Illuminating device with adjustment of the optical components

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10001254-B2
Application number	US-201615573590-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 6, 2016
Priority date	May 13, 2015
Publication date	Jun 19, 2018
Grant date	Jun 19, 2018

Abstract

In an illuminating device (A), in particular for a motor vehicle, light emitted by an area light source (K) is projected as distributed light by an optical arrangement (E). The optical arrangement (E) comprises at least a first and a second optical component (L 1 , L 2 ) axially one after the other, as seen along a longitudinal axis (x). In order to adjust the position thereof in the axial direction, an adjusting device (C) is provided for the optical components (L 1 , L 2 ), said device having a first adjusting ring (G 1 ), which can be rotated about the longitudinal axis (x) and is connected to an extension piece (J 1 ) via a transmission connection, which converts rotation of the first adjusting ring (G 1 ) in relation to the extension piece (J 1 ) into axial displacement. A holder (H 1 ) of the first optical component (L 1 ), with the aid of a spring arrangement (I 1 ), is retained axially in relation to the first adjusting ring (G 1 ) and can be adjusted axially in relation to the extension piece (J 1 ), whereas the second optical component (L 2 ) is retained in a holder (H 2 ) which is secured axially to the extension piece (J 1 ), for example is integral therewith.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An illuminating device (A) for a motor vehicle, the device comprising:
at least one area light source (K);
an optical arrangement (E) configured to project light (B 2 ) emitted from the at least one area light source (K) in the form of at least one light distribution (N), wherein the optical arrangement (E), in axial succession with regard to a longitudinal axis, comprises a first optical component (L 1 ) and a second optical component (L 2 ), the positions of which are axially adjustable; and
an adjusting device (C) configured to adjust the first and second optical components (L 1 , L 2 ), the adjusting device comprising a first adjusting ring (G 1 ), which is configured to be rotated about the longitudinal axis (x) and is connected to an extension piece (J 1 ) via a transmission connection which converts the rotation of the first adjusting ring (G 1 ) in relation to the extension piece (J 1 ) into axial displacement,
wherein a holder (H 1 ) of the first optical component (L 1 ), with the aid of a spring arrangement (I 1 ), is retained axially to the first adjusting ring (G 1 ) and is configured to be adjusted axially in relation to the extension piece (J 1 ), and
wherein the second optical component (L 2 ) is retained in a holder (H 2 ) which is secured axially to the extension piece (J 1 ).

2. The illuminating device (A) according to claim 1 , wherein the adjusting device further includes a second adjusting ring (G 2 ), which is configured to be rotated about the longitudinal axis (x) and is connected to a supporting component (J 2 ) via the transmission connection, which converts rotation of the second adjusting ring (G 2 ) in relation to the supporting component (J 2 ) into a displacement in axial direction, and the holder (H 2 ) of the second optical component (L 2 ), with the aid of a spring arrangement ( 12 ), is retained to the second adjusting ring (G 2 ) and is configured to be adjusted axially in relation to the supporting component (J 2 ).

3. The illuminating device (A) according to claim 2 , wherein the second adjusting ring (G 2 ) has a thread, which engages a mating thread of the supporting component (J 2 ), and the second adjusting ring (G 2 ) has a stop surface (F 2 ) against which the holder (H 2 ) of the second optical component (L 2 ) is axially mounted.

4. The illuminating device (A) according to claim 3 , wherein the thread of the second adjusting ring (G 2 ) is an internal thread and the stop surface of the second adjusting ring (G 2 ) is designed as an annular end face.

5. The illuminating device (A) according to claim 2 , wherein the supporting component (J 2 ) surrounds the first adjusting ring (G 1 ) in a sleeve-like manner and comprises at least one window (O), through which the adjusting ring (G 1 ) is configured to be accessed from outside the device.

6. The illuminating device (A) according to claim 1 , wherein the first adjusting ring (G 1 ) comprises a thread, which engages a mating thread of the extension piece (J 1 ), and the first adjusting ring (G 1 ) has a stop surface (F 1 ) against which the holder (H 1 ) of the first optical component (L 1 ) is axially mounted.

7. The illuminating device (A) according to claim 6 , wherein the thread of the first adjusting ring (G 1 ) is an internal thread, and the stop surface of the first adjusting ring (G 1 ) is designed as an annular end face.

8. The illuminating device (A) according to claim 1 , wherein the holder (H 2 ) of the second optical component (L 2 ) is integral with the extension piece (J 1 ).

9. The illuminating device (A) according to claim 1 , wherein the holder (H 2 ) of the second optical component (L 2 ) is connected to the extension piece (J 1 ) by means of a rotating coupling which prevents at least a relative movement between said holder (H 2 ) and the extension piece (J 1 ) along the longitudinal axis (x).

10. The illuminating device (A) according to claim 1 , wherein the holder (H 2 ) of the second optical component (L 2 ) and/or the extension piece (J 1 ) surrounds, in a sleeve-like manner, a space of the light distribution between the two optical components (L 1 , L 2 ).

11. The illuminating device (A) according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the optical components (L 1 , L 2 ) are designed as optical lenses.

12. The illuminating device (A) according to claim 11 , wherein all of the optical components (L 1 , L 2 ) are designed as optical lenses.

13. The illuminating device (A) according to claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one laser light source (D) for generating laser excitation light (B 1 ), and
at least one beam redirecting device (M) which is designed to direct laser excitation light (B 1 ) generated by the at least one laser light source (D) to the at least one area light source (K);
wherein the at least one area light source (K) is designed as a conversion element which, when irradiated with laser excitation light (B 1 ), emits light in the direction to the optical arrangement (E).

14. The illuminating device (A) according to claim 13 , wherein the conversion element, when irradiated with laser excitation light (B 1 ), emits light in the visible wavelength range.

15. A motor vehicle headlight having one or more illuminating devices (A) according to claim 1 .

Assignees

• Zkw Group Gmbh

Inventors

• Mayer Matthias

Classifications

• G02B7/023

  permitting adjustment · CPC title

• F21S41/176 Primary

  Light sources where the light is generated by photoluminescent material spaced from a primary light generating element · CPC title

• F21S41/635 Primary

  by moving refractors, filters or transparent cover plates · CPC title

• F21S41/16

  Laser light sources · CPC title

• F21S41/39

  Attachment thereof (achieving variable light distribution by movable reflectors F21S41/675) · CPC title