LIGHTING DEVICE FOR VEHICLES

Abstract

A lighting device for vehicles having a light source unit and having an optical unit that contains a reflector with at least one reflector surface for creating a specified light distribution, wherein the light source unit has a first light source that is arranged in a focal point region of the reflector surface. A second light source is arranged outside the focal point region of the reflector surface. A lens is arranged ahead of the reflector surface in the direction of light emission. The second light source is arranged outside the focal point region such that the light emitted by the second light source strikes a lens segment of the lens which a light emitted by the first light source and reflected by the reflector surface does not strike, so that all lens segments of the lens are illuminated.

Claims

1. A lighting device for vehicles comprising: an optical unit that comprises a reflector with at least one reflector surface to create a specified light distribution; a light source unit comprising a first light source that is arranged in a focal point region of the reflector surface, and a second light source that is arranged outside the focal point region of the reflector surface; and a lens arranged ahead of the reflector surface in a direction of light emission, wherein the second light source is arranged outside the focal point region such that the light emitted by the second light source strikes a lens segment of the lens which a light emitted by the first light source and reflected by the reflector surface does not strike, so that all lens segments of the lens are illuminated.

2. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the second light source is arranged at such a distance from the first light source and/or wherein the light emitted by the first light source strikes a lighting function segment of the reflector surface, and wherein the light emitted by the second light source strikes a diffused light segment of the reflector surface.

3. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the second light beam formed by the second light is reflected by the reflector surface in a larger aperture angle than a first light beam formed by the first light.

4. The lighting device according to claim 3, wherein the lighting function segment of the reflector surface is designed such that the first light beam, after its reflection, is not emitted beyond an edge of the lens segment associated with the reflector surface.

5. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the diffused light segment of the reflector surface is designed such that the second light beam reflected at the diffused light segment is emitted beyond an edge of the lens segment associated with the reflector surface having the same diffused light segment, wherein a different lens segment is illuminated that is associated with a further reflector surface, which is irradiated by a further first light source in order to create a further light distribution, and wherein a drive is arranged so that the second light source associated with the reflector surface is even switched on if the first light source associated with the reflector surface is switched on for creating the specified light distribution and the first light source associated with the further reflector surface is switched off for creating the additional light distribution.

6. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the reflector is arranged between the first light source and the second light source and the lens of the optical unit in the direction of light guidance.

7. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the lighting function segment of the reflector surface is designed such that the light emitted by the first light source is reflected in accordance with the specified light distribution toward the lens segment at which the first light beam is projected into the vehicle near field.

8. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the reflector surface and the lens are designed such that the specified light distribution is created.

9. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the first light source and the second light source are each designed as an LED light source, which are positioned on a common printed circuit board.

10. The lighting device according to claim 9, wherein the printed circuit board runs substantially parallel to an optical axis of the lens.

11. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein multiple reflector surfaces and first light sources associated with each of the same are provided for creating a first light beam, which are directed at different lens segments of the lens for creating the same light distribution and/or for creating different light distributions.

12. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the second light source is associated with such a reflector surface that serves to create the specified light distribution and serves in combination with further reflector surfaces to create a different light distribution.

13. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the reflector surface associated with the first light source and with the second light source, and the lens segment associated with the first reflector surface, serve to create a low beam light distribution.

14. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the reflector surface that captures only the light of the first light source reflects the first light beam that is projected by the lens segment associated with the second reflector surface to form a high beam light distribution that is superimposed with the low beam light distribution created by the first reflector surfaces and lens segments.

15. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the lens segments and/or the reflector surfaces are joined to one another as a single piece in each case.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] 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:

[0014] FIG. 1 shows a vertical, longitudinal section through a lighting device according to an example of the invention along the section line -I- in FIG. 2;

[0015] FIG. 2 shows a schematic top view of the lighting device; and

[0016] FIG. 3 shows a front view of a lens of the lighting device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] A lighting device for vehicles preferably is designed as a headlamp that serves to create a specified light distribution, for example low beam light distribution and/or high beam light distribution.

[0018] To create the specified light distribution, the lighting device has a multiplicity of light sources 1, 13 and an optical unit 2, which are mounted inside a housing.

[0019] The optical unit 2 includes a reflector 5 on the one hand and a lens 6 on the other hand, wherein the reflector 5 is arranged between the light sources 1, 13 on the one side and the lens 6 on the other side in the direction of light guidance.

[0020] The reflector 5 has multiple reflector surfaces R.sub.A11, R.sub.A12, R.sub.A13, R.sub.A2, R.sub.B1, R.sub.B2, with each of which is associated a first light source 1 for creating a specified light distribution. The first light sources 1 are each arranged in a focal point region 11 of the respective reflector surfaces R.sub.A11, R.sub.A12, R.sub.A13, R.sub.A2, R.sub.B1, R.sub.B2, wherein the light or light beam 7 emitted by the first light source 1 is deflected by a lighting function segment 15 of the reflector surface in accordance with the specified light distribution and strikes a lens segment L.sub.A1, L.sub.A2, L.sub.B1, L.sub.B2 of the lens 10 associated with the respective reflector surface R.sub.A11, R.sub.A12, R.sub.A13, R.sub.A2, R.sub.B1, R.sub.B2. In the present example, the lighting function segment 15 is arranged in a region near the apex of the reflector surface.

[0021] The lighting function segment 15 is designed such that the light beam 7 emitted by the first light source 1 strikes the corresponding lens segment L.sub.A1, L.sub.A2, L.sub.B1, L.sub.B2 and does not strike the lens 6 beyond an edge 16 of the corresponding lens segment L.sub.A1, L.sub.A2, L.sub.B1, L.sub.B2. In the present example, the lighting function segment 15 of the reflector surface R.sub.A11, R.sub.A12, and R.sub.A13 is designed such that the light 7 reflected at the same strikes a first lens segment L.sub.A1. The lighting function segment 15 of the reflector surface R.sub.A2 is designed such that the light 7 reflected at the same strikes the second lens segment L.sub.A2. The lighting function segments 15 of the reflector surfaces R.sub.A11, R.sub.A12, R.sub.A13, and R.sub.A2 are designed such that the light beam 7 emitted by the first light source 1 serves to create the low beam light distribution, which is projected into the vehicle near field by the light segments L.sub.A1 and L.sub.A2.

[0022] The reflector surfaces R.sub.B1 and R.sub.B2 are associated with the lens segments L.sub.B1 and L.sub.B2. The lighting function segments 15 of the reflector surfaces R.sub.B1, R.sub.B2 are designed such that the light beam of the first light source 1 striking them is deflected in accordance with a high beam light distribution and is projected into the vehicle near field via the lens segments L.sub.B1, L.sub.B2 to form the high beam light distribution.

[0023] If all first light sources 1 are switched on, then the entire area of the lens 6, namely the lens segments L.sub.A1, L.sub.A2, L.sub.B1, L.sub.B2, are illuminated and the low beam light distribution projected by the lens segments L.sub.A1 and L.sub.A2 is superimposed with the high beam light distribution projected by the lens segments L.sub.B1 and L.sub.B2.

[0024] If the lighting device is not to serve to create a combined high beam/low beam light distribution, but instead only a low beam light distribution, then only the first light sources 1 associated with the first reflector surfaces R.sub.A11, R.sub.A12, R.sub.A13, R.sub.A2 are switched on, while the first light sources 1 associated with the second reflector surfaces R.sub.B1 and R.sub.B2 are switched off. In this case, only the lens segments L.sub.A1 and L.sub.A2 would be illuminated, while the lens segments L.sub.B1 and L.sub.B2 are not illuminated, see the dotted marking of the lens segments L.sub.B1 and L.sub.B2 in FIG. 2.

[0025] So that the entire lens 6 or the entire area of the lens 6, consequently also the lens segments L.sub.B1 and L.sub.B2, are illuminated in the operating condition of low beam light distribution, a second light source 13 is associated with the first reflector surfaces R.sub.A11, R.sub.A12, R.sub.A13, R.sub.A2; this second light source is arranged at a distance a from the first light source 1 and is located outside the focal point region 11. In the present example, the first light source 1 and the second light source 13 are arranged on a common printed circuit board 8.

[0026] The light or light beam 14 emitted by the second light source 13 strikes a diffused light segment 17, 17 of the reflector surface R.sub.A11, R.sub.A12, R.sub.A13, or R.sub.A2 so that it exits from the reflector 5 with a larger aperture angle than the light beams of the first light source 1 that are deflected by the lighting function segment 15 of the first reflector surface R.sub.A11, R.sub.A12, R.sub.A13, R.sub.A2. Via the diffused light segment 17 of the first reflector surfaces R.sub.A11, R.sub.A12, R.sub.A13, R.sub.A2, the light beam 14 is reflected in such a manner that it goes beyond the edge 16 of the lens segments L.sub.A1, L.sub.A2 associated with the respective first reflector surfaces R.sub.A11, R.sub.A12, R.sub.A13, R.sub.A2 and illuminates the adjacent lens segments L.sub.B1, L.sub.B2, with which the second reflector surfaces R.sub.B1, R.sub.B2 are associated. The light rays 14 that are sketched in FIG. 1 run past the lens segment L.sub.A1 in the horizontal direction.

[0027] In the present example, the second light beam 14 is diffused in such a manner that the light 14 reflected by the outer reflector surfaces R.sub.A11, R.sub.A13 strikes the adjacent lens segments L.sub.B1 and L.sub.B2. Via the diffused light segment 17, 17 of the additional reflector surface R.sub.A2, the light 14 is diffused in such a manner that it strikes the adjacent lens segment L.sub.B2. As a result, it is ensured that the entire lens 6 is illuminated when the first light sources 1, with which the first reflector surfaces R.sub.A11, R.sub.A12, R.sub.A13, R.sub.A2 are associated, are switched on. The first light sources 1 and the second light sources 13, with which the first reflector surfaces R.sub.A11, R.sub.A12, R.sub.A13, R.sub.A2 are associated, are consequently switched on and off at the same time.

[0028] Alternatively, the second light sources 13 can also be switched off when the first light sources 1 associated with the second reflector surfaces R.sub.B1, R.sub.B2 are switched on. In this case, the lens segments L.sub.B1 and L.sub.B2 are illuminated by the corresponding light beams 7 of the reflector surfaces R.sub.B1, R.sub.B2 provided for the high beam light distribution.

[0029] In the present example, the printed circuit board 8 is arranged in the main direction of emission H of the lighting device. The printed circuit board 8 thus runs parallel to an optical axis 9 of the lens segments L.sub.A1, L.sub.A2.

[0030] The lens segments L.sub.A1, L.sub.A2, L.sub.B1, L.sub.B2 can be plano-convex in design, for example. On the light entry side, the lens segments L.sub.A1, L.sub.A2, L.sub.B1, L.sub.B2 can have diffuser elements, for example prismatic elements.

[0031] In the present example, the lens segments L.sub.A1, L.sub.A2, L.sub.B1, L.sub.B2 are joined to one another as a single piece.

[0032] In the present example, the reflector surfaces R.sub.A11, R.sub.A12, R.sub.A13, R.sub.A2, R.sub.B1, R.sub.B2 are joined to one another as a single piece.

[0033] According to an example of the invention, adjacent reflector surfaces R.sub.A11, R.sub.A12, R.sub.A13, R.sub.A2, R.sub.B1, R.sub.B2 and/or the lens segments L.sub.A1, L.sub.A2, L.sub.B1, L.sub.B2 can be arranged at a distance from one another.

[0034] As is evident from FIG. 1, the depicted lighting device has a first diffused light segment 17 in extension of the lighting function segment of the reflector surface R.sub.A11, R.sub.A12, R.sub.A13, R.sub.A2. Furthermore, the lighting device has a second diffused light segment 17, which is arranged on an opposite side from the first diffused light segment 17. The second diffused light segment 17 is arranged in the region of the printed circuit board 8 and oriented such that the light reflected by the first diffused light segment 17 is reflected yet again toward the lens segment L.sub.A1, L.sub.A2. In this way, a larger aperture angle or dispersion range in the vertical and/or horizontal directions is ensured.

[0035] In the present example, the reflector surfaces R.sub.A11, R.sub.A12, R.sub.A13, R.sub.A2, as well as lens segments L.sub.A1, L.sub.A2, that are associated with the different light distributions, namely low beam light distribution and high beam light distribution, are each arranged in alternation with one another.

[0036] According to an example of the invention, the reflector surfaces R.sub.A11, R.sub.A12, R.sub.A13, R.sub.A2 or lens segments L.sub.A1, L.sub.A2 associated with the low beam light distribution can also be arranged directly next to one another, while the reflector surfaces R.sub.B1, R.sub.B2 or lens segments L.sub.B1, L.sub.B2 are arranged vertically offset hereto.

[0037] According to an example of the invention, the lighting device has only the first diffused light segments 17, whereas the second diffused light segments 17 are omitted.

[0038] The first light sources 1 and the second light sources 13 preferably are designed as LED light sources.

[0039] 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.