Illumination device for vehicle lamp

1. Illumination device (10) for a vehicle lamp, preferably a rear vehicle lamp, comprising: —a first light source (100) configured to emit light in a main direction (X) and contributes to a first light distribution, —a second light source (200) configured to emit light in the main direction (X) and contributes to a second light distribution, —a cover lens (300) with a translucent section (310), —a mounting body (20), on which the first and second light source (100, 200) are mounted, wherein the illumination device (10) comprises an additional lens device (400) comprising a first projection section (410) and a second projection section (420), which are at least partly translucent and are configured to project light of the first and second light source (100, 200) into the translucent section (310) of the cover lens (300), wherein the first projection section (410) in combination with the first light source (100) is configured to produce the first light distribution, and wherein the second projection section (420) in combination with the second light source (200) is configured to produce the second light distribution, wherein the additional lens device (400) comprises a first opaque section (430), which is arranged between the first and second projection section (410, 420) and is configured to separate both projection sections (410, 420) from each other, wherein the first opaque section (430) comprises an extension element (440), which is mechanically connected to the first opaque section (430) and extends from the first opaque section (430) towards and reaches between the first and second light source (100, 200), wherein the extension element (440) is arranged in a way to prevent light emitted from one of the light sources (100, 200) to couple into the other light source.

The invention relates to an illumination device for a vehicle lamp, preferably a vehicle rear lamp, comprising:a first light source configured to emit light in a main direction, wherein the first light source contributes to produce a first light distribution,a second light source configured to emit light in the main direction, wherein the second light source contributes to produce a second light distribution,a cover lens with a translucent section configured to project the light of the first and second light source in the main direction in front of the illumination device,a mounting body, on which the first and second light source are mounted, and wherein the cover lens is mountable on the mounting body in such a way, so that the mounting body and the cover lens build a closed casing for the first and second light source.

The invention also relates to a vehicle rear lamp comprising at least one aforementioned illumination device.

In typical rear lamps, the individual lighting functions (brake light and/or turn indicator) are realized either by separate reflectors or light guides. In case of light guides, shading elements are needed to prevent the radiation of one lighting function from influencing the other lighting function.

These shading elements are usually mounted in the lamp housing or the mounting body, however, in this way only rear lamps with narrow dimensions are possible.

It is an object of the invention to provide an enhanced illumination device.

To achieve this object, the illumination device comprises an additional lens device arranged in the closed casing and comprising a first projection section and a second projection section, which first and second projection section are at least partly translucent and are configured to project light of the first and second light source into the translucent section of the cover lens, wherein the first projection section of the additional lens device is assigned to the first light source and is in combination with the first light source configured to produce the first light distribution, and wherein the second projection section of the additional lens device is assigned to the second light source and is in combination with the second light source configured to produce the second light distribution,

wherein the additional lens device comprises a first opaque section, which is arranged between the first and second projection section and is configured to separate both projection sections from each other, so that the light coupled into the first projection section of the additional lens device is prevented to couple into the other projection section,

wherein the first opaque section of the additional lens device comprises an extension element, which is mechanically connected to the first opaque section by means of a mounting device and extends from the first opaque section towards and reaches between the first and second light source, wherein the extension element is arranged in a way to prevent light emitted from one of the light sources to couple into the other light source path and to prevent light emitted from one of the light sources to couple into a projection section assigned to the other light source.

There is a demand for production of rear or tail lamps provided with smaller out-coupling openings and/or projecting sections from a vehicle body. To fulfil homogeneity requirements the rear lamps must be designed longer. Thus, long rear lamps with small out-coupling openings or projection sections, having a large distance between the light sources and the cover lens are possible, since these are such size conditions are crucial for vehicle rear lamps.

Further, the extension element prevents light emitted from a light source to couple into the light path of the other light source.

Advantageously, the first and second light source are built as light guides, each of which extend along a longitudinal axis, wherein preferably the longitudinal axis of the light guides are parallel to each other.

Advantageously, in an installed position of the illumination device, the first and second light source being arranged in a vertical plane and parallel to each other along a horizontal axis, wherein the vertical plane is orthogonal to the main direction.

Advantageously, the mounting device is configured to allow an adjusting of the position of the extension element to the first opaque section of the additional lens device and a fixation in a final position.

Advantageously, the extension element is movable around an adjusting axis of the mounting device, which adjusting axis is orthogonal to the main direction.

Advantageously, the translucent section of the cover lens is surrounded by an opaque area of the cover lens.

Advantageously, the additional lens device is made by an injection molding process, wherein preferably the cover lens is made by a two-component injection molding process.

Advantageously, the additional lens device comprises at least one first engaging element and the cover lens comprises at least one second engaging element corresponding to the first engaging element, wherein in a mounted position of the additional lens device on the cover lens the first engaging element engages with the second engaging element so that the additional cover lens is mounted on the cover lens, wherein preferably the at least one first engaging element is arranged on the first and second projection section of the additional cover lens.

Advantageously, the first engaging element is built as a protrusion and the second engaging element is built as receiving opening, or the second engaging element is built as protrusion and the first engaging element is built as receiving opening.

Advantageously, the cover lens having a cavity, wherein the additional lens device is mountable into the cavity of the cover lens and fixed in a mounting position by pushing the additional lens device in the main direction so that the first engaging element of the additional lens device engages with the second engaging element of the cover lens.

Advantageously, the cover lens comprises a third and fourth projection section and a second opaque section which is arranged between the third and fourth projection section and is configured to separate both projection sections from each other, so that the light coupled into a projection section of the cover lens is prevented to couple into the other projection section, wherein the third projection section corresponds to the first projection section of the additional lens device and the fourth projection section corresponds to the second projection section of the additional lens device in a way, that light coupled into the first projection section is only projected into the third projection section of the cover lens, and that light coupled into the second projection section is only projected into the fourth projection section of the cover lens.

Advantageously, the at least one first engaging element of the additional lens device is further glued or welded to at least one second engaging element of the cover lens.

Advantageously, the first projection section having a color different from the second projection section of the additional lens device.

Advantageously, the extension element is glued or welded to the first opaque section of the additional lens device.

Advantageously, the first light distribution is a brake light distribution, wherein preferably the second light distribution is a turn indicator light distribution.

Advantageously, the extension element comprises a flexible and/or elastic mounting section, which mounting section is in mechanical contact with the first opaque section of the additional lens device, wherein preferably the mounting section touches the first opaque section and is fixed in this position, preferably by screws, welding or gluing.

The object of the invention is also achieved by a vehicle rear lamp comprising at least one illumination device according to the invention.

FIG.1shows an illumination device10for a vehicle rear lamp, comprising a first light source100configured to emit light in a main direction X, wherein the first light source100contributes to produce a first light distribution, a second light source200configured to emit light in the main direction X, wherein the second light source200contributes to produce a second light distribution, a cover lens300with a translucent section310configured to project the light of the first and second light source100,200in the main direction X in front of the illumination device10, wherein the translucent section310of the cover lens300is surrounded by an opaque area320of the cover lens300. Preferably the cover lens300is made by a two-component injection molding process.

The illumination device10further comprises a mounting body20, which forms a cavity, in which the first and second light source100,200are mounted, and wherein the cover lens300is mountable on the mounting body20in such a way, so that the mounting body20and the cover lens300build a closed casing for the first and second light source100,200, which can be seen inFIG.1andFIG.2, which shows a perspective view of the illumination device10, wherein the cover lens300is mounted on the mounting body20.

The first and second light source100,200are built as light guides, each of which extend along a longitudinal axis, wherein preferably the longitudinal axis of the light guides are parallel to each other, and wherein the first and second light source100,200are arranged or mounted on a common support body30, preferably a printed circuit board. The common support body30is mountable in the mounting body20.

Further, in an installed position of the illumination device10, the first and second light source100,200being arranged in a vertical plane and parallel to each other along a horizontal axis on the common support body30, wherein the vertical plane is orthogonal to the main direction X.

The illumination device10further comprises an additional lens device400, which is made by an injection molding process and arranged in the closed casing and comprising a first projection section410and a second projection section420, which first and second projection section410,420are at least partly translucent and are configured to project light of the first and second light source100,200into the translucent section310of the cover lens300, wherein the first projection section410of the additional lens device400is assigned to the first light source100and is in combination with the first light source100configured to produce the first light distribution, and wherein the second projection section420of the additional lens device400is assigned to the second light source200and is in combination with the second light source200configured to produce the second light distribution.

Further, the additional lens device400comprises a first opaque section430, which is arranged between the first and second projection section410,420and is configured to separate both projection sections410,420from each other, so that the light coupled into a projection section410,420of the additional lens device400is prevented to couple into the other projection section, which can be seen in detail inFIG.3,FIG.4andFIG.5.

The first opaque section430of the additional lens device400comprises an extension element440, which is mechanically connected to the first opaque section430by means of a mounting device450and extends from the first opaque section430towards and reaches between the first and second light source100,200—as can be seen for example inFIG.1—wherein the extension element440is arranged in a way to prevent light emitted from one of the light sources100,200to couple into the other light source and to prevent light emitted from one of the light sources100,200to couple into a projection section assigned to the other light source.

In this way, in an installed state of the illumination device10, two chambers are built, each of the chambers comprises a light source and a projection section410,420;310a,310bof the additional lens device400and the cover lens300, wherein light emitted by a light source100,200of one chamber cannot couple or illuminate into the other chamber.

For installation, the extension element440is movable around an adjusting axis Y of the mounting device450, which adjusting axis Y is orthogonal to the main direction X. The mounting device450is configured to allow an adjusting of the position of the extension element440to the first opaque section430of the additional lens device400and a fixation in a final position.

For installation of the additional lens device400onto or into the cover lens300, the additional lens device400comprises at least one first engaging element460and the cover lens300comprises at least one second engaging element360corresponding to the first engaging element460, wherein in a mounted position of the additional lens device400on the cover lens300the first engaging element460engages with the second engaging element360so that the additional lens device400is mounted on the cover lens300, wherein preferably the at least one first engaging element460is arranged on the first and second projection section410,420of the additional lens device400, which can be seen in more detail inFIG.6. The at least one first engaging element460of additional lens device400is further glued or welded to at least one second engaging element360of the cover lens300.

In the shown example, the first engaging element460is built as a protrusion and the second engaging element360is built as receiving opening.

Further, the cover lens300having a cavity, wherein the additional lens device400is mountable into the cavity of the cover lens300and fixed in a mounting position by pushing the additional lens device400in the main direction X so that the first engaging element460of the additional lens device400engages with the second engaging element360of the cover lens300.

The cover lens300further comprises a third and fourth projection section310a,310band a second opaque section330which is arranged between the third and fourth projection section310a,310band is configured to separate both projection sections310a,310bfrom each other, so that the light coupled into a projection section310a,310bof the cover lens300is prevented to couple into the other projection section, wherein the third projection section310acorresponds to the first projection section410of the additional lens device400and the fourth projection section310bcorresponds to the second projection section420of the additional lens device400in a way, that light coupled into the first projection section410is only projected into the third projection section310aof the cover lens300, and that light coupled into the second projection section420is only projected into the fourth projection section310bof the cover lens300.

Further, in the shown example, the first projection section410of the additional lens device400having a color different from the second projection section420of the additional lens device400, wherein the first light distribution is a brake light distribution and the second light distribution is a turn indicator light distribution.

Moreover, in the example ofFIG.4the extension element440comprises a flexible and/or elastic mounting section, which mounting section is in mechanical contact with the first opaque section430of the additional lens device400, wherein the mounting section touches the first opaque section430and is fixed in this position, preferably by screws, welding or gluing.

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