Abstract
A light device comprises at least one light source (10) to generate light rays (201, 202, 203), an output lens (5), and lateral walls (7, 8) delimiting a space (27) for passage of the light rays after the lens and exiting out of the light device through a transparent cover (9) covering the space at the front. Between the light source and the output lens, a reflective diaphragm (11) is arranged that comprises fixed reflective lateral walls (11a, 11b), for spatial delimitation of the light rays between the lateral walls before they enter the output lens. The output lens has, in the vertical direction at the side facing the diaphragm, a convex shape and the lateral walls include, at the side facing the output lens, free ends (14) that have a rounded concave shape in the vertical direction, which is substantially complementary to the output lens convex shape.
Claims
1. A light device, especially a headlight for motor vehicles, including at least one light source (10) to generate light rays (201, 202, 203), an output lens (5) where the light rays (201, 202, 203) generated by the light source (10) enter, and lateral walls (7, 8) delimiting a space (27) for passage of the light rays (201, 202, 203) after their passage through the lens (5) and for their exit out of the light device through a transparent cover (9) that covers the said space (27) at the front, wherein between the light source (10) and the output lens (5) a reflective diaphragm (11) is arranged that comprises fixedimmovably arranged reflective lateral walls (11a, 11b), for spatial delimitation between the lateral walls (11a, 11b) of the beam of the light rays (201, 202, 203) generated by the light source (10) before they enter the output lens (5), wherein the output lens (5) has, in the vertical direction at the side facing the diaphragm (11), a convex shape and the lateral walls (11a, 11b) include, at the side facing the output lens (5), free ends (14) that have a rounded concave shape in the vertical direction, which concave shape of the free ends is substantially complementary to the convex shape of the output lens (5).
2. The light device according to claim 1, wherein the lateral walls (11a, 11b) of the reflective diaphragm (11) are provided with a rounding (13) at their ends facing the light source (10).
3. The light device according to claim 1, wherein the free ends (14) are offset from the surface of the output lens (5) in the distance of 0.5 to 1.5 mm, and preferably in the distance of 1 mm
4. The light device according to claim 1, wherein at least one lateral wall (11a, 11b) has a plate-like shape.
5. The light device according to claim 1, wherein the inner surface (12) of at least one of the lateral walls (11a, 11b) makes an angle () equal to 0 to 30 with the optical axis (0) on the horizontal plane.
6. The light device according to claim 1, wherein at least one unit (1) carrying the light source (10) has such an angular position from the longitudinal axis (x) of the motor vehicle on the horizontal plane, such that the optical axis () passing through the light source (10) makes an angle () equal to 0 to 20 with the longitudinal axis (X) of the motor vehicle.
7. The light device according to claim 1, wherein the reflective diaphragm (11) with the lateral walls (11a, 11b) of a plate-like shape is arranged in a frame (18), mounted by means of transversal holders (16) on the carrier plate (2) that the light unit (1) with the light source (10) is mounted on.
8. The light device according to claim 1, wherein the inner surface (12) of at least one of the lateral walls (11a, 11b) of the reflective diaphragm (11) is arranged at an inclination of 0 to 15 with respect to the vertical plane (V).
Description
OVERVIEW OF FIGURES IN THE DRAWINGS
[0022] The invention will be clarified in a more detailed way with the use of its embodiment examples with references to attached drawings, where:
[0023] FIG. 1 shows a prior-art light device,
[0024] FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of the light device in accordance with the invention, in a partial horizontal cross-section,
[0025] FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of the light device in accordance with the invention, with a horizontally deflected light source,
[0026] FIG. 4 shows a horizontal cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the light device in accordance with the invention, with the lateral walls of the reflective diaphragm deflected at varying degrees, and the resultant patterns achieved on the display surface,
[0027] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the structural arrangement of the reflective diaphragm within the frame,
[0028] FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the light device in the disassembled state, and
[0029] FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of the geometry of the output lens in cross-sections along the horizontal plane and vertical plane.
EXAMPLE OF EMBODIMENTS
[0030] FIG. 1 shows a light device, especially a headlight for motor vehicles according to the prior art, comprising a carrier bushing 6 covered by a transparent cover 9 and an inner chamber 4 wherein a light unit 1 is housed, equipped with at least one light source 10 to generate light rays 101, 102, 103. The light device comprises an output lens 5 that is embedded between the inner lateral wall 7 and outer lateral wall 8 of the carrier bushing 6 of the headlight or a covering mask, which is not shown here. Due to a deep recess of the light unit 1 between the inner lateral wall 7 and outer lateral wall 8, a part of the light emitted from the light source 1 exits through a relatively narrow area between the free ends 14 of the lateral walls 7, 8 out of the light device, and a part of this light falls onto the lateral walls 7, 8 and is diffused. For design reasons, the outer lateral wall 8 has a considerably shorter length than the inner lateral wall 7, which releases the space at the outer side from the optical axis of the lamp in the horizontal direction. Thus, the light rays 101, 102 can exhibit a greater deflection from the light axis than the light rays 103, while the light rays 103 leave the inner space of the device directly, the ray 101 falling first onto the outer lateral wall 8 is directed onto the inner lateral wall 7 and it is only then that it leaves the inner space of the light device. The ray 102 is reflected from one of the lateral walls 7, 8. This gives the light beam exiting from the lamp a higher intensity at the inner side from the optical axis than at the outer side from the optical axis . The free ends 14 of the lateral walls 7, 8 produce a visible boundary on the display surface of the carriageway in front of the vehicle because the light beam is trimmed by the inner lateral wall 7. This phenomenon is manifested by the occurrence of a visible boundary between the intensively lit and the less intensively lit part of the carriageway that is not lit by the contributive projector system. This undesired visible boundary is more prominent at the inner side from the optical axis due to a higher luminous intensity of the light beam at the inner side from the optical axis while this negative phenomenon can be partly eliminated by deflecting the light unit by a certain angle with regard to the light axis .
[0031] FIG. 2 shows the first example of an embodiment of the light device in accordance with the invention in a horizontal cross-section. The light unit 1 comprising at least one light source 10 is mounted on a carrier plate 2 that is arranged on the cooling monobloc 3. The light rays 201, 202, 203 exit through the output lens 5 into the space 27 between the inner lateral wall 7 and the outer lateral wall 8, further passing through the transparent cover 9. The inner lateral wall 7 and the outer lateral wall 8 are lateral walls of a covering mask or bushing. Between the light unit 1 and the output lens 5, at the lateral sides of the light beam, the lateral walls 11a and 11b of a reflective diaphragm 11 are arranged opposite each other, the lateral walls preferably exhibiting a plate-like shape. Their inner surfaces 12 facing each other are reflective. The feet 15 of the lateral walls 11a and 1lb that face the light source 10 have the form of a rounding 13. The free ends 14 opposed from the light source 1 have a rounded concave shape in the vertical direction corresponding to the convex shape of the output lens 5.
[0032] The inner surfaces 12 of the plate-shaped lateral walls 11a, 11b of the reflective diaphragm 11 concentrate light emitted by the light source 10 and direct light rays to the space between the free ends 14 of the lateral walls 7, 8 in such a way that the rays 201 are routed directly outside the inner space 27 of the light device, and the rays 202 are first directed to the lateral walls 11a and 11b and then they leave the inner chamber 4 of the light device without the light trace being trimmed by incidence of the rays on the lateral walls 7, 8. On the display surface 20 the light device produces an additional lit pattern below the horizontal plane H, as shown in the top part of FIG. 2. The rounding 13 of the lateral walls 11a and 11b further significantly contributes to softening of the boundary between the directly lit area on the display surface of the carriageway in front of the vehicle where the direct light rays 201 emitted by the light source 10 fall, and the area where the direct light rays do not fall. The concentration of the light rays 202, 203 by the inner surfaces 12 ensures a high utilization rate of the light emitted by the light unit 1.
[0033] The utilization rate of the light emitted by the light source 10 is further considerably increased by the fact that the free ends 14 of the lateral walls 11a and 11b opposed from the light unit 1 have a rounded concave shape in the vertical direction, corresponding to the inner convex shape of the output lens 5, while the outer edges 14 are preferably offset from the output lens 5 in the distance of 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm and more preferably in the distance of 1 mm. 1 mm is considered as an optimum distance to meet the mechanical and operational requirements of the production and operation of the light device wherein the output lens 5 and reflective diaphragm 11 are separately manufacturable parts.
[0034] FIG. 3 shows the second example of an embodiment of the light device according to the present invention, wherein the deflection of the reflective diaphragm 11 with respect to the optical axis increases the utilization rate of light because it enables guiding of most of the rays 201, 202, 203 emitted by the light unit 1 between the free ends 14 of the lateral walls 7, 8, while the shape and length of the lateral walls 11a, 11b of the reflective diaphragm 11 can be different on the inner and outer side so that the rays 201 can be directly radiated between the free ends 14 of the lateral walls 7, 8, the rays 202 can be directed between the free ends 14 of the lateral walls 7, 8 by reflection from at least one of the lateral walls 11a, 11b, and the rays 203 can be guided outside the inner chamber 4 of the light device through a multiple reflection from two lateral walls 11a, and 11b. The shape and length of the reflective diaphragm 11 are influenced by the mechanical design of all the components of the headlight, wherein the length and/or shape are adapted to direct the rays 201, 202, 203 in such a way that these rays 201, 202, 203 should not get in contact with the lateral walls 7, 8 of the covering mask or carrier bushing.
[0035] The light unit 1 is preferably deflected from the longitudinal axis X of the motor vehicle in such a way that the optical axis passing through the light unit 1 makes the light source deflection angle =0-20, preferably 10 with the longitudinal axis X of the motor vehicle. The deflection of the light source 10 or the carrier plate 2 of the light unit 1 achieves the effect that the final light beam of the lamp is directed between the trim edges of the lateral walls 7, 8 even better.
[0036] The setting of the position of the reflective lateral walls 11a, 11b of the reflective diaphragm 11 with respect to the optical axis is illustrated in more detail in FIG. 4, showing another embodiment of the light device according to the invention, with deflected reflective lateral walls 11a, 11b of the reflective diaphragm 11. At least one reflective lateral wall 11a, 11b having a plate-like shape makes the lateral wall deflection angle =0-30 with the optical axis . The possibility to set the angle a of the lateral walls 11a, 11b with respect to the optical axis makes it possible to select the area where the rays 201, 202, 203 should be directed. Changing the angle and distance between the lateral walls 11a, 11b allows you to adjust the softness of the boundaries and the level of light concentration on the display surface 40 of the carriageway in front of the vehicle, with the light pattern displayed in FIG. 4 being shown with respect to the horizontal plane H and the vertical plane V. The differences in the light pattern on the display surface 40 are apparent from the right sides of FIG. 4, wherein the top part shows the reflective lateral walls 11a and 11b arranged with their reflective inner surfaces 12 almost parallel to the optical axis , and the bottom part shows the reflective lateral walls 11a and 11b deflected from the optical axis by the angle a. The position of the lateral walls 11a and 11b is preferably also adjustable in the vertical direction, preferably in the inclination of 0-15 with respect to the vertical plane V.
[0037] FIG. 5 shows the reflective diaphragm 11 of a plate-like shape forming a frame 18 together with the transversal holders 16. The roundings 13 influence, as mentioned above, the softness of the light boundary on the display surface between the directly lit area and the unlit area. The transversal holders 16 are fitted with support feet 17 for mounting on the not shown carrier plate 2 of the light source 10. The frame 18 can be preferably mounted onto the carrier plate 2 with the use of clips or latches. FIG. 5 clearly indicates that the position of the reflective lateral walls 11a and 11b wherein their respective free ends 14 are easily adjustable between the transversal holders 16 thanks to the shaped feet 15. The adjustment is possible by rotating around the axes passing through the feet 15, in parallel to the roundings 13.
[0038] FIG. 6 shows a disassembled view of an embodiment of the light device comprising a shaped output lens 5 with an adjacent holder carrier 21 of the reflective diaphragm 11 integrated in the frame 18. In the frame 18, the light unit 1 is mounted, all of which are within the lens holder 22, which itself is mounted to the output lens 5. The light unit 1 is further mounted on the carrier plate 2, which is part of the cooler 24, and which is connected to the power supply with the cabling 23.
[0039] FIG. 7 shows the shape of the lens 5, where the front surface A results from the style requirements and in the optical design the given surface cannot be changed. The rear surface B is spatially shaped in such a way that in the vertical cross-section the lens is biconvex and in the horizontal cross-section it is a convex-concave lens. The horizontal axis H which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, and the vertical axis Z which is perpendicular to axis X and axis Y, are both of these are shown in FIG. 7 for reference purposes.
LIST OF REFERENCE MARKS
[0040] 1 light unit [0041] 2 carrier plate [0042] 3 cooling monobloc [0043] 4 inner chamber [0044] 5 output lens [0045] 6 bushing [0046] 7 lateral wall [0047] 8 lateral wall [0048] 9 transparent cover [0049] 10 light source [0050] 11 reflective diaphragm [0051] 11a lateral wall [0052] 11b lateral wall [0053] 12 inner surface [0054] 13 rounding [0055] 14 free end [0056] 15 foot [0057] 16 transversal holder [0058] 17 support foot [0059] 18 carrier frame [0060] 20 display surface [0061] 21 diaphragm carrier [0062] 22 lens holder [0063] 23 cabling [0064] 24 cooler [0065] 27 space [0066] 40 display surface [0067] 101 ray [0068] 102 ray [0069] 103 ray [0070] 201 ray [0071] 202 ray [0072] 203 ray [0073] H horizontal plane (comprising axes X, Y) [0074] V vertical plane (comprising axes Z, Y) [0075] optical axis of the lamp [0076] deflection angle of the lateral walls [0077] deflection angle of the carrier plate [0078] A front surface of lens [0079] B rear surface of lens [0080] X longitudinal axis of the vehicle [0081] Y horizontal axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle [0082] Z vertical axis perpendicular to axis X and Y
