Illumination device for a motor vehicle

1. An illumination device ( 11 ) for a motor vehicle comprising:

a transparent light guide ( 13 );

at least a first decoupling element ( 33 ) formed into said light guide ( 13 );

at least one reflector ( 35 ) assigned to said first decoupling element ( 33 ) for reflection of light coupled-out by said first decoupling element ( 33 ) and aligned and formed in such a way that at least a portion of said light reflected by said reflector ( 35 ) irradiates said light guide ( 13 ); and

at least one second decoupling element ( 37 ) formed in said light guide ( 13 ) for coupling-out of light from said light guide ( 13 ) and aligned and formed in such a way that light coupled-out by said second decoupling element ( 37 ) ultimately exits said light guide ( 13 ).

2. An illumination device ( 11 ) for a motor vehicle as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said light guide ( 13 ) includes plastic and is plate-shaped.

3. An illumination device ( 11 ) for a motor vehicle as set forth in claim 2 , wherein said light guide ( 13 ) includes polymethylmethacrylate.

4. An illumination device ( 11 ) for a motor vehicle as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said first decoupling element ( 33 ) is arranged on a first side ( 15 ) of said light guide ( 13 ) and said second decoupling element ( 37 ) is arranged on a second side ( 17 ) of said light guide ( 13 ), said second side ( 17 ) facing said first side ( 15 ).

5. An illumination device ( 11 ) for a motor vehicle as set forth in claim 4 , wherein said light guide ( 13 ) is at least in sections curved such that an angle of said second side ( 17 ) varies with reference to a main direction of light emission ( 23 ) along a longitudinal axis ( 19 ) of said light guide ( 13 ).

6. An illumination device ( 11 ) for a motor vehicle as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said first decoupling element ( 33 ) is located in a first section ( 21 ) of said light guide ( 13 ), said second decoupling element is located in a second section ( 25 ) of said light guide ( 13 ), and an angle within said first section ( 21 ) is smaller than within said second section ( 25 ).

7. An illumination device ( 11 ) for a motor vehicle as set forth in claim 5 , wherein said light guide ( 13 ) exhibits a first light-input surface ( 27 ) for coupling-in of light that can be decoupled via a first light-output surface ( 36 ) of said first decoupling element ( 33 ) and a second light-input surface ( 29 ) for coupling-in of light that can be decoupled via a second light-output surface ( 39 ) of said second decoupling element ( 37 ) and said light-input surfaces ( 27 , 29 ) with reference to said longitudinal axis ( 19 ) of said light guide ( 13 ) are offset to one another.

8. An illumination device ( 11 ) for a motor vehicle as set forth in claim 7 , wherein said second light-output surface ( 39 ) runs at least substantially orthogonally to said second side ( 17 ) of said light guide ( 13 ).

9. An illumination device ( 11 ) for a motor vehicle as set forth in claim 7 , wherein said second light-output surface ( 39 ) is included opposite said second side ( 17 ) of said light guide ( 13 ) in such a way that said second light-output surface ( 39 ) and second side ( 17 ) outside of said light guide ( 13 ) enclose an obtuse angle (ε).

10. An illumination device ( 11 ) for a motor vehicle as set forth in claim 7 , wherein said at least a section ( 39 a , 39 b ) of said second light-output surface ( 39 ) is inclined vis-à-vis a transverse plane ( 50 ) of said light guide ( 13 ) orthogonal to said second side ( 17 ) of said light guide ( 13 ) and to a direction of light diffusion ( 42 ) in said light guide ( 13 ).

11. An illumination device ( 11 ) for a motor vehicle as set forth in claim 10 , wherein said sections ( 39 a , 39 b ) adjoining one another at a convex front edge ( 48 ) of said second light-output surface ( 39 ) are inclined in opposing directions vis-à-vis said transverse plane ( 50 ).

12. An illumination device ( 11 ) for a motor vehicle as set forth in claim 7 , wherein said second light-output surface ( 39 ) exhibits an overall uneven shape for influencing a direction of light beams ( 41 ) to be coupled-out via said second light-output surface ( 39 ) and influencing an opening angle of a bundle of beams formed by said light beams ( 41 ) to be coupled-out.

13. An illumination device ( 11 ) for a motor vehicle as set forth in claim 12 , wherein said second light-output surface ( 39 ) is formed from a plurality of plane-surface elements ( 51 ) arranged next to one another and an angle of inclination of at least one of said plane-surface elements ( 51 ) with reference to a tangent plane of said second side ( 17 ) at one edge ( 43 ) differs from a corresponding angle of inclination of at least one of other said plane-surface elements ( 51 ).

14. An illumination device ( 11 ) for a motor vehicle as set forth in claim 13 , wherein said angle of inclination of said plane-surface element ( 51 ) decreases with increasing distance to said second side ( 17 ) so that said second decoupling element ( 37 ) on said second light-output surface ( 39 ) exhibits a convex shape.

15. An illumination device ( 11 ) for a motor vehicle as set forth in claim 13 , wherein said second light-output surface ( 39 ) is so high that said second light-output surface ( 39 ) exhibits substantially a smooth, edge-free shape.