LIGHTING DEVICE FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE

Abstract

A lighting device for a motor vehicle is provided with numerous light sources, at least one optical component in the form of a microstructured film and/or microstructured optical panel, and a collecting and/or focusing lens. The lighting device is configured such that the light from the light sources passes through the collecting and/or focusing lens before passing through the at least one optical component.

Claims

1. A lighting device for a motor vehicle, the lighting device comprising: numerous light sources; at least one optical component, the at least one optical component being a microstructured film and/or microstructured optical panel; and a collecting and/or focusing lens, wherein light from the light sources passes through the collecting and/or focusing lens before passing through the at least one optical component.

2. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the collecting and/or focusing lens is a Fresnel lens.

3. The lighting device according to claim 2, wherein the Fresnel lens has an entry surface and exit surface for the light from the light sources, wherein the entry surface and/or exit surface on the Fresnel lens have a diffusing structure.

4. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the collecting and/or focusing lens is a TIR lens.

5. The lighting device according to claim 4, wherein the TIR lens has an entry surface and exit surface for the light from the light sources, wherein the entry surface and/or exit surface of the TIR lens have a diffusing structure.

6. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the collecting and/or focusing lens has numerous optical sectors, wherein each optical sector has a dedicated light source, such that the light from the light source passes through its own optical sector.

7. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the lighting device has numerous optical components in the form of microstructured films and/or microstructured optical panels, wherein light exiting the collecting and/or focusing lens passes through the optical components successively.

8. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the at least one optical component has a diffusing structure.

9. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the at least one optical component has an array of triangular prisms.

10. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the at least one optical component has an array of deflecting prisms configured to deflect light passing through the optical components such that a mean direction of the light in front of the optical components is at an angle other than 0 to a mean direction of light behind the optical components.

11. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the lighting device has a cover lens, wherein at least part of the light exits the lighting device through the cover lens after passing through the at least one optical component.

12. The lighting device according to claim 11, wherein the cover lens is structured.

13. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein a first surface of the at least one optical component or a first optical component has an array of triangular prisms which are adjacent to one another in a first direction, and parallel in a second direction which is perpendicular to the first direction, and wherein a second surface of the at least one optical component, or a second optical component has an array of triangular prisms, which are adjacent to one another in the second direction, and parallel in the first direction.

14. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein a first surface of a first of the at least one optical component has a diffusing structure, and a second surface of the first optical component, or a second of the at least one optical component has an array of triangular prisms.

15. The lighting device according to either of the claims 13, wherein one surface of the first optical component, or a third of the at least one optical component has an array of deflecting prisms.

16. The lighting device according to claim 12, wherein the cover lens is structured with a diffusing structure.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] 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.

[0028] FIG. 1 shows a side view of a first example embodiment of the lighting device obtained with the invention.

[0029] FIG. 2 shows a detailed view corresponding to the arrow II in FIG. 1.

[0030] FIG. 3 shows a perspective detailed view of a second example embodiment of the lighting device obtained with the invention.

[0031] FIG. 4 shows a side view of a detail of the lighting device shown in FIG. 3.

[0032] FIG. 5 shows a perspective detailed view of a third example embodiment of the lighting device obtained with the invention.

[0033] FIG. 6 shows another perspective detailed view of the lighting device shown in FIG. 5.

[0034] FIG. 7 shows another perspective detailed view of the lighting device shown in FIG. 5.

[0035] FIG. 8 shows another perspective detailed view of the lighting device shown in FIG. 5.

[0036] FIG. 9 shows a side view of a fourth example embodiment of the lighting device obtained with the invention.

[0037] FIG. 10 shows a side view of a fifth example embodiment of the light device obtained with the invention with a single beam path of the light.

[0038] FIG. 11 shows a side view of the lighting device shown in FIG. 10.

[0039] FIG. 12 shows a side view of a sixth example embodiment of the lighting device obtained with the invention, with a single beam path of the light.

[0040] FIG. 13 shows a perspective view of the lighting device from the prior art.

[0041] FIG. 14 shows an exploded view of the lighting device shown in FIG. 13.

[0042] FIG. 15 shows a cut through the optical component in the lighting device shown in FIG. 13.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0043] The same reference symbols are used for identical or functionally identical components in the drawings.

[0044] The lighting device shown in the drawings contains numerous light sources 10, a collecting and/or focusing lens 11, two optical components 12, 13 in the form of microstructured films and/or microstructured optical panels, and a cover lens 14 (see FIG. 1). The lighting device is configured such that the light 15 from the light sources 10 passes through the collecting and/or focusing lens 11, then through the two optical components 12, 13, and subsequently at least partially through the cover lens 14, exiting the lighting device.

[0045] The lighting device does not have to have a cover lens 14. There can also be more than two optical components 12, 13, or just one optical component 12, 13.

[0046] The light sources 10 are light-emitting diodes (LEDs). A printed circuit board 16 is shown in FIG. 1, which is populated with the light sources 10. The printed circuit board 16 can be painted white in order to reflect the light reflected back by the system back toward the front.

[0047] The numerous light-emitting diodes can be different colors to obtain a dual function or triple function, for example. The light-emitting diodes can alternate between red and yellow, or white and yellow, or white and cyan, or bicolored LEDs or RGB LEDs can be used. The functions can be navigation lights, daytime running lights and an autonomous driving function, which requires cyan lights.

[0048] The light sources 10 are adjacent to one another in a row. The light sources 10 can also be in two or more rows that are close to one another.

[0049] The collecting and/or focusing lens 11 contains numerous optical sectors 17 (see FIGS. 3 to 8). Each optical sector 17 has a lens. Each optical sector 17 has a dedicated light source 10, such that the light 15 from each light source 10 passes through its own optical sector. The lens 11 has an entry surface 18 and an exit surface 19 for the light 15 from the light sources 10 (see FIGS. 4, 6 and 8).

[0050] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 the collecting and/or focusing lens 11 is a Fresnel lens. The entry surface 18 on the Fresnel lens is planar while the exit surface 19 has Fresnel structures. The Fresnel structures could be on the entry surface 18 and the exit surface 19 could be planar.

[0051] The planar surface of the Fresnel lens can be structured, in particular with a diffusing structure. It is also possible for the surface with the Fresnel structure to have a diffusing structure.

[0052] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 to 8 the collecting and/or focusing lens 11 can be a TIR lens. The entry surface 18 and exit surface 19 are curved in this case. Either of the surfaces could also be planar, in particular the exit surface 19. The entry surface 18 and/or exit surface could also have a diffusing structure.

[0053] The first optical component 12 in the embodiment in FIGS. 1 and 2 has a diffusing optical element. This diffusor optical element can be on the entry surface and/or the exit surface of the first optical component 12.

[0054] The second optical component 13 in the embodiment in FIGS. 1 and 2 has a BEF. FIG. 2 shows an array 20 of triangular prisms 21 forming the BEF, which is on the exit surface of the second optical component 13. The BEF could also be on the entry surface of the second optical component 13. In particular, arrays 20 of prisms 21 on the entry surface and exit surface of the second optical component 13 could be perpendicular to one another, in that the peaks of the prisms 21 on the entry surface run in a first direction, and the peaks of the prisms 21 on the exit surface run in a second direction, at a right angle to the first.

[0055] The second optical component 13 in the embodiment in FIGS. 10 and 11 has a DTF. FIG. 11 shows an array of deflecting prisms 23 forming the DTF, which is on the exit surface of the second optical component 13. These prisms 23 are configured to deflect the light passing through the second optical component 13 such that the mean direction of the light in front of the optical component is at an angle to the mean direction of the light behind the optical component. The angle in this exemplary embodiment is approx. 30 (see FIGS. 10 and 11). This angle can also be different.

[0056] The entry surface of the second optical component 13 can also have a DTF. It is also possible to place an array 22 of deflecting prisms 23 on both the first optical element 12 and the second optical element 13, which form a DTF (see FIG. 14).

[0057] The cover lens 14 can also have a diffusing structure.

[0058] The lighting device can have different types of optical components or functional structures. Some examples of these are given below. [0059] A diffusing optical element followed by a horizontal BEF, followed by a vertical BEF. [0060] A diffusing optical element followed by a horizontal BEF, followed by a vertical BEF, followed by a structured or unstructured cover lens. [0061] A horizontal BEF followed by a vertical BEF. [0062] A horizontal BEF followed by a vertical BEF, followed by a structured or unstructured cover lens. [0063] A diffusing optical element followed by a horizontal BEF, followed by a DTF. [0064] A diffusing optical element followed by a horizontal BEF, followed by a DTF, followed by a structured or unstructured cover lens.

[0065] This is merely a list of examples and is not to be regarded as definitive. There are other possible combinations of optical components and functional structures for the lighting device.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0066] 1 light source [0067] 2 housing [0068] 2a, 2b housing parts [0069] 3 optical waveguide [0070] 4 reflecting film [0071] 5a, 5b micro-optical film [0072] 6 cover lens [0073] 7 triangular prisms on 5b [0074] 10 light source [0075] 11 collecting and/or focusing lens [0076] 12 first optical component [0077] 13 second optical component [0078] 14 cover lens [0079] 15 light from the light source [0080] 16 printed circuit board [0081] 17 optical sector of the collecting and/or focusing lens [0082] 18 entry surface on the collecting and/or focusing lens [0083] 19 exit surface on the collecting and/or focusing lens [0084] 20 array of triangular prisms [0085] 21 triangular prism [0086] 22 array of deflecting prisms [0087] 23 deflecting prism [0088] apex angle of the triangular prism