Light guiding element for an illumination unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10274151-B2
Application number	US-201415123480-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 10, 2014
Priority date	Mar 4, 2014
Publication date	Apr 30, 2019
Grant date	Apr 30, 2019

Abstract

A light-guiding element (1) for a lighting unit, comprising a light-guiding body (5) having at least one light entry face (2) and at least one light exit face (3), wherein the at least one light entry face (2) comprises a plurality of entry sub-faces (2a) offset from one another at least in the light propagation direction (−x), wherein the entry sub-faces (2a) are oriented substantially normal to the light propagation direction (−x).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A lighting unit, in particular a motor vehicle headlight, comprising:
at least one light-guiding element ( 1 ) for the lighting unit; and
at least one light-coupling-in element formed as a light rod ( 4 ),
wherein:
the light-guiding element ( 1 ) comprises a light-guiding body ( 5 ) having at least one light entry face ( 2 ) and at least one light exit face ( 3 ),
the at least one light entry face ( 2 ) comprises a plurality of entry sub-faces ( 2 a ) offset from one another at least in the light propagation direction (−x),
the entry sub-faces ( 2 a ) are oriented substantially normal to the light propagation direction (−x), wherein adjacent entry sub-faces ( 2 a ) border one another,
the entry sub-faces ( 2 a ) bordering one another are offset from one another by means of wall faces ( 6 ) oriented parallel to the light propagation direction (−x), and
the light rod ( 4 ) is arranged in front of the light entry sub-face ( 2 ).

2. The lighting unit of claim 1 , wherein adjacent entry sub-faces ( 2 a ) are offset from one another in the light propagation direction (−x).

3. The lighting unit of claim 1 , wherein the at least one light exit face ( 3 ) comprises a plurality of exit sub-faces ( 3 a ) offset from one another at least in the light propagation direction (−x), wherein the exit sub-faces ( 3 a ) are oriented substantially normal to the light propagation direction (−x).

4. The lighting unit of claim 3 , wherein adjacent exit sub-faces ( 3 a ) border one another.

5. The lighting unit of claim 3 , wherein adjacent exit sub-faces ( 3 a ) are offset from one another in the light propagation direction (−x).

6. The lighting unit of claim 3 , wherein entry sub-faces ( 2 a ) bordering one another are offset from one another by means of wall faces ( 6 ) oriented parallel to the light propagation direction (−x).

7. The lighting unit of claim 3 , wherein the exit sub-faces ( 3 a ) are oriented substantially parallel to the entry sub-faces ( 2 a ).

8. The lighting unit of claim 3 , wherein the exit sub-faces ( 3 a ) have an extension in the horizontal direction of at most 2.5 mm.

9. The lighting unit of claim 8 , wherein the extension in the horizontal direction is between 1 mm and 2.5 mm.

10. The lighting unit of claim 3 , wherein the exit sub-faces ( 3 a ) have an extension in the vertical direction of at most 2.5 mm.

11. The lighting unit of claim 10 , wherein the extension in the vertical direction is between 1 mm and 2.5 mm.

12. The lighting unit of claim 1 , wherein individual wall faces ( 6 ) are oriented substantially horizontally.

13. The lighting unit of claim 1 , wherein individual wall faces ( 6 ) are oriented substantially vertically.

14. The lighting unit of claim 1 , wherein individual wall faces ( 6 ) are oriented substantially normal to a normal projection of a carrier curve (C), wherein the normal projection of the carrier curve (C) extends in a plane oriented at right angles with respect to the light propagation direction (−x).

15. The lighting unit of claim 1 , wherein a cube-shaped structure is formed by the wall faces ( 6 ).

16. The lighting unit of claim 1 , wherein the edges formed at the transition of the wall face ( 6 ) to the entry and/or exit sub-face ( 2 a, 3 a ) are rounded, wherein the rounded portion has a radius between 0.05 and 0.3 mm.

17. The lighting unit of claim 16 , wherein the rounded portion has a radius of 0.15 mm.

18. The lighting unit of claim 1 , wherein the entry sub-faces ( 2 a ) have an extension in the horizontal direction of at most 2.5 mm.

19. The lighting unit of claim 18 , wherein the extension in the horizontal direction is between 1 mm and 2.5 mm.

20. The lighting unit of claim 1 , wherein the entry sub-faces ( 2 a ) have an extension in the vertical direction of at most 2.5 mm.

21. The lighting unit of claim 20 , wherein the extension in the vertical direction is between 1 mm and 2.5 mm.

22. The lighting unit of claim 1 , wherein the light body ( 5 ) is formed as a solid body.

23. The lighting unit of claim 1 , wherein the light body ( 5 ) consists of polycarbonate and/or poly methyl methacrylate.

24. A motor vehicle comprising at least one lighting unit of claim 1 .

Assignees

• Zizala Lichtsysteme Gmbh
• Zkw Group Gmbh

Inventors

• Faffelberger Anton
• Eichinger Bernd

Classifications

• F21S43/50

  characterised by aesthetic components not otherwise provided for, e.g. decorative trim, partition walls or covers · CPC title

• G02B6/0088 Primary

  of the light guide or other optical sheets in the package · CPC title

• F21S43/245

  emitting light from one or more of its major surfaces · CPC title

• F21S41/24 Primary

  Light guides · CPC title

• F21S43/14

  Light emitting diodes [LED] · CPC title