Multifunction lamp unit and rear view device therewith

• US 10,479,266 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2018
• Issued: 11/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SMR Patents Sarl (SMR Patents)
• Original Assignee: SMR Patents Sarl (SMR Patents)
• Inventors: Meier, Eugen, Schmidt, Oliver, Erhart, Volker, Negel, Raimund, Schmierer, Arne, Fritz, Daniel, Herrmann, Andreas
• Primary Examiner(s): Gramling, Sean P
• Assistant Examiner(s): Delahoussaye, Keith G.
• Application Number:
  US15/956,091
• Publication Number:
  US 20180229648A1
• Time in Patent Office: 580 Days
• Field of Search: 362494
• 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: B60Q 1/28 for indicating front of vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/38 using immovably-mounted light sources, e.g. fixed flashing lamps
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/40 Welcome lights, i.e. specific or existing exterior lamps to assist leaving or approaching the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/50 Projected symbol or information, e.g. onto the road or car body
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/06 mounted on vehicle exterior B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/1207 with lamps; with turn indicators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/14 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/145 Surface emitters, e.g. organic light emitting diodes [OLED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/235 Light guides
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/237 rod-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/245 emitting light from one or more of its major surfaces
• 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: F21W 2103/25 for rear-view mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2103/60 Projection of signs from lighting devices, e.g. symbols or information being projected onto the road
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/20 of different form

Abstract

A multifunctional lamp unit includes a side turn indicator including a housing for at least one light conductor with at least one illuminant, and a projection unit. A rearview device including the multifunctional lamp unit, a method of operating the rearview device, and a vehicle including the rearview device are also described.

Claims

1. A rear view device for a vehicle, comprising:

a multifunctional lamp unit, comprising;

a side turn indicator comprising a housing for at least one light conductor with at least one illuminant;

a projection unit;

at least one clear lens;

wherein the at least one light conductor comprises a first light conductor and a second light conductor,

wherein at least one light coupling area is provided in the location of at least one of a first end of the first light conductor facing an installation space in the housing and a first end of the second light conductor extending along a region of at least one light foil extending along at least a part of the at least one clear lens,

wherein each of the first light conductor and the second light conductor is enclosed by the housing and the at least one clear lens; and

at least one casing part providing at least one opening or at least one window for light emitted by the multifunctional lamp unit.

2. The multifunctional lamp unit of claim 1, wherein the at least one illuminant comprises at least one of an LED on a printed circuit board (PCB), a laser diode, and a light foil.

3. The multifunctional lamp unit of claim 1, further comprising a light source for emitting yellow or amber light which is provided by the at least one illuminant for both the side turn indicator and the projection unit.

4. The multifunctional lamp unit of claim 1, wherein the projection unit comprises either a light source for emitting white light or two light sources, one of the two light sources for emitting yellow or amber light and another one of the two light sources for emitting white light.

5. The multifunctional lamp unit of claim 1, wherein the at least one illuminant comprises one or more light sources combined physically or electrically with the projection unit, or

the projection unit comprises one or more light sources combined physically or electrically with the side turn indicator.

6. The multifunctional lamp unit of claim 1,

wherein the side turn indicator, including the at least one clear lens and the at least one light conductor, is produced out of plastic in a 3-component injection procedure, and

wherein a refractive index of the plastic of the at least one clear lens is selected to be different from a refractive index of the plastic of the at least one light conductor, and a boundary defined between the at least one clear lens and the at least one light conductor is at least partly separated by a structure.

7. The multifunctional lamp unit of claim 1, wherein at least one light foil is arranged at least partly between the at least one clear lens and at least a part of the at least one light conductor.

8. The multifunctional lamp unit of claim 6, wherein at least one light conditioning area configured to be used for tinting, dying, reflecting, or scattering is introduced into at least one of the at least one light conductor and the at least one clear lens by choosing at least one additive for the respective plastic.

9. The multifunctional lamp unit of claim 1, wherein the housing is formed with a first recess to build an installation space for the at least one illuminant, and the first recess is sealed.

10. The multifunctional lamp unit of claim 9, wherein the housing is formed with a second recess to build an installation space for a control unit, and the second recess is sealed.

11. The multifunctional lamp unit of claim 10, wherein the control unit is connected to at least one of the at least one illuminant, a light foil and a vehicle.

12. The multifunctional lamp unit of claim 1, wherein at least one light foil extends along at least a part of the at least one clear lens.

13. The multifunctional lamp unit of claim 1, further comprising at least one light decoupling area,

wherein the at least one illuminant comprises a first illuminant, and light rays from the first illuminant are subjected to a total reflection at a boundary defined between the first light conductor and the at least one clear lens outside the at least one light decoupling area.

14. The multifunctional lamp unit of claim 1, wherein the at least one illuminant comprises a first illuminant and a second illuminant, and light rays from the second illuminant are decoupled along at least a part of the extent of the second light conductor.

15. The multifunctional lamp unit of claim 14, wherein the light rays decoupled from the second light conductor pass at least one of the at least one light foil, the at least one clear lens, and the housing.

16. The multifunctional lamp unit of claim 14, wherein the light rays decoupled from the second light conductor pass an opening in at least one of the at least one light foil and the housing.

17. The multifunctional lamp unit of claim 1, wherein the at least one light conductor further comprises a third light conductor and the at least one illuminant comprises a first illuminant, a second illuminant, and a third illuminant, and wherein light rays from the third illuminant are coupled at a first end of the third light conductor and decoupled at a second end of the third light conductor.

18. The multifunctional lamp unit of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of light decoupling regions provided by at least one of the at least one clear lens and the housing.

19. The multifunctional lamp unit of claim 1, wherein the multifunctional lamp unit is configured to provide a plurality of light decoupling directions or light decoupling ranges.

20. The multifunctional lamp unit of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of light decoupling regions, with light having different characteristics being decoupled from the plurality of light decoupling regions.

21. The multifunctional lamp unit of claim 1, wherein the at least one clear lens is made out of a polymeric substrate, wherein the polymeric substrate is coated with a chromium-based reflective coating and wherein the polymeric substrate and the chromium-based reflective coating are at least in part permeable to light originating from at least one of a light foil and the at least one illuminant.

22. The multifunctional lamp unit of claim 21, wherein the chromium-based reflective coating is an alloy of chromium and a dopant material, the dopant material being selected from a group of hexagonally close-packed transition metals, the alloy having a crystal structure of a primary body-centered cubic phase in coexistence with a secondary omega hexagonally close-packed phase.

23. The multifunctional lamp unit of claim 21, wherein the at least one illuminant comprises a first illuminant, a second illuminant, a third illuminant, and a fourth illuminant, and the polymeric substrate comprises a polymeric light pipe into which light from the fourth illuminant is coupled.

24. The multifunctional lamp unit of claim 22, wherein the alloy is a binary alloy of the chromium and the dopant material.

25. The multifunctional lamp unit of claim 24, wherein an atomic percentage of the dopant material in the binary alloy ranges from about 1.9 at. % to about 5.8 at. %.

26. The multifunctional lamp unit of claim 22, wherein the group of hexagonally close-packed transition metals includes at least one of zirconium, titanium, cobalt, hafnium, rubidium, yttrium and osmium.

27. The multifunctional lamp unit of claim 22, wherein the group of hexagonally close-packed transition metals includes at least one of zirconium, titanium and cobalt.

28. The multifunctional lamp unit of claim 22, wherein the alloy is a binary alloy and the dopant material is zirconium, and wherein an atomic percentage of the zirconium in the binary alloy ranges from about 4.5 at. % to about 5.8 at. %.

29. The multifunctional lamp unit of claim 22, wherein the alloy is a binary alloy and the dopant material is titanium, and wherein an atomic percentage of the titanium in the binary alloy ranges from about 1.9 at. % to about 5.8 at. %.

30. The multifunctional lamp unit of claim 22, wherein the alloy is a binary alloy and the dopant material is cobalt, and wherein an atomic percentage of the cobalt in the binary alloy ranges from about 1.9 at. % to 5.7 at. %.

31. The multifunctional lamp unit of claim 22, wherein the chromium-based reflective coating has a thickness of 200 nm, 100 nm, from 40 nm to 80 nm, from 50 nm to 70 nm, or about 60 nm.

32. The multifunctional lamp unit of claim 21, wherein the polymeric substrate is formed from a material selected from the group consisting of polyacrylate, polyester, polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyamides, polyamides, polycarbonate, epoxy, phenolic, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, acrylonitrile-styrene-arylates, acetal, and blends thereof.

33. The multifunctional lamp unit of claim 21, wherein the polymeric substrate is formed from a material selected from the group consisting of polycarbonate, poly(2,2′

-dihydroxyphenylpropane) carbonate, polydiethyleneglycol bis(allyl carbonate), polymethylmethacrylate, polystyrene, and blends thereof.

34. The multifunctional lamp unit of claim 21, wherein the polymeric substrate includes a pre-coated film in the form of a hardcoat, an inorganic oxide, a thin metal film, or a combination of these pre-coated films.

35. The rearview device of claim 1, further comprising at least two casing parts providing at least one opening or window therebetween for light emitted by the multifunctional lamp unit.

36. The rearview device of claim 1, further comprising a head moveable relative to the vehicle, with the head comprising the at least one casing part.

37. The rearview device of claim 1, wherein the at least one casing part is opaque and the at least one window is transparent.

38. The rearview device of claim 1, wherein the at least one casing part and the at least one window are produced out of plastic in a 2-component injection procedure.

39. The rear view device of claim 37, wherein the at least one window is comprised of clear or tinted polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) or polycarbonate (PC).

40. The rear view device of claim 37, wherein the at least one opaque casing part is made of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polypropylene (PP) or high-density polyethylene (HDPE).

41. The rearview device of claim 1, wherein at least one clear lens of the multifunctional lamp unit extends along the at least one casing part.

42. The rearview device of claim 1, wherein at least one clear lens of the multifunctional lamp unit is connected to the at least one casing part.

43. The rear view device of claim 36, further comprising at least one of a camera and a reflective element.

44. The rearview device of claim 1, further comprising at least one light decoupling region providing at least one of a blind spot indicator, a warning light, a puddle light, a logo light, a welcome light and an approach light, in addition to a side turn indicator light.

45. The rearview device of claim 1, wherein the projection unit is adapted to function as a side turn indicator light and a logo light, one at a time.

46. The rearview device of claim 1, wherein the at least one casing part is a scalp part.

47. The rearview device of claim 1, wherein the multifunctional lamp unit is mounted to at least one casing part of the rear view device.

48. The rearview device of claim 1, wherein at least one printed circuit board (PCB) of the multifunctional lamp unit is mounted to at least one casing part of the rear view device.

49. The rearview device of claim 1, further comprising a cooling element.

50. The rear view device of claim 49, wherein at least one printed circuit board (PCB) of the multifunctional lamp unit is connected to the cooling element.

51. The rearview device of claim 1, further comprising:

a head moveable relative to the vehicle;

a folding mechanism comprising an actuating unit configured to move the head in a first direction and in a second direction by driving at least one actuator, wherein the head moves in the first direction toward a first position where the rear view device can observe the rear, and the head moves in the second direction toward a second position where the rear view device cannot observe the rear; and

a control unit configured to control the multifunctional lamp unit depending on at least one of a state of the actuating unit and a position of the head.

52. The rear view device of claim 51, wherein the control unit is configured to instruct the multifunctional lamp unit to reproduce different light effects depending on a type of movement.

53. The rear view device of claim 51, further comprising a door detection unit configured to detect an on/off-state of a door lock device of the vehicle and to transmit the detected on/off-state to the control unit,

wherein the control unit is further configured to instruct the multifunctional lamp unit to reproduce one of predetermined light effects according to the detected on/off-state of the door lock device.

54. The rear view device of claim 51, further comprising a motion detection unit configured to detect a motion state of the vehicle and to transmit the detected motion state to the control unit,

wherein the control unit is further configured to instruct the multifunctional lamp unit to reproduce one of predetermined light effects in response to detecting that the vehicle is in motion.

55. The rear view device of claim 51, further comprising a storage unit configured to store one or more light effects,

wherein the storage unit is configured to further store information on a list of light effects to be reproduced for each user of the vehicle.

56. The rear view device of claim 51, further comprising at least one error detection unit for detecting an operation error,

wherein the control unit is further configured to instruct the multifunctional lamp unit to reproduce one of predetermined light effects in response to the at least one error detection unit detecting an error.

57. The rear view device of claim 51, wherein the projection unit is adapted to project a symbol or a logo onto a road surface in response to the head being in the second position, and

the projection unit is further adapted to project a turn signal onto the road surface in response to the head being in the first position.

58. The rear view device of claim 51, wherein the control unit is configured to activate the projection unit to emit at least one of a puddle light, a logo light, a welcome light and an approach light in response to the head being in the second position, and

the control unit is configured to activate the projection unit to emit a turn signal in response to the head being in the first position.

59. A method for operating the rear view device of claim 51, comprising producing a light effect using the projection unit depending on at least one of a position and movement of the head.

60. The method of claim 59, further comprising emitting, using the projection unit, at least one of a puddle light, a logo light, a welcome light and an approach light, or at least one of a warning light and a turn signal.

61. The method of claim 59, further comprising changing the light effect produced by the projection unit in response to the head being moved.

62. A vehicle, comprising a rear view device according to claim 51.

63. The vehicle of claim 62, further comprising an input device disposed inside the vehicle and configured to receive an input from a user, wherein a light effect to be reproduced is able to be supplemented or changed according to information inputted to the input device.

64. The vehicle of claim 63, wherein the input device includes at least one of a switch positioned on a dashboard, a touchscreen, a seat memory button, a seat control button, and an orientation control button for the head of the rear view device.

65. The rear view device of claim 43, wherein the camera and the reflective element are arranged within the moveable head.

66. The multifunctional lamp unit of claim 1, wherein the multifunctional lamp unit is a multifunctional side turn indicator lamp unit.

67. The rear view device of claim 35, further comprising a head moveable relative to the vehicle, with the head comprising the at least two casing parts.

68. The rear view device of claim 35, wherein the at least two casing parts are opaque and the at least one window is transparent.

69. The rear view device of claim 35, wherein at least one casing part of the at least two casing parts and one window of the at least one window are produced out of plastic in a 2-component injection procedure.

70. The rear view device of claim 35, wherein at least one clear lens of the multifunctional lamp unit extends along the at least two casing parts.

71. The rear view device of claim 35, wherein at least one clear lens of the multifunctional lamp unit is connected to the at least two casing parts.