ILLUMINATION APPARATUS FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE

Abstract

An illumination apparatus for a motor vehicle, the illumination apparatus having a printed circuit board having a plurality of light-emitting diodes arranged thereon. An optical lens plate and a reflector element are provided with the reflector element being arranged between the printed circuit board and the optical lens plate. The reflector element has a plurality of segments into which the reflector element is divided, and each light-emitting diode is associated with a segment so that light emitted from the light-emitting diodes is reflected at the reflector element and passes through the optical lens plate.

Claims

1. Illumination apparatus for a motor vehicle, the illumination apparatus comprising: a printed circuit board; a plurality of light emitting diodes arranged on the printed circuit board; an optical lens plate; a reflector element arranged between the printed circuit board and the optical lens plate, the reflector element comprising a plurality of segments into which the reflector element is divided, wherein each light emitting diode is associated with a segment so that light emitted from the light emitting diodes is reflected at the segments of the reflector element and passes through the optical lens plate; and a screen arranged on the optical lens plate and is set up for selective switching of transparent and non-transparent areas.

2. The illumination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the screen is designed to transmit light from active segments, which are illuminated by the light emitting diodes associated with them, by switching the area of the screen in front of these active segments to be transparent and to block light from non-active segments, which are not illuminated by the light emitting diodes associated with them, by switching the area of the screen in front of these non-active segments to be non-transparent.

3. The illumination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the screen is an LCD display.

4. The illumination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the screen is a passive LC display.

5. The illumination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the screen is a dye-doped display with black color pigments.

6. The illumination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each light emitting diode is associated with a segment such that light emitted from each light emitting diode is reflected at the reflector element and passes through the optical lens plate in the area of the segment associated with each of these light emitting diodes.

7. The illumination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the segments have a triangular, rectangular, pentagonal or hexagonal shape or some other polygonal shape.

8. The illumination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of segments are each combined to form a repeating row- and column-by-column arrangement at the reflector element.

9. The illumination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each segment is associated with a concave lens, which is arranged between the reflector element and the optical lens plate.

10. The illumination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the segments of the reflector element have strip optics.

11. The illumination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the illumination apparatus also has a housing, in which the printed circuit board, the reflector element and the optical lens plate and the screen are included.

12. The illumination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the optical lens plate has optical scattering elements on its front and/or back.

13. An illumination system for a motor vehicle comprising the illumination apparatus according to claim 1 and a control unit to control a light signature display of the illumination apparatus.

14. The illumination system according to claim 13, wherein the illumination system has a plurality of illumination apparatuses and the control unit is set up to control at least two of the plurality of illumination apparatuses to display a common light signature.

15. A motor vehicle comprising an illumination apparatus according to claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0039] The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus, are not limitive of the present invention, and wherein:

[0040] FIG. 1 shows a plan view of an illumination apparatus according to an example of the invention;

[0041] FIG. 2 shows an oblique view of the illumination apparatus from FIG. 1;

[0042] FIG. 3 shows a side view of the illumination apparatus from FIG. 1;

[0043] FIG. 4 shows an oblique view of the illumination apparatus from FIG. 1 without a housing;

[0044] FIG. 5 shows an exploded view of the illumination apparatus from FIG. 1;

[0045] FIG. 6 shows an oblique view of the illumination apparatus from FIG. 1 without a housing and without a grating mask;

[0046] FIG. 7 shows a detailed view of an arrangement of the illumination apparatus from FIG. 1;

[0047] FIG. 8 shows an oblique view of the printed circuit board of the illumination apparatus from FIG. 1;

[0048] FIG. 9 shows a plan view of the back of the optical lens plate of the illumination apparatus from FIG. 1;

[0049] FIG. 10 shows a plan view of an arrangement of concave lenses of the optical lens plate from FIG. 9;

[0050] FIG. 11 shows an oblique view of the arrangement of the concave lenses from FIG. 10;

[0051] FIG. 12 shows a schematic view of a section of the illumination apparatus from FIG. 1 in operation;

[0052] FIG. 13 shows the view from FIG. 12 with a solution to avoid stray light in unlit segments;

[0053] FIG. 14 shows a schematic view of an illumination system according to an example of the invention in operation with different light signatures;

[0054] FIG. 15 shows a schematic view of an illumination system according to an example of the invention in operation with a common light signature;

[0055] FIG. 16 shows a schematic view of the operating illumination system from FIG. 9 with a common light signature;

[0056] FIG. 17 shows a schematic view of the operating illumination system from FIG. 9 with another common light signature;

[0057] FIG. 18 shows a schematic view of the operating illumination system from FIG. 9 in with yet another common light signature; and

[0058] FIG. 19 shows a rear view of a motor vehicle according to an example of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0059] FIGS. 1 to 3 each show an illumination apparatus 1 according to an example of the invention in a plan view, a perspective view and a side view.

[0060] The illumination apparatus 1 comprises a housing 4, which in the present case is designed as a housing frame with an upper part 2 and a lower part 3. The housing 4 has a thickness that is small as compared to its width and height extension. In the present case, especially in the upper part 2, the housing 4 is in particular rectangular, in particular square, so that the illumination apparatus 1 has a rectangular shape as a whole. Alternatively, the housing 4 or the illumination apparatus 1 may have other shapes, such as rectangular, round, or oval.

[0061] As can be seen in FIG. 1, the illumination apparatus 1 has several arrangements 5, each comprising a plurality of segments 6. In the present case, the arrangements 5 are square in their basic shape or appearance on the optical lens plate 8 (see FIG. 5) of the illumination apparatus 1 and comprise four triangular segments 6 each. The individual segments 6 can be individually and uniformly illuminated by means of light emitting diodes 11 (see FIG. 5) arranged behind them.

[0062] FIG. 4 shows in a perspective view of the illumination apparatus 1 without housing 4 that for this purpose the light emitting diodes 11 (see FIG. 5) are arranged on a printed circuit board 10 or plate and behind a reflector element 9. Behind the printed circuit board 10, a rear part 12 of the housing 4 can also be seen, which allows for the housing 4 to be closed from the back.

[0063] FIG. 5 shows an exploded view of the illumination apparatus 1, from which it can be seen that the reflector element 9 has the segments 6 arranged in arrangements 5 and the repeating arrangements 5. In the present case, the reflector element 9 is arranged in a single piece with all arrangements 5 and segments 6. Alternatively, the segments 6 can also be manufactured individually, but this is more complex.

[0064] The reflector element 9 is arranged on the printed circuit board 10 with the light emitting diodes 11. Here, one light emitting diode 11 is associated with one segment 6 each in the reflector element 9 or one segment 6 surrounds one of the light emitting diodes 11 each on the printed circuit board 10.

[0065] On the reflector element 9, an optical pane 8, for example made of glass or plastic, is arranged. On the optical lens plate 8, on the other hand, there is a grating mask 7, which provides an optical separation of the segments 6 from each other. All of the above-mentioned components are included in the housing 4.

[0066] FIG. 6 shows an oblique view of the illumination apparatus 1 without housing 4, without optical lens plate 8 and without grating mask 7. Here you can see how one light emitting diode 11 (not directly visible) is arranged within each segment 6 or how it is surrounded by the segment 6, which can illuminate the light emitting diode 11.

[0067] FIG. 7 shows a detailed view of an arrangement 5 with four triangular segments 6 arranged in the square arrangement 5 on the printed circuit board 10. Each of the segments 6 has three reflector surfaces or walls at angles to each other, on each of which a strip optics 13 is formed in close proximity to the light emitting diode 11 associated with the respective segment 6. The corners of the segment 6 are rounded. The segments 6 extend from the respective light emitting diode 11 in the direction of the optical lens plate 8 with an opening close to the light emitting diode 11, which allows for the irradiation of light from the light emitting diode 11 to the reflector surfaces, to a larger opening, from which the light then emerges onto the optical lens plate 8, through which it then passes in turn.

[0068] FIG. 8 shows an oblique view of the printed circuit board 10 with the light emitting diodes 11. As can be seen, the light emitting diodes 11 are arranged here in a repeating plus arrangement corresponding to the arrangements 5 on the printed circuit board 10.

[0069] FIG. 9 shows a plan view of the back of the optical lens plate 8 of the illumination apparatus 1, i.e., the side facing the reflector element 9. Here it can be seen that the optical lens plate 8 is formed on its back with a plurality of concave lenses 14, each of which is triangular in shape and is arranged on the optical lens plate 8 in accordance with the arrangement 5 of the segments 6 so that in each case one lens 14 is associated with or is opposite a segment 6.

[0070] FIGS. 10 and 11 show the concave lenses 14 in a plan view and an oblique view in an arrangement with four concave lenses 14. Here it is particularly easy to see that the lenses 14 each have a concave, central surface, which accordingly have a greater distance to the light emitting diode 11 in each case associated with it by means of the segment 6. Their shape corresponds to a pyramidal optics, so that the lenses have a larger wall thickness in their outer range. This is advantageous for a uniform illumination without emphasis on axial light emitting diode intensity (especially with so-called TOP-LEDs) and thus enables the illumination of the segment 6 or the area of the optical lens plate 8 in front of the segment 6 without hotspots.

[0071] FIG. 9 shows a section of the illumination apparatus 1 in a cross-sectional view. As an example, a section of a printed circuit board 10 with three light emitting diodes 11 as well as wall elements or reflector surfaces of the segments 6 of the reflector element 9 can be seen here. Finally, the grating mask 7 is located behind the optical lens plate 8.

[0072] The distance between the light emitting diodes 11 and the optical lens plate 8 is particularly small, for example only 10 cm or less, in order to achieve the compactness or low thickness of the illumination apparatus 1 mentioned above. Accordingly, there is little space for the corresponding reflector element 9 or corresponding reflections. At the same time, however, it is necessary to ensure that the illumination of the respective segment 6 or the area of the optical lens plate 8 in front of the respective segment 6 is as uniform as possible.

[0073] In order to ensure this, as already explained, the concave lenses 14, which are molded in one piece with the optical lens plate 8 as an example, are used in the present case. The lenses 14 also contain a light guide effect and, in the interaction of the prism surfaces of the lenses 14 and the surrounding reflector surfaces of the segments 6, also provide additional light guidance, which, together with the central illumination of the concave lens surface, leads to a homogeneous illumination of the segment 6.

[0074] Now, as FIG. 13 shows in another view, there may be a deflection of light from one segment 6 to another segment 6 between the light emitting diodes 11 and the reflector element 9 or the segments 6. This can also be referred to as stray light. The problem with this stray light is that segments 6 not actively illuminated by a light emitting diode 11 associated with a segment 6 are nevertheless illuminated to a small degree. This impairs the desired light signature display of the illumination apparatus 1.

[0075] In order to solve this problem, a screen 15, in particular a passive LC display, is arranged on the front or visible side of the optical lens plate 8, which in the present case is formed by way of example from a first thin substrate 16 and a second thin substrate 17 and a liquid crystal in between. The substrates 16 and 17 can be, for example, glass panes or plastic films.

[0076] Now, the screen 15 is especially a so-called dye-doped display, in which the color pigments of the screen 15 are doped. When the screen 15 is not in use, the color pigments, which can be black, for example, determine the color of the screen 15.

[0077] The screen 15 is now programmed or set up in terms of control technology with the light emitting diodes 11 or the printed circuit board 10 in such a way that the screen 15 is switched off or does not remain transparent in the area of those segments 6 or opposite segments 6 to which assigned light emitting diodes 11 are not activated, so that only the predetermined color pigments can be seen, i.e., black, for example. As a result, no stray light can be seen from outside in the non-active segments 6, even if it hits the optical lens plate 8 there.

[0078] Again, the screen 15 is programmed or set up in terms of control technology to switch on in relation to those segment 6, which are illuminated by switching on the light emitting diodes 11, in order to switch the screen 15 to be transparent in this area in relation to the segment 6, as can be seen in FIG. 13. As a result, the light from the light emitting diode 11 of this segment 6 can escape from the optical lens plate 8 or the illumination apparatus 1 and be perceived visually.

[0079] FIG. 14 schematically shows an illumination system 20 with a plurality of, in the present case only four, illumination apparatuses 1. The illumination apparatuses 1 can be controlled by means of individual control units or as shown, by a common control unit 21.

[0080] FIG. 14 shows different light signatures, which are displayed by the respective illumination apparatuses 1. Individual contents or symbols are reproduced by means of the light signatures, such as a cross for a stop, a walking pedestrian or a standing pedestrian.

[0081] When using light emitting diodes 11 covering the color spectrum (yellow, red, blue), it is also possible to split the surface of an illumination apparatus 1, for example with a larger red area (red light emitting diodes) and a smaller yellow area (yellow light emitting diodes) or a different color division. As a result, two functions, e.g., tail light and direction indicator, or three functions, e.g., tail brake light and direction indicator, can also be realized.

[0082] However, it is also possible to match the light signatures of the individual illumination apparatuses 1. For example, FIG. 15 shows three illumination apparatuses 1 of an illumination system 20, each of which shows the same light signature.

[0083] FIGS. 16 and 17 each show a different and self-contained or common light signature, which is produced by them together when four illumination apparatuses 1 are lined up or connected in series.

[0084] FIG. 18, on the other hand, shows a repetition of a light signature on four illumination apparatuses 1 of an illumination system 20, in which the light signature has an indicator function that can be used, for example, when driving the motor vehicle 20 equipped with the illumination system 20, namely the display of a right-pointing arrow, which can also be referred to as a driving indicator and can be used, for example, to drive the motor vehicle 30 equipped with it (see FIG. 14) to the right.

[0085] FIG. 19 shows a motor vehicle 30 according to an example of the invention in a rear view. The motor vehicle 30 is designed with the illumination systems 20 described above, which in the present case are designed as rear lights of the motor vehicle 30 and thus enable the display of various common or different light signatures, for example a turn by means of corresponding arrow representations as light signatures.

[0086] The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are to be included within the scope of the following claims.