LENS ATTACHMENT FOR A HEADLAMP

• US 20080043485A1
• Filed: 08/17/2007
• Published: 02/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Schott AG (Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung), Hella KGaA Hueck & Company
• Original Assignee: Schott AG (Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung), Hella KGaA Hueck & Company
• Inventors: Maucher, Tilmann, Koerner, Steffen, Kalwa, Matthias
• Application Number:
  US11/840,613
• Publication Number:
  US 20080043485A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/521
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/143 the main emission direction of the LED being parallel to the optical axis of the illuminating device
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/153 arranged in a matrix
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/265 Composite lenses; Lenses with a patch-like shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/28 Cover glass
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/55 Attachment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 17/101 permanently, e.g. welding, gluing or riveting
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/0043 Inhomogeneous or irregular arrays, e.g. varying shape, size, height

Abstract

The invention discloses a lens attachment for headlamp being particularly suited for a motor vehicle and having a plurality of LEDs, with each LED is aligned with one lens. The lenses are assembled to a lens package and are located one relative to the other by connection elements. The lens package may be received in a suitable mounting frame for locating the package relative to the LEDs.

Claims

1. A lens attachment for a headlamp, comprising:

a plurality of LEDs supported on a first base; and

an array of individual lenses that are assembled to a lens package;

wherein said lens package comprises;

a second base;

and a mount for securing said lenses;

wherein said lens package is positioned with respect to said first base so that each of said lenses is aligned with one of said LEDs.

2. The lens attachment of claim 1, wherein said first base is configured as a plate.

3. The lens attachment of claim 1, wherein said lenses comprise side surfaces which are mutually parallel to each other.

4. The lens attachment of claim 3, wherein said side surfaces are connected one with the other by a bonding material.

5. The lens attachment of claim 3, wherein said side surfaces are connected one with the other by an adhesive.

6. The lens attachment of claim 3, wherein said side surfaces are connected one with the other by a glass solder.

7. The lens attachment of claim 3, wherein said side surfaces of said lenses are connected one with the other substantially without any gaps.

8. The lens attachment of claim 3, wherein said lenses are connected one with the other by a light-absorbing material.

9. The lens attachment of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of fasteners for mounting said lenses on said second base.

10. The lens attachment of claim 9, wherein said fasteners are optically transparent.

11. The lens attachment of claim 9, wherein at least some of said lenses comprise bores which are engaged by said fasteners and which are filled with casting compounds.

12. The lens attachment of claim 9, wherein said fasteners extend in an axial direction of said lenses and are arranged so as to be optically visible when viewed from the outside.

13. The lens attachment of claim 1, wherein said second base is configured as a mounting frame on which said lenses are supported.

14. The lens attachment of claim 13, wherein said lenses are supported on said mounting frame by a mount selected from the group formed by an adhesive joint, a clamping element, and a joint formed by injection molding.

15. The lens attachment of claim 1, wherein said second base comprises pre-defined contact points having closely toleranced contact surfaces which are configured for mating with associated contact points on said first base on which said lenses are positioned for positioning said lens package in relation to said LEDs.

16. The lens attachment of claim 1, wherein said first base and said second base are identical.

17. The lens attachment of claim 1, wherein at least one of said lenses comprise a recess which is engaged by a fastener for positioning said lens package with respect to said LEDs.

18. A lens attachment for a headlamp, comprising:

a plurality of LEDs supported on a base;

an array of individual lenses defining a lens package;

a plurality of fasteners for securing said lens package on said base;

wherein said lens package is positioned with respect to said base so that each of said lenses is aligned with one of said LEDs.

19. A headlamp comprising a first plurality of LEDs and a second plurality of lenses for commonly generating a predefined illumination pattern;

wherein said first plurality of LEDs and said second plurality of lenses are combined into a lens attachment, said lens attachment comprising;

a plurality of LEDs supported on a base; and

an array of individual lenses that are assembled to a lens package;

wherein said lens package comprises;

a common mounting base;

and a plurality of connecting elements for securing said lenses; and

wherein said lens package is positioned with respect to said common mounting base so that each lens of said second plurality of lenses is aligned with one LED of said first plurality of LEDs.

20. The headlamp of claim 19 which is configured as a motor vehicle headlamp.