MOTOR VEHICLE TAILLIGHT

• US 20140160779A1
• Filed: 12/11/2013
• Published: 06/12/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hella KGaA Hueck & Company
• Original Assignee: Hella KGaA Hueck & Company
• Inventors: Pusch, Frank, Ruths, Thorsten
• Granted Patent: US 9,310,044 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/511
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2607 comprising at least two indicating lamps
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/304 Adaptations of signalling devices having a part on the vehicle body and another on the boot door
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/14 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/239 plate-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/241 of complex shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/243 emitting light from one or more of its extremities
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/245 emitting light from one or more of its major surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/249 with two or more light sources being coupled into the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/315 using total internal reflection
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/50 characterised by aesthetic components not otherwise provided for, e.g. decorative trim, partition walls or covers

Abstract

A motor vehicle taillight (10) has at least a rear position light function, a turn signal light function, and a brake light function. The rear position light function and the turn signal light function are formed by a common first optical waveguide (15) and by first LED light sources (16, 17) that inject light into the first optical waveguide (15). The brake light function is formed by at least two second optical waveguides (23) and by second LED light sources (24) that inject light into the optical waveguides (23). The second optical waveguides (23) border the first optical waveguide (15) on at least two sides.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle taillight having at least a rear position light function, a turn signal light function and a brake light function, comprising:

a first optical waveguide and first LED light sources that inject light into the first optical waveguide to carry out the rear position light function and the turn signal light function; and

at least two second optical waveguides and second light sources that inject light into the second optical waveguides to carry out the brake light function, the second optical waveguides bordering the first optical waveguide on at least two sides.

2. The motor vehicle taillight of claim 1, wherein the first optical waveguide has a T-shape cross-section with two vertical limbs formed respectively with coupling-in optical surfaces for coupling in light and a horizontal limb with a coupling-out optical end, two total internal reflection surface formed in transition portions between the vertical limbs and the horizontal limb to redirect the light that is coupled into the vertical limbs into the horizontally extending limb.

3. The motor vehicle taillight of claim 2, wherein each of the second optical waveguides has an L-shaped cross-section with vertical limb with a coupling-in optical end for coupling in light, a horizontal limb with a coupling-out optical end and a total internal reflection surface in a transition portion between the vertical limb and the horizontal limb to redirect the light that is coupled into the respective vertical limb into the respective horizontal limb.

4. The motor vehicle taillight of claim 3, further comprising a first circuit board between the first optical wave guide and an upper one of the second optical waveguides, at least one of the first LED light sources being on a first side of the first circuit board and at least an upper one of the second LED light sources being on a second side of the first circuit board.

5. The motor vehicle taillight of claim 4, further comprising a second circuit board between the first optical waveguide and a lower one of the second optical waveguides at least a lower one of the second LED light sources being on the second circuit board.

6. The motor vehicle taillight of claim 5, further comprising a third circuit board between the second circuit board and the first optical waveguide, at least one of the first LED light sources being on the third circuit board.

7. The motor vehicle taillight of claim 1, wherein the second LED light sources are positioned next to one another with a spacing of 10 to 20 mm.

8. The motor vehicle taillight of claim 1, further comprising a cover plate through which light of the first and second optical waveguides exits, the second optical waveguides projecting light into a top and bottom covering segments of the cover plate, and the first optical waveguide projecting light into a central covering segment of the cover plate between the top and bottom covering segments.

9. The motor vehicle taillight of claim 8, wherein substantially vertical sections of the covering segments are made of a light-transmissive material, and wherein substantially horizontal sections of the covering segments are made at least sectionally of an opaque material.

10. The motor vehicle taillight of claim 8, wherein the cover plate further comprises substantially vertical intermediate covering segments made of a transparent or translucent material and positioned between the covering segments into which the optical waveguides project, and a three-dimensionally contoured visible component is positioned behind the intermediate covering segments.

11. The motor vehicle taillight of claim 8, wherein the cover plate is substantially E-shaped.

12. The motor vehicle taillight of claim 1, the second optical waveguides border the first optical waveguide on three or four sides.