Patent ID: 7494257

Claim:
Illumination device, particularly for automobiles, with a light source ( 12 ) and a light conductor ( 10 ) that emits the light from the light source ( 12 ) conducted within it via a light decoupling surface ( 20 ), whereby light decoupling elements ( 18 ) are positioned on the side opposite the light decoupling surface ( 20 ) that divert light toward the light decoupling surface ( 20 ), whereby the light decoupling elements ( 18 ) possess at least two diverting surfaces ( 24 , 26 ), and the first diverting surface ( 24 ) is positioned closer to the light source ( 12 ) than the second diverting surface ( 26 ) of a light decoupling element ( 18 ), each of which subtends an angle (α, β) with the light decoupling surface ( 20 ) characterized in that the angles (α, β) of the diverting surfaces ( 24 , 26 ) are so selected that at least a portion of the light striking the second diverting surface ( 26 ) is transmittable through it under refraction, and may be again coupled into the light conductor ( 10 ) by means of the first diverting surface ( 24 ) of the subsequent decoupling element ( 18 ), whereby this light is at least partially conducted from the first diverting surface ( 24 ) onto the second diverting surface ( 26 ) of an decoupling element, and may be decoupled toward the decoupling surface ( 20 ) by means of the second diverting surface ( 26 ).