Car lighting unit for generating a beam of light and a holographic 3D image

• US 8,317,379 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2009
• Issued: 11/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Wang, Lingli, Oomen, Emmanuel Wilhelmus Johannes Leonardus
• Primary Examiner(s): Hines, Anne
• Assistant Examiner(s): Diaz, Jose M
• Application Number:
  US12/864,531
• Publication Number:
  US 20100302794A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,397 Days
• Field of Search: 362 36- 37, 362/459, 362/487, 362498-499, 362/509, 362/514, 362516-522, 362538-542, 359/9, 359/13, 359/15, 359/19, 359/23, 359/28, 359/32, 359/35, 359/901
• US Class Current: 362/518
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0017 Devices integrating an element dedicated to another function
• 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: F21S 43/14 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/235 Light guides
• 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: F21S 43/40 characterised by the combination of reflectors and refractors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0025 Combination of two or more reflectors for a single light source array of reflectors for a cluster of light sources F21V7/0083
• 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 1/24 using white light , e.g. rainbow holograms
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 1/30 discrete holograms only
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2001/0055 in advertising or decorative art
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2001/2231 Reflection reconstruction
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2001/2234 Transmission reconstruction
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2001/226 Virtual or real
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2001/262 not in optical contact G03H1/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2210/30 3D object
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2223/16 Optical waveguide, e.g. optical fibre, rod
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2227/06 Support including light source

Abstract

The invention provides a car lighting unit comprising a reflector and a light source arranged to generate light. The reflector circumferentially surrounds the light source and has a reflector opening. 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 source-related 3D hologram and a source-unrelated 3D hologram. The car lighting unit is 5 constructed to generate a beam of light and a source-related holographic 3D image, using light from the light source, during operation of the lighting unit, and a source-unrelated 3D holographic image when the lighting unit is not in operation.

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 has a reflector opening, the reflector being arranged to reflect at least part of the light from the light source through the reflector opening,

a daylight 3D hologram arranged to receive daylight and generate a source-unrelated holographic 3D image by daylight, wherein the source-unrelated 3D hologram is a reflective 3D hologram comprised by the reflector, the reflector further comprising an optical opening arranged to guide away, as hologram feed light, at least part of the light from the light source,

a source-related 3D hologram, external from the reflector and arranged to receive the hologram feed light via the optical opening and generate a source-related holographic 3D image, said car lighting unit being constructed to generate a beam of light and the source-related holographic 3D image by light from the light source; and

an optical unit defining an optical chamber arranged to receive the hologram feed light via optical opening, the optical chamber further comprising a reflector arranged to reflect at least part of the hologram feed light in the direction of the source-related 3D hologram.

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

1.

3. The car lighting unit according to claim 1, wherein the car lighting unit 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, daytime running lights, reversing lamps and parking lamps.

4. The car lighting unit according to claim 1, wherein the car lighting unit is constructed to generate the daylight holographic 3D image within a distance in the range of 0 to 0.1 m from the reflector opening, and/or wherein the car lighting unit is constructed to generate the source-related holographic 3D image within a distance L1 in the range of 0 to 0.1 m from the reflector opening.

5. The car lighting unit according to claim 1, wherein, during use, the ratio of the luminous intensity related to the source-related holographic 3D image relative to the total luminous intensity is in the range of 0.01 to 0.1.

6. The car lighting unit according to claim 1, wherein, during use, the luminous intensity related to the source-related holographic 3D image is in the range of 0.04 to 100 cd.

7. The car lighting unit according to claim 1, wherein the optical opening comprises a waveguide arranged to guide the hologram feed light in the direction of the source-related 3D hologram.

8. The car lighting unit according to claim 1, wherein the car lighting unit further comprises an optical unit (200) with an optical chamber, the optical chamber being arranged to receive the hologram feed light via the optical opening, wherein the optical chamber further comprises a chamber opening (211), the source-related 3D hologram is a transmissive hologram, and the chamber opening (211) comprises the source-related 3D hologram.

9. The car lighting unit according to claim 1, wherein the source-related 3D hologram is a reflective hologram.

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

11. The car lighting unit according to claim 1, wherein the reflector opening comprises a transmissive optical element, and wherein the daylight 3D hologram is integrated with the transmissive optical element.

12. The car lighting unit according to claim 1, wherein the daylight 3D hologram is a dynamic hologram, and/or wherein the source-related hologram is a dynamic hologram.