Light Unit and Exterior Mirror with a Light Unit

• US 20070290829A1
• Filed: 05/11/2007
• Published: 12/20/2007
• 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
• Granted Patent: US 7,600,905 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/475
• 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 6a-16c) are brought together with a first end 8a-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 6a-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. 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, characterized in that at least two light conductor sections with a first end and a second end respectively, are brought together at one of their ends in a junction, which forms a decoupling region, into which light exits, which is guided in the light conductor sections to the junction.

2. Light unit according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one of the light conductor sections has a coupling point for a lamp away from the junction.

3. Light unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the coupling point is arranged at the end, which is away from the junction.

4. Light unit according to claim 1, characterized in that a coupling of light is provided directly at the junction.

5. Light unit according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one coupling point for a lamp is provided perpendicular to a longitudinal extension between the first and second end of the light conductor section.

6. Light unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the light conductor section between the coupling point and the junction has at least one additional decoupling region.

7. Light unit according to claim 6, characterized in that several decoupling regions follow one another at such gaps between the coupling point and the junction that an essentially more homogeneous impression of brightness is produced between the coupling point and the junction.

8. Light unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the brightness at the junction is at least the same as or greater than at decoupling regions at the light conductor section.

9. Light unit to claim 1, characterized in that two light conductor sections are located in a surface and a third light conductor section runs below the surface and is connected in junction to the other light conductor sections.

10. Light unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the lamp shines in its light-exit direction along its optic axis 8 directly into a frontal area of the light conductor section 6a-16c at the coupling point.

11. Light unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the lamp projects into a frontal area of the light conductor section at the coupling point.

12. Light unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the lamp shines its light at the coupling point via a reflector into a frontal area of the light conductor section.

13. Light unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the lamp projects at the coupling point into light conductor material, which borders onto the light conductor section.

14. Exterior mirror of a vehicle with a backward-directed opening in an assembled state in a housing, which surrounds a hollow space, in which a mirror can be accommodated, and a forward-directed back panel limiting the hollow space with an external surface with a light unit in particular according to at least one of the previous claims, characterized in that at least two light conductor sections with a first end and a second end respectively, are brought together at their second end in a junction, which forms a decoupling region into which light exits, which is guided in the light conductor sections to the junction.

15. Exterior mirror according to claim 14, characterized in that at least one of the light conductor sections is arranged in the external surface.

16. Exterior mirror according to claim 14, characterized in that one light conductor section is guided through the back panel concealed to the junction.

17. Exterior mirror according to claim 14, characterized in that two light conductor sections are located in the external surface and a third light conductor section runs below the external surface and is connected in junction to the other light conductor sections.

18. Exterior mirror according to claim 14, characterized in that a coupling of light is provided directly at the junction.

19. Exterior mirror according to o claim 14, characterized in that the light conductor section between the coupling point and the junction has at least one additional decoupling region.

20. Exterior mirror according to o claim 14, characterized in that several decoupling regions follow one another at such gaps between the coupling point and the junction that an essentially more homogeneous impression of brightness is produced between the coupling point and the junction.

21. Exterior mirror according to claim 14, characterized in that the brightness at the junction is at least the same as at decoupling regions at the light conductor section.

22. Exterior mirror according to claim 14, characterized in that the junction is arranged at a lateral edge of the housing.