Light guide for an optical device, notably for lighting and/or signaling

• US 9,557,024 B2
• Filed: 11/27/2013
• Issued: 01/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Valeo Vision (Valeo SE)
• Original Assignee: Valeo Vision (Valeo SE)
• Inventors: Giraud, Sylvain
• Primary Examiner(s): Chavez, Renee
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dunay, Christopher E
• Application Number:
  US14/091,536
• Publication Number:
  US 20140146554A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,161 Days
• Field of Search: 362/551, 362/23.09, 362/23.1, 362/23.16, 362/23.17, 362/249.07
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/00 Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/14 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/239 plate-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/243 emitting light from one or more of its extremities
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/249 with two or more light sources being coupled into the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0001 specially adapted for lighting devices or systems lighting or signalling on vehicles using light guides B60Q1/00; lighting devices for vehicle dashboards B60Q3/10; lighting devices for vehicle interior using light guides B60Q3/62; lighting devices mounted on the vehicle rear part using light guides F21S43/235; measuring arrangements having light conducting pointers G01D13/265; illumination of liquid crystal displays G02F1/1336; illuminated signs G09F13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/002 by shaping at least a portion of the light guide, e.g. with collimating, focussing or diverging surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0031 Reflecting element, sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0045 by shaping at least a portion of the light guide

Abstract

A light guide for an optical device, notably for lighting and/or signaling, comprising:

• • at least one light output portion having a top face and a bottom face linked together by a light output rim,
  • at least one collimation subassembly suitable for receiving light emitted by a light source and for directing at least a part of this light toward the light output portion, the collimation subassembly having a top face and a bottom face linked together by a rim, and
  • a coupling portion coupling the light output portion to the subassembly, the coupling portion having a top face and a bottom face,
  • the bottom and top faces of the collimation subassembly extend substantially in mutually parallel planes, and in that the top face of the coupling portion and at least one of the top face of the collimation subassembly and of the top face of the light output portion meet at an edge.

Claims

1. A light guide for an optical device, notably for lighting and/or signaling, comprising:

at least one light output portion having a top face and a bottom face linked together by a light output rim,

at least one collimation subassembly suitable for receiving light emitted by a light source and for directing at least a part of this light toward the light output portion, the collimation subassembly having a top face and a bottom face linked together by a collimation rim, and

a coupling portion coupling the light output portion to the subassembly, the coupling portion having a coupling portion top face and a coupling portion bottom face,

wherein the bottom and top faces of the collimation subassembly extend substantially in mutually parallel planes, and in that the coupling portion top face of the coupling portion and at least one of the top face of the collimation subassembly and of the top face of the light output portion meet at an edge;

wherein said collimation rim is at least partially curved or arcuate and said coupling portion facilitates enhancing a uniform distribution of light through said light output rim,

wherein the guide further comprises;

a plurality of collimation subassemblies,

a single light output portion, and

a plurality of coupling portions,

each coupling portion coupling one of the collimation subassemblies to the light output portion.

2. The light guide according to claim 1, wherein, when a light ray arrives on the coupling portion bottom face of the coupling portion with a given direction of incidence, the coupling portion top face and coupling portion bottom face of the coupling portion are arranged in such a way as to reflect this ray, notably by total internal reflection, toward the light output portion in a direction of reflection substantially parallel to the given direction of incidence.

3. The light guide according to claim 1, wherein, when a light ray arrives on the coupling portion top face of the coupling portion with a given direction of incidence, the coupling portion top face and coupling portion bottom face of the coupling portion are arranged so that when said ray is incident on said coupling portion bottom face it lies in a direction of incidence that is generally parallel to a direction of said ray after it is reflected by both said coupling portion top face and coupling portion bottom face, notably by total internal reflection, toward the light output portion in a direction of reflection substantially parallel to the given direction of incidence on said coupling portion bottom face.

4. The light guide according to claim 1, wherein the coupling portion top face of the coupling portion and the top face of the collimation subassembly meet at a first edge, and in that the coupling portion top face of the coupling portion and the top face of the light output portion meet at a second edge.

5. The light guide according to claim 4, wherein at least one of:

the first edge defines the apex of an angle formed by the coupling portion top face of the coupling portion and the top face of the collimation subassembly, this angle being between 130° and

160°

;

or

the second edge defines the apex of an angle formed by the coupling portion top face of the coupling portion and the top face of the output portion, this angle being between 130° and

160°

.

6. The light guide according to claim 5, wherein at least one of the angles is 135°

.

7. The light guide according to claim 1, wherein the coupling portion bottom face of the coupling portion and the bottom face of the collimation subassembly meet at a third edge, and in that the coupling portion bottom face of the coupling portion and the bottom face of the output portion meet at a fourth edge.

8. The light guide according to claim 7, wherein at least one of:

the third edge defines the apex of an angle formed by the coupling portion bottom face of the coupling portion and the bottom face of the collimation subassembly, this angle being between 130° and

160°

;

or

the fourth edge defines the apex of an angle formed by the coupling portion bottom face of the coupling portion and the bottom face of the output portion, this angle being between 130° and

160°

.

9. The light guide according to claim 8, wherein at least one of the angles is 135°

.

10. The light guide according to claim 1, wherein the coupling portion bottom face of the coupling portion is, over its entire surface, facing the coupling portion top face of the coupling portion.

11. The light guide according to claim 1, wherein the coupling portion top face of the coupling portion is offset relative to the coupling portion bottom face of the coupling portion.

12. The light guide according to claim 1, wherein the bottom face of the collimation subassembly is a light input face suitable for receiving light emitted by a light source.

13. The light guide according to claim 12, wherein the collimation subassembly comprises collimation means for directing at least a part of the light originating from the bottom face of the collimation subassembly toward the coupling portion.

14. The light guide according to claim 13, wherein, when rays (R) are emitted from a predetermined point relative to the guide, pass through the input face and arrive on these collimation means, the collimation means are arranged to direct, directly or indirectly, a majority, notably all, of these rays toward the coupling portion in the form of a beam with parallel rays (R1, R2, R3).

15. The light guide according to claim 1, wherein the light output portion forms a guiding sheet arranged to guide, toward the output rim, light coming from the coupling portion and being propagated in the sheet, notably by total internal reflection.

16. The light guide according to claim 1, wherein the light output portion has a curved form.

17. The light guide according to claim 1, wherein the top face of the light output portion and the light output rim meet at a top output rim edge, in that the bottom face of the light output portion and the output rim meet at a bottom output rim edge, the top output rim edge and/or the bottom output rim edge having a curved and smooth, that is to say unbroken, profile.

18. The light guide according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the bottom faces of the collimation subassemblies extends in one and the same first plane (P1) and that at least one other part of the bottom faces of the collimation subassemblies extends in one and the same second plane (P2, P3), the first and second planes being distinct.

19. An optical device, notably for a motor vehicle, such as a lighting or signaling or interior lighting device, comprising:

at least one light source, notably a light-emitting diode,

at least one light guide according to claim 1,

the light source being arranged to light the light guide.

20. The optical device according to claim 19, wherein the device comprises a plurality of light sources arranged to light the light guide, the light guide comprising a plurality of collimation subassemblies, each light source being associated with a different subassembly.