DE102023002135A1 - Lighting device and vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a lighting device (2). According to the invention, the lighting device (2) has a plurality of surface light guides (F1 to F4), each surface light guide (F1 to F4) being coupled to at least one of its own feed-in light sources (L1 to L3), and wherein the surface light guides (F1 to F4) are covered with a common mask (3) which is at least partially translucent. The invention further relates to a vehicle (1) with at least one lighting device (2).

Description

The invention relates to a lighting device according to the features of the preamble of claim 1 and a vehicle.

From the prior art, as in the US 10,400,978 B2 described, a photoluminescent lighting device for vehicles is known. A vehicle taillight includes an at least partially light-transmissive layer and at least one light-generating layer configured to substantially cover a portion of the light-transmissive layer. The light generating layer includes a plurality of electrodes and a plurality of LEDs in a semiconductor ink disposed between the electrodes. The light-generating layer is capable of emitting excitation emission. The backlight further includes at least one photoluminescent layer proximate at least one of the electrodes configured to convert the excitation emission into an output emission.

The invention is based on the object of specifying a lighting device that is improved over the prior art and a vehicle that is improved over the prior art.

The object is achieved according to the invention by a lighting device with the features of claim 1 and a vehicle with the features of claim 9.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the subclaims.

A lighting device according to the invention has a plurality of surface light guides, each surface light guide being coupled to at least one of its own feed light source. This coupling is designed in such a way that light emitted by the feed light source is coupled into the surface light guide. The respective surface light guide can also be coupled to several feed light sources.

The surface light guides are covered with a common mask that is at least partially translucent. The mask is also called a visor or cover. In particular, it forms an outside of the lighting device, which faces an external environment into which light from the lighting device is emitted when the respective feed-in light source is active.

The surface light guides each have at least one section with a light decoupling structure. The light decoupling structures are arranged next to one another in particular in a plane, in particular next to one another in the longitudinal direction and/or transverse direction of this plane. The plane can be a straight or curved plane. In particular, these light decoupling structures of the surface light guides are covered with the common mask. It is in particular provided that the respective surface light guide has the light decoupling structure only in the direction of the mask, i.e. H. in particular only on a front side facing the mask, in particular not on a back side facing away from the mask.

If the respective feed-in light source is active, the section of the mask which covers the at least one light decoupling structure of the surface light guide with this active feed-in light source is illuminated in accordance with its translucency by the light that is emitted by the active feed-in light source, is coupled into the surface light guide and via it at least a light decoupling structure is emitted.

In particular, it is provided that at least one graphic structure or several graphic structures is/are introduced into the mask. For example, the at least one graphic structure introduced into the mask or the graphic structures introduced into the mask are each opaque or each have a different degree of translucency than sections of the mask surrounding the respective graphic structure.

It is in particular provided that the feed light source of at least one of the surface light guides emits light with a different light color than the feed light source of at least one other of the surface light guides. It can therefore be provided that one or more surface light guides emit/emit light with a different light color than one or more of the other surface light guides. The mask and in particular the graphic structure or the graphic structures are thus illuminated with different colors of light or can be illuminated with different colors of light, depending on which feed-in light source or sources of feed-in light is/are active.

The feed-in light sources are, for example, each designed as an LED (light-emitting diode), for example as an RGB(w) LED. Differently designed feed light sources can also be provided.

Since the mask can advantageously be illuminated in sections with different colors of light or is illuminated when the corresponding feed light sources are active, it is in particular provided that the mask is designed in one color, at least outside the graphic structure or the graphic structures, for example white or transparent or translucent with a high degree of translucency.

In particular, it is provided that the respective surface light guide is decoupled from the other surface light guides with regard to the light coupling, i.e. H. There is no light transmission from the respective surface light guide to the other surface light guides. In order to ensure this in particular, in one possible embodiment it can be provided, for example, that the respective surface light guide or at least one of the surface light guides has at least one section with a geometry for total reflection within the surface light guide. This avoids, in particular, coupling out of light at a location not intended for this purpose and, for example, the risk of this light being coupled into another of the surface light guides. For example, all or more, but not all, or only one of the surface light guides of the lighting device can have at least one section with a geometry for total reflection within the surface light guide. If this risk of light being coupled out at a location not provided in front of it does not exist, it can also be provided that the surface light guide in question does not have this at least one section with a geometry for total reflection within the surface light guide, but rather, for example, only the at least one section with the light decoupling structure .

Alternatively or additionally, in order to ensure this decoupling of the respective surface light guide with regard to the light coupling from the other surface light guides, it can be provided, for example, that the respective surface light guide or at least one of the surface light guides has at least one structure-free section, i.e. H. in particular at least one section without a light decoupling structure. This makes it possible in particular to forward the light within the surface light guide up to its light decoupling structure and a previous light extraction from the surface light guide, i.e. H. in front of the light decoupling structure is avoided. In this way, it is possible, for example, to arrange several surface light guides one behind the other in areas and thereby guide the light from one surface light guide past the other surface light guide without coupling it into the other surface light guide. For example, all or more, but not all, or only one of the surface light guides of the lighting device can have this at least one structure-free section. If this risk of light being coupled out at a location not provided in front of it does not exist, it can therefore also be provided that the surface light guide in question does not have this at least one structure-free section, but rather, for example, only the at least one section with the light decoupling structure.

In comparison to already known OLEDS or liquid crystal displays, the solution described has the particular advantage of significantly lower electronic requirements, i.e. H. Significantly fewer electronic components are required. The structure and wiring of the lighting device described are much simpler. In addition, the lifespan of surface light guides, also known as light guide plates, is significantly longer than the lifespan of OLEDS and liquid crystal displays.

With the solution described, the mask can be illuminated in a simple and cost-effective manner and with a long service life, in particular with different colors of light in different sections, in particular at the same time. For example, the different sections of the mask can, alternatively or additionally, be illuminated with different light intensities. This is dependent, for example, on a design of the surface light guides and/or the feed-in light sources and/or on a control and/or regulation of the feed-in light sources and/or on a number of the feed-in light sources assigned to the respective surface light guide. As an alternative to the simultaneous fluoroscopy of the sections of the mask, for example, only one or more, but not all, sections of the mask can be irradiated by activating or deactivating the corresponding feed light sources. For example, the fluoroscopy of the mask can also be animated by appropriate control and/or regulation of the feed-in light sources.

The solution described thus enables, in a simple and cost-effective manner, a high number of degrees of freedom with regard to the lighting design of the mask, a differentiation of an appearance, a variety of control options, many customization options, staging options and surprise effects and also, for example, an update capability, since new functions only require an adjustment the control and/or regulation of the feed-in light sources is required, for example through a software update. The lighting device described is therefore particularly suitable for a vehicle. Here, the degrees of freedom with regard to the lighting design of the mask, the differentiation of the appearance, the variety of control options, the many customization options, staging options and surprise effects and the ability to update, in particular to increase the Customer satisfaction, to individualize the vehicle and to differentiate it from other vehicle manufacturers can be used advantageously. The lighting device described can be used, for example, as part of a welcome/leaving home staging, that is, for example, to greet and say goodbye to a vehicle user.

A vehicle according to the invention has at least one such lighting device. For example, this lighting device is a side marker light of the vehicle. This solution results in particular in the advantages already mentioned above.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to drawings.

• 1 schematisch ein Fahrzeug mit einer Leuchtvorrichtung in einer Draufsicht auf eine Außenseite des Fahrzeugs und der Leuchtvorrichtung,
• 2 schematisch eine perspektivische Darstellung der entlang einer Schnittebene geschnittenen Leuchtvorrichtung, und
• 3 schematisch eine perspektivische Darstellung der entlang einer weiteren Schnittebene geschnittenen Leuchtvorrichtung.

Show:

• 1 schematically a vehicle with a lighting device in a top view of an outside of the vehicle and the lighting device,
• 2 schematically a perspective view of the lighting device cut along a cutting plane, and
• 3 schematically a perspective view of the lighting device cut along a further cutting plane.

Corresponding parts are provided with the same reference numbers in all figures.

1 shows a schematic representation of a vehicle 1 with a lighting device 2 in a top view of an outside of the vehicle 1 and the lighting device 2. For reasons of clarity, only a section of the vehicle 1 is shown in the area of the lighting device 2. The lighting device 2 is, for example, a side marker light of the vehicle 1.

The 2 and 3 each show a perspective view of the lighting device 2 cut along two different cutting planes.

The lighting device 2 has several, four in the example shown, surface light guides F1 to F4, each surface light guide F1 to F4 being coupled to its own feed light source L1 to L3. The feed light source coupled to the fourth surface light guide F4 is in the 1 to 3 not visible. The coupling is designed in such a way that light emitted by the feed light source is coupled into the respective surface light guide F1 to F4.

The surface light guides F1 to F4 are covered with a common mask 3, which is at least partially translucent. In the example shown, the mask 3 has a translucent, ie transparent, section TA in the area of the surface light guides F1 to F4, in particular in the area of light decoupling structures A1 to A4, and outside of it an opaque, ie opaque, section OA. The opaque section OA is realized, for example, by an opaque partial coating of the mask 3, which is itself translucent. The mask 3 is also referred to as a diaphragm or cover. It forms an outside of the lighting device 2, which faces an external environment of the vehicle 1, into which light from the lighting device 2 is emitted when the respective feed light source L1 to L3 is active. Since the surface light guides F1 to F4, in particular their light decoupling structures A1 to A4, are arranged under the mask 3 and covered by it, they are in 1 only shown in dashed lines to clarify their respective positions behind the mask 3.

The surface light guides F1 to F4 each have at least one section with the already mentioned light decoupling structure A1 to A4. The light decoupling structures A1 to A4 are arranged next to one another in a plane, in particular next to one another in the longitudinal direction and/or transverse direction of this plane. In particular, these light decoupling structures A1 to A4 of the surface light guides F1 to F4 are covered with the common mask 3. In the 2 and 3 the relevant light decoupling structures A1 to A4 are shown cut in accordance with the respective sectional plane. Starting from the cutting plane, they extend along a back side of the mask 3.

Graphical structures 4 are introduced into the mask 3. These graphic structures 4 introduced into the mask 3 are, for example, each opaque or each have a different degree of translucency than the sections of the mask 3 surrounding the respective graphic structure 4.

The feed light sources L1 to L3 are each designed as an LED, for example as an RGB(w) LED. In particular, it is provided that the feed light sources L1 to L3 emit light with different light colors when they are active. For example, the feed light source L1 coupled to the first surface light guide F1 emits orange light, the feed light source L2 coupled to the second surface light guide F2, for example, emits pink light and the feed light source L3 coupled to the third surface light guide F3 and the feed light source, not shown, coupled to the fourth surface light guide F4 For example, emit yellow light. The Mask 3 and in particular the graphic structures 4 are thus illuminated with different colors of light or can be illuminated with different colors of light, depending on which feed light source L1 to L3 or feed light sources L1 to L3 is/are active.

The light from the respective feed light source L1 to L3 is coupled into the surface light guide F1 to F4 to which it is coupled, passed through it to its light output structure A1 to A4 and coupled out there. The respective surface light guide F1 to F4 thus emits light with the color of the feed light source L1 to L3 coupled to it via its light decoupling structure A1 to A4.

If the respective feed-in light source L1 to L3 is active, the section of the mask 3, which covers the light decoupling structure A1 to A4 of the surface light guide F1 to F4 with this active feed-in light source L1 to L3, is illuminated according to its translucency by the light coming from the active feed-in light source L1 to L3 is emitted, is coupled into the surface light guide F1 to F4 and is emitted via its light decoupling structure A1 to A4.

Since the mask 3 can be illuminated in sections with different colors of light or is illuminated when the corresponding feed light sources L1 to L3 are active, it is in particular provided that the mask 3 is designed in one color, at least outside the graphic structures 4, for example white or transparent or translucent with a high degree of translucency.

In particular, it is provided that the respective surface light guide F1 to F4 is decoupled from the other surface light guides F1 to F4 with regard to the light coupling, i.e. H. There is no light transmission from the respective surface light guide F1 to F4 into the other surface light guides F1 to F4. In particular, to ensure this, it is provided in the example shown that at least the first surface light guide F1 and the second surface light guide F2 each have a section with a geometry for total reflection 5 within the respective surface light guide F1, F2. In addition, in the example shown, at least the second surface light guide F2, in addition to its light decoupling structure A2, has a structure-free section FA. This makes it possible for the light in this second surface light guide F2 to pass past the first surface light guide F1 up to its light decoupling structure A2, without decoupling the light in the area of the first surface light guide F1. In this way, the risk of the light from the second surface light guide F2 being coupled into the first surface light guide F1 is avoided.

In comparison to already known OLEDS or liquid crystal displays, the solution described has the particular advantage of significantly lower electronic requirements, i.e. H. Significantly fewer electronic components are required. The structure and wiring of the lighting device 2 described are much simpler. In addition, the service life of the surface light guides F1 to F4, also referred to as light guide plates, is significantly longer than the service life of OLEDS and liquid crystal displays.

With the solution described, the mask 3 can be illuminated in a simple and cost-effective manner and with a long service life, in particular with different colors of light in different sections, in particular at the same time. For example, the different sections of the mask 3 can, alternatively or additionally, also be illuminated with different light intensities. As an alternative to the simultaneous fluoroscopy of the sections of the mask 3, for example, only one or more, but not all, sections of the mask 3 can be irradiated.

The solution described thus enables, in a simple and cost-effective manner, a high number of degrees of freedom with regard to the lighting design of the mask 3, a differentiation of an appearance, a variety of control options, many customization options, staging options and surprise effects and also, for example, updateability.

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of documents listed by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• US 10400978 B2 [0002]

Claims (10)

Lighting device (2), characterized by several surface light guides (F1 to F4), each surface light guide (F1 to F4) being coupled to at least one separate feed light source (L1 to L3), and the surface light guides (F1 to F4) having a common mask ( 3) are covered, which is at least partially translucent. Lighting device (2). Claim 1 , characterized in that the feed light source (L1 to L3) of at least one of the surface light guides (F1 to F4) emits light with a different light color than the feed light source (L1 to L3) of at least one other of the surface light guides (F1 to F4). Lighting device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that graphic structures (4) are introduced into the mask (3). Lighting device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the graphic structures (4) introduced into the mask (3) are each opaque or each have a different degree of translucency than sections of the mask (3) surrounding the respective graphic structure (4). ). Lighting device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mask (3) is designed in one color. Lighting device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the feed light sources (L1 to L3) are each designed as LEDs. Lighting device (2). Claim 6 , characterized in that the feed light sources (L1 to L3) are each designed as RGB(w) LEDs. Lighting device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the respective surface light guide (F1 to F4) has at least one section with a geometry for total reflection (5) within the surface light guide (F1 to F4). Vehicle (1), having at least one lighting device (2) according to one of the preceding claims. Vehicle (1) after Claim 9 , characterized in that the lighting device (2) is a side marker light of the vehicle (1).

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