LED projection module

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9611997-B2
Application number	US-201214359399-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 5, 2012
Priority date	Nov 22, 2011
Publication date	Apr 4, 2017
Grant date	Apr 4, 2017

Abstract

An LED projection module ( 1 ) includes two or more LED light sources which each consist of one or more light-emitting diodes that couple light via a light coupling-in point associated therewith into an optical waveguide. Light exits from the optical waveguides via a light decoupling point. The exiting light is projected by a projection lens to form at least one light distribution. The optical waveguides for the individual LED light sources are arranged laterally side by side in a horizontal plane and border one another directly such that light can pass over between adjacent optical waveguides. The individual light outlet surfaces are arranged side by side and form a total-light light outlet surface. One or more indentations are provided in the total-light light outlet surface, between the individual light outlet surfaces, and in each case extend at least over part of the vertical extension of the total-light light outlet surface.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An LED projection module ( 1 ), comprising:
two or more LED light sources ( 2 , 3 , 4 ), wherein each LED light source ( 2 , 3 , 4 ) consists of one or more light-emitting diodes,
wherein each LED light source ( 2 , 3 , 4 ) couples light via a light coupling-in point ( 21 , 31 , 41 ) associated therewith into an optical waveguide ( 20 , 30 , 40 ), and wherein light exits from the optical waveguides ( 20 , 30 , 40 ) via a light decoupling point ( 22 , 32 , 42 ) of the optical waveguide ( 20 , 30 , 40 ), and wherein the exiting light is projected by means of a projection lens ( 90 ) into the outside space so as to form at least one light distribution,
wherein the optical waveguides ( 20 , 30 , 40 ) for the individual LED light sources ( 2 , 3 , 4 ) are arranged laterally side by side in a horizontal plane and border one another directly or form a common total-light optical waveguide ( 100 ), such that light can pass over between adjacent optical waveguides ( 20 , 30 , 40 ), and wherein the individual light outlet surfaces ( 22 , 32 , 42 ) are arranged side by side and form a total-light light outlet surface ( 110 ), and wherein one or more indentations ( 201 , 202 ) are provided in the total-light light outlet surface ( 110 ), between the individual light outlet surfaces ( 22 , 32 , 42 ), and in each case extend at least over part of the vertical extension of the total-light light outlet surface ( 110 ) and provide total reflection for the light impinging the one or more indentations.

2. The module according to claim 1 , wherein a central optical waveguide group comprising at least one optical waveguide ( 40 ) is provided, and a left and right optical waveguide group are provided to the left and to the right of the central optical waveguide group respectively, wherein the left and/or the right optical waveguide group in each case comprises at least one optical waveguide ( 20 , 30 ) with associated LED light source ( 2 , 3 ).

3. The module according to claim 2 , characterised in that the central optical waveguide group comprises exactly one optical waveguide ( 40 ).

4. The module according to claim 2 , wherein the left and/or the right optical waveguide group in each case comprises exactly one optical waveguide ( 20 , 30 ).

5. The module according to claim 2 , wherein the light of the at least one LED light source ( 4 ) of the central optical waveguide ( 40 ) of the central optical waveguide group is directed from the central optical waveguide ( 40 ) substantially parallel to the optical axis of the module.

6. The module according to claim 5 , wherein the light of the at least one LED light source ( 4 ) of the central optical waveguide ( 40 ) is directed from the light inlet surface ( 41 ) of the central optical waveguide ( 40 ).

7. The module according to claim 2 , wherein the at least one LED light source ( 2 , 3 ) of a side optical waveguide group feeds light at an angle not equal to 0° , directed to the optical axis of the module, into the associated optical waveguide ( 20 , 30 ).

8. The module according to claim 2 , wherein at least one indentation ( 201 , 202 ) extends away from the light outlet surface, in such a way that light from the right and/or left optical waveguide group ( 20 , 30 ) cannot enter the other left and/or right optical waveguide group ( 30 , 20 ).

9. The module according to claim 2 , wherein at least one indentation ( 201 , 202 ) is designed away from the light outlet surface, in such a way that light from the central optical waveguide group or from the at least one central optical waveguide ( 40 ) cannot enter the left or right optical waveguide group or the at least one left or at least one right optical waveguide ( 20 , 30 ).

10. The module according to claim 1 , wherein at least one indentation ( 201 , 202 ) between two light outlet surfaces ( 32 , 42 ; 22 , 42 ) extends upwardly away from the lower delimiting surfaces of the optical waveguides ( 20 , 30 , 40 ) arranged side by side or the lower delimiting surface ( 130 ) of the total-light optical waveguide ( 100 ).

11. The module according to claim 1 , wherein the indentation ( 201 , 202 ) between two light outlet surfaces ( 32 , 42 ; 22 , 42 ):
does not extend completely as far as the upper delimiting surfaces of the optical waveguides ( 20 , 30 , 40 ) arranged side by side or as far as the upper delimiting surface ( 120 ) of the total-light optical waveguide ( 100 ), such that a continuous edge ( 121 ) is produced in the upper region of the optical waveguides arranged side by side or of the total-light optical waveguide ( 100 ), or
extends completely as far as the upper delimiting surfaces of the optical waveguides ( 20 , 30 , 40 ) arranged side by side or as far as the upper delimiting surface ( 120 ) of the total-light optical waveguide ( 100 ).

12. The module according to claim 1 , wherein at least one indentation ( 201 , 202 ) in a front region has a defined width and tapers rearwardly, in a manner directed away from the light outlet surfaces ( 22 , 32 , 42 ; 110 ).

13. The module according to claim 12 , wherein the defined width of the at least one indentation ( 201 , 202 ) is constant over the entire height of the at least one indentation ( 201 , 202 ).

14. The module according to claim 12 , wherein the at least one indentation ( 201 , 202 ) has delimiting walls ( 201 ′, 201 ″; 202 ′, 202 ″), which run towards one another.

15. The module according to claim 14 , wherein the delimiting walls ( 201 ′, 201 ″; 202 ′, 202 ″) converge at an acute angle ( 201 ′″, 202 ′″).

16. The module according to claim 14 , wherein the inner wall ( 201 ″, 202 ″) of an indentation ( 201 , 202 ) is configured in a planar manner.

17. The module according to claim 16 , wherein the inner wall ( 201 ″, 202 ″) of the indentation ( 201 , 202 ) is configured as a vertical plane.

18. The module according to claim 14 wherein the outer wall ( 201 ′, 202 ′) of an indentation ( 201 , 202 ) is curved.

19. The module according to claim 18 , wherein the outer wall ( 201 ′, 202 ′) of the indentation ( 201 , 202 ) is curved away from the inner wall ( 201 ″, 202 ″).

20. The module according to claim 1 , wherein the total optical waveguide ( 100 ) is configured on the rear side thereof facing away from the light decoupling surface ( 22 , 32 , 42 ) in such a way that light rays from one outer light source ( 2 , 3 ) cannot exit through a light decoupling surface ( 32 , 22 ) associated with another outer LED light source ( 3 , 2 ).

21. The module according to claim 20 , further comprising rear-side indentations ( 70 ) which block light from the outer LED light sources ( 2 , 3 ) which would otherwise pass into the optical waveguide ( 30 , 20 ) associated with another outer LED light source ( 3 , 2 ).

22. The module according to claim 1 , wherein a main beam distribution or a partial main beam distribution can be produced by means of the optical waveguides or by means of the total-light optical waveguide.

23. The module according to claim 1 , wherein at least one LED light source ( 5 , 6 ) is arranged above the optical waveguides ( 20 , 30 , 40 ) or the total-light optical waveguide ( 100 ) and emits light onto at least one optics, and wherein the light emitted from the at least one optics is radiated into a lower region of the projection lens ( 90 ), and wherein the upper edge ( 121 ), which delimits the total-light

Assignees

• Zizala Lichtsysteme Gmbh
• Zkw Group Gmbh

Inventors

• Bauer Friedrich
• Moser Andreas

Classifications

• B60Q1/1423

  Automatic dimming circuits, i.e. switching between high beam and low beam due to change of ambient light or light level in road traffic · CPC title

• F21S41/43

  characterised by the shape thereof · CPC title

• B60Q2300/41

  preceding vehicle · CPC title

• F21S41/24

  Light guides · CPC title

• B60Q1/085

  due to special conditions, e.g. adverse weather, type of road, badly illuminated road signs or potential dangers (B60Q1/10, B60Q1/12, B60Q1/1423 take precedence) · CPC title