LIGHT EMITTING SYSTEM, A DESIGN ELEMENT, A REAR VIEW DEVICE, A COVERING DEVICE, AND A BODY COMPONENT OF A VEHICLE

Abstract

A light emitting system includes a light pipe, a light source disposed at least partially within an interior of the light emitting system, and configured to emit light when receiving electrical power from an electrical power source, wherein the light source is arranged adjacent to and directed towards the light pipe, a lens substantially enclosing the interior of the light emitting system, the light pipe and the light source, the lens having an inner surface and an outer surface disposed opposite the inner surface, and a mask comprising a coating that is applied on the lens and laser etched to form a desired pattern, wherein light emitted from the light source passes through the light pipe and lens.

Claims

1. A light emitting system, comprising: a light pipe; a light source disposed at least partially within an interior of the light emitting system, and configured to emit light when receiving electrical power from an electrical power source, wherein the light source is arranged adjacent to and directed towards the light pipe; a lens substantially enclosing the interior of the light emitting system, the light pipe and the light source, the lens having an inner surface and an outer surface disposed opposite the inner surface; and a mask comprising a coating that is applied on the lens and laser etched to form a desired pattern; wherein light emitted from the light source passes through the light pipe and lens.

2. The light emitting system of claim 1, wherein the coating is paint.

3. The light emitting system of claim 1, wherein the coating is an opaque coating.

4. The light emitting system of claim 1, wherein the mask further comprises a transmissive coating that is applied over the coating after the coating is later etched to form the desired pattern.

5. The light emitting system of claim 4, further comprising: a transparent or translucent coating applied over the transmissive coating of the mask.

6. The light emitting system of claim 5, wherein the at least some light emitted by the light source passes through the transparent or translucent coating.

7. The light emitting system of claim 1, wherein the mask and the lens are separable.

8. The light emitting system of claim 1, wherein the mask and the lens form a lens-mask system in which the mask and the lens are permanently fixed together and not interchangeable.

9. The light emitting system of claim 1, wherein the light pipe or the lens comprises optic shapes that refract light to different colors, wherein the optic shapes are selected from at least one of micro lenses, prisms, or light refracting free form shapes.

10. The light emitting system of claim 1, further comprising at least one gasket between the mask and the light pipe, wherein the at least one gasket is configured to be permanently fixed to the mask.

11. The light emitting system of claim 5, wherein the transparent or translucent coating is a metal coating.

12. The light emitting system of claim 11, wherein the metal coating is a chromium-based reflecting coating.

13. The light emitting system of claim 1, wherein the mask comprises an at least partially translucent image thereon, and the mask stretches along the entire lens.

14. The light emitting system of claim 1, wherein the coating comprises laser additives.

15. The light emitting system of claim 14, wherein the mask is laser etched by reacting the laser additives with a laser.

16. The light emitting system of claim 1, wherein the mask is laser etched by removing portions of the coating with a laser.

17. The light emitting system of claim 1, wherein the light pipe is formed from a material having a high refractive index, and the light pipe comprises a light pipe coating with a material having a low refractive index.

18. The light emitting system of claim 1, wherein the light source is included on a circuit board and comprises at least one of an incandescent light source, a light emitting diode, or an organic light-emitting diode.

19. A vehicle design element comprising the light emitting system of claim 1.

20. A rear view device of a vehicle comprising the light emitting system of claim 1.

21. A covering device for arranging on at least one outer area of a motor vehicle, comprising: the light emitting system of claim 1; and a molded element produced by injection molding with an inner side facing the motor vehicle and an outer side pointing away from the motor vehicle; wherein the lens at least partially covers the outer side of the molded element, the light source is arranged on or connected with the inner side of the molded element, and the molded element covers the light source, and at least a portion of light emitted by the light source passes through the molded element and the lens outwardly in at least a first region of the covering device, wherein the molded element is translucent at least in the first region.

22. The covering device of claim 21, wherein the light source is configured to display different colors as a multicolor light source.

23. The covering device of claim 21, wherein the translucency of the molded element or both of the molded element and the lens is determined by an injection molding process.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0072] The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustration, there is shown in the drawings certain embodiments of the present disclosure. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate an implementation of systems and apparatuses consistent with the present invention and, together with the description, serve to explain advantages and principles consistent with the invention.

[0073] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an embodiment of the system.

[0074] FIG. 2 is an embodiment of the mask with an image or stencil thereon.

[0075] FIG. 3 is an embodiment of a coated lens with the respective mask.

[0076] FIG. 4 is an embodiment of a 2K molded mask window.

[0077] FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of the preparation of a lens-mask system.

[0078] FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of 2 K molded lens-mask system with tinted parts.

[0079] FIGS. 7 and 8 are embodiments for laser etching the mask with or without additional transmissive coating.

[0080] FIGS. 9 and 10 is a schematic view of the inventive HTL system having an additional coating with a low refractive index.

[0081] FIG. 11 is a schematic representation of an embodiment of the invention having optic shapes on the mask.

[0082] FIG. 12 is a schematic representation of an embodiment with an projector as the mask.

[0083] FIG. 13 is a schematic representation of a motor vehicle with an inventive covering device according to a first embodiment.

[0084] FIG. 14 is a schematic representation of a motor vehicle with an inventive covering device according to a further embodiment.

[0085] FIG. 15 is a schematic representation of a motor vehicle of an inventive covering device according to a further embodiment.

[0086] FIG. 16 is a schematic cross-section view of an inventive covering device in a further embodiment.

[0087] FIG. 17 is an embodiment of the inventive covering device in a side view.

[0088] FIG. 18 is a further embodiment of the inventive covering device in a side view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0089] The following detailed description is provided to assist the reader in gaining a comprehensive understanding of the methods, apparatuses, and/or systems described herein. Accordingly, various changes, modifications, and equivalents of the systems, apparatuses and/or methods described herein will be suggested to those of ordinary skill in the art. Also, descriptions of well-known functions and constructions may be omitted for increased clarity and conciseness.

[0090] It is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. For example, the use of a singular term, such as, “a” is not intended as limiting of the number of items. Also the use of relational terms, such as but not limited to, “top,” “bottom,” “left,” “right,” “upper,” “lower,” “down,” “up,” “side,” are used in the description for clarity and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention or the appended claims. Further, it should be understood that any one of the features can be used separately or in combination with other features. Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the invention will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the present invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims.

[0091] FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of an embodiment of a system 50. A light source 64 is located adjacent to a light pipe 63. A mask 61 in direct contact to the coated lens 60 provides for the illuminated pattern. In this embodiment, a gasket 62 is located between the mask 61 and the light pipe 63.

[0092] FIG. 2 is a representation of the mask used in the system 50. The mask 61 has a specific form which is necessitated by the form of the lens (not shown; see FIG. 3). An image or stencil is printed on the mask 61 so that a specific illuminated pattern can be seen once light from the light pipe (not shown) passes the mask 61.

[0093] FIG. 3 shows the mask 61 of FIG. 2 and the respectively coated lens 60.

[0094] FIG. 4 is an embodiment of a 2K molded mask window. The mask 61 is in the form of a central window, whereas an opaque material has been molded to form a gasket 62 structure.

[0095] FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of the preparation of a lens-mask system. The mask 61 is formed from an ink layer, a binder layer and a resin sheet. In a second step, the prepared product is formed into the desired shape of the lens. The formed layers are subsequently injection-molded with a clear resin to form the lens-mask system.

[0096] FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of 2K molded lens-mask system with tinted parts (grey parts) and translucent parts (white parts).

[0097] FIGS. 7 and 8 show schematic representations of embodiments in which the mask is laser etched. Here a paint or opaque coating is applied on the lens and the desired pattern is formed afterwards by the laser etching technique. A transmissive coating (FIG. 8) is applied on the etched parts in order to provide a smooth coating for the subsequent application of the transparent and/or translucent coating.

[0098] FIGS. 9 and 10 is a schematic view of the inventive system having an additional coating with a low refractive index. In FIG. 9, the additional coating has been laser etched similar to the mask, whereas in FIG. 10, the low refractive index coating is translucent and has not been etched.

[0099] FIG. 11 is a schematic representation of an embodiment of the invention having optic shapes on the mask. The optic shapes refract light to different spectral colors thereby creating and illuminating colored pattern.

[0100] FIG. 12 is a schematic representation of an embodiment with an projector as the mask. In this embodiment the projector projects the desired image onto the inner side of the lens (60) so that it can be viewed from the outside of the lens.

[0101] FIG. 13 shows a schematic representation of a motor vehicle 1 according to an example. This motor vehicle 1 includes the covering device 3.

[0102] The covering device 3, shown here as a one-piece covering device, includes a shaped element 5 which can be produced by a method of injection molding and simulates or represents the desired shape of the corresponding side part of the motor vehicle 1. The molded element 5 is covered with a cover 7 in the form of a chromium coating. In this case, it covers or is arranged on the entire outwardly pointing surface area of the element 5. In FIG. 1, the corresponding area is highlighted hatched. This clearly shows that the covering device 3 extends laterally and in the longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle 1 as a roof trim strip 42 above the door region 40, from a position 9 in the region of the A pillar of the motor vehicle 1 continuously to a position 11 in the region of the C. Likewise, the covering device 3 could cover a door region 40, preferably from one pillar part to the other pillar part of the same door area 40 or as a roof covering 43, at least a portion of the roof 41 of the motor vehicle 1, whereby the roof covering 43 extends from a position 9 in the region of an A-pillar of the motor vehicle 1 could extend continuously to at least one position 11 in the region of a C-pillar of the motor vehicle 1.

[0103] The covering device 3 has a light source 21 (not shown in FIG. 1) (see FIGS. 4-6) for emitting light, which is covered here in plain view from the outside by the molded element 5 or lens 7. A portion of the light emitted by the light source can pass through the molded element 5 and the lens 7 in at least a first region 13 of the cover device 3, which is located in the region of the C-pillar of the motor vehicle 1 to the outside. In the first region 13, the mold element 5 and the lens 7 has a passage opening 15. In the first area 13 and within the passage opening 15, a display means 17 part of the covering device 3 is arranged in the form of an emblem. The display means 17 is partially translucent configured and thus translucent from the back with light of the light source 21, which emerges visible in accordance with the translucent points to the outside.

[0104] The covering device 3 has a light source 21 (not shown in FIG. 13) (see FIGS. 16-18) for emitting light, which is covered here in plain view from the outside by the molded element 5 or lens 7. A portion of the light emitted by the light source can pass through the molded element 5 and the lens 7 in at least a first region 13 of the cover device 3, which is located in the region of the C-pillar of the motor vehicle 1 to the outside. In the first region 13, the mold element 5 and the lens 7 has a passage opening 15. In the first region 13 and within the passage opening 15, a display means 17 part of the covering device 3 is arranged in the form of an emblem. The display means 17 is partially translucent configured and thus translucent from the back with light of the light source 21, which emerges visible in accordance with the translucent points to the outside.

[0105] In a further embodiment not shown in FIG. 13, in a first region 13 of the covering device 3, the light from a light source 21 encompassed by the covering device 3 can be seen in a first region 13 of the covering device 3, which is present both in the molded element 5 and in the lens 7 is designed translucent, escape and thus cause a flat luminous impression.

[0106] FIG. 14 shows a schematic representation of a motor vehicle 1 according to the invention according to the third aspect of the invention, a further embodiment. The elements and the mode of operation of the multi-part covering device 3′ according to the invention largely correspond to the elements and functionalities shown in FIG. 13, with the individual parts of the multi-part covering device 3′ being arranged on the two doors 40 as mutually movable regions of the motor vehicle 1. In order that both doors can be opened separately from one another, the part of the covering device 3′ on the front door 40 is designed separately from the other part on the rear door 40. On the roof 41 no cover device is arranged. Of course, the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2 can be combined with each other.

[0107] As can be seen from FIG. 14, the embodiment of the covering device 3′ differs from the covering device 3 of FIG. 13 in terms of its physical shape. Thus, the covering device 3′ does not extend laterally above the windows of the motor vehicle 1 as a door shaft strip 46. The position of the display means 17 is different. This emphasizes the high freedom of design, which is made possible by the covering devices 3, 3′ according to the invention.

[0108] FIG. 15 shows a schematic representation of a motor vehicle 1 according to the invention in a further embodiment. This has a multi-part covering device 3′ according to the invention, the elements and functions of which correspond to the embodiments of FIGS. 13 and 14 as far as possible.

[0109] For reasons of clarity, neither the shaped element 5 nor the lens 7 of the covering device 3′ is shown in detail in FIG. 15. For this, the seven light sources 21 can be seen. Each of the light sources 21 is distributed to different positions behind the mold element 5 and the lens 7. The mold element 5 and the lens 7 are each translucent in this area. As a result, a planar lighting effect along the entire side surface of the motor vehicle 1 is achieved. For this purpose, furthermore, light guides (not explicitly shown in FIG. 15) covered by the covering device 3′ are used. These also direct the light from the individual light sources 21 to other locations within the respective first region, whereby the illumination effect is more uniform. The light sources 21 preferably include light-emitting diodes. A further light source, which is not recognizable in FIG. 3, is arranged behind the display means 17.

[0110] FIG. 16 shows a schematic cross-sectional illustration in a further embodiment of a covering device 3, 3 ‘according to the invention.

[0111] The cross section is in the lateral section through the position 11 of the cover 3, 3’ in the region of the C-pillar. As can further be seen from FIG. 16, the covering device 3, 3′ has two light sources 21. Namely on the one hand a light emitting diode as a display device 24, the light passes in the emission direction 25 in a first translucent region 13 through the mold element 5 and the lens 7. On the other hand, a projection device 27, the light of which passes in the emission direction 29 in another first region 13 through a passage opening in the mold element 5 and in the lens 7 there through. In this case, a logo 33 is projected onto the ground 31 by the projection device 27 on a surface 31 of the floor below the covering device 3, 3′.

[0112] FIG. 17 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of the covering device 3, 3′ in the lateral section, from which the layers of the form element 5 and lens 7 emerge in a particularly clear manner. Here, the mold element 5 forms a cavity to the outside of the motor vehicle 1, in which the light source 21 is received. The lens 7 is arranged on the outside 5a of the element (5) in order to cover it to the outside. On the inside 5i of the formula element is a display means 17, preferably at least one emblem disposed. Here, the display means 17 is at least partially translucent, in particular transparent, configured and arranged in the first region 13, wherein at least part of the light emitted by the light source 21 passes through the mold element 5 and/or the lens 7 after can pass outside. The light source 21 is here connected via the display means 17 with the inner side 5i of the molded element 5 wherein the first region 13 covers the light source 21. In this embodiment, the light source 21 may be a planar arrangement of a plurality of LEDs or a planar OLED. The lens 7 includes at least one metal coating, which is preferably produced and/or producible by means of thin-film technology. The metal coating may include a chromium-containing layer, preferably the chromium-containing layer is a chromium alloy or a doped chromium layer. The lens 7 covers the display means 17 from.

[0113] FIG. 18 shows a further embodiment of the covering device according to the invention in a lateral section. In contrast to FIG. 17, here the light source 21 is not arranged on the display means 17. Here, the cover device 3, 3′ further includes a light guide 18 which distributes the light emitted by the light source 21 to the first area 13 by extending from the light source 21 to the display means 17. The light source 21 is embodied here as an LED or as a linear chain of LEDs. In other embodiments, the cover device 3, 3′ could also include a plurality of optical fibers 18 and a plurality of first regions (13), wherein at least a first of the optical fibers 18 distributes light to at least one of the first regions 13 and at least a second of the optical fibers 18 emits light distributed at least one other first area 13. For the other components, reference is made to the description of FIG. 17.

[0114] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that the invention disclosed herein is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, and is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

REFERENCE SIGNS

[0115] 1 car [0116] 3 (one-piece) cover device [0117] 3′ (multi-part) cover device [0118] 5 Form element [0119] 5i the motor vehicle facing inside of the formula element [0120] 5a facing away from the motor vehicle outside of the formula element [0121] 7, 60 cover [0122] 9 position in the area of the A-pillar of the motor vehicle [0123] 11 position in the area of the C-pillar of the motor vehicle [0124] 13 first area [0125] 15 through opening [0126] 17 display means [0127] 18, 63 light pipe [0128] 19 spoiler [0129] 21, 64 light source [0130] 24 display device [0131] 25 light emission display device [0132] 27 projection device, light source [0133] 29 Light emission of the projection device or light source [0134] 31 area, for example, the ground [0135] 33 Information, for example a logo [0136] 40 door or door area of the motor vehicle [0137] 41 roof of the motor vehicle [0138] 42 covering device as a roof trim strip [0139] 43 cover device as a roof cover [0140] 44 rear window of the motor vehicle [0141] 45 vehicle rear of the motor vehicle [0142] 46 covering device as door shaft strip [0143] 50 HTL system [0144] 61 mask [0145] 62 gasket