Optical element for a laser vehicle headlight

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9845932-B2
Application number	US-201314382567-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 28, 2013
Priority date	Mar 12, 2012
Publication date	Dec 19, 2017
Grant date	Dec 19, 2017

Abstract

The invention relates to an optical 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 optical element ( 1 ) has at least one receptacle for the luminous element ( 4 ) and at least one reflection layer ( 9 ) which reflects light in the direction of the laser light source ( 3 ) is assigned to the optical element ( 1 ) at least on a side of the luminous element ( 4 ) which faces away from the laser light source ( 3 ) in the mounted state. The invention additionally relates to a light source module ( 16 ) comprising at least one optical element ( 1 ) of this type, and a vehicle headlight ( 2 ) comprising at least one optical element ( 1 ) of this type or comprising at least one light source module ( 16 ) as mentioned initially.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An optical 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 is configured to be irradiated by the laser light source ( 3 ) and thus excited to emit visible light, the optical element ( 1 ) comprising:
at least one receptacle for the luminous element ( 4 ); and
at least one reflection layer ( 9 ) which reflects light in the direction of the laser light source ( 3 ),
wherein the at least one reflection layer ( 9 ) is assigned to the optical element ( 1 ) at least on a side of the luminous element ( 4 ) which faces away from the laser light source ( 3 ) in a mounted state,
wherein (i) the optical element ( 1 ) is formed as a solid body made of a substantially transparent, light guiding material, and the reflection layer ( 9 ) is arranged on a first side ( 5 ) of the optical element ( 1 ) facing away from the laser light source ( 3 ) in the mounted state, or (ii) the optical element ( 1 ) is formed as a hollow body made of a substantially transparent, light guiding material and is formed on a side of a rear wall ( 22 ) facing away from the laser light source ( 3 ) in the mounted state, the reflection layer ( 9 ) being arranged either on an inner side of the rear wall ( 22 ) facing the luminous element ( 4 ) or on an outer side of the rear wall ( 22 ) facing away from the luminous element ( 4 ), and
wherein the first side ( 5 ) facing away from the laser light source ( 3 ) is formed as a free-form face having at least one focal point, and the receptacle for receiving the at least one luminous element is arranged in a focal point of the reflection layer ( 9 ).

2. The optical element ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the optical element has a reflector element ( 10 ) applied to the first side ( 5 ) of the optical element ( 1 ) facing away from the laser light source ( 3 ) in the mounted state,
wherein the reflection layer ( 9 ) is arranged on a side of the reflector element ( 10 ) facing the luminous element ( 4 ) or on a side of the reflector element ( 10 ) facing away from the luminous element ( 4 ).

3. The optical element ( 1 ) according to claim 2 , wherein the first side ( 5 ) of the optical element facing away from the laser light source ( 3 ) and/or the side of the reflector element ( 10 ) facing the luminous element ( 4 ) and/or the side of the reflector element ( 10 ) facing away from the luminous element ( 4 ) is/are formed as a free-form face having at least one focal point.

4. The optical element according to claim 3 , wherein the luminous element is arranged in a focal point.

5. The optical element according to claim 2 , wherein the reflector element is made of a light-impermeable material.

6. The optical element according to claim 5 , wherein the reflector element is applied in a form fitting manner to the first side.

7. The optical element ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein at least one light-impermeable absorption layer ( 6 ) is applied to the first side ( 5 ) of the optical element ( 1 ) facing away from the laser light source ( 3 ) in the mounted state.

8. The optical element according to claim 7 , wherein the at least one light-impermeable absorption layer is applied to a reflection layer provided on the first side of the optical element.

9. The optical element ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one receptacle for the luminous element ( 4 ) is formed as a blind bore ( 7 ) or as a cavity ( 8 ) surrounded on all sides by the optical element ( 1 ).

10. The optical element ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein a second side ( 11 ) of the optical element ( 1 ) facing the laser light source ( 3 ) in the mounted state is formed as a flat delimitation face ( 21 ).

11. The optical element ( 1 ) according to claim 10 , wherein a connection region ( 13 ) is provided in a manner adjoining the delimitation face ( 21 ) and connects the second side ( 11 ) of the optical element ( 1 ) to the first side ( 5 ) of the optical element ( 1 ).

12. The optical element ( 1 ) according to claim 11 , wherein the connection region ( 13 ) is formed in a manner convergent from the second side ( 11 ) of the optical element ( 1 ) in the direction of the first side ( 5 ) of the optical element ( 1 ).

13. The optical element ( 1 ) according to claim 10 , wherein the delimitation face ( 21 ) is substantially circular and the first side ( 5 ) of the optical element ( 1 ) likewise has a substantially circular cross section, wherein the diameter ( 14 ) of the first side ( 5 ) is greater than the diameter ( 15 ) of the delimitation face ( 21 ).

14. The optical element according to claim 10 , wherein the delamination face runs substantially normal to the radiation direction of the laser light source.

15. The optical element ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein a second side ( 11 ) of the optical element ( 1 ) facing the laser light source ( 3 ) in the mounted state is covered at least in part by a light-impermeable screen device ( 12 ).

16. The optical element ( 1 ) according to claim 15 , wherein the light-impermeable screen device ( 12 ) is formed as a light-impermeable coating.

17. The optical element according to claim 15 , wherein the light-impermeable screen device covers the second side in a region below a horizontal plane running through the luminous element.

18. A light source module ( 16 ) 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 is configured to be irradiated by the laser light source ( 3 ) and thus excited to emit visible light, the light source module ( 16 ) comprising:
an optical element ( 1 ) comprising:
at least one receptacle for the luminous element ( 4 ); and
at least one reflection layer ( 9 ) which reflects light in the direction of the laser light source ( 3 ),
wherein the at least one reflection layer ( 9 ) is assigned to the optical element ( 1 ) at least on a side of the luminous element ( 4 ) which faces away from the laser light source ( 3 ) in a mounted state,
wherein (i) the optical element ( 1 ) is formed as a solid body made of a substantially transparent, light guiding material, and the reflection layer ( 9 ) is arranged on a first side ( 5 ) of the optical element ( 1 ) facing away from the laser light source ( 3 ) in the mounted state, or (ii) the optical element ( 1 ) is formed as a hollow body made of a substantially transparent, light guiding material and is formed on a side of a rear wall ( 22 ) facing away from the laser light source ( 3 ) in the mounted state, the reflection layer ( 9 ) being arranged either on an inner side of the rear wall ( 22 ) facing the luminous element ( 4 ) or on an outer side of the rear wall ( 22 ) facing away from the luminous element ( 4 ),
wherein the first side ( 5 ) facing away from the laser light source ( 3 ) is formed as a free-form face having at least one focal point, and the receptacle for receiving the at least one luminous element is arranged in a focal point of the reflection layer ( 9 ), and
wherein the luminous element ( 4 ) is arranged in the optical element ( 1 ).

19. A vehicle headlight ( 2 ) which comprises the at least one light source module ( 16 ) according to claim 18 .

20. A vehicle headlight, ( 2 ) comprising:
at least one laser light source ( 3 );
at least one luminous element ( 4 ) which is configured to be irradiated by the laser lig

Assignees

• Zizala Lichtsysteme Gmbh
• Zkw Group Gmbh

Inventors

• Bauer Friedrich
• Moser Andreas
• Altmann Johann
• Kaufmann Erich

Classifications

• F21S41/24

  Light guides · CPC title

• F21S41/43

  characterised by the shape thereof · CPC title

• F21S41/20 Primary

  characterised by refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters · CPC title

• F21S41/40

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

• F21S41/143

  the main emission direction of the LED being parallel to the optical axis of the illuminating device · CPC title