IP Library Granted Patent US 9,611,994
Granted Patent B2
US 9,611,994 · App. 14/353,309 · Granted Apr 4, 2017

Vehicle headlight with laser light source

Inventors: Friedrich Bauer (Bergland, AT); Andreas Moser (Haag, AT); Johann Altmann (Gmund, AT); Erich Kaufmann (Linz, AT)
Assignee: ZKW GROUP GMBH
F21S48/1145F21S48/1104F21S48/1159F21S48/321F21S48/34F21S48/1241F21S48/325
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,611,994
App. No.
14/353,309
Granted
Apr 4, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle headlight ( 1 ) comprising at least one laser light source ( 2 ), at least one luminous element ( 3 ) that may be stimulated to emit visible light which can be irradiated by means of the laser light source ( 2 ), and at least one imaging optical element, for example a reflector ( 4 ) and/or a lens, wherein the laser light source ( 2 ) is disposed in front of the luminous element ( 3 ) as viewed in the main beam direction ( 100 ) of the vehicle headlight ( 1 ) such that the light from the laser light source ( 2 ) radiates in the opposite direction to the main beam direction ( 100 ) of the vehicle headlight ( 1 ).

Claims (14)

1. A vehicle headlight ( 1 ) comprising:

at least one laser light source ( 2 ), at least one luminous element ( 3 ) configured to be stimulated to emit visible light which can be irradiated by means of the laser light source ( 2 ), and at least one imaging optical element,

wherein the laser light source ( 2 ) is disposed in front of the luminous element ( 3 ) as viewed in the main beam direction ( 100 ) of the vehicle headlight ( 1 ) such that the light from the laser light source ( 2 ) radiates in the opposite direction to the main beam direction ( 100 ) of the vehicle headlight ( 1 ),

wherein the at least one imaging optical element is embodied as a reflector ( 4 ), wherein the luminous element ( 3 ) is disposed in a focal point of the reflector ( 4 ), and wherein at least one light guiding element ( 9 ) is disposed between the laser light source ( 2 ) and the luminous element ( 3 ), wherein the at least one light guiding element ( 9 ) is substantially funnel-shaped and compensates for deviations in the light from the laser light source ( 2 ), and

wherein at least one design screen element ( 10 ) encloses the laser light source ( 2 ) for vision protection, wherein the design screen element ( 10 ) comprises at least one design screen opening ( 17 ), wherein the at least one design screen opening ( 17 ) is in the form of a nozzle, and wherein the at least one design screen opening ( 17 ) is oriented in the direction of a cover panel ( 8 ) of the vehicle headlight ( 1 ).

2. The vehicle headlight ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the beam direction ( 200 ) of the laser light source ( 2 ) extends at an angle ( 300 ) between 0° and 90° with respect to the optical axis ( 400 ) of the vehicle headlight ( 1 ).

3. The vehicle headlight ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the laser light source ( 2 ) is disposed, relative to the luminous element ( 3 ), on an envelope of a right circular cone ( 11 ), wherein the tip of the circular cone ( 11 ) is located in the luminous element ( 3 ), the cone axis ( 500 ) extends parallel to the optical axis ( 400 ) of the vehicle headlight ( 1 ), and the envelope line ( 12 ) of the envelope of the cone, on which the laser light source ( 2 ) is disposed, extends parallel to the beam direction ( 200 ) of the laser light source ( 2 ).

4. The vehicle headlight ( 1 ) according to claim 3 , wherein the luminous element ( 3 ) is disposed on the optical axis ( 400 ) of the vehicle headlight ( 1 ).

5. The vehicle headlight ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein at least one optical element is disposed between the laser light source ( 2 ) and the luminous element ( 3 ).

6. The vehicle headlight ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the laser light source ( 2 ) is disposed underneath a horizontal plane which, in the installed state of the vehicle headlight ( 1 ), extends through the optical axis ( 400 ) of the vehicle headlight ( 1 ).

7. The vehicle headlight ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the vehicle headlight ( 1 ) comprises a cover panel ( 8 ) and the laser light source ( 2 ) is disposed adjacent to the cover panel ( 8 ) so that the cover panel ( 8 ) is heated by the heat dissipated from the laser light source ( 2 ).

8. The vehicle headlight ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the laser light source ( 2 ) comprises at least one heat sink ( 15 ) and/or at least one ventilation device ( 16 ).

9. The vehicle headlight ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein at least one screen element ( 13 ) is provided as a shield against laser light emerging from the vehicle headlight ( 1 ).

10. The vehicle headlight of claim 5 , wherein the at least one optical element comprises a positive lens element ( 7 ).

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 30, 2016
From: ZIZALA LICHTSYSTEME GMBH
To: ZKW GROUP GMBH
Reel/Frame 039901/0962 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 22, 2014
From: BAUER, FRIEDRICH; MOSER, ANDREAS; ALTMANN, JOHANN; KAUFMANN, ERICH
To: ZIZALA LICHTSYSTEME GMBH
Reel/Frame 032726/0686 →
Priority Claims (1)
AT A 50070/2012 · Mar 12, 2012 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20140321148A1 · Oct 30, 2014