DE102005011760B4 - Headlight device for motor vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

A headlamp device for motor vehicles with a light source (10), a light source (10) partially surrounding the reflector (12) for generating a light beam having a specific light distribution, which by means of the reflector (12) on a light coupling surface (28) of a first light guide (22, 24), which leads to a first light output element (32, 32 '), with a second light guide (26), which leads to a second light output element (34), and with a means for directing at least portions of the light source from the ( 10) emitted light on a Lichteinkopplungsfläche (30) of the second light guide (26), characterized in that the means by a beam splitter (36) is formed, which is movable in the beam path of the light beam and which is formed so that in the beam path arranged beam splitter (36), a first light component transmitted through the beam splitter and the light input surface (28) of the first Lich Led conductor (22, 24) and a second portion of light reflected by the beam splitter (36) and thereby to the light input surface (30) of the second light guide (26) is directed.

Description

The present invention relates to a headlamp device for motor vehicles according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

From the German patent application DE 4313 914 A1 a headlamp device for motor vehicles is known in which a plurality of light output elements are provided, which reflect different light distributions. Each of the light output elements is connected via an optical fiber to a common light source. In order to produce a predetermined light distribution to be coupled out, for example dipped beam or main beam, the individual light output elements are masked out.

Another headlamp device for motor vehicles is known from the European patent EP 678 699 B1 known. In this device, a plurality of light outcoupling elements are connected via optical fibers, each with a light source, whereby a predetermined light pattern results via this assignment.

From the US script US Pat. No. 6,471,382 B2 a headlamp device is known in which lead away a plurality of optical fibers to light extraction elements of a common light source. In this case, means are provided, by means of which the individual light guides or light outcoupling elements can be selected defined. Alternatively, the light source with its reflector can also be pivoted by selectively changing the inclination of the optical axis so that it is able to focus the light onto only one light coupling surface of a light guide.

The publication DE 102 18 437 A1 shows a lighting unit for vehicles, in which the light emitted from a light source is divided spectrally by a separating agent into two parts of different frequencies. The one frequency range corresponds to visible light, and the other frequency range corresponds for example to infrared radiation. The two differing in their frequency shares are coupled into different light guides. The fixed separating agent is located at a fixed location in the beam path.

The publication DE 694 26 799 T2 discloses a centralized illumination system having a high intensity central light source whose light is split by a fixed beam splitter into two different light portions.

The publication DE 43 13 915 A1 shows a lighting device with a central light generator, from which different light guides transport light to different headlights of the vehicle and / or light modules within a headlight. The figures in this document show lighting devices in which two different light guides open. Depending on the position of a pivotable mirror, the light emerging from the one light guide is combined with the light emerging from the other light guide or not combined. The mirror is an electrochromic, fixed mirror that can be switched between the states of permeable and non-permeable.

Based on the described prior art, it is the object of the present invention to develop a headlight device for motor vehicles, which is able to provide different light parts of several light output elements either simultaneously or separately.

This problem is solved with the features of patent claim 1.

It is provided that the means for directing at least portions of the light emitted by the light source on a Lichteinkoppelungsfläche the second light guide, wherein the means by a beam splitter or so-called beam splitter is formed, which can be moved into the beam path of the light beam. If the beam splitter or beam splitter is located outside the beam path, all the light reflected by the reflector is directed onto the light coupling surface of the first optical fiber. If the beam splitter is then moved into the beam path, part of the light will pass through the beam splitter by means of transmission and will continue to impinge on the light input surface of the first light guide. A second portion of the light is reflected by the beam splitter and is directed to the light input surface of the second optical fiber.

Such a design in which the light beam can either be split or completely guided onto a light guide or a plurality of light guides by the Beamsang providable Beamsplitters has the advantage that multiple light guides can be controlled either simultaneously or separately or with Light can be supplied, with only one light source must be provided within the headlamp device.

In this case, in one embodiment, the first optical waveguide leads to a light decoupling element, which is designed as a transparent intermediate piece, and serves as a light guide terminating body. This optical fiber termination body is then imaged by a lens which is downstream of it. It can be provided that the first light guide is used to generate a low beam and the second light guide, which leads to a second optical fiber termination body and is imaged by a second lens, radiating a high beam distribution. In this case, it is provided that the beam splitter works in particular not wave selective, as was known in the prior art, to split off the infrared light components from the visible light for a night vision device, but operates wavelength unselective by being designed so that it passes a portion of the light lets and reflects a portion of the light, with all spectral areas can be uniformly reflected or transmitted. This can be provided, for example, by providing the beam splitter with a corresponding coating which permits in part a transmission and in part a reflection. Such semi-transparent mirrors with different reflectance and transmittance levels are known in the art.

It can be provided both that the beam splitter is displaceable in the beam path by a translational movement or it can be rotationally pivoted into the beam path.

In principle, it is also possible to provide different mirrors with different degrees of reflection and transmission, it being possible, depending on the desired light distribution, to insert different partially transparent mirrors together or different partially transparent mirrors into the beam path.

In this way, the light characteristic, in particular the division between dipped and main beam can be further individualized.

Furthermore, it can also be provided that more than two light guides, which lead to more than two light output elements, are provided, wherein it can be provided in particular that, for example, the first light guide splits according to its light coupling surface and forwards the light to two separate light extraction elements.

Thus, for example, two light output elements of a light function, such as the low beam, be assigned.

Further advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the remaining application documents. The invention will be described in more detail below with reference to a drawing.

Showing:

1 a headlamp device for motor vehicles in a first operating state and

2 the headlamp device for motor vehicles according to 1 in a second operating state.

The headlamp device in this case comprises a light source 10 and a reflector 12 which partially encloses the light source and redirects and focuses light emitted from the light source. Furthermore, the headlamp device comprises a visible from the outside headlight 14 a motor vehicle with a housing 16 and an at least partially transparent cover 18 that the headlight 14 closes to the outside. In the headlight 14 are different lenses 20 ' . 20 '' and 20 ''' arranged, each one a light guide 22 . 24 respectively. 26 assigned. The light guides have light input surfaces 28 respectively. 30 on, with the light guides 22 and 24 a common light input surface 28 have. Each light guide is also a light output surface 22a . 24a respectively. 26a assigned to the light coupled into the light guide light exits the light guide again. The light output surfaces 22a to 26a stand with so-called Lichtabschlusskörpern 32 . 32 ' and 34 in contact, leaving the light exit surfaces 22a to 26a escaping light into the light termination body 32 . 32 ' and 34 occurs, wherein the cross-sections of the light-closing body are selected so that the light exit surfaces of the light-closing body of the light distribution to be generated later, in particular with respect to the light-dark boundaries, so that by the subsequently arranged lenses 20 to 20 ''' then the desired light distribution is displayed on a roadway.

The light termination bodies 32 . 32 ' and 34 consist preferably of PC, PMMA or glass, whereas the optical fibers 22 to 26 made of fiberglass.

In the design according to 1 Now everything will be through the light source 10 radiated light through the reflector 12 on the common light entry surface 28 the light guide 22 and 24 focused, so that each light function associated with them, such as the low beam, can be generated by this light guide.

A partially transparent mirror provided in the headlamp device 36 , also called beam splitter, is here outside the beam path of the reflector 12 arranged.

2 now shows a headlamp device according to 1 with one in the beam path of the reflector 12 retracted beam splitter 36 , The beam splitter 36 Here is a partially transparent mirror, which has such a coating that it allows wavelength non-selectively pass part of the radiation and reflects another part of the radiation. The through the beam splitter 36 Transmitted light component is thereby through the reflector 12 continue on the light entry surface 28 the light guide 22 and 24 focused. The resulting light distribution corresponds to that in 1 shown. Due to the lower on the light entry surface 28 however, the brightness value or the light intensity of these light modules is reduced.

However, another part of the light emitted by the reflector hits the beam splitter 36 and is reflected by this. This proportion of light is with 38 characterized. This proportion of light hits the light input surface 30 of the light guide 26 that with a light termination body 34 cooperates to generate a high beam function. In this way, by translational displacement of the beam splitter 36 In addition to a low beam function, a high beam function can be controlled.

For the dipped beam in this case instead of 100% as in 1 For example, 20% used and 80% are redirected to the high beam.

In this way, a higher flexibility of the illumination can be achieved.

Claims (8)

Headlamp device for motor vehicles with a light source ( 10 ), the light source ( 10 ) partially surrounding reflector ( 12 ) for generating a light beam with a specific light distribution, which by means of the reflector ( 12 ) on a light coupling surface ( 28 ) of a first light guide ( 22 . 24 ), which leads to a first light output element ( 32 . 32 ' ), with a second optical fiber ( 26 ), which leads to a second light output element ( 34 ) and means for directing at least portions of the light source ( 10 ) emitted light on a Lichteinkopplungsfläche ( 30 ) of the second light guide ( 26 ), Characterized in that the means (by a beam splitter 36 ) is formed, which is movable in the beam path of the light beam and which is formed so that when arranged in the beam path beam splitter ( 36 ) a first light component is transmitted through the beam splitter and to the light coupling surface ( 28 ) of the first light guide ( 22 . 24 ) and a second portion of light through the beam splitter ( 36 ) and thereby to the Lichteinkoppelfläche ( 30 ) of the second light guide ( 26 ) is directed. A headlamp device according to claim 1, characterized in that the beam splitter ( 36 ) operates wavelength-selectively. A headlamp device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the beam splitter ( 36 ) is translationally displaceable in the beam path or rotationally pivotable. A headlamp device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the beam splitter ( 36 ) is formed as a partially transparent mirror, and in particular for the light splitting comprises a coating. A headlight device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first light guide ( 22 . 24 ) to a light extraction element ( 32 . 32 ' ) for the low beam, the second optical fiber ( 26 ) to a light extraction element ( 34 ) for the high beam. A headlamp device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that more than two light guides ( 22 - 26 ) resulting in more than two ( 32 . 32 ' . 34 ) Lichtauskoppelelementen lead, are provided. A headlamp device according to claim 6, characterized in that more than one light guide ( 22 . 24 ) with more than one light output element ( 32 . 32 ' ) are associated with a light function. A headlamp device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that different beam splitters ( 36 ) are provided with different degrees of reflection and transmission, which individually or together in the beam path of the reflector ( 12 ) can be moved.

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