally into the respective light guide of the optical systems 54, 56. The respective LEDs 58 of an optical system 54, 56 are moreover arranged in a row and irradiate laterally into the light guide, and additionally the LEDs 58 of the optical system 56 are arranged above the LEDs 58 of the optical system 54. Furthermore, FIG. 4 indicates which LEDs are switched on and/or off.

[0055] Additionally, a light output side 60 is illustrated in FIG. 4, which shows the picture an observer of the optical device perceives when the LEDs 58 are switched on or off, as is indicated by the different representations of the LEDs which are switched on or off.

[0056] The LEDs 58 of the optical devices 54, 56 are switched inversely. This means that the LEDs 58 having the same position in a direction of the optical path are not switched on or off simultaneously.

[0057] In FIG. 4 five different possibilities are given which cause five different pictures at the light output side 60. A first picture 62 is produced in that an LED 58, which is arranged to the farthest at the left in this picture, of the optical system 56 is switched on, and correspondingly all LEDs 58 of the optical system 54 are switched on, apart from the LED 58 which is arranged to the farthest at the left. Because an image mask 64 which is arranged in the optical path above the optical system 56 and between the optical systems 64, 56 does not display anything in this region, nothing appears on the picture 62. A uniformly glowing area can be seen. If now the second LED 58 from the left of the optical system 56 is switched on, and thus the second LED 58 from the left of the optical system 54 is switched off, then the part of the image mask which is arranged in the region of the second LED 58 from the left is illustrated in the picture 66. In this case, a part of a black circular ring can be seen in the picture 66, which is illustrated on the image mask 64. Now, the middle LED 58 of the optical system 56 is switched on, and hence the middle LED 58 of the optical system 54 is switched off. The middle of the image mask 64 can now be seen in picture 68. Then, the second LED from the right of the optical system 56 is switched on, and hence the second LED from the right of the optical system 54 is switched off, and thus a region at the right from the middle of the image mask 64 can be seen in the picture 70. Last, the LED at the very right of the optical system 56 is switched on while the LED 58 at the very right of the system 54 is switched off. Because nothing can be seen on the image mask 64, the picture 72 and the picture 62 are uniformly glowing surfaces.

[0058] If this process of the switching on and off of different LEDs 58 is performed quickly, an animation may be produced.

[0059] In FIG. 5 an optical device 74 is shown which includes nine optical systems 76 to 92. The optical systems are arranged on top of each other, compare to FIG. 1, and are illustrated side by side in FIG. 5 so that the image masks are visible. The optical system 76 corresponds to the second optical system, and the optical system 92 corresponds to the first optical system, also compare to FIG. 1. The optical device 74 illustrates, for instance, a progress indicator. FIG. 5 shows how such progress indicator may be constructed. On each image mask 94 to 108, progress beams are shown which are offset from each other. The progress beams do not intersect in their position in a direction that is parallel to the optical path of the light. Furthermore, the image masks 94 to 108 are arranged between the optical systems 76 to 92. This means that, for instance, the image mask 108 is arranged between the optical system 92 and the optical system 90. The image mask 106 is arranged between the optical system 90 and the optical system 88. The image mask 104 is arranged between the optical system 88 and the optical system 86, etc. Moreover, the optical device 74 includes an image mask 110 which is arranged in the optical path of the optical device 74 above the optical system 76. The image mask 110 includes, in addition to a progress beam, two confinement beams that confine the maximum and the minimum performance. The image mask 110 can be seen in the picture 112 whenever any of the LEDs of the optical systems 76 to 92 is switched on. In the picture 112, which can be seen when observing the optical device 74, the image masks 94 to 110 are projected that are arranged between the light source which is switched on at that moment and the image mask 110. In this example, the LED of the optical system 84 is switched on, and thus the image masks 94 to 100 and the image mask 110 can be seen in the picture 112.

[0060] FIG. 6A shows an assembly 114 of optical devices 116 and 118. Each of the optical devices 116, 118 includes two optical systems and two image masks. The lower image mask 120 is identical in both optical devices 116, 118 and shows a check mark. This image mask is arranged between the optical systems 122 and 124 of the optical device 116 and between the optical systems 126 and 128 of the optical device 118. Furthermore, the optical device 116 includes an image mask 130 with a plus sign, and the optical device 118 includes an image mask 132 with a minus sign. Next to the first illustration 133 at the very left, which shows the structure of the assembly 114, an illustration 134 further to the right shows the assembly 114 with the optical devices 116, 118, such as is seen by the observer.

[0061] If an LED of the optical system 122 and an LED of the optical system 126 are switched on, as shown by the differently illustrated LEDs in illustration 133, the plus and the minus signs are visible for the observer on the assembly 114.

[0062] The optical device 116 and the optical device 118 also include a sensor or a sensor film, which is not visible, and which is capacitive or pressure-sensitive.

[0063] In FIG. 6B, the sensor film of the optical device 116 is touched, which is shown in the illustration 136. The optical devices 116, 118 may be programmed such that, on actuation of the sensor film, the LED of the optical system 122 is switched off when the sensor film of the optical device 116 is touched, or the LED of the optical system 126 is switched off when the sensor film of the optical device 118 is touched. At the same time, the LED of the optical system 124 or 128 is correspondingly switched on in the case of touch so that the LEDs are operated inversely. In this example, the LED of the optical system 124 is switched on, as indicated in illustration 138 by differently illustrated LEDs so that the image mask 120 can be seen simultaneously with the image mask 130, which is shown in illustration 136. The optical device 116 shows in this example the check mark in addition to the plus sign. This state may remain for a shorter or for a longer state.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0064] optical device 1, 40, 44, 74, 116, 118 [0065] optical system 2, 4, 54, 56, 76-92, 122-128 [0066] LED 6, 8, 58 [0067] light influencing layer 10, 12 [0068] light guide 14, 16 [0069] reflector 18 [0070] image mask 20, 64, 94-110, 130, 132 [0071] light output side 22, 24, 42 [0072] light input side 26 [0073] large surface 28, 30, 34, 36 [0074] wall 32, 38 [0075] vehicle symbol 48 [0076] warning sign 52 [0077] picture 62, 66-72, 112, 134 [0078] assembly 114 [0079] representation 133, 134, 136, 138

[0080] 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.