LIGHT DEVICE, ESPECIALLY A SIGNAL LAMP, FOR MOTOR VEHICLES

Abstract

The light device, especially a signal lamp, for motor vehicles comprises a carrier housing covered by a cover with a front light output surface, a lighting means positioned within the carrier housing to emit light rays towards the light output surface, and a semi-permeable layer situated between the light output surface and the lighting means. The device further comprises a partly transparent primary planar optical element positioned between the output light surface and the lighting means, and a secondary planar optical element positioned between the primary planar optical element and the lighting means, wherein the secondary planar optical element comprises at least one non-transparent planar part and one or more partly transparent planar parts, which are arranged in such a way to create one or more areas on the surface of the secondary planar optical element that are at least partly permeable for light rays emitted by the lighting means.

Claims

1. A light device, especially a signal lamp for motor vehicles, comprising a carrier housing (1) covered by a cover (2) with a front light output surface (21), a lighting means positioned in the carrier housing (1) to emit light rays (10) towards the light output surface (21), and a semi-permeable layer (7) situated between the light output surface (21) and the lighting means, wherein the light device comprises a partly transparent primary planar optical element (5) situated between the light output surface (21) and the lighting means, and a secondary planar optical element (6) situated between the primary planar optical element (5) and the lighting means and comprising at least one non-transparent planar part (61) and one or more at least partly transparent planar parts (62), the non-transparent planar parts (61) and transparent planar parts (62) being arranged in such a way as to create one or more areas on the surface of the secondary planar optical element (6) that will be at least partly permeable for light rays (10) emitted by the lighting means.

2. The light device according to claim 1, wherein the semi-permeable layer (7) is a semi-permeable mirror.

3. The light device according to claim 1, wherein the semi-permeable layer (7) is adapted to partly reflect the light rays (10) emitted by the lighting means.

4. The light device according to claim 1, wherein the lighting means comprises two lighting units (4) that are separated, especially with a partition (8), to emit two different light beams directed to two different said areas that are at least partly permeable for the light rays (10).

5. The light device according to claim 4, wherein the lighting units (4) and the said areas assigned to them are used to display different light functions.

6. The light device according to claim 1, wherein the primary planar optical element (5) is fitted with a partly permeable layer (7) on its inner side facing the lighting means.

7. The light device according to claim 1, wherein the primary planar optical element (5) is the cover (2) or a part of the cover (2), wherein the cover (2) is fitted with a partly permeable layer (7) on its inner side facing the lighting means.

8. The light device according to claim 1, wherein the primary planar optical element (5) and/or secondary planar optical element (6) are each made as one integral piece, which can be by means of plastic injection molding.

9. The light device according to claim 1, wherein the cover (2), the primary planar optical element (5) and the secondary planar optical element (6) are arranged substantially parallel with respect to each other.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0015] The invention will be clarified in a more detailed way with the use of its embodiment examples with references to attached drawings, where:

[0016] FIG. 1 shows an exploded axonometric view of the light device according to the invention;

[0017] FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal cross-section through the light device according to the invention;

[0018] FIG. 3 shows a longitudinal cross-section through another embodiment example of the light device in accordance with the invention; and

[0019] FIG. 4 shows a longitudinal cross-section through the light device of FIG. 2, indicating the propagation route of light rays.

DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLES OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0020] According to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the light device comprises a carrier housing 1 covered by a translucent cover 2, and an inner chamber where two lighting units 4 are mounted, either lighting unit 4 being adapted to emit light to ensure at least one light function. Between the cover 2 and the lighting units 4, the primary planar optical element 5 and the secondary planar optical element 6 are situated, which can be made of plastic.

[0021] The primary planar optical element 5, e.g. a filter, is designed as partly transparent and on its inner side facing the secondary planar optical element 6, it is fitted with a semi-permeable layer 7, e.g. in the form of a semi-permeable mirror. The secondary planar optical element 6 comprises a non-transparent part 61 creating an area without light functions, and two at least partly transparent parts 62 creating areas with light functions. In one embodiment, the secondary planar optical element 6 is made as one piece using the process of plastic injection molding, while in the view of the light device, a lighting unit 4 is situated behind the partly or completely transparent part 62 which is adapted to emit light towards the front light output surface 21. Individual lighting units 4 are mounted on a carrier 9 and are separated with a partition 8 to separate individual light rays 10, not shown here, or to eliminate parasitic light emitted from the other lighting unit 4.

[0022] FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment example of the light device where the cover 2 is implemented as a partly transparent primary planar optical element 5, which is fitted with a semi-permeable layer 7 on the side facing the secondary planar optical element 6.

[0023] FIG. 4 shows a longitudinal cross-section through the light device of FIG. 1, indicating the propagation route of light rays. As indicated, the lighting unit 4 emits light rays 10, a part of the light rays 10 passing through the partly or completely transparent part 62 of the secondary planar optical element 6 and falling onto the semi-permeable layer 7. A part of the light rays 10 passes through the semi-permeable layer 7 and partly transparent primary planar optical element 5. In one embodiment, a part of the light rays 10 passes through the translucent cover 2, implemented as a separate part, as well.

[0024] On deactivation of the lighting means, a substantially unicolored, homogeneous, preferably black/dark or mahogany appearance of the front light output surface 21 is produced for the external viewer 11, with possible mirror reflections of the external environment.

LIST OF REFERENCE MARKS

[0025] 1carrier housing [0026] 2cover [0027] 4lighting unit [0028] 5primary planar optical element [0029] 6secondary planar optical element [0030] 7semipermeable layer [0031] 8partition [0032] 9carrier [0033] 10light ray [0034] 11viewer [0035] 21front light output surface [0036] 61non-transparent part [0037] 62transparent part