Lighting Device for a Motor Vehicle Headlamp

Abstract

A lighting device for a motor vehicle headlamp, including: a light module, a movable lower aperture element and a movable upper aperture element, a moving device for transferring the aperture elements between a closed position (P1) and an open position (P2) while maintaining spatial alignment of the aperture elements, and a frame on which the moving device is arranged. The lighting device has an alignment device for aligning the aperture elements relative to one another. The alignment device has an alignment element configured to engage in a guide element when the aperture elements are transferred from P2 to P1, so that the alignment element can be guided by the guide element into an end position in the guide element. The alignment element in P1 is connected to the guide element in a manner that the aperture elements are secured against movement along and transverse to the main direction in P1.

Claims

1. A lighting device (10) for a motor vehicle headlamp, the lighting device (10) comprising: at least one light module (20) which is configured to emit light along a light path in the direction of a main direction (X); a movable lower aperture element (100) and a movable upper aperture element (200); a moving device for transferring the lower and the upper aperture elements (100, 200) in relation to each other between: a closed position (P1), in which the lower and the upper aperture element (100, 200)viewed in the main direction (X)are positioned in front of the at least one light module (20) and at least partially block the light path of the at least one light module (20), and an open position (P2) in which the lower and upper aperture elements (100, 200) are moved away from the light path of the at least one light module (20) in order to clear the light path of the at least one light module (20), while maintaining the spatial alignment of the upper and lower aperture element (100, 200); and a frame (300) which is stationary with respect to the movement of the lower and upper aperture elements (100, 200), wherein the moving device is arranged on the frame (300), wherein the lighting device (10) comprises at least one alignment device (400) for aligning the lower and upper aperture elements (100, 200) with respect to one another in the closed position (P1), wherein the at least one alignment device (400) comprises: an alignment element (400a), and a guide element (400b) complementary to the alignment element (400a), wherein the alignment element (400a) is configured to engage in the guide element (400b) when the lower and upper aperture elements (100, 200) are transferred from the open position (P2) to the closed position (P1), so that the alignment element (400a) can be guided by the guide element (400b) into an end position in the guide element (400b), wherein the alignment element (400a) in the closed position (P1) of the lower and upper aperture element (100, 200) is connected in a form-fitting manner to the guide element (400b) in the end position in the guide element (400b), so that the upper and lower aperture elements (100, 200) are secured against movement along and transverse to the main direction (X) in the closed position (P1).

2. The lighting device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the upper and lower aperture elements (100, 200) are designed as light-emitting elements which are configured to emit light in the closed position (P1).

3. The lighting device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the alignment element (400a) is substantially conical, wherein the guide element (400b) is designed to complement the alignment element (400a) such that the conically-shaped alignment element (400a) is mounted in a form-fitting manner in the guide element (400b) in the end position.

4. The lighting device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the lighting device (10) comprises at least two alignment devices (400).

5. The lighting device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the alignment element (400a) is arranged on the upper aperture element (200) and the guide element (400b) is arranged on the lower aperture element (100), or the alignment element (400a) is arranged on the lower aperture element (100) and the guide element (400b) is arranged on the upper aperture element (200).

6. The lighting device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the alignment element (400a) is formed elastically.

7. The lighting device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the lighting device (10) comprises a damping device (500) configured to damp the lower and the upper aperture elements (100, 200) when transferring them into the open position (P2), wherein the damping device (500) comprises at least two pairs of an elastic damping element (500a) and a stop (500b) corresponding to the damping element (500a), wherein at least one pair is assigned to each of the lower and upper aperture elements (100, 200), and wherein, when the aperture elements (100, 200) are moved into the open position (P2), the damping elements (500a) strike against the corresponding stops (500b) in such a way that compression of the damping elements (500a) damps the movement of the lower and upper aperture elements (100, 200) into the open position.

8. The lighting device (10) according to claim 7, wherein the damping elements (500a) of the pairs are arranged on the lower and upper aperture element (100, 200) and the stops are arranged on the frame (300), or the damping elements (500a) are arranged on the frame (300) and the stops (500b) are arranged on the upper and lower aperture element (100, 200).

9. The lighting device (10) according to claim 7, wherein the damping elements (500a) are made of EPDM.

10. The lighting device (10) according to claim 7, wherein the damping elements (500a) are shaped in the form of a hemisphere.

11. A motor vehicle headlamp comprising at least one lighting device (10) according to claim 1.

12. The lighting device (10) according to claim 2, wherein the light-emitting elements are configured to emit the light in the closed position (P1) in the direction of the main direction (X).

13. The lighting device (10) according to claim 12, wherein the aperture elements (100, 200) designed as light-emitting elements do not emit any light in the open position (P2).

14. The lighting device (10) according to claim 6, wherein the alignment element (400a) is formed from a plastic, which is overmolded with an elastic material.

15. The lighting device (10) according to claim 14, wherein the plastic comprises polypropylene with 30% glass fiber and the elastic material comprises a thermoplastic elastomer.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to exemplary drawings.

[0022] FIG. 1 is a front view of an exemplary motor vehicle headlamp with an exemplary lighting device comprising an upper and lower aperture element in a closed position.

[0023] FIG. 2 is a front view of the motor vehicle headlamp from FIG. 1 with the upper and lower aperture element in an open position, whereby two light modules are released for emitting light in the open position.

[0024] FIG. 3 is a perspective cross-sectional view of the upper and lower aperture element in the closed position, wherein the lighting device comprises an alignment device with an alignment element and a guide element corresponding thereto, wherein the alignment element engages in the guide element in the closed position shown.

[0025] FIG. 4 is a detailed view of the alignment device from FIG. 3 in the closed position of the lower and upper aperture element.

[0026] FIG. 5 is a perspective single view of an exemplary alignment element in conical form.

[0027] FIG. 6 is a single perspective view of an exemplary damping element.

[0028] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a part of the lower aperture element with a guide element of the alignment device.

[0029] FIG. 8 is a perspective side view of the lighting device, the lower and upper aperture elements being in an open position, an exemplary damping device being shown in a dotted circle, which comprises at least one pair comprising a damping element (as shown in FIG. 6) and a stop corresponding thereto.

[0030] FIG. 9 is a detailed view of a pair of the damping device in the open position of the lower and upper aperture element, the damping element being compressed at the stop.

[0031] FIG. 10 is an exploded view of the pair of damping devices shown in FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0032] FIG. 1 shows a lighting device 10 for a motor vehicle headlamp, wherein the lighting device 10 in the example shown comprises two light modules 20, which are each configured to emit light along a light path in the direction of a main direction X, wherein the light modules 20 can be seen in FIG. 2.

[0033] Furthermore, the lighting device 10 comprises a movable lower aperture element 100 and a movable upper aperture element 200, wherein in addition the lighting device 10 comprises a moving device for transferring the lower and upper aperture elements 100, 200 in relation to each other between [0034] a closed position P1, in which the lower and upper aperture elements 100, 200viewed in the main direction Xare positioned in front of the two light modules 20 and at least partially block the light path of the two light modules 20, and [0035] an open position P2, in which the lower and upper aperture elements 100, 200 are moved away from the light path of the two light modules in order to clear the light path of the two light modules 20,

[0036] while maintaining the spatial alignment of the upper and lower aperture elements 100, 200.

[0037] The upper and lower aperture elements 100, 200 are designed as light-emitting elements, which are configured to emit light in the closed position P1, preferably in the direction of the main direction X, and preferably the aperture elements 100, 200 designed as light-emitting elements do not emit any light in the open position P2.

[0038] Furthermore, the lighting device 10 comprises a frame 300 which is stationary with respect to the movement of the lower and upper aperture elements 100, 200, wherein the movement device is arranged on the frame 300.

[0039] The lighting device 10 further comprises alignment devices 400 for aligning the lower and upper aperture elements 100, 200 to one another in the closed position P1, wherein one alignment device 400 in each case comprises an alignment element 400a and a guide element 400b complementary to the alignment element 400a. In the example shown, the alignment element 400a is arranged on the upper aperture element 200 and the guide element 400b is arranged on the lower aperture element 100. The alignment element 400a is in each case elastically formed, wherein the alignment elements 400a are formed from a plastic, preferably PP-GF30 (polypropylene with 30% glass fiber), which is overmolded with an elastic material, preferably TPE (thermoplastic elastomers).

[0040] An alignment element 400a of an alignment device 400 can be seen in FIG. 5, while a guide element 400b of an alignment device 400 can be seen in FIG. 7.

[0041] As can be seen in FIG. 5, the alignment element 400a is substantially conical in shape, with the guide element 400b being complementary to the alignment element 400a in such a way that the conically-shaped alignment element 400a is mounted in a form-fitting manner in the guide element 400b in the end position, which is shown in FIG. 4.

[0042] The alignment element 400a is configured to engage in the guide element 400b when the lower and upper aperture elements 100, 200 are transferred from the open position P2 to the closed position P1, so that the alignment element 400a can be guided by the guide element 400b into an end position in the guide element 400b.

[0043] In the closed position P1 of the lower and upper aperture elements 100, 200 the alignment element 400a is connected in a form-fitting manner to the guide element 400b in the end position in the guide element 400b, so that the upper and lower aperture element 100, 200 are secured against movement along and transverse to the main direction X in the closed position P1. This can be clearly seen in FIG. 3, for example.

[0044] Furthermore, the lighting device 10 comprises a damping device 500, which is configured to damp the lower and the upper aperture element 100, 200 when transferring them into the open position P2, as shown by way of example in FIG. 8. The damping device 500 comprises several pairs of an elastic damping element 500a, which is shown in FIG. 6, and a stop 500b corresponding to the damping element 500a. As can be seen in FIG. 6, the damping elements 500a are shaped in the form of a hemisphere.

[0045] At least one pair is assigned to each of the lower and upper aperture elements 100, 200, whereby when the aperture elements 100, 200 are moved into the open position P2, the damping elements 500a strike against the corresponding stops 500b in such a way that compression of the damping elements 500a damps the movement of the lower and upper aperture elements 100, 200 into the open position. FIG. 10 shows a pair of the damping device 500 in an exploded view, whereas FIG. 9 shows the pair in the open position of the aperture elements 100, 200.

[0046] The damping elements 500a of the pairs are arranged on the lower and upper aperture elements 100, 200 and the stops are arranged on the frame 300. In the example shown, the damping elements 500a are made of EPDM (ethylene-propylene-diene; M group (synthetic rubber)).

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0047] Lighting device . . . 10 [0048] Light module . . . 20 [0049] Lower aperture element . . . 100 [0050] Upper aperture element . . . 200 [0051] Frame . . . 300 [0052] Alignment device . . . 400 [0053] Alignment element . . . 400a [0054] Guide element . . . 400b [0055] Damping device . . . 500 [0056] Damping element . . . 500a [0057] Stop . . . 500b [0058] Closed position . . . P1 [0059] Open position . . . P2 [0060] Main direction . . . X