CAR LIGHTING UNIT FOR GENERATING A BEAM OF LIGHT AND A HOLOGRAPHIC 3D IMAGE

• US 20100214797A1
• Filed: 04/25/2008
• Published: 08/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Benter, Nils, Meijers, Augustinus Gregorius Henricus, Epmeier, Matthias Daniel, Wang, Lingli, Haenen, Ludo
• Granted Patent: US 8,506,144 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/519
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2696 Mounting of devices using LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/535 to prevent rear-end collisions, e.g. by indicating safety distance at the rear of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/545 for indicating other traffic conditions, e.g. fog, heavy traffic
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/14 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/26 Refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters not provided in groups F21S43/235 - F21S43/255
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/31 Optical layout thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 1/2202 Reconstruction geometries or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 1/2286 Particular reconstruction light G03H1/24 takes precedence; Beam properties
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2001/2231 Reflection reconstruction
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2001/2234 Transmission reconstruction
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2210/30 3D object
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2250/42 Reflective layer G03H2250/36 takes precedence

Abstract

The invention provides a car lighting unit (1) comprising a reflector (10) and a light source (20) arranged to generate light (21). The reflector (10) circumferentially surrounds the light source and the reflector has a reflector opening (11). The reflector is arranged to reflect at least part of the light from the light source through the reflector opening. The car lighting unit further comprises a 3D hologram (30). The car lighting unit is constructed to generate a beam of light (22) and a holographic 3D image (31), using light from the light source (20).

Claims

1. A car lighting unit comprising:

a reflector

a light source arranged to generate light, wherein the reflector circumferentially surrounds the light source and defines a reflector opening, the reflector being arranged to reflect at least part of the light from the light source through the reflector opening, and

a 3D hologram disposed proximate to the light source such that, in operation, the light source generates a beam of light and a holographic 3D image, wherein the luminous intensity related to the holographic image ranges from about 0.04 cd to about 100 cd.

2. The car lighting unit according to claim 1, wherein the reflector opening has a reflector opening area and wherein the 3D hologram has a hologram surface area and wherein the ratio of the reflector opening area to the hologram surface area is ≧

1.

4. The car lighting unit according to claim 1, wherein the car lighting unit provides a signaling function and is selected from the group consisting of rear direction indicator lamps, front direction indicator lamps, side direction indicator lamps, stop lamps, front position (side) lamps, rear position (side) lamps, end-outline marker lamps, rear fog lamps, center high mounted stop lamps, high mounted stop lamps, day time running lights, reversing lamps and parking lamps.

5. The car lighting unit according to claim 1, wherein the holographic 3D image is generated within a distance L1 from the reflector opening not exceeding about 0.1 m.

6. The car lighting unit according to claim 1, wherein, in operation, the ratio of the luminous intensity related to the holographic 3D image to the total luminous intensity of the light generated by the light source is in the range of 0.01-0.1.

9. The car lighting unit according to claim 1, wherein the 3D hologram is a transmissive, dynamic or reflective hologram.

10. The car lighting unit according to claim 1, wherein the reflector has a reflector surface and wherein the 3D hologram is arranged on the reflector surface.

11. The car lighting unit according to claim 1, further comprising a transmissive optical element, wherein the 3D hologram is integrated within the transmissive optical element (14).

13. The car lighting unit according to claim 1, wherein the holographic image is generated within the beam of light.

3. (canceled)

7-8. -8. (canceled)

12. (canceled)

14-15. -15. (canceled)