OPTICAL ELEMENT FOR A VEHICLE LAMP

Techn i ca l Fie l d

The present invention relates to an optical element, a vehicle lamp using such an optical element, and a motor vehicle using such an optical element or vehicle lamp.

Background of the I nvent i on

A conventional optical element in the prior art comprises a sidewall face, a light entry port, a reflecting face and a light emitting surface. Light rays from a light source enter the optical element through the light entry port, are reflected towards the light emitting surface by the reflecting face, and then exit through the light emitting surface to irradiate a target region. An optical micro- structure may be provided on the light emitting surface, in order to scatter exiting light. In this way, the optical element can illuminate a relatively large area quite uniformly.

However, when the light intensity in a central region of the irradiated region attains a predetermined standard, the light intensity in an edge region (in particular a corner region) of the irradiated region might not have attained the predetermined standard. Thus, the light intensity in the edge region needs to be increased. It is hoped that when the light intensity in the edge region of the irradiated region is increased, the light emission effect and appearance of the optical element are not affected.

Summary of the I nvent i on

According to one aspect of the present invention, an optical element is provided. The optical element comprises: at least one light entry port, configured to receive and guide light rays from a light source; and a light emitting surface, configured to output light rays that have entered the optical i element through the light entry port. At least one additional reflecting face (161, 162) is provided in the optical element (1), the additional reflecting face being configured to change the direction of a portion of light rays in the optical element, in order to irradiate a region requiring further illumination in a target region.

Thus, when viewed in a direction opposite to a main light exit direction of the optical element, the additional reflecting face and the light emitting surface do not overlap, so as to avoid a situation where the additional reflecting face blocks light rays in the optical element that are shining towards the light emitting surface.

In particular, a thickened zone is provided on a top face or bottom face in a thickness direction of the optical element, the additional reflecting face being disposed in the thickened zone. The additional reflecting face may be an inclined face in the thickness direction of the optical element, so as to avoid a situation where the additional reflecting face blocks light rays in the optical element that are shining towards the light emitting surface.

Optionally, light rays incident on the additional reflecting face undergo total reflection at the additional reflecting face. Optionally, a light-reflecting material is applied to the additional reflecting face, or a light-reflecting component is mounted thereon, in order to reflect light rays which are incident on the additional reflecting face. Optionally, an optical micro- structure is provided on the light emitting surface, in order to scatter exiting light.

Optionally, two or more additional reflecting faces are provided in the optical element, the additional reflecting faces comprising a first additional reflecting face and a second additional reflecting face. The direction of the normal to the first additional reflecting face is different from the direction of the normal to the second additional reflecting face. In particular, the first additional reflecting face and the second additional reflecting face together form a V-shaped notch in the thickened zone, in order to scatter light rays in different target directions. In particular, a reflecting face is provided at one end of the optical element, said end being opposite the light emitting surface, and the reflecting face is configured to reflect light rays towards the light emitting surface and the additional reflecting face, said light rays having entered the optical element through the light entry port.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a vehicle lamp suitable for a motor vehicle is provided. The vehicle lamp comprises a light source and an optical element according to the previous aspect. Light emitted from the light source enters the optical element through the light entry port of the optical element.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a motor vehicle is provided. The motor vehicle comprises the abovementioned optical element or the abovementioned vehicle lamp.

Through the use of the technical solution of the present invention, the dark band in the light emitting surface of the optical element can be avoided, while ensuring that the light intensity in an edge region of an irradiated region attains a predetermined standard.

Br ief Descr ipt ion of the Drawi ngs

To facilitate understanding of the present invention, the present invention is described in greater detail below, based on exemplary embodiments and referring to the drawings. In the drawings, identical or similar reference labels are used to denote identical or similar members. It should be understood that the drawings are merely schematic, and the dimensions and proportions of the members in the drawings are not necessarily precise.

Figs. 1A and IB are 3D drawings of an optical element according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Figs. 1C, ID, IE and IF are respectively a front view, a rear view, a left view and a right view of an optical element according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a bottom view of an optical element according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 2 show a partial light path diagram of the optical element.

Deta i l ed Descr i pt i on of the I nvent i on

Figs. 1A and IB are 3D drawings of an optical element according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Figs. 1C, ID, IE and IF are respectively a front view, a rear view, a left view and a right view of an optical element according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a bottom view of an optical element according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 2 show a partial light path diagram of the optical element.

As shown in Figs. 1 A - 2, an optical element 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention comprises: sidewall faces 10 and 14, at least one (three in this exemplary embodiment) light entry port Ila, 11b and 11c (sometimes also collectively referred to as light entry ports 11 in the context) disposed at a rear part of the optical element 1, reflecting faces 12a, 12b and 12c (sometimes also collectively referred to as reflecting faces 12 in the context) corresponding to the light entry ports Ila, 11b and 11c respectively, and a light emitting surface 13. There may be an angle 0 between the light emitting surface 13 and the sidewall face 10, i.e. the light emitting surface 13 may not be perpendicular to the sidewall face 10. Light rays from a light source (not shown) enter the optical element 1 through the light entry ports 11, are reflected towards the light emitting surface 13 by the reflecting faces 12, and then exit through the light emitting surface 13 to irradiate a target region. An optical microstructure, for example multiple small exit faces 130, may be provided on the light emitting surface 13. These small exit faces 130 are arranged in a regular sawtooth pattern, in order to scatter the exiting light.

A thickened zone 16 is provided on a top face or bottom face of the optical element 1. In this exemplary embodiment, the thickened zone 16 is disposed on a bottom face 15 of the optical element 1. At least one (two in this exemplary embodiment) additional reflecting face 161, 162 is provided in the thickened zone 16.

In this exemplary embodiment, a first additional reflecting face 161 and a second additional reflecting face 162 are provided in the thickened zone 16. The first additional reflecting face 161 and second additional reflecting face 162 are both flat faces, and the direction of the normal to the first additional reflecting face 161 is different from the direction of the normal to the second additional reflecting face 162. As shown in Fig. 1C, the first additional reflecting face 161 and second additional reflecting face 162 together form a V-shaped notch in the thickened zone 16.

Because the first additional reflecting face 161 and the second additional reflecting face 162 are both disposed in the thickened zone 16, the additional reflecting faces 161, 162 do not overlap the light emitting surface 13 when viewed in a direction opposite to a main light exit direction of the optical element 1 (i.e. when looking towards the rear from the front, as shown in Fig. 1C), and it is thus possible to avoid a situation where the additional reflecting faces 161, 162 block light rays in the optical element 1 that are shining towards the light emitting surface 13, thereby avoiding the occurrence of a dark band in the light emitting surface 13 of the optical element 1.

As shown in Fig. 2, a light ray BM1 entering the optical element 1 through the light entry port 11b shines towards the light emitting surface 13 and the first additional reflecting face 161 after being reflected by the reflecting face 12b. The light ray BM1 is reflected by the first additional reflecting face 161 and thus changes direction, then shines towards the light emitting surface 13, and then exits through the light emitting surface 13 in a target direction DI, to irradiate a region requiring further illumination in the target region, specifically an edge region of the target region, more specifically a top left comer region of the target region. As a result, the light intensity in the top left comer region of the target region attains a predetermined standard.

In addition, a light ray BM2 entering the optical element 1 through the light entry port 11b shines towards the light emitting surface 13 and the second additional reflecting face 162 after being reflected by the reflecting face 12b. The light ray BM2 is reflected by the second additional reflecting face 162 and thus changes direction, then shines towards the sidewall face 14, is reflected by the sidewall face 14 and then shines towards the light emitting surface 13, and then exits through the light emitting surface 13 in a target direction D2, to irradiate a region requiring further illumination in the target region, specifically an edge region of the target region, more specifically a bottom left comer region of the target region. As a result, the light intensity in the bottom left comer region of the target region attains a predetermined standard.

In this exemplary embodiment, the light rays BM1, BM2 which are separately incident on the additional reflecting faces 161, 162 undergo total reflection at the additional reflecting faces 161, 162. Optionally, a lightreflecting material is applied to the additional reflecting faces 161, 162, or a light-reflecting component is mounted thereon, to reflect the light rays BM1, BM2 which are incident on the additional reflecting faces 161, 162. In addition, as shown in Fig. 2, the light ray that is incident on the sidewall face 14 undergoes total reflection at the sidewall face 14. Optionally, a lightreflecting material is applied to the sidewall face 14, or a light-reflecting component is mounted thereon, to reflect the light ray that is incident on the sidewall face 14.

It should be understood that apart from the partial light paths shown in Fig. 2, most of the light rays entering the optical element 1 through the light entry ports Ila, 11b and 11c shine towards the light emitting surface 13 directly after being reflected by the corresponding reflecting faces 12.

Through the use of the optical element according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it is ensured that the light intensity in the edge region of the irradiated region attains the predetermined standard, while avoiding the occurrence of a dark band in the light emitting surface of the optical element, thus completely solving the technical problem which the present invention has sought to solve.

The optical element 1 according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention is suitable for use in a vehicle lamp of a motor vehicle. The vehicle lamp further comprises a light source (not shown), and light emitted from the light source enters the optical element 1 through the light entry port 11 of the optical element 1.

Those skilled in the art should understand that the optical element 1 according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention is also suitable for use in lamps of other types in addition to vehicle lamps, with the structure of the optical element 1 being changed according to actual needs. For example, the number of light entry ports 11 of the optical element 1 may be changed, i.e. a greater or smaller number of light entry ports may be provided for the optical element 1 ; the positions of the light entry ports 11 may be changed, for example, such that the position of the light entry port 11b in the front-rear direction is the same as that of the light entry ports Ila, 11c; and the angles of inclination and/or positions of the additional reflecting faces 161, 162 may be changed, so that the exiting light rays are always able to exit in the required target directions DI, D2 if the required target directions DI, D2 change.

Although the technical objective, technical solution and technical effects of the present invention have been explained in detail above with reference to particular embodiments, it should be understood that the above embodiments are merely exemplary, and not restrictive. Any modifications, equivalent replacements and improvements made by those skilled in the art within the essential spirit and principles of the present invention are included within the scope of protection of the present invention.