LIGHTING MODULE FOR A VEHICLE

Abstract

A lighting module for use in a lighting device for a vehicle includes at least one projection module for generating a light distribution in the vehicle's environment. At least one light source module is also provided. The projection module contains numerous projection units. The light source module contains numerous light source units. Each projection unit contains at least one projection lens. Each projection unit is dedicated to at least one light source unit. At least two projection lenses from at least two different projection units have different focal lengths.

Claims

1. A lighting module for use in a lighting device for a vehicle, the lighting module comprising: at least one projection module configured to generate a light distribution in the vehicle's environment, the at least one projection module containing a plurality of projection units, wherein each projection unit includes at least one projection lens; and at least one light source module contains a plurality of light source units, wherein each projection unit is dedicated to at least one light source unit, and wherein at least two projection lenses from at least two different projection units have different focal lengths.

2. The lighting module according to claim 1, wherein at least one projection unit contains a preliminary lens, wherein the preliminary lens and at least one projection lens in the at least one projection unit are placed such that the preliminary lens focuses light into the focal point of the at least one projection lens.

3. The lighting module according to claim 2, wherein the projection units are arranged vertically, wherein the at least one projection unit with the at least one projection lens that has a longest focal length forms the uppermost projection unit, and/or the projection unit with the at least one projection lens that has a shortest focal length forms the lowest projection unit.

4. The lighting module according to claim 1, wherein at least one projection unit generates a fundamental light distribution with a light/dark boundary, and generates at least one supplementary light distribution with a light/dark boundary, wherein the light/dark boundary in the supplementary light distribution is pivoted in relation to the light/dark boundary in the fundamental light distribution.

5. The lighting module according to claim 1, wherein at least one projection unit generates a fundamental light distribution with a light/dark boundary and generates at least one supplementary light distribution with a light/dark boundary, wherein the light/dark boundary in the supplementary light distribution is shifted in relation to the light/dark boundary in the fundamental light distribution.

6. T The lighting module according to claim 1, wherein a focal length of the projection lens with a longest focal length is at least twice that of the projection lens with a shortest focal length.

7. The lighting module according to claim 1, wherein all of the light source units are in the same plane.

8. The lighting module according to claim 1, wherein at least one projection lens has a flat light entry surface, and/or at least one projection lens has a concave light exit surface.

9. A lighting device for a vehicle, the lighting device comprising at least one lighting module according to claim 1.

10. A vehicle comprising at least one lighting device according to claim 9.

11. A method for controlling a lighting module for use in a lighting device for a vehicle, the lighting module including at least one projection module configured to generate a light distribution in the vehicle's environment, the at least one projection module containing a plurality of projection units, wherein each projection unit includes at least one projection lens, the lighting module also including at least one light source module containing a plurality of light source units, wherein each projection unit is dedicated to at least one light source unit, and wherein at least two projection lenses from at least two different projection units have different focal lengths, the method comprising the steps of: switching on and/or switching off, and/or dimming at least one light source in the light source module based on a current deceleration of the vehicle; switching on and/or switching off, and/or dimming at least one light source in the light source module based on a current tilting of the vehicle; switching on and/or switching off, and/or dimming at least one light source in the light source module based on a current vehicle speed; switching on and/or switching off, and/or dimming at least one light source in the light source module due to oncoming traffic.

12. A computer program comprising commands with which a lighting module executes the steps in the method according to claim 11.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium on which the computer program according to claim 12 is stored.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0046] 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.

[0047] FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a lighting module.

[0048] FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of a projection unit.

[0049] FIG. 3 shows a schematic illustration of a light distribution.

[0050] FIG. 4 shows a schematic illustration of a light distribution.

[0051] FIG. 5 shows a schematic illustration of a light distribution.

[0052] FIG. 6 shows a schematic illustration of a lighting device.

[0053] FIG. 7 shows a schematic illustration of a vehicle.

[0054] FIG. 8 shows a schematic illustration of a method.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0055] The same reference symbols are used for the same technical features, even in different exemplary embodiments, in all of the drawings.

[0056] FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a lighting module 10. The lighting module 10 contains at least one projection module 11 for generating a light distribution in the vehicle's 100 environment, and at least one light source module 12. The projection module 11 contains numerous projection units 13, and the light module 12 contains numerous light source units 14, in which each projection unit 13 contains at least one projection lens 13.1, and each projection unit 13 is dedicated to at least one light source unit 14, such that the light emitted by the light source unit 14 is substantially emitted into the projection unit 13 dedicated to the light source unit 14. This is indicated in FIG. 1 by the dotted lines. Furthermore, the projection lenses 13.1 in the projection units 13 each have different focal lengths.

[0057] The lighting module 10 obtained with the invention has the advantage that by using numerous projection units 13 with projection lenses 13.1 of different focal lengths, greater variability is obtained in the light distributions generated by the light module 10. The different focal lengths result in different diffusions in the light exiting the projection lenses 13, such that different parts of the vehicle's environment can be adequately lit.

[0058] FIG. 1 shows that the projection units 13 are arranged vertically. The lowest projection unit 13 in the projection module 11 contains the projection lenses 13.1 with the longest focal lengths. The uppermost projection unit 13 in the projection module 11 contains the projection lenses 13.1 with the shortest focal lengths. This distribution has the advantage that a particularly advantageous light distribution can be generated by the lighting module 10 that is optimized for numerous driving situations.

[0059] FIG. 1 also shows that the surfaces 22 of projection lenses 13.1 in the projection units 13 where light enters are in the same plane. Furthermore, the light entry surfaces 11 of the projection lenses 13.1 are flat, and the light exit surfaces 23 are concave. This results in advantageous light shaping by the projection lenses 13 to obtain an optimized light distribution. The light source units 14 are also in the same plane.

[0060] FIG. 1 also shows that the projection units 13 each contain a preliminary lens 13.2, which is placed in relation to the projection lens 13.1 in the projection unit 13 such that the light emitted from the light source unit 14 dedicated to the respective projection unit 13 first passes through the preliminary lens 13.2 and then into the projection lens 13.1. The preliminary lens 13.2 therefore results in a primary light shaping, and a secondary light shaping is obtained with the projection lens 13.1.

[0061] Furthermore, the projection lenses 13.1 and preliminary lenses 13.2 in the projection units 13 are placed in relation to one another such that the preliminary lens 13.2 focuses light into the focal point of the projection lens 13.1 to which it is dedicated. This has proven to be advantageous for generating an optimized light distribution with the lighting module 10.

[0062] FIG. 1 also shows that the light source module 12 contains at least one printed circuit board 19, which is populated by the light source units 14. This results in a simple and inexpensive design, particularly with regard to controlling, and supplying electricity to, the light source units 14. The light source module 12 also contains at least one heat sink 18 with which heat emitted by the light source units 14 on the printed circuit board 19 is dissipated.

[0063] FIG. 1 also shows that the lighting module 10 contains at least one control unit 17, which is configured to control the light source module 12, in particular the light source units 14.

[0064] FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of a projection unit 11, which is designed to generate at least one fundamental light distribution 24 and one supplementary light distribution 25. The projection unit 11 contains a preliminary lens 13.2 for this that has a first preliminary lens region 26, and a second preliminary lens region 27, with which different light distributions can be generated in conjunction with the projection lenses 13.1 and at least one light source 15. As such, a fundamental light distribution can be generated by the first preliminary lens region 26 in conjunction with the projection lens 13.1 and a first light source 15.1, and a supplementary light distribution can be generated by the second preliminary lens region 27 in conjunction with the projection lens 13.2 and a second light source 15.2.

[0065] For a better overview, FIG. 3 shows a schematic illustration of a light distribution. This light distribution is exemplary for the projection unit shown in FIG. 2, which contains a projection lens 13.1 with a relatively long focal length. This light distribution is thus generated at a greater distance to the vehicle. It is clear that a fundamental light distribution 24 with a light/dark boundary 20 is generated by the projection unit 11 in conjunction with the light source unit 14. A supplementary light distribution 25 with a light/dark boundary 20 is also generated by the projection unit 11 in conjunction with the light source unit 14, which is at least pivoted in relation to the light/dark boundary 20 in the fundamental light distribution 24.

[0066] The light/dark boundary 20 in the fundamental light distribution 24 is parallel, or at least substantially parallel, to the lateral axis Q of the vehicle. The light/dark boundary 20 in the supplementary light distribution 25 is tilted in relation to that in the fundamental light distribution 24. This results in a wedge-shaped partial light distribution, or a wedge-shaped light segment 21. In particular when the lighting module 10 is used in a motorcycle, the inside of a curve is lit by the wedge-shaped light segment 21, or supplementary light distribution 25, when cornering, which causes the motorcycle to tilt.

[0067] The different light segments 21 in FIG. 3 are generated by separate light sources 15. By controlling the different light sources independently, the brightnesses of individual light segments 21 in the light distribution can be adjusted, or even entirely dimmed. By way of example, the wedge-shaped light segments 21 can be entirely eliminated when driving in a straight line, and activated when cornering by switching the light source 15 in question on, in order to light the inside of the curve. In other words, at least one supplementary light distribution and/or at least one fundamental light distribution can comprise numerous light segments 21, each of which is generated by a separate light source 15.

[0068] FIG. 4 shows another schematic illustration of a light distribution with a different characteristic from that in FIG. 3. In particular, the inclination between the light/dark boundary 20 in the fundamental light distribution 24 and that in the supplementary light distribution 25 is increased. This light distribution is exemplary for a projection unit 11 containing a projection lens 13.1 with a shorter focal length. This light distribution is generated to light an area closer to the vehicle 100. The light segments 21 therein can also be generated by one or more light sources 15.

[0069] FIG. 5 shows another schematic illustration of a light distribution containing a fundamental light distribution 24 and a supplementary light distribution 25. The light/dark boundary 20 in the fundamental light distribution 24 and that in the supplementary light distribution 25 are parallel, or substantially parallel, and shifted to some extent. In the present example, the supplementary light distribution 25 is shifted upward in relation to the fundamental light distribution 24, such that changes in the light distribution caused by a pitching motion of the vehicle 100 as a result of deceleration are compensated for by the supplementary light distribution 25.

[0070] FIG. 6 shows a schematic illustration of a lighting device 50, containing two lighting modules 10. The lighting modules 10 are mirror-symmetrical, such that the field of vision of the vehicle's driver is optimally lit when cornering to the left or right.

[0071] FIG. 7 shows a schematic illustration of a vehicle 100 in the form of a motorcycle, which has at least one lighting device 50 in the form of a headlamp for the vehicle 100.

[0072] FIG. 8 shows a schematic illustration of a method 200 for controlling a lighting module 10, comprising at least one of the following steps: switching on and/or switching off, and/or dimming 210 at least one light source 15 in the light source module 12 based on a current deceleration of the vehicle 100; switching on and/or switching off, and/or dimming 220 at least one light source 15 in the light source module 12 based on a current tilting of the vehicle 100; switching on and/or switching off, and/or dimming 230 at least one light source 15 in the light source module 12 based on a current vehicle speed; switching on and/or switching off, and/or dimming 240 at least one light source 15 in the light source module due to oncoming traffic.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0073] 10 lighting module [0074] 11 projection module [0075] 12 light source module [0076] 13 projection unit [0077] 13.1 projection lens [0078] 13.2 preliminary lens [0079] 14 light source unit [0080] 15 light source [0081] 15.1 first light source [0082] 15.2 second light source [0083] 17 control unit [0084] 18 heat sink [0085] 19 printed circuit board [0086] 20 light/dark boundary [0087] 21 light segment [0088] 22 light entry surface [0089] 23 light exit surface [0090] 24 fundamental light distribution [0091] 25 supplementary light distribution [0092] 26 first preliminary lens region [0093] 27 second preliminary lens region [0094] 50 lighting device [0095] 100 vehicle [0096] 200 method [0097] 210 switching on/switching off/dimming [0098] 220 switching on/switching off/dimming [0099] 230 switching on/switching off/dimming [0100] 240 switching on/switching off/dimming [0101] H vehicle's vertical axis [0102] Q vehicle's lateral axis [0103] L vehicle's longitudinal axis