RU2481206C2 - Device of vehicle light signaling with permanent light sources - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: transport.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to vehicle lighting equipment mounted outside and composed of multicellular head or tail lights. Proposed light source comprises case, diffuser and optical system. The latter comprises, at least, one unified optical module and optional built-in cell with appropriate cat's eye. Unified optical module allows the functions of single or combined light and is built around one-piece high-power LED with reflecting secondary optics composed of aspheric lens. Outer light-emitting surface of aspheric lens is composed of a set of 2^nd-order surfaces with linear sizes commensurable with linear sizes of optical module.

EFFECT: expanded operating performances.

8 cl, 2 dwg

Description

The invention relates to light signaling devices of vehicles placed outside and intended to be installed as front and / or rear multi-section lights, providing the functions of marker (contour) lights, direction indicators, brake lights, rear fog lights and rear lights of motor vehicles and their trailers.

Known are the designs of the external signal multi-section lights of the vehicle, consisting of a one-piece plastic housing, a lamp holder with incandescent lamps of various capacities and an external diffuser, which is either a welded structure of separate parts of different colors, or individual diffusers fixed with self-tapping screws in the tides of the body. To ensure dust and moisture protection between the body and the diffuser, a rubber or polymer seal is provided [1, 2]. A mandatory element of the rear lights is a reflective device, which must be airtight.

The main disadvantage of such devices is low reliability due to the use of incandescent lamps as a radiation source, operating under constant shock, vibration and electrical loads.

Since the luminous efficiency of incandescent lamps does not exceed 10-15 lm / W, there is a need to use incandescent lamps with a power of 5-21 W, which determines both the requirements for effective heat removal and the external dimensions of the device [3, 4]. This limits the needs of designers and requires the use of heat-resistant materials. Therefore, the evolution of multi-sectional combined lamps developed both in the direction of reducing power consumption and increasing reliability, and in improving design [5].

Light signaling devices are known in which, along with traditional incandescent lamps, fiber-optic systems are used [6], including using solid-state light sources [7], or LED clusters in a lamp base [8]. The most promising are non-replaceable light sources [9-12], in which the emitters are LEDs. The use of non-replaceable light sources with injection LEDs and secondary optics made it possible not only to provide vibration and shock resistance of lighting equipment, but also to eliminate the need for service. However, an increase in the light output of the LEDs ensured not only a decrease in their number, and consequently, an increase in the reliability of the products, but also caused problems in the visual perception of a combination of superbright point light sources.

To ensure acceptable visualization of signal lights and uniform distribution of light within the diffuser, complex catadioptric systems were developed in which each light source was equipped with an additional element of secondary optics, forming a preliminary light distribution collected by an external diffuser to obtain a two-dimensional distribution that satisfies the photometric requirements of regulatory documentation [13 -17].

The progress of LED technology has ensured the light efficiency of LEDs to values of 100-140 lm / W, which made it possible to obtain light fluxes emitted by a single crystal, up to 100-200 lm. At the same time, according to a priori estimates, the minimum values of the integrated luminous flux calculated by the zonal integration method for signal lights do not exceed 25 lm [18].

Since LEDs of this type usually have a wide-angle light distribution with a radiation angle at half intensity Θ _1/2 equal to 60-70 degrees, the problem arises of efficiently using the light flux within large distribution angles and forming the required spatial distribution to ensure photometric specifications that are safe radiation brightness level [19] and aesthetic visual perception of signal lights.

A known design consisting of a housing, a metal multilayer board with an electronic circuit located on it that controls a high-power LED, and an external diffuser, which allows one of the functions of the side light, brake light and direction indicator [20]. The main disadvantage of this design, taken as a prototype, is the low "optical" conversion efficiency of the light flux emitted by the LED, since radiation within small angles (0 ° -30 °) is practically not used. In addition, the disadvantage of such a device is its low functionality, requiring the simultaneous placement of several of these lights on the vehicle to provide a minimum set of signal functions, such as a rear multi-section lamp.

To minimize optical losses and increase the efficiency of such devices, efficient secondary optics is required, which use either metallized polymer reflectors [21, 22] or collimating nozzles, with which the light emitted within small angles of light distribution as a result of total internal reflection, is directed parallel to the optical axis of the device [23-26]. However, the use of metallized reflectors is not economically feasible, and the complex geometry of collimating lenses does not provide the necessary efficiency due to multiple reflection from the front and back surfaces.

The most promising are devices consisting of a non-replaceable light source based on a powerful LED and driver located on an aluminum board, and secondary optics combined in a single design called an optical element or optical module, which has a certain unification in terms of functionality with the possibility of subsequent installation in various product housing options [20].

The basis of the invention is the task of developing the design of a technological device for light signaling of a vehicle with increased reliability, providing a high degree of protection against penetration of water and dust, at least IP67, with low power consumption, modern optical design and comfortable visual perception.

The technical result is manifested in the unification of the design of the optical module, which has high efficiency and reliability, which makes it possible to realize the lighting technical characteristics of signal lights for various functional purposes, and the low cost of the device as a whole, since the modular design allows the manufacture of various types of devices with several options for combining lights.

The task is achieved in that each lamp in the light-signaling device is single or combined, made on the basis of a separate unified optical module with a non-replaceable light source based on a powerful LED placed to provide efficient heat dissipation on a single printed circuit board placed in a sealed plastic case with a transparent external diffuser, and the required light distribution for the fire of the corresponding category and its visualization are ensured by a unified th element of non-imaging secondary optics as an aspheric lens, external light emitting and reflective surfaces of which are formed set of second-order surfaces with linear dimensions commensurable with linear dimensions of the optical module.

A vehicle light signaling device, characterized in that additional optical elements are made on the inner light-emitting surface of the diffuser in the form of a combination of second-order surfaces to provide the required spatial light distributions of certain categories of lights.

Vehicle light alarm device, characterized in that it has a built-in section with a non-triangular shape reflecting device of class IA, located in the housing under a common transparent diffuser.

A vehicle light signaling device, characterized in that it has a built-in section with a triangular IIIA reflective device located in a housing under a common transparent diffuser.

A vehicle light alarm device, characterized in that an integrated side marker light with a non-replaceable light source module and an additional reflective device is made on the side surface of the housing.

A vehicle light signaling device, characterized in that the color characteristics of the LED radiation in the modules of non-replaceable light sources correspond to the colorimetric specifications of the lights of the corresponding categories.

A vehicle light alarm device, characterized in that the non-replaceable light source of the optical module consists of several LEDs, including those with different light distributions.

Vehicle light signaling device, characterized in that the non-replaceable light source contains several LEDs with different color characteristics to provide different colorimetric specifications of the optical module.

Vehicle light alarm device, characterized in that the diffuser in the side light module is combined with a non-triangular shape reflecting device of class IB.

The vehicle light alarm device, characterized in that the parking and stop lights are combined in one module, using one non-replaceable source with different operating modes.

Vehicle light alarm device, characterized in that the printed circuit board is made on a substrate of heat-conducting foil aluminum.

Vehicle light alarm device, characterized in that the configuration of the placement of modules of non-replaceable light sources on a printed circuit board is made in the form of an oval (round) shape or a polyhedron to provide a variety of design.

The design of the proposed light signaling device has a high degree of protection (IP67), which eliminates the negative influence of environmental factors and provides not only high reliability and temporary stability of photometric characteristics as a result of the use of non-replaceable light sources, but also low cost due to the use of a modular design, which ensures the possibility of manufacturing products with various designs and functional purpose.

For a better understanding of the invention is illustrated by drawings, where

Figure 1 - General view of the light signaling device of a vehicle with non-replaceable light sources;

Figure 2 - General view of the optical module with a non-replaceable light source assembly.

The vehicle light signaling device (Fig. 1) is a welded polymer structure consisting of a monolithic body 1, divided by transverse inserts 2 into separate sections, in which optical modules (Fig. 2) with non-replaceable light sources consisting of an electronic control circuit are placed with powerful LEDs 3 mounted on a common unified printed circuit board 4 for all modules, non-image secondary optics in the form of an aspherical lens 5 and a common diffuser 6. The area of the printed circuit board is 4 simultaneously functioning of all optical modules, however, since individual signal lights have small values of daytime use coefficients, the excess area of unused modules allows efficient cooling of high-power LEDs 3 under extreme operating temperatures. Board 4 is attached to the inner side of the housing 1 using self-tapping screws or a system of plastic latches (not shown conditionally). Opaque inserts 2 functionally separate the light fluxes of individual modules and are mounted in the grooves of the housing 1. The outer surface of the general diffuser 6 is smooth, and additional corrective optical elements 9 can be made on its inner surface as a combination of second-order surfaces to provide special light distributions of certain categories of lights . An aspherical lens 5 is mounted with a flat lower surface on the surface of the board 4 so that the shaped coaxial mounting self-centering recess is mated with the light-emitting surface of the LED 3. Tides are made for fixing the aspherical lens 5 in the device housing 1. Sealed plug connector 8 (Figure 2) connects the device with an onboard network of the car and provides degree of protection IP67. As a mandatory option in the design of the rear light-signaling device, a section of retroreflective device 10 of non-triangular shape of class IA for cars or triangular shape of 11 class IIIA for trailers is provided.

As an optional feature, the light-signaling device has a side marker light 12 of category SM1, combined with a reflective device of class IA.

Thus, the vehicle light alarm device provides the functions of single, combined or combined lights and is characterized by the following design features:

- the design of the device is made in a single monolithic housing 1 with a common light-emitting surface of the diffuser 6, in the form of separate unified optical modules with non-replaceable light sources based on powerful LEDs 3, placed on a single unified printed circuit board 4;

- the required light distribution and visualization of each single or combined lamp is provided by a unified element of non-image secondary optics in the form of an aspherical lens 5, the external light-emitting and reflective surfaces of which are formed by a combination of second-order surfaces, with linear dimensions (diameter) D, comparable with the linear dimensions of the optical module L (Figure 2.);

- to correct the spatial light distribution of individual types of lights on the inner light-emitting surface of the diffuser 6, additional optical elements 9 can be made in the form of a combination of second-order surfaces;

- in the housing 1 (Fig. 1), under the common transparent diffuser 6, a section with a non-triangular shape reflecting device of class IA 10 or triangular shape IIIA 11 can be integrated;

- on the side surface of the housing 1, a side marker light can optionally be integrated with a non-replaceable light source and an additional reflective device 12;

- in each module of a non-replaceable light source, the color characteristics of the radiation of LEDs 3 are determined by the colorimetric specifications of the lights of the corresponding categories;

- non-replaceable light source of the optical module may consist of several LEDs 3, including those with different light distributions;

- to provide different colorimetric specifications of the optical module, a non-replaceable light source contains several LEDs 3 with different color characteristics to provide different colorimetric specifications of the optical module;

- the diffuser in the position lamp module 12 can be combined with a reflective device of class IB;

- marker and stop lights are combined in one module according to positions 3, 4, 5, using one non-replaceable source with different operating modes;

- the printed circuit board can be made mainly of foil-coated fiberglass type FR-4 or on a substrate of heat-conducting foil-aluminum type MCRS - Metal Core Printed Circuit Board;

- to ensure a variety of device designs, the configuration of the housing 1 for accommodating modules of non-replaceable light sources on a printed circuit board 4 can be made in the form of an oval (round) shape or a polyhedron.

The light warning device operates as follows.

When a supply voltage is supplied from the vehicle’s on-board network via a sealed plug 8 to the device’s electronic control circuit and the required fire control signal, LED 3 of a non-replaceable light source of the corresponding optical module is turned on, which leads to light emission in the direction of the spherical surface of the coaxial recess on the lower surface of the aspherical lens 5. Light passing through an aspherical lens 5 as a result of the effects of total internal reflection and refraction by a combination of The second-order surfaces located on the light-emitting and reflective surfaces of the lens form an integral two-dimensional spatial distribution in accordance with the photometric requirements of the technical regulations for fire of this category in a plane normal to the axis of the optical module. The spatial distributions of the side light, brake light and direction indicator, according to the requirements of TNLA, coincide, which makes it possible to unify the secondary optics in the optical module, and the difference in the axial luminous intensity values for lights of different categories is ensured by the choice of LED injection currents. The choice of colorimetric characteristics of LEDs is determined by the requirements of TNLA. For lights of other categories, for example, rear fog lamps with different spatial distributions of light intensity, corrective optics 9 are used on the internal light-emitting surface of the diffuser 6 or a special aspherical lens with a different configuration of second-order surfaces on light-emitting and reflective surfaces is used. Using the common board 4 allows you to provide thermal conditions placed on it LEDs 3 in the entire range of operating temperatures. The unification of secondary optics significantly reduces the cost of the product, and its tightness determines high durability.

The proposed constructive solution, in comparison with the prototype, simplifies the task of providing the light signaling device with the main functions of the rear (front) multi-section lamp, which determines its economic efficiency and high competitiveness.

As tests of prototypes have shown, the light signaling device of the proposed design provides the required photometric and colorimetric characteristics, has high reliability and energy efficiency.

The design of the proposed light signaling device has a high degree of protection (IP67), which eliminates the negative influence of environmental factors and provides not only high reliability and temporary stability of photometric characteristics as a result of the use of non-replaceable light sources, but also low cost due to the use of a modular design, which gives the possibility of manufacturing products with various designs and functional purpose.

Industrial use of the proposed design variant of the light signaling device is expected in 2011.

Claims (8)

1. The light signaling device of a vehicle with non-replaceable light sources, comprising a housing, a diffuser and an optical system, characterized in that the optical system contains at least one unified optical module providing the functions of a single, combined or combined light, with an non-replaceable light source based on a single powerful LED with non-image secondary optics made in the form of an aspherical lens, the external light-emitting surface of which is formed collectively Tew second order surfaces with linear dimensions commensurable with linear dimensions of the optical module, and an optional built-in section of the retroreflective element with the corresponding class. 2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that on the inner surface of the diffuser additional optical elements are made in the form of a combination of second-order surfaces to provide the required spatial light distributions of individual categories of lights. 3. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that on the side surface of the housing there is a built-in side marker light with a non-replaceable light source module and an additional retroreflective device. 4. The device according to claims 1 and 3, characterized in that the color characteristics of the light emitting diodes in the modules of non-replaceable light sources correspond to the colorimetric specifications of the lights of the corresponding categories. 5. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the functions of a single or combined fire are combined with a non-triangular shape reflective device of class IB. 6. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the functions of a single or combined fire in a single optical module are implemented using a single non-replaceable source with different operating modes. 7. The device according to claims 1 or 3, characterized in that the configuration of the placement of modules of non-replaceable light sources on a printed circuit board is made in the form of an oval shape or polygon to ensure a variety of designs. 8. The device according to claim 7, characterized in that the printed circuit board is made on a substrate of heat-conducting foil aluminum.

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