Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F21—LIGHTING
  • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
  • F21S41/00—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps
  • F21S41/10—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by the light source
  • F21S41/14—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by the light source characterised by the type of light source
  • F21S41/141—Light emitting diodes [LED]
  • F21S41/143—Light emitting diodes [LED] the main emission direction of the LED being parallel to the optical axis of the illuminating device
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F21—LIGHTING
  • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
  • F21S41/00—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps
  • F21S41/10—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by the light source
  • F21S41/14—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by the light source characterised by the type of light source
  • F21S41/141—Light emitting diodes [LED]
  • F21S41/151—Light emitting diodes [LED] arranged in one or more lines
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F21—LIGHTING
  • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
  • F21S41/00—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps
  • F21S41/20—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters
  • F21S41/25—Projection lenses
  • F21S41/265—Composite lenses; Lenses with a patch-like shape
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F21—LIGHTING
  • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
  • F21S41/00—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps
  • F21S41/20—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters
  • F21S41/25—Projection lenses
  • F21S41/27—Thick lenses
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F21—LIGHTING
  • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
  • F21S41/00—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps
  • F21S41/20—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters
  • F21S41/285—Refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters not provided in groups F21S41/24 - F21S41/2805
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F21—LIGHTING
  • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
  • F21S41/00—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps
  • F21S41/30—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by reflectors
  • F21S41/32—Optical layout thereof
  • F21S41/322—Optical layout thereof the reflector using total internal reflection
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F21—LIGHTING
  • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
  • F21S41/00—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps
  • F21S41/40—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by screens, non-reflecting members, light-shielding members or fixed shades
  • F21S41/43—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by screens, non-reflecting members, light-shielding members or fixed shades characterised by the shape thereof

Definitions

• the present invention relates generally to the field of vehicle lighting systems, and more particularly to techniques for producing a low beam using vehicle headlamp optics.
• One object of the invention is a vehicle headlamp optics designed to produce a low beam.
• the optics is made of at least one piece of solid transparent material.
• a piece of solid transparent material can be understood as a unitary structure made of a material that allows light to pass through it without significant scattering or absorption.
• the optics consists of a single piece of solid transparent material. In such a case, the compactness and robustness of the optics is an advantage.
• the surface of the piece of solid transparent material comprises the following portions:
• the inner primary optics surface, the inner shutter surface and the imaging lens surface are arranged relative to each other so that light rays entering the entrance hole and passing through the inner primary optics surface can exit the optics through the imaging lens surface.
• the inner shutter surface deviates some of the light rays that would not directly hit the outer imaging lens, so that all the light rays coming from the inner primary optics exit the optics through the imaging lens surface.
• One advantage of this arrangement is that it simplifies the design of the optics, making it easier and cheaper to manufacture. It also makes the optics more compact, which can be beneficial in situations where space within the headlamp is limited. In particular, no condenser secondary condenser lens is required, which brings a main advantage compared to prior art.
• the configuration helps to ensure that the light entering the optics is directed towards the correct parts of the optics. This improves the efficiency of the optics and helps to produce an effective low beam.
• the inner primary optics surface, the inner shutter surface and the imaging lens surface are arranged relative to each other so that light rays entering the entrance hole and passing through the inner primary optics surface can exit the optics only through the imaging lens surface. In such a case, no light ray coming from the inner primary optics surface feeds any other beam than the beam emitted by the imaging lens.
• the surface of the optics also comprises, opposite the entrance hole, at least one outer faceted surface in addition to the outer imaging lens surface.
• An outer faceted surface can be understood as a surface with a series of flat faces, similar to the facets on a gemstone.
• One advantage of this arrangement is that light reflected from the collimator is projected forward through the outer faceted surfaces around the imaging lens surface.
• the surface also comprises an inner terminal surface at the end of the entrance passage.
• the inner terminal surface connects the edge of the inner shutter surface to the inner side wall. Said inner terminal surface is configured so that light rays entering the entrance hole and passing through the inner terminal surface cannot exit the optics through the imaging lens surface.
• One advantage of the inner terminal surface is to avoid that too much light bypassing the shutter passes through the imaging lens surface. Preferably, no such light passes at all through the imaging lens surface.
• the inner terminal surface is inclined and/or has pillows.
• An inclined surface can be understood as a surface that forms an angle with a plane perpendicular to a general direction of illumination of the optics, such as a longitudinal axis parallel to the entrance passage Pillows can be understood as cushions, undulations or waves on the surface.
• the transparent material is a transparent plastics material.
• a plastic material can be understood as a material in which polymer is the main ingredient, such as polycarbonate (PC) or polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) poly methyl methacrylate.
• plastic materials are typically lighter and cheaper than other materials, such as glass. This can make the optics easier and cheaper to manufacture. Plastic materials are also more flexible than glass, which can make it easier to create complex shapes and structures within the optics.
• glass can also be used as a transparent material if the application requires very high light transmission.
• the surface of the optics also comprises a rib forming a mounting flange.
• a rib can be understood as a raised strip or ridge on the surface of the optics, while a mounting flange can be understood as a projection used to hold, secure, or attach the optics.
• One advantage of this arrangement is that it can make it easier to install and secure the optics within a headlamp. This can help to ensure that the optics is properly aligned and positioned, improving the effectiveness of the low beam.
• Another object of the invention is a vehicle headlamp module made of at least one piece of solid transparent material, the surface of which comprises at least two sets of surface portions, each set of surface portions comprising all the surface portions of one optics as described above.
• One advantage of this arrangement is that it allows multiple low beams to be produced from a single module. Mounting such an arrangement in the vehicle is easier than when multiple optics are required, particularly considering the need for coinciding beams emitted by said multiple optics.
• Coincident beams can be understood as beams that overlap to illuminate areas that coincide with each other.
• One advantage of this arrangement is that it helps to produce a more intense low beam, thereby improving the visibility conditions for the driver, without the burden of arranging multiple optics and orienting each of them individually.
• Another object of the invention is a vehicle headlamp comprising an optics or a module as a lighting device intended to be mounted on the front of a vehicle to illuminate the road ahead.
• the optics is made of a single piece 1 of transparent polymer, obtained by injection moulding.
• Piece 1 is integral.
• An alternative embodiment (not shown) would be to have the optics made of several parts that are assembled together by gluing, melting or a holder.
• Piece 1 has a surface comprising several portions that will be described individually. Each portion performs an optical function. Accordingly, each portion of the surface of the piece constitutes a functional optical element. In the present description, each portion of the surface considered is named after the corresponding functional optical element.
• Piece 1 has a front face and a rear face, opposite the front face.
• piece 1 On the rear face, piece 1 comprises an entrance hole 2 extended by an entrance passage 3. Entrance passage 3 is delimited by a side wall 4. It will be understood can the term “entrance” here means that light enters the optics through entrance hole 2.
• a light source, not shown in Fig. 1 is to be placed at entrance hole 2.
• piece 1 is shaped so as to form three different surface portions: an inner primary optics surface 5, an inner shutter surface 6, and an inner terminal surface 10.
• Inner primary optics surface 5 is best shown in Fig. 5 . It should be understood that Fig. 5 shows the shapes from within the polymer. As illustrated by the cross section of Fig. 4 , the air surrounding piece 1 enters entrance passage 3. Accordingly, as seen from inside the polymer in Fig. 5 , surface portions are located at the interface between the polymer and the air.
• Inner primary optics surface 5 performs a primary optics function for light rays coming from entrance hole 2 through entrance passage 3 and entering the polymer piece via surface 5.
• inner shutter surface 6 Downstream of inner primary optics surface 5, inner shutter surface 6 extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of entrance passage 3.
• the optical function performed by inner shutter surface 6 is to prevent light rays exiting inner primary optics surface 5 from reaching a prohibited area above a height in front of the vehicle, as required by the regulation.
• ECE European Commission for Europe
• the light rays are limited horizontally by an edge 7 which terminates inner shutter surface 6. Edge 7 creates a horizontal cut-off of the low beam.
• Edge 7 consists of two parts 7a and 7c and a step 7b, which form a "kink".
• a "kink” refers to a change in the angle of the low beam pattern, which helps to improve visibility and safety during night-time driving, by creating a difference in height between the right and left parts of the low beam.
• inner shutter surface 6 and edge 7 are constituting an ECE shutter.
• the surface of piece 3 Surrounding the entrance passage 3, the surface of piece 3 comprises an outer curved collimator surface 8.
• the exact shape of surface 8, as well as the exact shape of surface 5, can be determined by the skilled person using general knowledge in the field of vehicle lighting, including official standards, taking into account the other parts of the optics.
• an outer imaging lens surface 9 is located opposite the entrance hole 2. Said imaging lens surface 9 is intended to focus the light rays coming from inner primary optics surface 5 and inner shutter surface 6 as a first beam concentrated in front of the optics. This will be explained with reference to Fig. 16 .
• inner primary optics surface 5, inner shutter surface 6 and imaging lens surface 9 are arranged relative to each other so that light rays entering entrance hole 2 and passing through inner primary optics surface 5 can exit the optics through imaging lens surface 9.
• these rays exit the optics only through imaging lens surface 9.
• some residual light may exit though other passages without the embodiment falling outside the scope of the invention, as long as the amount of such light is limited to an order of magnitude much smaller than the light exiting the optics through imaging lens surface 9.
• Said inner terminal surface 10 is configured so that light rays entering entrance hole 2 and passing through inner terminal surface 10 cannot exit the optics through imaging lens surface 9.
• “cannot” means “as less as possible”.
• This configuration may be a tilted surface which prevents that too much light from below inner shutter surface 6 passes through imaging lens surface 9.
• faceted surfaces 11 surround imaging lens surface 9. These faceted surfaces 11 are intended to emit rays forming a second beam in front of the optics. This will be explained with reference to Fig. 16 .
• a rib 12 is formed on the surface of piece 3. This rib forms a flange which provides a means for mounting the optics in a headlamp housing.
• LED light emitting diode
• Fig. 8 two light rays (represented by dotted lines) can be seen, coming directly from LED 13 to inner primary optics surface 5. One of them propagates in the transparent polymer directly to outer imaging lens surface 9. The other one hits inner shutter surface 6 and is reflected, preferably by total internal reflection, towards outer imaging lens surface 9.
• the cut-off provided by shutter edge 7 the light is prevented from illuminating beyond a boundary 18 in Fig. 16 .
• the focussing provided by outer imaging lens surface 9 produces a focussed beam in the region bounded by a rectangle 16 in Fig. 16 .
• Fig. 9 two further light rays (dashed lines) coming from LED 13 reach side wall 4 and enter the transparent polymer, in which they propagate to outer curved collimator surface 8.
• Surface 8 reflects the light rays, preferably by total internal reflection, towards faceted surfaces 11, thus creating a second beam in the area 17 in Fig. 16 , around the first beam area 16.
• the light from both light beams partially overlap to create a homogenous appearance.
• FIG. 10 A third type of light ray is shown in Fig. 10 .
• the light comes from LED 13 and reaches inner terminal surface 10 at the end of entrance passage 2.
• This ray has not been subjected to the inner primary optics and is a parasitic light ray with respect to outer imaging lens 9.
• Inner terminal surface 10 is inclined and/or surface treated so as to prevent the light ray from reaching outer imaging lens 9. Instead, the light ray is directed onto faceted surfaces 11, thereby increasing the illumination of area 17, rather than being wasted in the optics.
• Fig. 12 shows an alternative embodiment of the inner terminal surface.
• Inner terminal surface 10' is tilted differently from inner terminal surface 10, as also shown in Fig. 13 .
• Fig. 14 shows the tilting and/or a surface treatment of inner terminal surface 10', which directs the light ray towards outer faceted surfaces 11.
• the resulting beam is the same as shown in Fig. 16 .
• a module 21 is shown, made from one piece of solid transparent material with a mounting rib 22 holding together three parts 21' stacked vertically with an air gap 23 between pairs of them.
• Each part 21' is an equivalent of one piece 1' of Figs. 12-15 .
• Each part 21' has a set of surface portions comprising all the surface portions 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11 of the piece 1' described in reference to Figs. 1-15 .
• the operation of the module gives rise to three beams (not shown), each emitted by a part 21.
• the total light beam is the sum of the beams from the three parts.
• module 21 The main advantages of module 21 are:
• the module 24 is even more compact, since no air gap isolates the three parts 24' corresponding to pieces 1'.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Microelectronics & Electronic Packaging (AREA)
• Optics & Photonics (AREA)
• Non-Portable Lighting Devices Or Systems Thereof (AREA)

Priority Applications (1)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=91469997

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (1)

Citations (5)

• 2024
  • 2024-06-07 EP EP24180946.6A patent/EP4660521A1/fr active Pending

Patent Citations (5)

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