LIGHTING DEVICE FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE

Abstract

A lighting device for a motor vehicle, comprising several light sources and at least one means of radiation for electro-magnetic radiation. The light sources are designed to emit electromagnetic radiation which is visible to the human eye. The means of radiation is designed to emit electromagnetic radiation which is not visible to the human eye. The lighting device further comprises a means of detection for the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the means of radiation and an adjusting means. The means of detection is designed to emit a signal to the adjusting means comprising an indication relating to a radiation direction of the non-visible electromagnetic radiation. The adjusting means is designed to influence a radiation direction of the non-visible electromagnetic radiation and a radiation direction of the visible electromagnetic radiation, depending on the signal.

Claims

1. A lighting device for a motor vehicle, the lighting device comprising: at least two light sources and at least one means of radiation for electro-magnetic radiation, wherein the light sources emit electromagnetic radiation which is visible to the human eye, and wherein the means of radiation emits electromagnetic radiation which is not visible to the human eye; a means of detection for the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the means of radiation and an adjusting means, wherein the means of detection emits a signal to the adjusting means to indicate a radiation direction of the non-visible electromagnetic radiation, wherein the adjusting means influences a radiation direction of the non-visible electromagnetic radiation and a radiation direction of the visible electromagnetic radiation, depending on the signal.

2. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the lighting device comprises at least three means of radiation, the non-visible electro-magnetic radiation of which can be detected by the means of detection, and that the means of detection emits the signal depending on the radiation direction of the at least three means of radiation (101).

3. The lighting device according to claim 1 wherein the adjusting means directly influences the radiation directions.

4. The lighting device according to claim 1 wherein the adjusting means swivels at least one of the means of radiation and the light sources in at least one direction depending on the signal.

5. The lighting device according to claim 1 wherein the adjusting indirectly influences the radiation directions.

6. The lighting device according to claim 1 wherein the lighting device comprises an optical means for influencing the radiation direction, and wherein the adjusting means swivels the means for influencing the radiation direction in at least one direction depending on the signal.

7. The lighting device according to claim 1 wherein the at least one means of radiation and the light sources are arranged in a geometric shape, wherein the at least one means of radiation are arranged in one peripheral area or several peripheral areas of the geometric shape.

8. The lighting device according to claim 1 wherein the light sources and the at least one means of radiation are designed to simultaneously emit the visible and the non-visible electromagnetic radiation.

9. The lighting device according to claim 1 wherein the non-visible electromagnetic radiation lies within the infrared range.

10. A procedure for the adjustment of a lighting device for a motor vehicle, the procedure comprising the following steps: emitting electromagnetic radiation that is both visible and non-visible to the human eye, wherein the visible radiation is sufficiently strong to illuminate a driving lane in front of the motor vehicle to allow a driver of the motor vehicle to detect obstacles and unevennesses in the dark; detecting a radiation direction of the non-visible electromagnetic radiation; and adjusting the radiation direction of the non-visible and of the visible electromagnetic radiation depending on the detected radiation direction.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] Reference is now made more particularly to the drawings, which illustrate the best presently known mode of carrying out the invention and wherein similar reference characters indicate the same parts throughout the views.

[0024] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an embodiment of the invention.

[0025] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an embodiment of the invention with an LCD-screen.

[0026] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the device from FIG. 2 with an adjustment pattern.

[0027] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the device from FIG. 2 with an adjustment pattern.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] In FIG. 1, several light sources 100 and three means of radiation 101 are arranged in a rectangular pattern. In the drawing, the light sources 100 as well as the means of radiation 101 are represented schematically by means of squares. The light sources 100 are designed to emit light which is visible to the human eye. The means of radiation 101 are designed to emit electromagnetic radiation which is not visible to the human eye. This can for example be infrared radiation. The light sources 100 as well as the means of radiation 101 are preferentially embodied as LEDs.

[0029] Furthermore, an optical means for influencing the radiation direction 102 is represented, which is designed to influence a radiation direction of the light emitted by the light sources 100 and of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the means of radiation 101. The means for influencing the radiation direction 102 can, for example, be a lens or a system comprising several lenses.

[0030] Also, two swivel axes 103 and 104 are represented in FIG. 1, around which the light sources 100 and the means of radiation 101 can be swiveled. By swiveling around the swivel axis 103, the range of light of the light sources 100 and of the means of radiation 101 can be adjusted. The further downward the light sources 100 and the means of radiation 101 radiate their respective radiation, the shorter is the range of the light. By swiveling around the swivel axis 104, the radiation direction of the emitted radiation can be swiveled in the horizontal plane. This can for example be used for the realization of bend lighting in a motor vehicle.

[0031] The means of radiation 101 are used for the adjustment of the radiation direction of the light sources 100. To this end, a detection means not represented in the figures is provided, which can detect non-visible electromagnetic radiation. For example, by means of the non-visible radiation detected on the surface of a driving lane in front of the vehicle, the position of the means of radiation 101 and of the light sources 100 can be calculated and whether correction is possibly required.

[0032] The use of three means or radiation 101 is advantageous to gain a great deal of information on the radiation direction of the light and on the non-visible electromagnetic radiation. When swiveling around the swivel axis 104, it is advantageous to use at least one means of radiation 101 to the right and to the left of the swivel axis 104. When swiveling around the swivel axis 103 for headlamp levelling, it is advantageous to use at least one means of radiation above and below the swivel axis 103. By arranging one of the means of radiation 101 in a top right area, in a top left area and in a bottom left area, those two advantages can both be used.

[0033] The means of radiation 101 are arranged in the outermost corner areas of the rectangular shape. This arrangement has the advantage, that the means of radiation 101 are relatively far from the swivel axes 103 and 104 and are subject to the largest swiveling motion. Therefore, the adjustment of the radiation direction can be executed more accurately.

[0034] FIG. 2 shows an LCD-screen 200 which consists of several segments. Each of the segments can assume two states. In a first state, the light of the light sources 100 as well as the non-visible radiation of the means of radiation 101 can pass. In a second state, the light of the light sources 100 as well as the non-visible radiation of the means of radiation 101 is blocked. This can for example be achieved by polarizing the radiation and/or the light and by using a liquid crystal.

[0035] In FIGS. 3 and 4, the patterns 300 and 400 are represented, which can be set on the LCD-screen 200. To this end, some of the segments of the LCD-screen are switched to the second state. They are represented in black in the FIGS. 3 and 4. Pattern 300 shows a striped pattern and pattern 400 shows a cross. Both patterns 300 and 400 can be used for the adjustment of the radiation direction of the light and of the non-visible electromagnetic radiation. The means of detection can in particular be embodied to detect the non-visible electromagnetic radiation and to not detect the light.

[0036] The means of detection is embodied to emit a signal comprising an indication of the radiation direction of the non-visible electromagnetic radiation. For example, a desired position of the pattern 300 or 400 on a driving lane surface in front of a motor vehicle can be specified and the means of detection emits a signal when the desired position is not identical with the actual position. A means of adjustment can then correct the radiation direction, so that the pattern 300 or 400 is in the desired position.

[0037] It is in particular advantageous to use the non-visible electromagnetic radiation for the detection of the radiation direction, as the pattern is difficult to detect by the driver or not at all. The light distribution perceived by the driver on the road surface is hardly disturbed by the pattern 300 or 400 and the means of radiation 101 or not at all.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0038] 100 Light sources [0039] 101 Means of radiation [0040] 102 Means for influencing the radiation direction [0041] 103 Swivel axis [0042] 104 Swivel axis [0043] 200 LCD screen [0044] 300 Pattern [0045] 400 Pattern