DE102024205986A1 - Vehicle light and motor vehicle with such a vehicle light - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle light (10), in particular a headlight (40) for a motor vehicle (100). The vehicle light comprises a light source (12) for emitting light rays and an intermediate lens (18). The intermediate lens (18) has a light-receiving first surface (52) and a light-emitting second surface (54). The intermediate light lens (18) is divided into at least two areas (20, 22, 24, 26, 28), wherein the intermediate light lens (18) has a first emission direction for the light from the light source (12) in a first area (22, 24, 26) on its light-receiving surface (52) or light-emitting surface (54), and wherein the intermediate light lens (18) has light-refracting elements (30, 32) in a second area (20, 28) which cause a second emission direction of the light rays different from the first emission direction, such that the light rays are divided and/or deflected into a first illuminated area (46), a second illuminated area (48), and an unilluminated gap (50) located between the first illuminated area (46) and the second illuminated area (48). The invention further relates to a motor vehicle (100) with such a vehicle light (10).

Description

The invention relates to a vehicle light for a motor vehicle and to a motor vehicle with such a vehicle light according to the preamble of the independent claims.

Motor vehicles, especially passenger cars, typically have lighting devices at the front, rear, and sides to increase their visibility. While the design of vehicle lights in the past focused almost exclusively on safety aspects, particularly improving the driver's visibility in the dark and the vehicle's visibility to others, newer generations of vehicles are often equipped with lighting systems that can give the vehicle a distinctive light signature. These lighting systems can consist not only of illuminated surfaces but also of more complex, three-dimensionally shaped light elements (so-called light sculptures) to ensure better visibility and/or recognizability of the vehicle.

The light signature can be designed to reflect a specific brand, thus improving the identification of the vehicle as belonging to a particular make or model. Furthermore, automotive and/or lighting designers frequently request that vehicle lights react to passing vehicles. However, due to legal regulations, it is not possible to implement such a change in the light pattern electronically by simply switching specific light sources on and off.

From the DE 10 2020 216 061 A1 A vehicle light is known in which the light source is arranged behind a mask. The light source is designed, for example, as a light guide and the mask as a cover plate. In order for the cover plate to function as a mask, it could, for example, be partially designed, particularly with a regular and irregular pattern. To further enhance a dynamic effect, the pattern can be irregular, i.e., it can change with a change in the relative position between the viewer and the pattern.

The DE 10 2022 115 618 A1 Disclosing a lighting arrangement for a vehicle, comprising a lens array device having a lens array and an image element arrangement with several first image elements and several second image elements, a first image formed by the first image elements is visible when viewing the lens array device along a first viewing axis, and a second image formed by the second image elements is visible when viewing the lens array device along a second viewing axis different from the first viewing axis. The lighting arrangement further comprises a lighting device with a planar light guide and at least one optical fiber, which is arranged at least partially at a lateral edge of the planar light guide. The optical fiber is arranged to emit light coupled into the optical fiber and couple it into the planar light guide, and the planar light guide is arranged to couple the light coupled into the planar light guide out such that it strikes the image element arrangement from a side of the lens array device opposite the lens array.

A disadvantage of the solutions known from the prior art is that masking a portion of the headlight reduces its energy efficiency through light absorption. Furthermore, masking limits the number of possible switching images to just two. In addition, such a solution is expensive and complex, as the mask and lenses must be precisely matched during the manufacturing process.

The invention is based on the objective of realizing optical effects, which are perceived by an observer as an interaction of the light of the motor vehicle with the observer, with a headlight in a simple and inexpensive way, overcoming the disadvantages known from the prior art and complying with the applicable regulations for motor vehicle lights.

The problem is solved by a vehicle light according to claim 1. The vehicle light comprises a light source for emitting light rays and an intermediate lens. The intermediate lens has a light-receiving first surface and a light-emitting second surface. The intermediate lens is divided into at least two areas, wherein the intermediate lens has a first emission direction for the light from the light source in a first area on its light-receiving surface or on its light-emitting surface, and wherein the intermediate lens has refractive elements in a second area which cause a second emission direction of the light rays, different from the first emission direction, such that the light rays are directed into a first illuminated area, a second illuminated area, and an area between the first illuminated area and the second illuminated area. The existing, unlit gap is divided and/or deflected.

In other words, the intermediate light panel has at least two sections with different emission characteristics. This is achieved by using differently oriented prisms. If more than one area is to be illuminated by a section of the intermediate light panel, this can be achieved by arranging several types of prisms/refracting elements side by side in regular or irregular patterns within that section, so that from a greater distance, where the viewer's eye cannot distinguish the individual prisms, a uniform appearance is achieved. An additional diffuser in front of the intermediate light panel can further homogenize the light.

This allows different "images" to be illuminated from different viewing angles, as the corresponding intermediate lens areas appear bright from the illuminated angles, while those areas not illuminated appear dark. This creates a change in brightness when the lighting device moves relative to the viewer, giving the impression that the vehicle is interacting with the viewer as the light passes by. To the viewer's eye, the shape of the illuminated surfaces changes, or sections of the illuminated surfaces are lit to varying degrees, with the illumination intensity of these sections also changing. In this way, a lighting effect can be achieved in a relatively simple and cost-effective manner compared to prior art solutions, increasing the designers' freedom in vehicle lighting design and enabling additional optical effects.

The additional features mentioned in the dependent claims enable advantageous designs and improvements of the vehicle light mentioned in the independent claim.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the vehicle light additionally comprises a reflector which aligns the light rays essentially parallel to each other after they exit the light source and before they enter the intermediate lens. A reflector allows the light rays from the light source to be aligned essentially parallel to each other in a simple manner, thereby simplifying the design of the intermediate lens to achieve the desired optical effect. In particular, with parallel light rays, a plurality of identical refractive elements, especially prisms, can be used, thus reducing the number of different components and consequently the cost of the vehicle light. Furthermore, the reduced number of different components eliminates or minimizes assembly errors, as the possibility of installing an incorrect refractive element is reduced or eliminated.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the vehicle light, a light collector is arranged between the light source and the intermediate lens. In this context, a light collector is understood to be, in particular, a converging lens or a collimator. By collecting the light and subsequently deflecting it at the intermediate lens, the desired effect can be intensified or made more pronounced, thus further increasing design freedom.

In an advantageous embodiment of the vehicle light, the intermediate lens is divided into three areas, with a central area of the intermediate lens being free of additional light-refracting elements, and the outer areas surrounding the central area each being provided with two groups of additional light-refracting elements. This ensures that, firstly, the legal requirements for the visibility of the vehicle and the illumination of the road are met, and secondly, the technical effect of the changing, unilluminated areas is achieved.

In a further embodiment of the vehicle light, it is advantageously provided that a light signal function is realized across the entire light-emitting surface of the intermediate lens, with a portion of the light-emitting surface being equipped with optics that selectively illuminate only specific areas. This allows for maximum lighting efficiency and, in particular, increases efficiency compared to prior art solutions in which individual areas of a headlight are covered by a light-absorbing mask.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the light source is designed as a point light source. A point light source is a particularly simple and cost-effective solution for illumination. The desired [missing information] can be achieved in this way. Ten effects can be achieved without expensive additional lighting elements and/or masks.

It is particularly advantageous if the light-refracting elements are designed to align with the beam path of the point light source. This allows the described lighting effects to be achieved simply and cost-effectively, in which the different refraction or deflection of the light rays in the second area of the intermediate light filter creates a corresponding gap that appears dark compared to the two illuminated areas, thus achieving the desired effect.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the light source is designed as an LED, OLED, or laser diode. LEDs, OLEDs, and laser diodes are light sources that are particularly energy-efficient and offer high luminous efficacy. Such light sources are especially suitable for achieving the desired effects resulting from a change in the relative position to the vehicle light. The vehicle light preferably comprises a plurality of such light sources to achieve optimal illumination of the area in front of the vehicle light. Alternatively, the light source can also be designed as a conventional incandescent lamp.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that instead of or in addition to the intermediate light disk, a segmented faceted reflector is provided, wherein the segmented faceted reflector is divided into at least two areas, wherein a first area is free of light-refracting additional elements, and wherein in a second area two groups of light-refracting elements are arranged which cause a deflection of the light rays, such that the light rays are divided and/or deflected into a first illuminated area, a second illuminated area and an unilluminated gap located between the first illuminated area and the second illuminated area.

In such a design, a photographic image can also be realized which has a continuous central cone of light and a cone of light that varies in at least one edge area, and which has an illumination gap between two illuminated areas.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a motor vehicle with a vehicle light as described in the preceding sections. The use of such a vehicle light in a motor vehicle offers vehicle and lighting designers additional possibilities that can make a vehicle appear more appealing and thus positively influence a potential customer's purchasing decision for that vehicle.

In an advantageous embodiment of the motor vehicle, the vehicle's light is a headlight, particularly a front headlight. The described effect of the vehicle "winking" is especially advantageous when this effect is achieved by a headlight, particularly a front headlight. Such a headlight is generally highly visible to an observer as the vehicle passes by. Therefore, the observer perceives the change in light intensity in their area as the car winking, which is generally considered positive and appealing.

Unless otherwise stated in individual cases, the various embodiments of the invention mentioned in this application can be advantageously combined with one another.

• 1 ein erfindungsgemäßes Kraftfahrzeug mit einer erfindungsgemäßen Fahrzeugleuchte,
• 2 ein erstes bevorzugtes Ausführungsbeispiel für eine erfindungsgemäße Kraftfahrzeugleuchte in einer schematischen Darstellung,
• 3 ein zweites bevorzugtes Ausführungsbeispiel für eine erfindungsgemäße Kraftfahrzeugleuchte in einer schematischen Darstellung,
• 4 ein drittes bevorzugtes Ausführungsbeispiel für eine erfindungsgemäße Kraftfahrzeugleuchte in einer schematischen Darstellung,
• 5 ein viertes bevorzugtes Ausführungsbeispiel für eine erfindungsgemäße Kraftfahrzeugleuchte in einer schematischen Darstellung, und
• 6 ein fünftes bevorzugtes Ausführungsbeispiel für eine erfindungsgemäße Kraftfahrzeugleuchte in einer schematischen Darstellung,

The invention is explained below using exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. These show:

• 1 a motor vehicle according to the invention with a vehicle light according to the invention,
• 2 a first preferred embodiment of a motor vehicle lamp according to the invention in a schematic representation,
• 3 a second preferred embodiment of a motor vehicle lamp according to the invention in a schematic representation,
• 4 a third preferred embodiment of a motor vehicle lamp according to the invention in a schematic representation,
• 5 a fourth preferred embodiment of a motor vehicle lamp according to the invention in a schematic representation, and
• 6 a fifth preferred embodiment of a motor vehicle lamp according to the invention in a schematic representation,

1 Figure 1 shows a motor vehicle 100 according to the invention with a vehicle light 10 according to the invention. The motor vehicle 100 has a front 102, a rear 105 and two sides 104 which connect the front 102 to the rear 106. The motor vehicle 100 also has a roof 108.

Two vehicle lights 10 in the form of headlights 40 are arranged at the front 102 of the vehicle. Two vehicle lights 10 in the form of taillights 42 are arranged at the rear 106 of the vehicle. Furthermore, a continuous light strip 112 may be arranged at the front 102 and/or the rear 106 of the vehicle, extending across the width of the rear 106 or the front 102 and, in particular, connecting the two taillights 42 or the two headlights 40. The motor vehicle 100 also has an interior 114 in which a vehicle light 10 in the form of an interior light 44 is arranged.

In 2 Figure 1 shows a preferred embodiment of a vehicle light 10 according to the invention. The vehicle light 10 comprises a light source 12, preferably a light source 12 designed as an LED 14, OLED or laser diode, a reflector 16 and an intermediate lens 18. The intermediate lens 18 has a first light-receiving surface 52 and a light-emitting surface 54 opposite the first light-receiving surface 52. Furthermore, the intermediate lens 18 is divided into at least two areas 20, 22, 24, 26, 28. 2 An intermediate light disk 18 is shown, which is divided into three areas 20, 24, 28. A first area 24, which lies between an upper edge area 20 and a lower edge area 28 of the intermediate light disk 18, is free of additional light-refracting elements 30, 32. The edge areas 20, 28 of the intermediate light disk 18 are each provided with two groups of light-refracting elements 30, 32, in particular with two groups of prisms 30, 32, which cause the light rays to be deflected, such that the light rays are divided and/or deflected into a first illuminated area 46, a second illuminated area 48, and an unilluminated gap 50 located between the first illuminated area 46 and the second illuminated area 48. Alternatively, the intermediate light disk 18 can also be divided into five areas 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, with the central area 24 being free of additional light-refracting elements 30, 32. In this embodiment, between an upper edge area 20 and the central area 22 lies a further area 22, which is also provided with two groups of light-refracting elements 30, 32, wherein the light-refracting elements in this area are arranged such that, compared to the upper edge area 20, a small unilluminated gap 50 is formed, so that the gap increases from the central area towards the edge area. Likewise, between the central area 24 and the lower edge area 28 lies a further area 26, which, analogous to area 22, is also provided with two groups of light-refracting elements 30, 32 and forms a smaller unilluminated gap 50 than the lower edge area 28. This allows an additional intermediate optical image to be created during a relative movement of the vehicle light 10, which can enhance an effect such as "blinking".

In 3 Figure 1 shows another preferred embodiment of a vehicle light 10 according to the invention. The vehicle light 10 comprises a light source 12, preferably a light source 12 designed as an LED 14, OLED or laser diode, a light collector 38, which is preferably designed as a converging lens 34 or as a collimator 36, and an intermediate light filter 18. The intermediate light filter 18 has a first light-receiving surface 52 and a light-emitting surface 54 opposite the first light-receiving surface 52. Furthermore, the intermediate light filter 18 is divided into at least two areas 20, 22, 24, 26, 28. 3 The intermediate light disk 18 is divided into two areas 20, 24. A first area 24 is free of additional light-refracting elements 30, 32. Furthermore, a second area 20 is provided with two groups of light-refracting elements 30, 32, in particular with two groups of prisms 30, 32, which cause the light rays to be deflected, such that the light rays are divided and/or deflected into a first illuminated area 46, a second illuminated area 48, and an unilluminated gap 50 located between the first illuminated area 46 and the second illuminated area 48.

In 4 A further embodiment of a vehicle light 10 according to the invention for a motor vehicle is shown. With essentially the same construction as described above, the following embodiment is also shown: 3 As described, in this embodiment the intermediate light lens 18 is integrated into the light collector 38 on the output side, thus eliminating the need for an additional component. The light-emitting surface 54 of the intermediate light lens 18 is provided in a region 20 with light-refracting additional elements 30, 32, in particular prisms, which deflect the light rays parallel in two different directions, creating an unilluminated gap between a first illuminated area 46 and a second illuminated area 48. This unilluminated gap results in a change in brightness and thus differently perceived optical illumination patterns when the vehicle light moves relative to a stationary object or observer.

In 5 Figure 1 shows a further embodiment of a vehicle light 10 according to the invention. The vehicle light 10 comprises a point light source 12, preferably a point light source 12 designed as an LED 14, OLED or laser diode, and an intermediate light filter 18. The intermediate light filter 18 has a first light-receiving surface 52 and a light-emitting surface 54 opposite the first light-receiving surface 52. Furthermore, the intermediate light filter 18 is divided into at least two areas 20, 22, 24, 26, 28. 5 An intermediate light disk 18 is shown, which is divided into two areas 20, 24, 28. A first area 24 is free of additional light-refracting elements 30, 32. Furthermore, a second area 20 is provided with two groups of light-refracting elements 30, 32, in particular with two groups of prisms 30, 32, which cause the light rays to be deflected, such that the light rays are divided and/or deflected into a first illuminated area 46, a second illuminated area 48, and an unilluminated gap 50 located between the first illuminated area 46 and the second illuminated area 48. In this embodiment, geometrically differently shaped elements 30, 32, or elements with different refractive indices, are provided in order to deflect the light rays emerging from the light-refracting elements in two directions, with the light rays in one direction being emitted essentially parallel. This also allows a lighting pattern to be created with two illuminated areas 46, 48 and an unlit gap 50 in between.

In 6 Figure 1 shows a further embodiment of a vehicle light 10 according to the invention. In this embodiment, the intermediate light lens 18 is designed as a segmented faceted reflector 58, wherein the light rays emanating from the point light source 56 are deflected directly by the segmented faceted reflector 58 and divided and/or deflected into a first illuminated area 46 and a second illuminated area 48, as well as an unilluminated gap 50 located between the first illuminated area 46 and the second illuminated area 48. Furthermore, a partial area of the reflector 58 is provided which is designed without additional light-refracting elements 30, 32 and thus emits parallel light rays in a main direction of light from the vehicle light 10.

Reference symbol list

10

Vehicle light

12

light source

14

LED

16

reflector

18

Intermediate lens

20

area of the intermediate light lens

22

area of the intermediate light lens

24

area of the intermediate light lens

26

area of the intermediate light lens

28

area of the intermediate light lens

30

first prism

32

second prism

34

lens

36

Collimator

38

Light collector

40

headlights

42

rear light

44

Interior light

46

first illuminated area

48

second illuminated area

50

gap

52

light-absorbing surface

54

light-emitting surface

56

Point light source

58

segmented faceted reflector

100

motor vehicle

102

Vehicle front

104

Vehicle side

106

rear of vehicle

108

Vehicle roof

110

person

112

LED strip

114

Vehicle interior

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 10 2020 216 061 A1 [0004]
• DE 10 2022 115 618 A1 [0005]

Claims (10)

Vehicle light (10) for a motor vehicle (100), comprising; - a light source (12) for emitting light rays and - an intermediate light disk (18), wherein - the intermediate light disk (18) has a light-receiving first surface (52) and a light-emitting second surface (54), - the intermediate light disk (18) is divided into at least two areas (20, 22, 24, 26, 28), - the intermediate light disk (18) has a first emission direction for the light from the light source (12) in a first area (22, 24, 26) on the light-receiving first surface (52) or the light-emitting second surface (54), and - the intermediate light disk (18) has refractive elements (30, 32) in a second area (20, 28) which cause a second emission direction of the light rays different from the first emission direction, such that the light rays are directed into a first illuminated area (46), a second illuminated area (48) and a non-illuminated gap (50) located between the first illuminated area (46) and the second illuminated area (48) is divided and/or deflected. Vehicle light (10) after Claim 1 , wherein the vehicle light (10) additionally includes a reflector (16) which aligns the light rays substantially parallel to each other after exiting the light source (12) and before entering the intermediate light disc (18). Vehicle light (10) after Claim 1 or 2 , wherein a light collector (38) is arranged between the light source (12) and the intermediate light disk (18). Vehicle light (10) after one of the Claims 1 until 3 , wherein the intermediate light disk (18) is divided into three areas (20, 24, 28), wherein a central area (24) of the intermediate light disk (18) is free of light-refracting additional elements (30, 32) and the peripheral areas (20, 28) surrounding the central area (24) are each provided with two groups of light-refracting elements (30, 32). Vehicle light (10) after one of the Claims 1 until 4 , wherein a light signal function is realized by the entire light-emitting surface (54) of the intermediate light disk, wherein a part of the light-emitting surface (54) is provided with optics that selectively illuminate only certain areas of the room. Vehicle light (10) after one of the Claims 1 until 5 , wherein the light source (12) is designed as a point light source (56). Vehicle light (10) after Claim 6 , wherein the light-refracting elements (30, 32) are designed to follow the beam path of the point light source (56). Vehicle light (10) after one of the Claims 1 until 7 , wherein a segmented faceted reflector (58) is additionally provided, which is divided into at least two areas (20, 22, 24, 26, 28), wherein a first area (22, 24, 26) is free of light-refracting additional elements (30, 32), and wherein in a second area two groups of light-refracting elements (30, 32) are arranged which cause a deflection of the light rays, such that the light rays are divided and/or deflected into a first illuminated area (46), a second illuminated area (48) and an unilluminated gap (50) located between the first illuminated area (46) and the second illuminated area (48). motor vehicle (100) with a vehicle light (10) according to one of the Claims 1 until 8 . Motor vehicle (100) according to Claim 9 , wherein the vehicle light (10) is a headlight (40) of the motor vehicle (100).