Light guiding element for a laser vehicle headlight

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9677733-B2
Application number	US-201314384243-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 28, 2013
Priority date	Mar 12, 2012
Publication date	Jun 13, 2017
Grant date	Jun 13, 2017

Abstract

The invention relates to a light guiding element ( 1 ) for a laser vehicle headlight ( 2 ), wherein the laser vehicle headlight ( 2 ) comprises at least one laser light source ( 3 ) and at least one luminous element ( 4 ) which can be irradiated by the laser light source ( 3 ) and can thus be excited to emit visible light. The light guiding element ( 1 ) has a first side ( 10 ), which is designed at least partly as a light entrance surface ( 5 ), and a second side ( 20 ) arranged opposite the first side ( 10 ), said second side being designed at least partly as a light exit surface ( 6 ) and being assigned at least one receptacle ( 7 ) for at least one luminous element ( 4 ), wherein the light entrance surface ( 5 ) is assigned at least one first reflection region ( 50 ) which is oriented in the direction of the interior of the light guiding element ( 1 ) and reflects light from the light entrance surface ( 5 ) in the direction of the receptacle ( 7 ) for the luminous element ( 4 ), and wherein the light exit surface ( 6 ) is assigned at least one second reflection region ( 60 ) which is oriented in the direction of the interior of the light guiding element ( 1 ) and reflects light from the luminous element ( 4 ) in the direction of the light exit surface ( 6 ). The invention furthermore relates to a vehicle headlight ( 2 ) comprising at least one light guiding element of this type.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A light guiding element ( 1 ) for a laser vehicle headlight ( 2 ), wherein the laser vehicle headlight ( 2 ) comprises at least one laser light source ( 3 ) and at least one luminous element ( 4 ) which can be irradiated by the laser light source ( 3 ) and can thus be excited to emit visible light, wherein the light guiding element ( 1 ) has
a first side ( 10 ), which is designed at least partly as a light entrance surface ( 5 ), and
a second side ( 20 ) arranged opposite the first side ( 10 ), said second side being designed at least partly as a light exit surface ( 6 ) and being assigned at least one receptacle ( 7 ) for the at least one luminous element ( 4 ),
wherein the light entrance surface ( 5 ) is assigned at least one first reflection region ( 50 ) which is oriented in the direction of the interior of the light guiding element ( 1 ) and reflects light from the light entrance surface ( 5 ) in the direction of the receptacle ( 7 ) for the at least one luminous element ( 4 ), and
wherein the light exit surface ( 6 ) is assigned at least one second reflection region ( 60 ) which is oriented in the direction of the interior of the light guiding element ( 1 ) and reflects light from the luminous element ( 4 ) in the direction of the light exit surface ( 6 ).

2. The light guiding element ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the second reflection region ( 60 ) is arranged predominantly on the side of the light guiding element ( 1 ) facing the laser light source ( 3 ) in the mounted state of the light guiding element ( 1 ).

3. The light guiding element ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the second reflection region ( 60 ) and/or the first reflection region ( 50 ) is/are formed as at least one reflection layer ( 8 , 8 ′) applied to the outer face of the light guiding element ( 1 ).

4. The light guiding element according to claim 3 , wherein the at least one reflection layer is covered by an absorption layer.

5. The light guiding element ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the light guiding element ( 1 ) is formed as a free-form face in the region of the first reflection region ( 50 ) and/or the second reflection region ( 60 ).

6. The light guiding element ( 1 ) according to claim 5 , wherein the first reflection region ( 50 ) and/or the second reflection region ( 60 ) is/are formed with at least one focal point ( 11 ).

7. The light guiding element ( 1 ) according to claim 5 , wherein the second reflection region ( 60 ) has at least one focal point ( 11 ) in the region of the light exit surface ( 6 ).

8. The light guiding element ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the receptacle ( 7 ) for the luminous element ( 4 ) is formed as a blind bore or as a cavity completely surrounded by the light guiding element ( 1 ).

9. The light guiding element ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the outer face of the light guiding element ( 1 ), with the exception of the light entrance surface ( 5 ), the light exit surface ( 6 ) and the reflection regions ( 50 , 60 ), is provided at least in regions with a light-impermeable and/or reflective coating ( 12 ).

10. The light guiding element according to claim 9 , wherein the outer face of the light guiding element is completely covered with the light-impermeable coating and/or reflective coating.

11. The light guiding element ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the second side ( 20 ) is covered at least in regions by a light-impermeable delimitation element ( 13 ).

12. The light guiding element ( 1 ) according to claim 11 , wherein the light-impermeable delimitation element ( 13 ) is arranged in the region of the receptacle ( 7 ) for the at least one luminous element ( 4 ).

13. A vehicle headlight ( 2 ) comprising:
at least one laser light source ( 3 ); and
at least one luminous element ( 4 ) which can be irradiated by the laser light source ( 3 ) and can thus be excited to emit visible light,
wherein at least one light guiding element ( 1 ) according to claim 1 is arranged between the laser light source ( 3 ) and the luminous element ( 4 ).

14. The vehicle headlight ( 2 ) according to claim 13 , wherein the laser light source ( 3 ) is arranged in front of the luminous element ( 4 ) as viewed in the main radiation direction ( 100 ) of the vehicle headlight ( 2 ), such that the light of the laser light source ( 3 ) is emitted against the main radiation direction ( 100 ) of the vehicle headlight ( 2 ).

15. The vehicle headlight ( 2 ) according to claim 13 , wherein at least one screen element ( 14 ) is provided, by means of which light reflected by the light entrance surface ( 5 ) of the light guiding element ( 1 ) or from the interior of the light guiding element ( 1 ) in the main radiation direction ( 100 ) of the vehicle headlight ( 2 ) can be shielded.

16. The vehicle headlight ( 2 ) according to claim 15 , wherein the screen element ( 14 ) is formed as a connection piece running between the laser light source ( 3 ) and the light guiding element ( 1 ).

17. The vehicle headlight ( 2 ) according to claim 16 , wherein the at least one screen element ( 14 ) is formed in a tubular or semi-tubular manner.

Assignees

• Zizala Lichtsysteme Gmbh
• Zkw Group Gmbh

Inventors

• Bauer Friedrich

Classifications

• F21S41/285

  Refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters not provided in groups F21S41/24 - F21S41/2805 · CPC title

• F21S41/37 Primary

  characterised by their material, surface treatment or coatings · CPC title

• F21S45/43

  using gas · CPC title

• F21S41/29

  Attachment thereof (for achieving variable light distribution F21S41/63) · CPC title

• F21S41/40

  characterised by screens, non-reflecting members, light-shielding members or fixed shades · CPC title