Abstract:
The present utility model discloses a light guiding device and a vehicle lamp. The light guiding device includes a light guide medium component configured to allow light to be transmitted through it from one end thereof to another end thereof. A light guide fixing component is arranged on the light guide medium component and configured to fix the light guide medium component, wherein the light guide medium component and the light guide fixing component are both at least partly made of a transparent material. The light guide fixing component has a light directing portion configured to direct the light leaked from the light guide medium component into the light guide fixing component to exit the light guide fixing component away from a predetermined direction. Using the light guiding device and the vehicle lamp according to the present utility model can prevent light exiting the light guide fixing component from forming undesirable light spots in an undesirable direction.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of Chinese Patent Application No. 201420592601.1 filed on Oct. 14, 2014 in the State Intellectual Property Office of China, the disclosure of which is incorporated in entirety herein by reference. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present disclosure relates to the lighting field, in particular to a light guiding device and a vehicle lamp having the light guiding device. 
         [0004]    Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    In the lighting field, light guide media adapted to transmit and guide a light are well-known, for example, optical fibers, light guide bars. However, in order to fix the light guide media, certain fixing components such as grippers, clips are typically provided on the light guide media. These fixing components may change the original optical guide construction of a light guiding device such that the light traveling in the light guide media may be leaked into the fixing components. Such leaked light may exit the fixing components in an undesired direction to cause an undesired bright spot. For example, when the light guide media are used in a vehicle lamp, such undesired bright spot may cause poor lit effects of the vehicle lamp. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    An object of the present disclosure is to provide a light guiding device that can avoid undesired bright spots due to light leakage at the fixing component. 
         [0007]    Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a vehicle lamp comprising the light guiding device, which can avoid the interference of the above undesired bright spot to the lit effect of the lamp. 
         [0008]    An embodiment of the present invention provides a light guiding device, comprising: 
         [0009]    a light guide medium component configured to guide a light to be transmitted through it from one end thereof to another end thereof; and 
         [0010]    a light guide fixing component arranged on the light guide medium component and configured to fix the light guide medium component, 
         [0011]    wherein the light guide medium component and the light guide fixing component are both at least partly transparent, and wherein the light guide fixing component has a light directing portion configured to direct the light, which is leaked from the light guide medium component into the light guide fixing component, to exit the light guide fixing component in a direction deviated from a predetermined direction. 
         [0012]    In an embodiment, the light directing portion has one or more light deflection outgoing face/faces through which the light leaked from the light guide medium component into the light guide fixing component passes to exit the light guide fixing component, and the light deflection outgoing face/faces is/are oriented to deviate the light passing through the light deflection outgoing face/faces, from the predetermined direction. 
         [0013]    In an embodiment, the light directing portion has one or more light deflection incidence face/faces by which the light leaked from the light guide medium component is deflected into the light guide fixing component. 
         [0014]    In an embodiment, the light deflection outgoing face/faces is/are formed by a cut corner. 
         [0015]    In an embodiment, the light deflection outgoing face/faces is/are a cambered surface/cambered surfaces, or an inclined surface/inclined surfaces with respect to a surface of the light guide medium component. 
         [0016]    In an embodiment, the orientation of the light deflection outgoing face/faces depends on the refractive index of the light guide medium component, the refractive index of the light guide fixing component, an incident direction of the light leaked from the light guide medium component into the light guide fixing component and the predetermined direction. 
         [0017]    In an embodiment, the light deflection outgoing face/faces is/are arranged at an angle/angles of 20 degrees to 90 degrees relative to the surface of the light guide medium component. 
         [0018]    In an embodiment, the light directing portion further has an intermediate light deflection face arranged in an optical path between the light deflection outgoing face/faces and the location at which the light is leaked into the light guide fixing component to deflect the light in advance before the light reaches the light deflection outgoing face/faces. 
         [0019]    In an embodiment, the predetermined direction is a direction which is visible to human eyes. 
         [0020]    In an embodiment, the light guide medium component and the light guide fixing component are formed integrally. 
         [0021]    In an embodiment, the light guide medium component transmits the light by means of total reflection. 
         [0022]    An embodiment of the present invention provides a vehicle lamp comprising: 
         [0023]    the light guiding device as described in any one of the above embodiments; and 
         [0024]    a light source which is located at the outside of an end of the light guide medium component and has a light emitting direction facing toward the end of the light guide medium component. 
         [0025]    In an embodiment, the predetermined direction is the direction along which a lamp light is emitted from the lamp. 
         [0026]    At least one above embodiments of the present disclosure can control the light emitting direction of the light by providing a light directing portion on the light guide fixing component. By means of the light guiding device and vehicle lamp according to the present disclosure, the light emitted from the light guide fixing component may be prevented from forming an undesired bright spot in undesired directions. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0027]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view showing a light guiding device according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0028]      FIG. 2  is a schematic view showing a light guiding device according to another embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0029]      FIG. 3  is a schematic view showing a light guiding device according to a further embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0030]    The embodiments of the present invention will be further explained below with reference to the figures and examples. Throughout the description, same or similar reference numbers indicate the same or similar members. The following embodiments along with the figures are only used to explain the general concept of the present invention, instead of being intended to limit the scope of the present invention. 
         [0031]      FIG. 1  schematically shows a light guiding device  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention. The light guiding device  100  comprises a light guide medium component  101  and a light guide fixing component  102 . The light guide medium component  101 , such as an optical fiber or a light guide bar, is configured to guide a light to be transmitted through it from one end thereof to another end thereof. The light guide fixing component  102  is arranged on the light guide medium component  101  and configured to fix the light guide medium component  101 . The light guide fixing component  102  has a light directing portion  1022  configured to direct the light  103 , which is leaked from the light guide medium component  101  into the light guide fixing component  102 , to exit the light guide fixing component  102  in a direction deviated from a predetermined direction. As an example, in order to fix the light guide medium component  101  on an apparatus such as a wall, a casing, or a shield, the light guide fixing component  102  may be provided with a connecting portion  1021  such as a connecting hole, or a connecting groove. The light guide medium component  101  and the light guide fixing component  102  may both be made from at least partly transparent material, on other words, the light guide medium component  101  and the light guide fixing component  102  are both at least partly transparent themselves. 
         [0032]    Arrangement of the light guide fixing component  102  may affect, or even destroy the optical guide construction of the light guide medium component  101  locally such that the light is leaked into the light guide fixing component  102  from the light guide medium component  101 . In an example, the light guide medium component  101  such as an optical fiber, a light guide bar or a light guide plate, may transmit the light by means of total reflection to reduce the power consumption loss. However, it needs the reflection of the light at a reflective interface to meet the total reflection condition. In this way, the light guide medium component  101  needs to have a certain shape, for example of uniform cylindrical shape. The arrangement of the light guide fixing component  102  may change the local shape of the light guide medium component  101  such that the total reflection condition will not be met at the original reflective interface of the light  103 . Thus, the light  103  may be leaked into the light guide fixing component  102  from the light guide medium component  101  and finally exit the light guide fixing component  102 . 
         [0033]    It is the light directing portion  1022  that is configured to control the direction along which the light leaked into the light guide fixing component  102  exits the light guide fixing component  102 . If the direction is not controlled, the light exiting the light guide fixing component  102  may cause an undesired bright spot. The light directing portion  1022  can direct the light, which is leaked from the light guide medium component  101  into the light guide fixing component  102 , to exit the light guide fixing component  102  in a direction deviated from the predetermined direction. For example, the predetermined direction may be a direction which is visible to human eyes and the bright spot produced in the direction may cause the eyes to feel uncomfortable. Or in another example, the predetermined direction may be a direction in which a lamp emits a light and the bright spot produced in the direction may change the light intensity distribution to affect the lighting or lit effect. The light directing portion  1022  may avoid producing an undesired bright spot and thus correspondingly avoid the above issues caused by such bright spot. 
         [0034]    As an example, the light directing portion  1022  may have one or more light deflection outgoing face/faces  1023  through which the light leaked from the light guide medium component  101  into the light guide fixing component  102  passes to exit the light guide fixing component  102 . The light deflection outgoing face/faces  1023  is/are oriented to deviate the light passing through the light deflection outgoing face/faces  1023 , from the predetermined direction. When the light guide fixing component  102  is made from the transparent materials, change of the direction of the light deflection outgoing face/faces  1023  can change the direction in which the light exits the light deflection outgoing face/faces  1023  due to refraction effect. By adjusting the direction of the light deflection outgoing face/faces  1023 , for example an angle/angles of the light deflection outgoing face/faces  1023  relative to the surface of the light guide medium component  101 , the direction in which the light exits the light deflection outgoing face/faces  1023  may be deviated from the predetermined direction to avoid undesired bright spot presented in the undesired directions. Although  FIGS. 1-2  only show one light deflection outgoing face  1023 , it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the light directing portion  1022  may provide two or more light deflection outgoing faces  1023  in a plurality of possible light exit directions of the light guide fixing component  102  respectively to control the light exit direction. Arrows in  FIGS. 1 and 2  represent the travel direction of the light. As an example, the light guide medium component  101  may have the same refractive index as that of the light guide fixing component  102  or have different refractive index from that of the light guide fixing component  102 . As an example, the light deflection outgoing face/faces  1023  is/are formed by a cut corner, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Such arrangement is simple and effective. However, the light deflection outgoing face/faces  1023  may be formed by other means such as supplement. As an example, the light deflection outgoing face/faces  1023  may be a cambered surface/cambered surfaces or an inclined surface/inclined surfaces for example inclined with respect to a surface of the light guide medium component  101 , to meet the requirements for controlling various light exit directions. As an example, the orientation of the light deflection outgoing face/faces  1023  may be determined depending on factors such as the refractive index of the light guide medium component  101 , the refractive index of the light guide fixing component  102 , an incident direction of the light leaked from the light guide medium component  101  into the light guide fixing component  102  and the above predetermined direction (i.e., the light exit direction to be avoided). For example, the light deflection outgoing face/faces  1023  is/are arranged at an angle/angles of 20 degrees to 90 degrees, for example 30 degrees to 70 degrees such as 40 degrees to 60 degrees relative to the surface of the light guide medium component  101 . 
         [0035]    As an example, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the light directing portion  1022  further has one or more light deflection incidence face/faces  1025  by which the light leaked from the light guide medium component  101  is deflected into the light guide fixing component  102 . In this case, the light guide medium component  101  may have a reflective index different from that of the light guide fixing component  102 . Similar to the light deflection outgoing face/faces  1023 , the light deflection incidence face/faces  1025  may also deflect the light, i.e., change the travel direction of the light. Thus, the light deflection incidence face/faces  1025  also can change the direction in which the light exits the light guide fixing component  102 . As an example, the light deflection outgoing face/faces  1023  and the light deflection incidence face/faces  1025  may be used in combination. In this way, the direction in which the light exits the light guide fixing component  102  will have a greater adjustable range so as to control the light exit direction better to be deviated from the predetermined direction. In terms of the travel direction of the light, the light deflection incidence face/faces  1025  is/are located on the upstream while the light deflection outgoing face/faces  1023  is/are located on the downstream. Similar to the light deflection outgoing face/faces  1023 , the light deflection incidence face/faces  1025  may also be formed by a cut corner or by other means such as supplement. Likewise, the light deflection incidence face/faces  1025  may also be a cambered surface/cambered surfaces or an inclined surface/inclined surfaces for example inclined with respect to a surface of the light guide medium component  101 . And in an example, the orientation of the light deflection incidence face/faces  1025  may also be determined depending on factors such as the refractive index of the light guide medium component  101 , the refractive index of the light guide fixing component  102 , the incident direction of the light leaked from the light guide medium component  101  into the light guide fixing component  102  and the above predetermined direction (i.e., the light exit direction to be avoided). 
         [0036]    In an example, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , in the light guiding device  100 ′, the light directing portion  1022  further has an intermediate light deflection face  1024  arranged in an optical path between the light deflection outgoing face/faces  1023  and the location at which the light is leaked into the light guide fixing component  102 , on other words, the light leaked into the light guide fixing component  102  will be deflected by the intermediate light deflection face  1024  before it reaches the light deflection outgoing face/faces  1023 . It may deflect the light in advance before the light reaches the light deflection outgoing face/faces  1023 . The intermediate light deflection face  1024  may be configured to further enhance the deflection angle of the exiting light. It can further improve the control of the light exit direction in comparison with the case provided with only the light deflection outgoing face/faces  1023 . Such arrangement is in particular advantageous if the parts of the light guide fixing component  102  on both sides of the interface of the intermediate light deflection face  1024  have different refractive indexes from each other. 
         [0037]    As an example, the light guide medium component  101  and the light guide fixing component  102  may be formed integrally. It contributes to reduction of manufacturing process and assembling errors. However, it is not necessary, the light guide medium component  101  and the light guide fixing component  102  may also be manufactured separately and then assembled together. 
         [0038]    The present disclosure also provides a vehicle lamp comprising: the light guiding device  100 ,  100 ′,  100 ″ as described in any one of the above embodiments and a light source  200 . The light source  200  may be located at the outside of an end of the light guide medium component  101  and have a light emitting direction facing toward the end of the light guide medium component  101 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3 . For example, the predetermined direction (i.e., the light exit direction to be avoided) may be the direction along which a lamp light is emitted from the lamp. It may prevent undesired bright spot caused by light leakage from being contained in the lighting beam of the vehicle lamp. 
         [0039]    Although the present disclosure is provided with reference to figures, all of the embodiments shown in figures are intended to explain the preferred embodiments of the present invention by ways of examples, instead of being intended to limit the present invention. 
         [0040]    Apparently, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes or modifications may be made in the present disclosure without departing from the principles and spirit of the disclosure, which are intended to be covered by the present invention as long as these changes or modifications fall within the scope defined in the claims and their equivalents.