Optical component, lighting device and vehicle

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to the technical field of vehicle lamps, in particular to an optical component, a lighting device and a vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Lighting devices are widely used in various fields to provide light rays for lighting and/or optical indication functions; for example, lighting devices such as vehicle lamps are used in motor vehicles to ensure safe travel. In motor vehicles, various types of vehicle lamps are often required to implement different functions, including the headlight, fog light, tail light, turn signal light, brake light, side marker light, parking light, etc.

As vehicle lamp technology develops, some OEMs wish vehicle lamps to have an expanded light output region in order to enhance lighting functions, optical indication functions and/or meet modelling requirements; in this case, the design of optical paths becomes a major challenge.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Thus, an object of the present invention is to propose an optical component, a lighting device and a vehicle, which can at least partially solve the problems mentioned above. According to one aspect of the present invention, an optical component is provided, comprising: at least one light source; a light guide unit, the light guide unit being configured to receive light rays from the at least one light source, and guide the light rays to exit from a first light exit region and a second light exit region of the optical component; wherein the second light exit region is arranged close to the first light exit region, and together with the first light exit region forms light exit regions of the optical component.

According to the embodiments of the present invention, as a result of arranging the second light exit region close to the first light exit region, and using the light guide unit to guide light rays from the light source to exit from the first light exit region and the second light exit region separately, the light exit region of the optical component is increased; in this way, it is possible to enhance lighting functions, optical indication function and/or meet a modelling requirement.

In some embodiments, the first light exit region comprises a light exit surface of the light guide unit.

In some embodiments, the optical component further comprises a first reflective face, wherein the light guide unit is configured to guide a first portion of light rays from the at least one light source to exit from the light exit surface of the light guide unit substantially in a main exit direction of the optical component, and guide a second portion of light rays from the at least one light source to the first reflective face; the first reflective face is configured to reflect the second portion of light rays substantially in the main exit direction.

According to the embodiments of the present invention, the first reflective face can change the optical path of the second portion of light rays from the light source, such that the second portion of light rays also exits in the main exit direction of the optical component from the second light exit region, thereby achieving the objective of extending the first light exit region with the second light exit region.

In some embodiments, the light guide unit is configured as a transparent light guide block, and the first light exit region comprises a first light exit face of the light guide unit.

In some embodiments, the first portion of light rays and the second portion of light rays enter through a same entry face of the light guide unit.

In some embodiments, the light guide unit further comprises a second reflective face, the second reflective face being configured to reflect the second portion of light rays towards the first reflective face.

In some embodiments, the light guide unit further comprises a third reflective face, the third reflective face being configured to receive the first portion of light rays and the second portion of light rays entering the light guide unit, and reflect the first portion of light rays towards the first light exit face, and reflect the second portion of light rays towards the second reflective face.

In some embodiments, the entry face of the light guide unit comprises a collimating part, the collimating part being configured to collimate the first portion of light rays and the second portion of light rays towards the third reflective face. The collimating part can increase optical efficiency.

In some embodiments, at least one of the second reflective face and the third reflective face is configured as a totally reflecting face. Total reflection can increase optical efficiency.

In some embodiments, the entry face of the light guide unit comprises a collimating part, the collimating part being configured to collimate the first portion of light rays towards the first light exit face, and collimate the second portion of light rays towards the second reflective face.

In some embodiments, the first portion of light rays and the second portion of light rays enter through different entry faces of the light guide unit.

In some embodiments, the first reflective face is a reflective surface of a reflector, and the second light exit region comprises a region of reflection of the second portion of light rays on the first reflective face.

In some embodiments, scattering elements are arranged on a second light exit face of the light guide unit which outputs the second portion of light rays towards the first reflective face. The scattering elements can increase the uniformity of exiting light rays. In some embodiments, the second light exit face is inclined towards the first reflective face. In this way, the angle at which the second portion of light rays exit from the second light exit face can be increased, thereby increasing the area of the second light exit region.

In some embodiments, the first reflective face is an internal reflective face of the light guide unit, and the second light exit region comprises a third light exit surface of the light guide unit, wherein the first reflective face is configured to reflect the second portion of light rays towards the third light exit surface.

In some embodiments, the light guide unit comprises at least one reflector, and the first light exit region comprises a region of reflection of the first portion of light rays on the at least one reflector.

In some embodiments, the first reflective face is a reflective surface of a first reflector, and the second light exit region comprises a region of reflection of the second portion of light rays on the first reflective face.

In some embodiments, the light guide unit comprises a second reflector and a third reflector, the second reflector being configured to reflect the first portion of light rays in the main exit direction, and the third reflector being configured to reflect the second portion of light rays to the first reflective face.

In some embodiments, the first light exit region and the second light exit region have different average exiting light intensities. Consequently, the light exiting from one light exit region acts as background light for the other light exit region, and/or meets a specific modelling requirement.

In some embodiments, the first reflector and the light guide unit are formed as a single component. Specifically, the first reflector is made of an opaque material, the light guide unit is made of a transparent material, and the first reflector and the light guide unit are formed as a single component by a double shot injection moulding process.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a lighting device is further provided, comprising any one of the optical components described above.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a vehicle is further provided, comprising the abovementioned lighting device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The abovementioned characteristics, technical features and advantages of the present invention and modes of implementation thereof are explained further below in a clear and easy-to-understand manner through a description of preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings, in which

Fig. 1 shows a front perspective view of an optical component 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 shows a front view of the optical component 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 shows a rear perspective view of the optical component 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 shows a sectional view of the optical component 10 in Fig. 2 along line A~A, and a schematic diagram of optical paths.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention are described demonstratively below. As those skilled in the art should realize, the embodiments explained may be amended in various ways without departing from the concept of the present invention. Thus, the drawings and description are essentially illustrative, not restrictive. In the following text, identical reference numerals generally denote elements with identical or similar functions.

According to the general concept of the present invention, an optical component is provided, comprising: at least one light source; and a light guide unit, the light guide unit being configured to receive light rays from the at least one light source, and guide the light rays to exit from a first light exit region and a second light exit region of the optical component; wherein the second light exit region is arranged close to the first light exit region, in order to act as an extension of the first light exit region.

According to the present invention, as a result of arranging the second light exit region close to the first light exit region, and using the light guide unit to guide light rays from the light source to exit from the first light exit region and the second light exit region separately, the light exit region of the optical component is increased; in this way, it is possible to enhance an optical indication function and/or meet a modelling requirement.

Here, the statement that the second light exit region is arranged close to the first light exit region may be understood to mean that the second light exit region may be arranged adjacent to the first light exit region, or arranged at a certain distance from the first light exit region.

In one embodiment, the first light exit region of the optical component comprises a light exit surface of the light guide unit; that is to say, one or more light exit surface of the light guide unit may be used as the first light exit region of the optical component.

In one embodiment, the optical component further comprises a first reflective face, wherein the light guide unit is configured to guide a first portion of light rays from the at least one light source to exit from the light exit surface of the light guide unit substantially in a main exit direction of the optical component, and guide a second portion of light rays from the at least one light source to the first reflective face; the first reflective face is configured to reflect the second portion of light rays substantially in the main exit direction.

According to the present invention, the first reflective face can change the optical path of the second portion of light rays from the light source, such that the second portion of light rays also exits in the main exit direction of the optical component from the second light exit region, thereby achieving the objective of extending the first light exit region with the second light exit region.

Specific embodiments based on the general concept above are described below with reference to the drawings.

1. First embodiment

Fig. 1 shows a front perspective view of an optical component 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 shows a front view of the optical component 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 shows a rear perspective view of the optical component 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 shows a sectional view of the optical component 10 in Fig. 2 along line A~A, and a schematic diagram of optical paths.

As shown in the figures, the optical component 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention comprises a printed circuit board (PCB) 100, a light guide unit 200 and a first reflective face 300. At least one light source (not shown) is arranged on the PCB 100, for example but not limited to an LED light source, and the at least one light source emits light rays towards the light guide unit 200. The PCB 100 may be fixed to the light guide unit 200 by means of a positioning mechanism which is not shown, for example but not limited to a positioning post/posit ioning hole, screw connection, etc.

Here, the light guide unit 200 is a light guide block, which may be made of a transparent material, for example but without limitation, poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) or polycarbonate (PC). The light guide unit 200 can receive light rays incident from the at least one light source, guiding a first portion of light rays rl to exit from a first light exit face 210 thereof in a main exit direction H of the optical component 10, and also guiding a second portion of light rays r2 to exit from a second light exit face 220 thereof and reach the first reflective face 300. Here, the first light exit face 210 is used as a first light exit region of the optical component 10.

Here, the first reflective face 300 is a reflective surface of a first reflector, used to reflect the second portion of light rays r2 from the light guide unit 200 in the main exit direction H of the optical component 10; thus, a region in which the second portion of light rays r2 is reflected on the first reflective face 300 is used as a second light exit region of the optical component 10. As a nonlimiting example, the first reflector may be made of a white material to obtain the first reflective face 300, or the first reflective face 300 may be obtained by plating a surface of the first reflector with aluminium, etc. Furthermore, the first reflector may be fixed to the light guide unit 200 by means of a positioning mechanism which is not shown, for example but not limited to a positioning post/posit ioning hole, screw connection, etc.

It can be seen from Fig. 2 that the second light exit region is located above the first light exit region; when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the paper, the second light exit region may be regarded as an extension of the first light exit region, equivalent to having extended the first light exit region. It must be explained that although the first portion of light rays rl and the second portion of light rays r2 both exit substantially in the main exit direction H of the optical component 10 from the first light exit region and the second light exit region respectively, this does not mean that the exit angle ranges of the first portion of light rays rl and the second portion of light rays r2 are exactly the same; the exit angle ranges thereof may also partially overlap or be different, as long as the light rays that finally exit from the first light exit region and the second light exit region satisfy the regulations for specific light functions.

In a non-limiting example, the first light exit region and the second light exit region have different average exiting light intensities, e. g. the average exiting light intensity of the second light exit region is less than the average exiting light intensity of the first light exit region, such that the light exiting from the second light exit region acts as background light for the first light exit region, and/or meets a specific modelling requirement. This can be achieved by adjusting the light quantities of the first portion of light rays rl and the second portion of light rays r2.

Preferably, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the second light exit face 220 is inclined towards the first reflective face 300, forming an angle a with the horizontal plane; in this way, the angle at which the second portion of light rays r2 exits from the second light exit face 220 can be increased, thereby increasing the area of the second light exit region. In a non-limiting example, the angle a may be 45° - 60° .

Preferably, as shown in the figures, scattering elements may be arranged on the second light exit face 220, for example but not limited to protrusions, depressions, leather texture, etc. ; in this way, the uniformity of the second portion of light rays r2 when exiting can be increased.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the first portion of light rays rl and the second portion of light rays r2 enter through the same entry face of the light guide unit 200, i. e. the light source emitting the first portion of light rays rl and the light source emitting the second portion of light rays r2 are both located on the PCB 100. Specifically, the entry face of the light guide unit 200 comprises multiple collimating parts 230, and the light guide unit 200 further comprises a second reflective face 240 and a third reflective face 250. The collimating parts 230 are used to receive light rays (including the first portion of light rays rl and the second portion of light rays r2) from at least one light source on the PCB 100, and collimate the received light rays to the third reflective face 250, wherein the collimating part 230 may be a collimating part with a middle refractive interface and reflective interfaces at two sides which is commonly used in the prior art as shown in the figures, or may be another type of collimating part. Here, the collimating part 230 is preferred in order to increase optical efficiency, but of course, the choice may also be made to not use a collimating part. The third reflective face 250 reflects the first portion of light rays rl from the collimating parts 230 to the first light exit face 220 (i. e. the first light exit region) substantially in the main exit direction H, and reflects the second portion of light rays r2 from the collimating parts 230 to the second reflective face 240. Preferably, the third reflective face 250 is constructed as a totally reflecting face, to increase optical efficiency. In a non-limiting example, as shown in Fig. 3, an angle F is formed between the third reflective face 250 and the horizontal plane, wherein the angle F may be 45° - 60° , to satisfy the condition for total reflection.

The second reflective face 240 is used to reflect the second portion of light rays r2 from the third reflective face 250 towards the second light exit face 220 and the first reflective face 300. Preferably, the second reflective face 240 is constructed as a totally reflecting face, to increase optical efficiency. In a non-limiting example, as shown in Fig. 3, an angle y is formed between the second reflective face 240 and the horizontal plane, wherein the angle y may be 45° - 60° , to satisfy the condition for total reflection.

2. Second embodiment

The second embodiment is a variant of the first embodiment; only those parts which are different from the first embodiment are described here. In the first embodiment, the first reflective face 300 is located outside the light guide unit 200 as the reflective surface of the first reflector, but in the second embodiment, the first reflective face 300 may be an internal reflective face of the light guide unit 200. In this case, the second portion of light rays r2 reflected by the second reflective face 240 reaches the first reflective face 300 directly without needing to pass through the second light exit face 220, and the second light exit region may be constructed as a third light exit surface of the light guide unit 200, the third light exit surface being located above the first light exit face 210, wherein the first reflective face 300 reflects the second portion of light rays r2 towards the third light exit surface so that they exit from the third light exit surface substantially in the main exit direction H.

4. Third embodiment

The third embodiment is a variant of the first embodiment and the second embodiment; only those parts which are different from the first embodiment and the second embodiment are described here. In the first and second embodiments, the first portion of light rays rl and the second portion of light rays r2 both enter through the collimating parts 230 of the light guide unit 200, and the PCB 100 and the collimating parts 230 are disposed above the third reflective face 250. However, in the third embodiment, the PCB 100 and the entry face having the collimating parts 230 may be moved to the position of the third reflective face 250, i. e. the third reflective face 250 is replaced by the entry face having the collimating parts 230. In this case, the collimating parts 230 are used to collimate the first portion of light rays rl towards the first light exit face 210, and collimate the second portion of light rays r2 towards the second reflective face 240. Of course, it will be understood that the entry face located at the position of the third reflective face 250 may also not include collimating parts.

4. Fourth embodiment

The fourth embodiment is a variant of the first, second and third embodiments; only those parts which are different from the first, second and third embodiments are described here. In the first, second and third embodiments, the first portion of light rays rl and the second portion of light rays r2 enter through the same entry face of the light guide unit 200, but in the fourth embodiment, the first portion of light rays rl and the second portion of light rays r2 enter through different entry faces of the light guide unit 200. As a nonlimiting example, the first portion of light rays rl still follows the optical path shown in Fig. 4, i. e. the first portion of light rays rl is emitted by a light source located on the PCB 100 to the collimating parts 230, and then reaches the first light exit face 210 via the collimating parts 230 and the third reflective face 250, or as described in the third embodiment, the first portion of light rays rl is guided to the first light exit face 210 from the entry face located at the position of the third reflective face 250; and the second portion of light rays r2 may be emitted by a light source located below the second reflective face 240. In this case, the second reflective face 240 may be replaced with another entry face of the light guide unit 200, which entry face may comprise collimating parts to collimate the second portion of light rays r2 towards the first reflective face 300. Of course, it will be understood that the entry face located at the position of the second reflective face 240 may also not include collimating parts.

5. Fifth embodiment

Only the differences between the fifth embodiment and the above embodiments are described here. In each of the above embodiments, the light guide unit 200 is constructed as a transparent light guide block. However, in the fifth embodiment, the light guide unit 200 is constructed to comprise at least one reflector, and the first light exit region comprises a region of reflection of the first portion of light rays on the at least one reflector.

In a non-limiting example, the light guide unit 200 comprises a second reflector and a third reflector, wherein the second reflector comprises the abovementioned third reflective face 250, i. e. is used to receive light rays from at least one light source on the PCB 100, including the first portion of light rays rl and the second portion of light rays r2, and reflect the first portion of light rays rl in the main exit direction H of the optical component and reflect the second portion of light rays r2 towards the third reflector. In this case, the first light exit region comprises a region of reflection of the first portion of light rays rl on the third reflective face 250, i. e. this partial region of reflection acts as a light exit surface of the light guide unit 200. The third reflector comprises the abovementioned second reflective face 240, i. e. again reflects the second portion of light rays r2 reflected by the third reflective face 250 towards the first reflective face 300; in this case, the first reflective face 300 is the reflective surface of the first reflector.

In another non-limiting example, the light guide unit 200 comprises only a second reflector and a third reflector, wherein the second reflector comprises the abovementioned third reflective face 250, i. e. is used to receive the first portion of light rays rl from a light source on the PCB 100, and reflect the first portion of light rays rl in the main exit direction H of the optical component. In this case, the first light exit region comprises a region of reflection of the first portion of light rays rl on the third reflective face 250, i. e. this partial region of reflection acts as a light exit surface of the light guide unit 200. The third reflector comprises the abovementioned second reflective face 240, which receives the second portion of light rays r2 from a light source on another PCB (e. g. another PCB located below the third reflective face 250), and reflects them towards the first reflective face 300; in this case, the first reflective face 300 is the reflective surface of the first reflector.

Furthermore, in the above embodiments, in the case where the first reflective face 300 is the reflective surface of the first reflector rather than an internal reflective face of the light guide unit 200, preferably, the first reflector and the light guide unit are formed as a single component, which can simplify the production process and increase production efficiency. In addition, if the first reflector and the light guide unit are separate components, the light guide unit will sometimes be fixed to the first reflector, with the first reflector being fixed to a housing of a lighting device for example; such a method of fixing will result in the light guide unit experiencing large-amplitude vibration as the vehicle is being driven, or even bumping and rubbing against other components to produce dust. However, if the two parts are formed as a single component, then this single component can be fixed to the housing of the lighting device at the position of the first reflector only, helping to reduced the vibration amplitude.

As a non-limiting example, the light guide unit may be made of a transparent material, the first reflector may be made of an opaque material, and the two parts may be formed as a single component by a double shot injection moulding process. A surface of the first reflector may be polished to form the first reflective face.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a lighting device is also included, which comprises any one of the optical components described above.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a vehicle is also included, which comprises the lighting device described above.

The present invention is not limited to the structure described above; various other variants could also be used. Although the present invention has already been described by means of a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art could, drawing benefit from this disclosure, design other embodiments which do not depart from the scope of protection of the present invention disclosed herein. Thus, the scope of protection of the present invention should be defined by the attached claims alone.