Multi-component injection molded primary optic, headlamp of a motor vehicle and motor vehicle

Abstract

A primary optic for a headlamp of a motor vehicle is provided. The primary optic is a multi-component injection molding comprising at least two injection molded photometrical components coupled to each other, whereby the at least two photometrical components are arranged to consecutively receive light emitted by a light source.

Claims

1. A primary optic for a headlamp of a motor vehicle, the primary optic comprising: a first injection molded photometrical component coupled to a second injection molded photometrical component, such that the primary optic is a multi-component injection molding, whereby the first injection molded photometrical component has a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first surface has a substantially W-shape cross section and the second surface has a substantially semi-oval shape cross section, wherein the first injection molded photometrical component is arranged to receive light emitted by a light source before the second injection molded photometrical component receives light emitted by the light source, wherein the first surface of the first injection molded photometrical component has a recess for the light source, wherein the first injection molded photometrical component at least partially encloses the second injection molded photometrical component.

2. The primary optic according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first injection molded photometrical components and the second injection molded photometrical component is made from at least one of a polycarbonate and a polymethylmethacrylat material.

3. The primary optic according to claim 1, wherein the first injection molded photometrical component comprises at least one fastening element for fastening the primary optic within a motor vehicle.

4. The primary optic according to claim 1, wherein a largest thickness of each of the first injection molded photometrical components and the second injection molded photometrical component, which are measured along a path of the light emitted by the light source through the first injection molded photometrical components and the second injection molded photometrical component, is within the range of 1 mm to 4 mm.

5. The primary optic according to claim 1, the first injection molded photometrical components differs from the second injection molded photometrical component in at least one of: a refractive index and a color.

6. The primary optic according to claim 1, wherein the first injection molded photometrical components is made from the same material as the second injection molded photometrical component.

7. A headlamp for a motor vehicle comprising: a primary optic as recited in claim 1, whereby the light source is arranged relative to the primary optic so that the light emitted by the light source is consecutively received by the first injection molded photometrical component and the second injection molded photometrical component, whereby the light emitted by the light source is configured to enter the first injection molded photometrical component and exit the second injection molded photometrical component.

8. A motor vehicle comprising at least one headlamp according to claim 7.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) 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.

(2) FIG. 1 shows a top view of a preferred embodiment of a primary optic according to the invention.

(3) FIG. 2 shows a side sectional view of the primary optic of FIG. 1.

(4) FIG. 3 shows the side sectional view of the primary optic of FIG. 2 together with a light source.

(5) FIG. 4 shows a front view of an embodiment of a motor vehicle according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(6) FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of a primary optic 10 according to the invention. The primary optic 10 is a multi-component injection molding comprising two photometrical components 11, 12 as shown in FIG. 2 and will be explained in more detail later. The primary optic 10 comprises six cone-type elements 13, of which the four cone-type elements 13.2, 13.3, 13.4, 13.5 are visible in this view and the two other cone-type elements 13.1, 13.6, the cone-type element 13.1 being arranged next to the cone-type element 13.2 and the cone-type element 13.6 being arranged next to the cone-type element 13.5, are being covered by an upper protrusion 15 of the primary optic 10. Each of the cone-type elements 13 comprises a recess 14 for at least one light source 16, which is not shown in this figure but can be seen in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3. Each of the cone-type elements 13 may also comprise more than just one recess 14.

(7) Two fastening elements 17.1, 17.2 are provided as part of the primary optic 10 at its long sides in the form of fastening arms. Each of the fastening elements 17.1, 17.2 comprises two mounting holes 18.1, 18.2, 18.3, 18.4 at its distal ends as connection means, which can be connected by means of a pin or a screw, for example, within an assembly space of a headlamp, which is not shown in this figure.

(8) FIG. 2 shows a side sectional view of the primary optic 10 of FIG. 1 along the dotted line X-Y through the covered cone-type element 13.6. As can be seen from FIG. 2, the primary optic 10 comprises the two photometrical components 11, 12 in this embodiment of the invention, which were coupled to one another by means of multi-component injection molding. The dotted line X-Y is a path of the light emitted by the light source 16 through the two photometrical components 11, 12, when it is fitted into the recess 14 of the cone-type element 13.6 and switched on. The traveling direction of the light is indicated by an arrow. As can be seen from this perspective, the fastening element 17.1 extends away from the photometrical component in directions substantially perpendicular to the dotted line X-Y.

(9) FIG. 3 shows a side sectional view of the primary optic 10 of FIG. 2 with a light source 16 fitted into the recess 14.6 of the cone-type element 13.6. The largest thicknesses T of the photometrical components 11, 12 is measured along the dotted line X-Y from the tip of the light source 16 to the point where the light emitted by the light source leaves the respective photometrical component 11, 12. In this particular embodiment, the largest thickness of the photometrical component 11 is T11=4 mm and the largest thickness of the photometrical component 12 is T12=1 mm. The largest thicknesses of the photometrical components 11, 12 can be adjusted freely, for example within the range of 0.1 mm to 5 mm. For example, the largest thicknesses of the photometrical components 11, 12 can be substantially equal to one another with a deviation of up to 10% or 20% from the largest thickness of the primary optic 10, which is the sum of the largest thicknesses of the photometrical components 11, 12.

(10) The photometrical component 11 has a substantially semi-oval cross section and the photometrical component 12 has a substantially W-shaped cross section comprising the upper protrusion 15. The photometrical component 12 is enclosing the photometrical component 11 at its rounded circumference. However, a front surface the photometrical components 11, which is arranged towards the traveling direction of the light along its path, is not enclosed by the photometrical component 12, so that the light emitted by the light source 16, which is entering the photometrical component 12 first, leaves the photometrical component 11 at its front surface.

(11) FIG. 4 shows a front view of a motor vehicle 30 according to the invention. The motor vehicle 30 comprises two headlamps 20.1, 20.2, each of which comprises a primary optic 10 according to the invention.

REFERENCE NUMBER LIST

(12) 10 Primary optic 11, 12 Photometrical components 13 Cone-type element 14 Recess 15 Upper protrusion 16 Light source 17 Fastening element 18 Mounting hole 20 Headlamp 30 Motor vehicle T Largest thickness of photometrical component