IP Library Granted Patent US 10,018,314
Granted Patent B2
US 10,018,314 · App. 15/875,008 · Granted Jul 10, 2018

Lighting device for vehicles

Inventors: Carmen Bungenstock (Kleinenberg, DE); Christoph Geister (Lippstadt, DE); Martin Mügge (Geseke, DE); Heinrich Schäfer (Bad Wünnenberg, DE)
Assignee: Hella GmbH & Co. KGaA
F21S41/10B60Q1/0011B60Q1/38B60Q3/66F21S41/141F21S41/143F21S41/24F21S41/25F21S41/26F21S41/30
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,018,314
App. No.
15/875,008
Granted
Jul 10, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

A lighting device for vehicles with an elongated light guide comprising an end face for the coupling-in of light, into which a light beam radiated from a light source can be coupled-in. The lighting device further comprises elements for the coupling-out of light for the deflection of the coupled-in light beam in the direction of a front skin surface of the elongated light guide, on which the light beam can be coupled-out for the generation of a given light function, such that the front skin surface of the elongated light guide is connected to a rear skin surface by means of a curved dispersion surface. At least one light directing element is arranged between a row of light sources and the light guide so that the light of the light sources arranged in a row can be coupled into the rear skin surface or the curved dispersion surface of the light guide.

Claims (16)

1. A lighting device for vehicles comprising:

an elongated light guide including:

an end face for the coupling-in of light, into which a light beam radiated from a light source can be coupled-in, and

elements for the coupling-out of light for the deflection of the coupled-in light beam in the direction of a front skin surface of the elongated light guide, on which the light beam can be coupled-out for the generation of a given light function,

a curved dispersion surface connecting the front skin surface of the elongated light guide to a rear skin surface of the elongated light guide, and

at least one light directing element located between a row of light sources and the light guide so that light from the light sources arranged in a row can be coupled into the rear skin surface of the light guide, and

wherein the at least one light directing element is embodied as a cuboidal light guide element extending between the row of light sources and the elongated light guide.

2. The lighting device according to claim 1 , wherein the light sources assigned to the elongated light directing element can be sequentially switched on or off for the creation of an illumination which is locally changeable in the longitudinal direction of the light guide.

3. The lighting device according to claim 1 , wherein a second light beam coupled into a surface for the coupling-in of light of the light guide element facing the light sources can be deflected in direction of the light guide by means of total reflection on the lateral surfaces of the light guide element.

4. The lighting device according to claim 1 , wherein the light directing element is segmented in the longitudinal direction.

5. The lighting device according to claim 1 , wherein the light directing element is continuous in the longitudinal direction.

6. The lighting device according to claim 1 , wherein the light directing element has open slots or closed slots on the side facing the row of light sources.

7. The lighting device according to claim 1 , wherein on both sides of a median plane of the light guide, there are light directing elements arranged, each of which has a row of light sources assigned on a surface for the coupling-in of light facing away from the light guide and each of which has, on the side for the coupling out of light facing the light guide, a surface for the coupling-out of light following the contour of the curved dispersion surface of the light guide.

8. The lighting device according to claim 1 , wherein an intermediate lens is positioned and located between the light guide element and the elongated light guide.

9. The lighting device according to claim 8 , wherein the intermediate lens is cuboidal.

10. The lighting device according to claim 8 , wherein the intermediate lens abuts the light guide element.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 23, 2018
From: HELLA KGAA HUECK & CO.
To: HELLA GMBH & CO. KGAA
Reel/Frame 046219/0517 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 19, 2018
From: BUNGENSTOCK, CARMEN; GEISTER, CHRISTOPH; MÜGGE, MARTIN; SCHÄFER, HEINRICH
To: HELLA KGAA HUECK & CO.
Reel/Frame 044663/0298 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2013 104 174 · Apr 25, 2013 · national
Continuity (3)
Continuation 15441309 · Feb 24, 2017
Division 14261282 · Apr 24, 2014
Related Publication 20180142851A1 · May 24, 2018