Light unit and exterior mirror with a light unit

• US 7,600,905 B2
• Filed: 05/11/2007
• Issued: 10/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SMR Patents Sarl (SMR Patents)
• Original Assignee: SMR Patents Sarl (SMR Patents)
• Inventors: Geiger, Uwe, Glaeser, Andre
• Primary Examiner(s): Choi; Jacob Y
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAY, ROBERT J
• Application Number:
  US11/747,308
• Publication Number:
  US 20070290829A1
• Time in Patent Office: 886 Days
• Field of Search: 362554-556, 362/511, 362 26- 30, 362/236, 362/241, 362/494, 362/540, 385/901, 385/146, 385/88, 385/89, 385/92, 385/93, 385/94, 385/45, 385/43, 385/42, 385/32, 385/47
• US Class Current: 362/551
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2665 on rear-view mirrors lighting devices for vehicle interior on or for rear-view mirrors B60Q3/258
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/1207 with lamps; with turn indicators
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0028 Light guide, e.g. taper
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0046 Tapered light guide, e.g. wedge-shaped light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0068 Arrangements of plural sources, e.g. multi-colour light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0078 Side-by-side arrangements, e.g. for large area displays

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle light unit with one or several lamps, in which light can be guided in a light conductor material, in particular a flashing direction indicator light unit. At least two light conductor sections (16a-16c) are brought together with a first end (18a-18c) and a second end (20a-20c) respectively at one of their ends (20a-20c) in a junction (30), which forms a decoupling region (24), into which light exits, which is guided in the light conductor sections (16a-16c) to the junction (30). Furthermore, the invention relates to an exterior mirror of a vehicle, which is equipped with a light unit.

Claims

1. A vehicle light unit (10) comprising:

a first light conductor (16a) extending between a first light receiving end (18a) and a first nodal end (20a);

a second light conductor (16b) extending between a second light receiving end (18b) and a second nodal end (20b), said first nodal end (20a) and said second nodal end (20b) being brought together in a junction (30);

first (12a) and second (12b) lamps disposed adjacent said first (18a) and second (18b) light receiving ends, respectively, to emit light therein;

a third light conductor (16c) connected to said junction (30); and

a decoupling region (26a, 26b) defining a plane and extending along said first (16a) and second (16b) light conductors between said light receiving ends (18a, 18b) and said nodal ends (20a, 20b) allowing light to exit homogenously along said first and second light conductors (16a, 16b) between said light receiving ends (18a, 18b) and said nodal ends (20a, 20b), wherein said third light conductor (16c) extends outside said plane defined by said decoupling region (26a, 26b).

2. The vehicle light unit (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one of said light conductors (16a, 16b) has a coupling point (22a, 22b) for one of said lamps (12, 12b) away from said junction (30).

3. The vehicle light unit (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one of said light conductors (16a, 16b) has a coupling point (22a, 22b) arranged at said light receiving end (18a, 18b) away from said the junction (30).

4. The vehicle light unit (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that said first (20a) and second (20b) nodal ends are disposed adjacent each other such that a coupling of light is provided directly at said junction (30).

5. The vehicle light unit (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one of said light conductors (16a, 16b) has a coupling point (22a, 22b) for said lamp (12a, 12b) perpendicular to a longitudinal extension between said ends (18a, 20a and 18b, 20b).

6. The vehicle light unit (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that said light conductors (16a, 16b) include at least one additional decoupling region therealong.

7. The vehicle light unit according to claim 6, characterized in that said light conductors (16a, 16b) include several decoupling regions follow one another defining a series of gaps between said light receiving ends (18a, 18b) and said nodal ends (20a, 20b) so that a homogeneous impression of brightness is produced therebetween.

8. The vehicle light unit (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that said decoupling regions (26a, 26b) disposed adjacent said junction (30) is at least the same as or greater than at said decoupling regions (26a, 26b) between said nodal ends (20a, 20b) and said light receiving ends (18a, 18b) away from said junction (30).

9. The vehicle light unit according to claim 1, characterized in that said light conductor defines a frontal area at said light receiving ends.

10. The vehicle light unit according to claim 9, including a reflector that directs light emitted by said lamps into said frontal area of said light conductors.

11. An exterior mirror of a vehicle comprising:

a housing defining a backward-directed opening in an assembled state, said housing further defining a hollow space and a front panel (108) limiting the hollow space with an external surface (110);

a mirror operatively secured within said housing;

a first light conductor (16a) extending between a first light receiving end (18a) and a first nodal end (20a);

a second light conductor (16b) extending between a second light receiving end (18b) and a second nodal end (20b), said first nodal end (20a) and said second nodal end (20b) being brought together in a junction (30), said first light conductor (16a) and said second light conductor (16b) extending along said front panel with a portion of said front panel extending between said first (16a) and second (16b) light conductors;

first (12a) and second (12b) lamps disposed adjacent said first (18a) and second (18b) light receiving ends, respectively, to emit light therein; and

a decoupling region (26a, 26b) extending along said first (16a) and second (16b) light conductors between said light receiving ends (18a, 18b) and said nodal ends (20a, 20b) allowing light to exit homogenously along said first and second light conductors (16a, 16b) between said light receiving ends (18a, 18b) and said nodal ends (20a, 20b).

12. An exterior mirror according to claim 11, characterized in that at least one of said light conductors is arranged in said front panel.

13. An exterior mirror according to claim 11, characterized in that at least a portion of one of said light conductors is guided through said front panel concealing said junction.

14. An exterior mirror according to claim 11, including a third light conductor disposed inside said hollow behind said front panel and operatively connected to said first and second light conductors at said junction, wherein said first and second light conductors extend along said front panel.

15. An exterior mirror according to claim 11, characterized in that said light conductors include at least one additional decoupling region disposed between said light receiving ends and said nodal ends.

16. Exterior mirror according to o claim 11, characterized in that said light conductors include several decoupling regions follow one another in series defining gaps between said light receiving ends and said nodal ends creating homogeneous brightness therebetween.

17. Exterior mirror according to claim 11, characterized in that said housing defines a lateral edge whereby said the junction is disposed adjacent said lateral edge.