TWI904471B - Multifunctional vehicle lighting system - Google Patents

Abstract

A multifunctional vehicle lighting device includes an optical lens and a light-emitting unit. The optical lens includes a first light-emitting lens and a first light-receiving lens connected front to back, and a second light-receiving lens and a second light-receiving lens connected to opposite ends of the first light-emitting lens. The first light-emitting lens includes a first light-emitting surface located at the front end. The second light-emitting lens includes a second light-emitting surface connected to the bottom end of the first light-emitting surface and facing forward, and an inclined reflective surface extending backward and upward from the bottom end of the second light-emitting surface. The light-emitting unit includes a first light-emitting module capable of projecting a first number of light rays into the first light-receiving lens, and a second light-emitting module capable of projecting a second number of light rays into the second light-receiving lens. This invention has the feature of being able to perform two of the functions of multiple vehicle lights.

Description

Multifunctional vehicle lighting system

This invention relates to a vehicle assembly, and more particularly to a multifunctional vehicle lighting device.

Referring to Figure 1, a conventional vehicle lighting device includes a first light-emitting unit 111 capable of projecting light forward, and a first lens unit 112 disposed in front of the first light-emitting unit 111. The light projected by the first light-emitting unit 111 enters the first lens unit 112 and is emitted forward from the front end of the first lens unit 112. That is, in this type of vehicle lighting device, the projection direction of the light from the first light-emitting unit 111 and the emission direction of the light emitted from the first lens unit 112 are in the same direction.

Referring to Figure 2, another existing vehicle lighting device includes two vertically spaced second light-emitting units 121 and a second lens unit 122 located between the two second light-emitting units 121. Each of the second light-emitting units 121 can project light from top to bottom or from bottom to top. The light projected by each second light-emitting unit 121, after entering the second lens unit 122, will be emitted forward from the front end of the second lens unit 122. That is, in this vehicle lighting device, the projection direction of the light from each second light-emitting unit 121 is perpendicular to the emission direction of the light emitted from the second lens unit 122.

Although there are designs where the projection direction is in the same direction as the emission direction and designs where the projection direction is perpendicular to the emission direction, there is still only one type of light projection direction. There is a need to provide a product that is superior to these two designs in order to promote healthy competition in the industry.

The purpose of this invention is to improve at least one of the shortcomings of the prior art.

The present invention provides a multifunctional vehicle lighting device, comprising an optical lens and a light-emitting unit.

The optical lens includes a first light-emitting lens portion and a first light-entry lens portion connected front to back, and a second light-entry lens portion and a second light-emitting lens portion connected to opposite ends of the first light-emitting lens portion. The first light-emitting lens portion includes a first light-emitting surface located at the front end and facing forward. The second light-emitting lens portion includes a second light-emitting surface connected to one end of the first light-emitting surface and facing forward, and an inclined reflective surface extending backward at an angle from the end of the second light-emitting surface opposite to the first light-emitting surface.

The light-emitting unit includes a first light-emitting module capable of projecting a first number of first light rays into the first light-receiving lens, and a second light-emitting module capable of projecting a second number of second light rays into the second light-receiving lens. After entering the first light-receiving lens, the first light rays travel towards the first light-exiting lens and are emitted from the first light-exiting surface. After entering the second light-receiving lens, the second light rays travel through the first light-exiting lens towards the second light-exiting lens, are reflected by the inclined reflective surface, and are emitted from the second light-exiting surface.

The advantage of this invention is that the first light-emitting module and the second light-emitting module can project the first light rays and the second light rays, and the first light rays and the second light rays can be emitted forward through the first light-emitting surface and the second light-emitting surface facing forward and observed by road users. Therefore, this invention has the feature of being able to emit different first light rays and the second light rays and can have two of the functions of multiple vehicle lights such as high and low beams, turn signals, and driving lights.

Referring to Figures 3, 4, and 5, an embodiment of the multifunctional vehicle lighting device of the present invention includes a vehicle lighting housing 21 (see Figure 3), a heat sink 22 assembled on the vehicle lighting housing 21, a first circuit board 23 mounted on the heat sink 22, a second circuit board 24 whose normal vector is perpendicular to the normal vector of the first circuit board 23, a light-emitting unit 3 mounted on the first circuit board 23 and the second circuit board 24, and an optical lens 4 mounted on the heat sink 22 and the first circuit board 23.

The headlight housing 21 is generally rectangular. The heat sink 22 is a fin-type heat sink 22. The first circuit board 23 extends vertically and faces forward and backward. The second circuit board 24 extends horizontally and faces upward and downward.

Referring to Figures 4, 5, and 6, the light-emitting unit 3 includes five first light-emitting modules 31 disposed at the front end of the first circuit board 23 and seven second light-emitting modules 32 disposed at the bottom end of the second circuit board 24. Since the first light-emitting modules 31 are identical to each other and the second light-emitting modules 32 are identical to each other, in the following description, each of the first light-emitting modules 31 and each of the second light-emitting modules 32 will be used as representatives.

The first light-emitting module 31 and the second light-emitting module 32 can project a number of first light rays L11 (see Figure 8) and a number of second light rays L12 (see Figure 9) forward or downward toward the optical lens 4, respectively. Both the first light-emitting module 31 and the second light-emitting module 32 utilize LED chips for light emission. The travel patterns of the first light rays L11 and the second light rays L12 generated by the first light-emitting module 31 and the second light-emitting module 32 will be explained after a full description of the optical lens 4.

The optical lens 4 includes five first light-emitting lens sections 41 that are integrally connected to each other from left to right, several first light-entry lens sections 42 that correspond to the number of the first light-emitting lens sections 41 and are integrally connected to the rear end of the first light-emitting lens sections 41, seven second light-entry lens sections 43 that are connected to the top end of the first light-emitting lens sections 41, and several second light-emitting lens sections 44 that correspond to the number of the second light-entry lens sections 43 and are connected to the bottom end of the first light-emitting lens sections 41.

Since the first light-emitting lenses 41, the first light-entry lenses 42, the second light-entry lenses 43, and the second light-emitting lenses 44 are all identical, the following description will primarily use one of the first light-emitting lenses 41, one of the first light-entry lenses 42, one of the second light-entry lenses 43, and one of the second light-emitting lenses 44 as examples. Furthermore, since the third first light-entry lens 42 and the fourth second light-entry lens 43 are aligned, Figures 6, 8, and 9 show cross-sections passing through the third first light-entry lens 42 and the fourth second light-entry lens 43.

The first light-emitting lens portion 41 includes a first light-emitting surface 411 located at the front end and facing forward. The first light-emitting surface 411 protrudes from back to front and defines a first focal point F11 located behind the first light-emitting module 31 (see Figure 8).

The number of the first light-entry lens portions 42 of the optical lens 4 corresponds to the number of the first light-emitting modules 31 of the light-emitting unit 3. Continuing with the explanation using one of the first light-entry lens portions 42 as an example, and referring primarily to FIG6: the first light-entry lens portion 42 includes a first end 421 located at the rearmost end, and forms a first light-collecting space S1 extending forward from the first end 421. The first light-collecting space S1 is used for the first light rays L11 (see FIG8) generated by the first light-emitting module 31 to enter the first light-entry lens portion 42.

The first light-incident lens portion 42 further includes a first main light-incident surface 422 located in front of the first light-collecting space S1, a first side light-incident surface 423 surrounding the first main light-incident surface 422 and cooperating with the first main light-incident surface 422 to define the first light-collecting space S1, and a first reflective surface 424 extending forward from the first end 421 to connect with the first light-exiting lens portion 41 and surrounding the outside of the first light-collecting space S1.

The first main light-receiving surface 422 convexes from front to back. The first side light-receiving surface 423 is annular. The first reflective surface 424 expands outward from back to front. The first reflective surface 424 is formed by a portion of a line segment of one of the two curves of a hyperbola, which circles around a first optical axis A11 (see Figure 6), and defines several first defocused surfaces V11 arranged in a circle (see Figure 8; since Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view, only two of the first defocused surfaces V11 located on the cross-section are shown).

Referring to Figures 5, 6, and 7, each of two of the first reflective surfaces 424 includes two vertically spaced first surface segments 424a extending forward from the first end 421, two horizontally spaced second surface segments 424b extending forward from the first end 421, and a plurality of third surface segments 424c extending forward from the first end 421 and located between the first surface segments 424a and the second surface segments 424b. Each third surface segment 424c is discontinuous with its adjacent first surface segment 424a and second surface segment 424b.

Referring to Figures 4, 5, and 6, the number of the second light-entry lenses 43 of the optical lens 4 corresponds to the number of the second light-emitting modules 32 of the light-emitting unit 3. Continuing with an example of one of the second light-entry lenses 43, and referring primarily to Figure 6: the second light-entry lens 43 includes a second end 431 located at the top, and forms a second light-collecting space S2 that extends downward from the second end 431 toward the first light-exit lens 41. The second light-collecting space S2 allows the second rays L12 (see Figure 9) of the second light-emitting modules 32 to enter the second light-entry lens 43.

The second light-receiving lens portion 43 further includes a second main light-receiving surface 432 located between the second light-collecting space S2 and the first light-emitting lens portion 41, a second side light-receiving surface 433 surrounding the second main light-receiving surface 432 and cooperating with the second main light-receiving surface 432 to define the second light-collecting space S2, and a second reflective surface 434 extending from the second end 431 to connect with the first light-emitting lens portion 41 and surrounding the second light-collecting space S2.

The second main light-receiving surface 432 protrudes from bottom to top and defines a second focal point F12. The position of the second focal point F12 overlaps with the second light-emitting module 32, or in other words, the second light-emitting module 32 is located on the second focal point F12.

The second reflective surface 434 expands outward from top to bottom and is formed by a segment of a parabola around a second optical axis A12. The second reflective surface 434 defines several parabolic focal points F21 arranged in a circle (see Figure 9; since Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view, only two of the parabolic focal points F21 located on the cross-section are marked).

The second light-emitting lens 44 includes a second light-emitting surface 441 whose top end is connected to the bottom end of the first light-emitting surface 411 and faces forward, and an inclined reflective surface 442 that extends backward and upward from the bottom end of the second light-emitting surface 441.

The second light-emitting surface 441 extends vertically downward from the first light-emitting surface 411 and faces forward, and the second light-emitting surface 441 and the inclined reflective surface 442 define an angle A21 of 45 degrees. In other embodiments of the present invention, the angle A21 can also be x degrees, where x is between 40 and 50, and can be an integer between 40 and 50.

The tilted reflective surface 442 includes several reflective surfaces 443 (see Figure 5). These reflective surfaces 443 are grouped into several sets arranged horizontally. Within each set, the reflective surfaces 443 are arranged vertically. Each reflective surface 443 is part of a cylinder, but because the radius of curvature of the corresponding cylinder is quite large, the curvature of each reflective surface 443 is quite small, making it difficult to represent in the figures. The axial direction of each cylinder is the same as the tilted extension direction of the tilted reflective surface 442.

Referring to Figures 6, 8, and 9, the travel of the first light ray L11 and the second light ray L12 will be explained next. In the figures, the light trail in the air is represented by a solid line, the light trail in the lens is represented by a dashed line, and the extension line after refraction/reflection of the light is represented by a dotted chain.

A portion of the first light rays L11 generated by the first light-emitting module 31 will enter the first light-receiving lens portion 42 through the first main light-receiving surface 422, as shown in FIG8. The extension lines of the first light rays L11 incident through the first main light-receiving surface 422 converge at the first focal point F11. That is to say, this portion of the first light rays L11 is as if emitted from the first focal point F11 of the first light-emitting surface 411, so after this portion of the first light rays L11 is emitted from the first light-emitting surface 411, they will be approximately parallel to each other.

Another portion of the first light L11 generated by the first light-emitting module 31 will be incident into the first light-receiving lens portion 42 through the first side light-receiving surface 423. The extension lines of the first light L11 incident through the first side light-receiving surface 423 intersect to form a number of first defocuses V11. Each of the first defocuses V11 and the first focal point F11 is the two focal points of a hyperbola. Due to the optical characteristics of a hyperbola, light emitted from one focal point is reflected by the corresponding curve, and the extension line intersects at the focal point of the other curve. Therefore, after this portion of the first light L11 is reflected by the first reflecting surface 424, the extension line will intersect at the first focal point F11. In other words, the first light ray L11 in this part is refracted by the first incident light surface 423 and reflected by the first reflecting surface 424, and is also emitted from the first focal point F11. Therefore, the first light ray L11 in this part is also roughly parallel to each other after being emitted from the first emitting light surface 411.

A portion of the second light rays L12 generated by the second light-emitting module 32 will enter the second light-receiving lens portion 43 through the second main light-receiving surface 432. The second light rays L12, incident through the second main light-receiving surface 432, travel towards the inclined reflective surface 442 along a projection direction D11 perpendicular to the front-to-back direction. Since the second light-emitting module 32 is located at the second focal point F12 of the second main light-receiving surface 432, this portion of the second light rays L12, after entering through the second main light-receiving surface 432, will be projected downwards towards the inclined reflective surface 442 in a generally parallel manner. That is, in this embodiment, the projection direction D11 is a vertical direction, specifically a vertical direction perpendicular to the front-to-back direction. Finally, the second light L12 of this part is reflected by the inclined reflective surface 442 and then emitted forward from the second light-emitting surface 441.

Another portion of the second light L12 generated by the second light-emitting module 32 will enter the second light-receiving lens portion 43 through the second side light-receiving surface 433. The light rays incident through the second side light-receiving surface 433 will have their extended lines intersecting at the parabolic focal point F21. That is to say, after this portion of the second light L12 is refracted by the first side light-receiving surface 423, it will appear as if it is emitted from the parabolic focal point F21. Therefore, after this portion of the second light L12 is reflected by the second reflecting surface 434, it will also be projected downwards towards the inclined reflecting surface 442 in a generally parallel manner, and finally reflected by the inclined reflecting surface 442, and emitted forward from the second light-emitting surface 441.

Overall, after the first light rays L11 enter the first light-entry lens 42, they travel towards the first light-exiting lens 41 and are emitted forward from the first light-exiting surface 411. After the second light rays L12 enter the second light-entry lens 43, they travel straight down through the first light-exiting lens 41 to the second light-exiting lens 44, are reflected forward by the inclined reflective surface 442, and are emitted forward from the second light-exiting surface 441. The first light rays L11 do not enter the second light-exiting lens 44, nor do they exit from the second light-exiting surface 441, and the second light rays L12 do not exit from the first light-exiting surface 411.

The feature of this embodiment is that the first light rays L11 and the second light rays L12 generated by the first light-emitting module 31 and the second light-emitting module 32 in different directions can be emitted forward from the first light-emitting surface 411 and the second light-emitting surface 441 respectively and can be observed by road users. Therefore, the first light-emitting module 31 and the second light-emitting module 32 can be used to provide light rays for different vehicle lighting functions. For example, the first light rays L11 can be used as the light rays of the main headlights, while the second light rays L12 can be used as the light rays of the running lights or turn signals, so that this embodiment has at least two different vehicle lighting functions.

Furthermore, since this embodiment actually includes several first light-emitting modules 31, several first light-entry lenses 42, and several first light-exit lenses 41, a portion of the first light rays L11 can be designed to generate light as high beams, while another portion of the first light rays L11 can be designed to generate light as low beams. Similarly, since this embodiment actually includes several second light-emitting modules 32, several second light-entry lenses 43, and several second light-exit lenses 44, a portion of the second light rays L12 can be designed to generate light as daytime running lights, while another portion of the second light rays L12 can be designed to generate light as turn signals. Therefore, this embodiment can even have more than four different vehicle lighting functions. The advantage of each inclined reflective surface 442 including several reflective surfaces 443 is that it can cause the light to diverge during reflection, so that the second light L12 can meet the regulatory requirements after divergence.

In summary, the multifunctional vehicle lighting device of the present invention has the following advantages: the first light-emitting module 31 and the second light-emitting module 32 can project the first light rays L11 and the second light rays L12, and the first light rays L11 and the second light rays L12 can be emitted forward through the first light-emitting surface 411 and the second light-emitting surface 441, which are facing forward and are located at different positions, and can be observed by road users. Therefore, the present invention has the feature of being able to use the first light rays L11 and the second light rays L12 to have at least two of the functions of multiple vehicle lights such as high and low beams, turn signals, and driving lights.

The above description is merely an embodiment of the present invention and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the patent application of the present invention. Any simple equivalent changes and modifications made to the scope of the patent application and the patent specification should also be covered by the scope of the patent application of the present invention.

21: Headlight housing 22: Heat sink 23: First circuit board 24: Second circuit board 3: Light-emitting unit 31: First light-emitting module 32: Second light-emitting module 4: Optical lens 41: First light-emitting lens section 411: First light-emitting surface 42: First light-receiving lens section 421: First end 422: First main light-receiving surface 423: First side light-receiving surface 424: First reflecting surface 424a: First surface segment 424b: Second surface segment 424c: Third surface segment 43: Second light-receiving lens section 431: Second end 432: Second main light-receiving surface 433: Second side light-receiving surface 434: Second reflecting surface 44: Second light-emitting lens 441: Second light-emitting surface 442: Inclined reflecting surface 443: Reflecting surface A11: First optical axis A12: Second optical axis A21: Angle D11: Projection direction F11: First focal point F12: Second focal point F21: Parabolic focal point L11: First ray L12: Second ray S1: First light-gathering space S2: Second light-gathering space V11: First defocused area

Other features and effects of this invention will be clearly shown in the embodiments with reference to the drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is an incomplete cross-sectional view illustrating a conventional vehicle lighting device; Figure 2 is an incomplete cross-sectional view illustrating another conventional vehicle lighting device; Figure 3 is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of the vehicle lighting device of this invention; Figure 4 is an incomplete exploded perspective view illustrating the embodiment; Figure 5 is an incomplete exploded perspective view illustrating the embodiment from another angle; Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the embodiment; Figure 7 is a perspective view illustrating an optical lens of the embodiment; Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view, similar to Figure 6, illustrating the light trail of a first ray of light in the embodiment; and Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view, similar to Figure 6, illustrating the light trail of the second ray in this embodiment.

23: First Circuit Board

24: Second Circuit Board

3: Illuminating Unit

31: First Light-Emitting Module

32: Second Light-Emitting Module

4: Optical Lens

41: First light-emitting lens section

411: First illuminated surface

42: First entrance lens section

421: First End

422: First Main Surface

423: First side entry smooth surface

424: First reflecting surface

43: Second entrance lens section

431: Second End

432: Second Main Surface

433: Second side glossy surface

434: Second reflecting surface

44: Second light-emitting lens section

441: Second Expansion Surface

442: Tilted Reflector

443: Reflected Face

A11: First optical axis

A12: Second optical axis

A21: Corner

D11: Projection Direction

S1: Episode 1 - The Light Space

S2: The Second Light Space

Claims (9)

A vehicle lighting device includes: an optical lens, comprising a first light-emitting lens portion and a first light-entry lens portion connected front to rear, and a second light-entry lens portion and a second light-emitting lens portion connected to opposite upper and lower ends of the first light-emitting lens portion. The first light-emitting lens portion includes a first light-emitting surface located at the front end and facing forward. The second light-emitting lens portion includes a second light-emitting surface connected to one end of the upper and lower ends of the first light-emitting surface and facing forward, and an inclined reflective surface extending rearward at an angle from the end of the second light-emitting surface opposite to the first light-emitting surface; and A light-emitting unit includes a first light-emitting module capable of projecting a first number of first light rays into a first light-receiving lens, and a second light-emitting module capable of projecting a second number of second light rays into a second light-receiving lens. The first light rays, after entering the first light-receiving lens, travel towards the first light-exiting lens and exit from the first light-exiting surface. The second light rays, after entering the second light-receiving lens, travel through the first light-exiting lens towards the second light-exiting lens, are reflected by an inclined reflective surface, and exit from the second light-exiting surface. The first light rays do not enter the second light-exiting lens and do not exit from the second light-exiting surface, and the second light rays do not exit from the first light-exiting surface. The vehicle lighting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inclined reflective surface includes a plurality of reflective surfaces, the plurality of reflective surfaces being arranged in groups arranged left and right, and the reflective surfaces in each group being arranged vertically. The vehicle lighting device as described in claim 2, wherein the second light-emitting surface extends vertically upwards and forwards, defining an angle of 40 to 50 degrees with the inclined reflective surface. The vehicle lighting device as described in claim 1, wherein the first light-emitting surface protrudes from back to front and defines a first focal point, the first light-entry lens includes a first end and forms a first light-collecting space extending forward from the first end, the first light-collecting space being for the first light rays to enter, the first light-entry lens further includes a first main light-entry surface located in front of the first light-collecting space, a first side light-entry surface surrounding the first main light-entry surface and cooperating with the first main light-entry surface to define the first light-collecting space, and a first reflective surface extending forward from the first end to connect with the first light-emitting lens and surrounding the first light-collecting space. The vehicle lighting device as described in claim 4, wherein the extensions of the first light rays incident through the first main light-receiving surface intersect at the first focal point, and the extensions of the first light rays incident through the first side light-receiving surface intersect to form a plurality of first virtual focal points, each of the first virtual focal points and the first focal point being the two focal points of a hyperbola. The vehicle lighting device as described in claim 4, wherein the first reflective surface includes two vertically spaced first surface segments extending forward from the first end, two horizontally spaced second surface segments extending forward from the first end, and a plurality of third surface segments extending forward from the first end and located between the first surface segments and the second surface segments, each of the third surface segments being discontinuous with the adjacent first surface segment and the second surface segment. The vehicle lighting device as described in claim 1, wherein the second light-entry lens includes a second end and forms a second light-collecting space extending concavely from the second end toward the first light-exiting lens, the second light-collecting space being for the second light rays to enter, the second light-entry lens further including a second main light-entry surface located between the second light-collecting space and the first light-exiting lens, a second side light-entry surface surrounding the second main light-entry surface and cooperating with the second main light-entry surface to define the second light-collecting space, and a second reflective surface extending from the second end to connect with the first light-exiting lens and surrounding the second light-collecting space. The vehicle lighting device as described in claim 7, wherein the second light rays incident through the second main light-incident surface travel along a projection direction that intersects a front-rear direction toward the inclined reflective surface, and the light rays incident through the second side light-incident surface and reflected by the second reflective surface travel along the projection direction toward the inclined reflective surface. The vehicle lighting device as described in claim 7, wherein the second main light-receiving surface defines a second focal point, the second light-emitting module is located at the second focal point, the second reflective surface is formed by a segment of a parabola around a second optical axis, and defines a plurality of parabolic focal points, and the extension lines of light incident through the second side light-receiving surface converge at the parabolic focal points.