Description:FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present disclosure relates to an optical element and a vehicle head lamp unit comprising the optical element.

BACKGROUND
The following description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.

Optical elements are employed in a vehicle head lamp unit to focus the light coming from a light source housed in the vehicle head lamp unit. Generally, the optical element includes a lens fastened to a heat sink of the vehicle head lamp unit. Further, a collimator is fitted inside the vehicle lamp unit which enables an exit beam to be collimated over a focus area.

There are various limitations associated with the construction of current vehicle head lamp units. For instance, the collimator is separately installed inside the vehicle head lamp unit, thereby occupying more space, and increasing an overall weight of the vehicle head lamp unit. Furthermore, overall assembly time of the vehicle head lamp unit also increases as number of parts in the vehicle head lamp unit are more, thereby making the vehicle head lamp unit bulky.

The optical element comprises a lens. A light source having a single focal point is placed behind the lens. Therefore, the optical element from the prior art is capable of having only a single focal point, and an optical element having multi–focal capability is not possible in the prior art. Due to the single focal point, an emitting beam or an exiting beam projecting out of the lens illuminates over restricted focus area, which may cause low visibility to a driver or a user, especially after dark or during night.

Therefore, there is a need for a solution wherein at least one or more of the above drawbacks seen in the prior art can be obviated.

The above-mentioned drawbacks/difficulties/disadvantages/problems of the conventional techniques or prior art are explained just for exemplary purpose and this disclosure and description mentioned below would never limit its scope only to such problem. A person skilled in the art may understand that this disclosure and below mentioned description may also solve other problems or overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks/disadvantages from the conventional / prior arts which are not explicitly captured above.

SUMMARY
This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts, in a simplified format, that are further described in the detailed description of the invention. This summary is neither intended to identify key or essential inventive concepts of the invention and nor is it intended for determining the scope of the invention.

In order to overcome the above-mentioned problems, the present disclosure as per an embodiment provides an optical element and a vehicle head lamp unit comprising the optical element. According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the optical element is comprising: an optical region having: a plurality of inverted lenses formed on a rear end of the optical region, wherein each inverted lens has a focal length different from focal lengths of other inverted lenses; and an outer convex section disposed on a front end of the optical region, the outer convex section covers the plurality of inverted lenses from the front end.

According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, a vehicle head lamp unit is comprising: a heat sink; and an optical element comprising: an optical region having: a plurality of inverted lenses formed on a rear end of the optical region, wherein each inverted lens has a focal length different from focal lengths of other inverted lenses; and an outer convex section disposed on a front end of the optical element, the outer convex section covers the plurality of inverted lenses from the front end.

The present disclosure, i.e., the optical element as well as the vehicle head lamp unit disclosed herein have multi–focal capabilities. The requirement for implementing too many moving parts is reduced in the present disclosure as the optical element as disclosed herein, is manufactured as a one–piece product. Moreover, the need to have a separate collimator is obviated in the present disclosure, thereby further reducing need for implementing moving parts, and also reduces weight, and cost of the optical element or the vehicle head lamp unit which have been disclosed as per various embodiments of the present disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present disclosure will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings.

Figure 1A illustrates a side view of an optical element in an operable assembly, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, wherein the optical element is in proximity of light sources.
Figure 1B illustrates a perspective view of an optical element in an operable assembly, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, wherein the optical element is in proximity of light sources.
Figure 2 illustrates a side view of an optical element, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
Figure 3A illustrates a sectional view of a vehicle head lamp unit having the optical element in operable assembly shown in Figure 1A, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
Figure 3B illustrates an exploded view of a vehicle head lamp unit, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
Figure 4 illustrates a sectional view of a vehicle head lamp unit having an optical element in operable assembly, wherein the obtuse angles of each of an inverted lens are highlighted, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Further, skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the drawings are illustrated for simplicity and may not have necessarily been drawn to scale.

Furthermore, in terms of the construction of the device, one or more components of the device may have been represented in the drawings by conventional symbols, and the drawings may show only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present disclosure so as not to obscure the drawings with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the present disclosure, reference will now be made to the various embodiments and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the present disclosure is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated system, and such further applications of the principles of the present disclosure as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the present disclosure relates.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are explanatory of the present disclosure and are not intended to be restrictive thereof.

Whether or not a certain feature or element was limited to being used only once, it may still be referred to as “one or more features” or “one or more elements” or “at least one feature” or “at least one element.” Furthermore, the use of the terms “one or more” or “at least one” feature or element do not preclude there being none of that feature or element, unless otherwise specified by limiting language including, but not limited to, “there needs to be one or more…” or “one or more elements is required.”

Reference is made herein to some “embodiments.” It should be understood that an embodiment is an example of a possible implementation of any features and/or elements of the present disclosure. Some embodiments have been described for the purpose of explaining one or more of the potential ways in which the specific features and/or elements of the proposed disclosure fulfil the requirements of uniqueness, utility, and non-obviousness.

Use of the phrases and/or terms including, but not limited to, “a first embodiment,” “a further embodiment,” “an alternate embodiment,” “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “multiple embodiments,” “some embodiments,” “other embodiments,” “further embodiment”, “furthermore embodiment”, “additional embodiment” or other variants thereof do not necessarily refer to the same embodiments. Unless otherwise specified, one or more particular features and/or elements described in connection with one or more embodiments may be found in one embodiment, or may be found in more than one embodiment, or may be found in all embodiments, or may be found in no embodiments. Although one or more features and/or elements may be described herein in the context of only a single embodiment, or in the context of more than one embodiment, or in the context of all embodiments, the features and/or elements may instead be provided separately or in any appropriate combination or not at all. Conversely, any features and/or elements described in the context of separate embodiments may alternatively be realized as existing together in the context of a single embodiment.

Any particular and all details set forth herein are used in the context of some embodiments and therefore should not necessarily be taken as limiting factors to the proposed disclosure.

The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, or any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process or method that comprises a list of steps does not include only those steps but may include other steps not expressly listed or inherent to such process or method. Similarly, one or more devices or sub-systems or elements or structures or components proceeded by “comprises... a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other devices or other sub-systems or other elements or other structures or other components or additional devices or additional sub-systems or additional elements or additional structures or additional components.

Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

For the sake of clarity, the first digit of a reference numeral of each component of the present disclosure is indicative of the Figure number, in which the corresponding component is shown. For example, reference numerals starting with digit “1” are shown at least in Figure 1. Similarly, reference numerals starting with digit “2” are shown at least in Figure 2, and so on.

Referring from Figures 1A to 4, an optical element 100, 200, 300, 400 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is comprising: an optical region O having: a plurality of inverted lenses 110a, 210a, 310a, 410a formed on a rear end R of the optical region O, wherein each inverted lens 110a, 210a, 310a, 410a has a focal length F1, F2 different from focal lengths F1, F2 of other inverted lenses 110a, 210a, 310a, 410a; and an outer convex section 110b, 210b, 310b, 410b disposed on a front end F of the optical region O, the outer convex section 110b, 210b, 310b, 410b covers the plurality of inverted lenses 110a, 210a, 310a, 410a from the front end F. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the optical element 100, 200, 300, 400 has a fixing structure 320 for removably fixing the optical element 300 to a heat sink 330 of a vehicle head lamp unit 305, wherein the fixing structure 320 is further having: a flange region 325 surrounding the optical region O and adapted to mount the optical element 300 on the heat sink 330; at least one pair of fixing points 327 formed on the flange region 325 to secure the optical element 300 to the heat sink 330; and a snap fitting assembly (not shown) disposed on the flange region 325 for fixing the optical element O with the heat sink 330. The plurality of inverted lenses 310a is in proximity to a plurality of light sources 340, preferably a Light Emitting Diode, disposed on the heat sink 330. Each inverted lens 110a, 210a, 310a, 410a, from the plurality of inverted lenses 110a, 210a, 310a, 410a, has a convex profile. Additionally, each inverted lens 310a, 410a is disposed in proximity of a respective Light Emitting Diode (LED) 330, 340, such that the inverted lens 310a, 410a and the LED 340, 440 are coaxial. Furthermore, the inverted lens 310a receives light rays 350 from an LED 340 at an entry angle of incidence between 45 degrees and 180 degrees to form a median beam 360 emitting from the inverted lens 310a. The outer convex section 310b collimates an exit beam 370 over a focus area at a desired emitting incidence angle to ground.

A vehicle head lamp unit 305, 405 is also disclosed herein, which is having: a heat sink 330, 430; and an optical element 300, 400 further having: an optical region O having: a plurality of inverted lenses 310a, 410a formed on a rear end R of the optical region O, wherein each inverted lens 310a, 410a has a focal length different from focal lengths of other inverted lenses 310a, 410a; and an outer convex section 310b, 410b disposed on a front end F of the optical region O, the outer convex section 310b, 410b covers the plurality of inverted lenses 310a, 410a from the front end F. In accordance with another embodiment, the vehicle head lamp unit has a group of light sources having a plurality of LEDs 340, 440, wherein each LED 340, 440 is electrically disposed on a printed circuit board 380, 480. Also, the printed circuit board 380, 480 is disposed on the heat sink 330, 430.

Referring to the accompanying Figures 1A and 1B, the optical assembly may include a single piece optical element 100 that may be employed to provide illumination at different regions ahead of a vehicle. The optical element 100 may have multi-focal capability that enables the optical element 100 to be used for producing high beam and low beam for a vehicle. Such a capability reduces the number of components in a head lamp unit of the vehicle. The optical element 100 as per an embodiment of the present disclosure may include an optical region O and is made up of a plurality of inverted lenses 110a which are formed on the rear end R of the optical region O. Further, each inverted lens 110a has a focal length different from focal lengths of the other / adjoining inverted lenses 110a, which enables the optical element 100 to have multi–focal capability.

The outer convex section 110b may be disposed on a front end F of the optical region O, such that the outer convex section 110b covers the plurality of inverted lenses 110a from the front end F. The optical assembly may include a heat sink 130 and a plurality of light sources 140 may be disposed thereon. The plurality of light sources 140 are disposed on a printed circuit board or PCB 180, which is further impinged or disposed on the heat sink 130 in such a way that each light source 140 is aligned with a corresponding inverted lens 110a. Therefore, in a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, the number of the inverted lenses 110a and respective light sources 140 corresponding to the inverted lenses 110a is equal. In one example, the number of light sources 140 and the inverted lens 110a may be six in numbers as shown in Figure 1B. Also, an imaginary axis passing through the centres of any inverted lens 110a and light source 140 is coaxial, in a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to the accompanying Figure 2, the optical element 200 is seen, along with the plurality of light sources or LED 240 disposed in proximity of respectively corresponding inverted lens 210a. Therefore, due to the plurality of light sources or LEDs 240, multiple focal points F1, F2 are generated, thereby making the optical element 200 as per an embodiment of the present disclosure, a multi–focal optical element 200. The plurality of inverted lenses 210a from the rear end R, as well as the outer convex section 210b from the front end F of the optical element 200, both are responsible for the multi–focal capabilities of the optical element 200.

According to the present disclosure, the optical assembly may be employed in a vehicle head lamp unit. An exemplary embodiment of the usage of the optical assembly in the vehicle head lamp unit is explained with respect to Figures 3A to 4.

Referring to the accompanying Figures 3A and 3B, the inverted lens 310a and the outer convex section 310b, both are formed in one piece by known processes, and make up the optical region O. The inverted lens 310a from the rear end R and the outer convex section 310b from the front end F are held in place by the fixing structure 320 comprising the flange region 325 surrounding the optical region O. Therefore, the inverted lens 310a from the rear end R and the outer convex section 310b from the front end F, both extend to form the fixing structure 320 comprising the flange region 325 and the pair of fixing points 327, all as a part of one–piece mold. The optical element 300 is fastened to the heat sink 330 by screws 329 at the fixing points 327.

During operation, the user switches the light sources or LED 340, thereby emitting light rays 350 towards the inverted lenses 310a from the rear end R. The light rays 350 are received by the inverted lenses 310a at an entry angle of incidence between 45 degrees and 180 degrees to form a median beam 360 emitting from the inverted lens 310a. The median beam 360 is also emitted at the same entry angle of incidence, i.e., between 45 degrees and 180 degrees. Further, the median beam 360 is received by the outer convex section 310b which collimates an exit beam or an emitting beam 370 over a focus area at a desired emitting or exiting angle of incidence to ground. Since, multiple numbers of light sources 340 are installed in the vehicle lamp unit 305, hence the illumination acquired over the focus area is of a greater extent. Therefore, the multi–focal capabilities of the optical element 300 are thus exhibited, thereby proving an inventive step over pre–existing knowledge. The optical element 300 has multi-focal capability that enables the optical element 300 to be used for producing a high beam / an upper beam and / or a low beam / dipper beam for the vehicle. A cut off portion 390 is adapted to achieve the low beam function and / or the high beam function.

Referring to the accompanying Figure 4, the vehicle head lamp unit 405 as per an embodiment of the present disclosure, comprises the optical element 400 having the optical region O, wherein the optical element 400 is fastened on the heat sink 430. In an alternate embodiment of the vehicle head lamp unit 405, the inverted lenses 410a on the rear end R has surfaces which are facing the outer convex section 410b on the front end F, wherein the said surfaces define an obtuse angle O which is between 110 degrees and 120 degrees. Therefore, in an alternate embodiment of the present disclosure, the imaginary central axis passing through any light source 440 which is affixed on the printed circuit board 480, and a respective corresponding inverted lens 410a, may either be coaxial or may not be coaxial.

In an exemplary embodiment, the outer convex section 110b, 210b, 310b, 410b of the optical element 100, 200, 300, 400 may be having the radius in the range 10 to 30 mm. In another exemplary embodiment, the outer convex section 110b, 210b, 310b, 410b of the optical element 100, 200, 300, 400 may be having its spread around 30 to 40 mm along the horizontal and vertical axis. In another exemplary embodiment, the distance between the outer convex section 110b, 210b, 310b, 410b of the optical element 100, 200, 300, 400 and the inverted lenses 110a, 210a, 310a, 410a of the optical element 100, 200, 300, 400 may be in the range of 10 to 20 mm. In another exemplary embodiment, the optical element 100, 200, 300, 400 may be made of PMMA clear material.

The optical element 100, 200, 300, 400 as well as the vehicle head lamp unit 305, 405 disclosed herein have multi–focal capabilities, thereby showcasing technical advancement over existing knowledge. Since, the optical element as disclosed herein, is manufactured as a one–piece product, hence requirement for implementing too many moving parts is reduced in the present disclosure, which too is a technical advancement over existing knowledge. Moreover, the need to have a separate collimator is obviated in the present disclosure, thereby furthering reduction of moving parts, weight, and cost of the vechle head lamp unit as per an embodiment of the present disclosure. , Claims:
1. An optical element (100, 200, 300, 400), comprising:
an optical region (O) having:
a plurality of inverted lenses (110a, 210a, 310a, 410a) formed on a rear end (R) of the optical region (O), wherein each inverted lens (110a, 210a, 310a, 410a) has a focal length (F1, F2) different from focal lengths (F1, F2) of other inverted lenses (110a, 210a, 310a, 410a); and
an outer convex section (110b, 210b, 310b, 410b) disposed on a front end (F) of the optical region (O), the outer convex section (110b, 210b, 310b, 410b) covers the plurality of inverted lenses (110a, 210a, 310a, 410a) from the front end (F).
2. The optical element as claimed in claim 1, comprising a fixing structure (320) for removably fixing the optical element (300) to a heat sink (330) of a vehicle head lamp unit (305), wherein the fixing structure (320) is comprising:
a flange region (325) surrounding the optical region (O) and adapted to mount the optical element (300) on the heat sink (330);
at least one pair of fixing points (327) formed on the flange region (325) to secure the optical element (300) to the heat sink (330); and
a snap fitting assembly disposed on the flange region (325) for fixing the optical element (O) with the heat sink (330).
3. The optical element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of inverted lenses (310a) is in proximity to a plurality of light sources (340) disposed on the heat sink (330).
4. The optical element as claimed in claim 1, wherein each inverted lens (110a, 210a, 310a, 410a), from the plurality of inverted lenses (110a, 210a, 310a, 410a), has a convex profile.
5. The optical element as claimed in claim 1, wherein each inverted lens (310a, 410a) is disposed in proximity of a respective Light Emitting Diode (LED) (340, 440), such that the inverted lens (310a, 410a) and the LED (340, 440) are coaxial.
6. The optical element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inverted lens (310a) receives light rays (350) from an LED (340) at an entry angle of incidence between 45 degrees and 180 degrees to form a median beam (360) emitting from the inverted lens (310a).
7. The optical element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer convex section (310b) collimates an exit beam (370) over a focus area at a desired emitting incidence angle to ground.
8. A vehicle head lamp unit (305, 405), comprising:
a heat sink (330, 430); and
an optical element (300, 400) comprising:
an optical region (O) having:
a plurality of inverted lenses (310a, 410a) formed on a rear end (R) of the optical region (O), wherein each inverted lens (310a, 410a) has a focal length different from focal lengths of other inverted lenses (310a, 410a); and
an outer convex section (310b, 410b) disposed on a front end (F) of the optical region (O), the outer convex section (310b, 410b) covers the plurality of inverted lenses (310a, 410a) from the front end (F).
9. The vehicle head lamp unit as claimed in claim 10, comprising a group of light sources having a plurality of LEDs (340, 440), wherein each LED (340, 440) is electrically disposed on a printed circuit board (380, 480).
10. The vehicle head lamp unit as claimed in claim 11, wherein the printed circuit board (380, 480) is disposed on the heat sink (330, 430).