Light guide for a lighting element

Abstract

The present invention relates to a light guide for a lighting element, wherein the light guide comprises a lighting body, wherein the lighting body comprises an interface for coupling in light beams.

Claims

1. A light guide for a lighting element, comprising: a lighting body, wherein the lighting body includes: an interface for in-coupled light beams, a plurality of alignment elements on a rear side of the lighting body, the plurality of alignment elements being configured to radiate in-coupled light beams through a main radiation surface opposite the plurality of alignment elements that are directed in a main radiation direction, at least one secondary side surface extending laterally between the main radiation surface and the plurality of alignment elements, at least one side emitting surface which extends opposite the at least one secondary side surface, wherein the at least one secondary side surface comprises a plurality of smooth forwarding surfaces and a plurality of rough surfaces, wherein the plurality of smooth forwarding surfaces are configured to forward light beams within the lighting body, wherein the plurality of rough surfaces comprise alternating rows extending from the rear side of the lighting body to the main radiation surface of the lighting body, the alternating rows being spaced apart by respective ones of the plurality of smooth forwarding surfaces, the plurality of rough surfaces being configured to diffusively reflect light rays so that at least a portion of light rays reflected by the plurality of rough surfaces exit the lighting body through the at least one side emitting surface.

2. The light guide of claim 1, wherein the plurality of rough surfaces have a roughness in accordance with VDI 3400-33.

3. The light guide of claim 1, wherein the main radiation surface forms a half tube.

4. The light guide of claim 1, wherein the lighting body comprises a substantially horizontally extending first part and a substantially vertically extending second part, wherein the first part is shorter than the second part.

5. The light guide of claim 1, wherein the plurality of rough surfaces are round, partially rounded, polygonal, quadrangular, rectangular, or strip-shaped.

6. A lighting element for a vehicle, comprising: a plurality of the light guides of claim 1.

7. A headlight for a vehicle, the headlight comprising: the lighting element of claim 6.

8. A vehicle comprising the lighting element according to claim 6.

9. A method of manufacturing the light guide of claim 1, comprising: providing a base body; and inserting rough surfaces into the base body using a laser.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention is explained in more detail in the attached drawings. In the figures:

(2) FIG. 1 shoes a possible design of the light guide presented;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a detailed view of the light guide of FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a possible design of the headlight presented, which comprises a possible design of the light element/position light presented with the light guide of FIG. 1;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a possible embodiment of the manufacturing method presented;

(6) FIG. 5 shows a possible design of the vehicle presented; and

(7) FIG. 6 shows a sectional view of the light guide of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE CURRENT EMBODIMENTS

(8) FIG. 1 shows a light guide 100 for a lighting element 200, such as a headlight.

(9) The light guide 100 comprises a lighting body 101 comprising an interface 103 for coupling light beams through a light source 105.

(10) Furthermore, the lighting body 101 comprises a plurality of alignment elements 107, as shown in FIG. 2, each configured to direct light beams coupled into the lighting body 101 through a main radiation surface 109 opposite the plurality of alignment elements 107 in a main radiation direction, as indicated by arrow 109.

(11) As can also be seen in FIG. 2, the lighting body 101 comprises at least one secondary side surface 111, which extends laterally between the main radiation surface 109 and the number of alignment elements 107.

(12) Further, the lighting body 101 comprises at least one side emitting surface (not shown) extending opposite the at least one side surface 111, wherein the at least one secondary side surface 111 comprises a plurality of smooth forwarding surfaces 113 and a plurality of rough surfaces 115.

(13) The side emitting surface covers a side area, as indicated by arrows 119. This outshone side area can, for example, span at least 80 of an arc, so that the light guide 100 is easily recognizable as uniformly illuminated from the entire side area, in particular between 1 and 90 to the side of the main emission direction.

(14) The forwarding surfaces 113 are configured to forward light beams within the lighting body 101.

(15) The rough surfaces 115 are configured to diffusely reflect light beams so that at least a part of light beams reflected by respective rough surfaces 115 exit the lighting body 101 through the side emitting surface.

(16) FIG. 3 shows a headlight 300 comprising a light element 200 designed as a position light. The position light 200 comprises several light guides 100 as shown in FIG. 1.

(17) FIG. 4 shows a manufacturing method 400. The manufacturing method 400 comprises a providing step 401, in which a base body of a lighting body is provided, and an introducing step 403, in which rough surfaces are introduced into the base body by means of a laser.

(18) FIG. 5 shows a vehicle 500 in the form of a motorcycle. The vehicle 500 comprises the headlight 300 as shown in FIG. 3.

(19) FIG. 6 shows a sectional view of the light guide 100 according to FIG. 2. In FIG. 6, in addition to FIG. 2, the side emitting surface 121 and the rear side 123 of the light guide 100 are shown.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(20) 100 light guide 101 lighting body 103 interface 105 light source 107 alignment element 109 main radiation surface 111 secondary side surface 113 forwarding surface 115 rough surface 117 arrow 119 arrow 200 light element/position light 300 headlight 400 manufacturing method 401 provisioning step 403 insertion step 500 vehicle

(21) The above description is that of current embodiment of the invention. Various alterations and changes can be made without departing from the spirit and broader aspects of the invention. This disclosure is presented for illustrative purposes and should not be interpreted as an exhaustive description of all embodiments of the invention or to limit the scope of the claims to the specific elements illustrated or described in connection with these embodiments. Any reference to elements in the singular, for example, using the articles a, an, the, or said, is not to be construed as limiting the element to the singular.