Description:TITLE
LUMINOUS DEVICE FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a luminous device for a motor vehicle, and more particularly to a luminous device having a reflector, a pattern, and a light deflecting element arranged to provide a desired effect.

STATE OF THE ART

[0002] Luminous devices of a motor vehicle includes various lighting and/or indicating devices, such as a headlight, fog light, turn light, brake light, position light, daytime running light and the like. The various luminous devices may be utilized for different purposes of the motor vehicle such as illuminating a road, illuminating interior of the vehicle, providing aesthetic appearance for the motor vehicle, and the like. With advancements in automotive industry, more importance is given to designing innovative luminous devices that provide a unique lighting effect such as personalized signature lighting, unique lighting patterns and the like. However, when designing such luminous devices to provide a unique lighting effect, considerations have to be made to increase efficiency of light and to reduce dark spots and hot spots in light output.

[0003] Conventionally, the luminous devices such as a headlamp of the motor vehicle may use a diffuser to spread at least a portion of light from the light source to enhance visibility. However, the luminous devices using the diffusers are not efficient when designed to produce unique lighting effect such as for example dynamic optical effect, light pattern, and the like. Further, the diffuser sheet must be joined or bonded with another component such as an inner lens or an outer lens for proper functioning. However, the joint or the bond of the diffuser may wear out and may cause reduction in optical efficiency. In addition, the light output may not be efficient and may have hot spots. Moreover, the cost and complexity of design is also increased.

[0004] The prior art and the conventional methods have various disadvantages as described earlier and there is a need for a luminous device that can overcome the disadvantages of the conventional method.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] In order to at least partially overcome drawback in the prior art, the present invention provides a luminous device that is capable of changing the direction of light thereby providing a desired unique lighting effect.

[0006] The present invention relates to a luminous device for a motor vehicle. The luminous device includes a light source configured to emit a light beam, a reflector provided in proximity with the light source, the reflector is adapted to receive a portion of the light beam. The luminous device further includes a light deflecting element provided at a posterior end of the reflector, the light deflecting element includes a plurality of convex elements arranged vertically in front of the reflector such that the light deflecting element is adapted to receive the light beam reflected light reflected from the reflector. The light deflecting element is configured to change direction of the light received from the reflector.

[0007] The arrangement of the reflector and the light deflecting element enables the luminous device to change direction of light thereby providing a unique lighting effect at the output.

[0008] The present invention can incorporate one or several embodiments presented hereafter. However, these embodiments are optional.

[0009] In an embodiment of the present invention, at least one portion of a light receiving side of the reflector is provided with a granular coating.

[0010] In an embodiment of the present invention, the reflector is configured to homogenize the light beam received from the light source.

[0011] In an embodiment of the present invention, at least one pattern is provided between the reflector and the light deflecting element.

[0012] In an embodiment of the present invention, the at least one pattern comprises a two dimensional image with a plurality of transparent and opaque portions.

[0013] In an embodiment of the present invention, the at least one pattern is formed on at least a portion of a light receiving side of the light deflecting element.

[0014] In an embodiment of the present invention, the at least one pattern is formed by a coating process that comprises coating a paint and removing at least a portion of the paint from the light deflecting element by laser to form the transparent portion.

[0015] In an embodiment of the present invention, the device comprises an outer lens arranged in front of the light deflecting element.

[0016] In an embodiment of the present invention, the light source is a light emitting diode.

[0017] In an embodiment of the present invention, the light source is mounted on a Printed Circuit Board (PCB).

[0018] In an embodiment of the present invention, a vehicle lighting apparatus, such as a headlamp, a front lighting bar, a rear lamp, including the luminous device is provided. The device being arranged such that the light it emits goes out of the vehicle lighting apparatus through the outer lens and the patterns are visible through the outer lens. This arrangement of the present invention aids in providing a homogenous three-dimensional lighting effect of the pattern.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] To complete the description and to provide a better understanding of the invention, a set of drawings is provided. Said drawings form an integral part of the description and illustrate an embodiment of the invention, which should not be construed as restricting the scope of the invention, but only as an example of how the invention can be carried out. The details of one or more implementations are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description given below. The drawings comprise the following characteristics.

[0020] Figure 1 shows a sectional view of luminous device, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] Fig. 2a shows at least one pattern formed on a light deflecting element, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] Fig. 2b shows an example of at least one three dimensional pattern formed by the coating process, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] Further, some or all features of the figures are schematic representations for purposes of illustrations and hence they will not be used to limit the scope of the claims of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0025] Luminous devices of automotive vehicles are designed to perform more functions in addition to illuminating a road. The luminous devices are designed to provide different lighting effects such as pattern lighting, three-dimensional lighting and the like. The arrangement of the luminous device ensures that a desired three-dimensional pattern is produced as output light without the need for a separate diffusing element. Further, the arrangement reduces cost and increases optical efficiency of the light at output. In addition, because the grained reflector homogenizes the light beam, there is no separate optical element required to make the light beam uniform. Thus the cost is reduced.

[0026] The motor vehicles are generally provided with a right side luminous device and a left side luminous device. The luminous devices are placed symmetrically to each other and operate synchronously to produce the overall beam pattern or beam output. For ease of understanding, the present invention is being explained with respect to a single luminous device. It should be understood that the invention is applicable to both the luminous device and as well as to other lighting functions of the automotive vehicle such as tail lamp, direction indicator light, fog lamp etc.

[0027] Figure 1 shows a sectional view of luminous device (100) for a motor vehicle, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The luminous device (100) comprises a light source (102) configured to emit a light beam. In an embodiment, the light source (102) maybe a solid-state lighting element such as a light emitting diode (LED). The luminous device (100) comprises a light deflecting element (104), a reflector 106, and at least one pattern (110). The reflector (106) is provided in proximity with the light source (102). The reflector 106 is adapted to receive a portion of the light beam emitted by the light source (102). Therefore, the light emitted from the light source 102 is incident on the reflector (106). Further, at least one portion of the reflector (106) comprises a granular coating (108) on the light receiving side of the reflector (106) to ensure a homogenous beam of light from the reflector (106) is reflected. The level of granularity of the coating 108 and the area of the reflector 106 covered by the granular coating 108 maybe selected such that maximum portion of the light beam incident on the reflector (106) is reflected towards the light deflecting element (104). The at least one pattern (110) is provided between the reflector 106 and the light receiving side of the light defecting element (104). The light deflecting element (106) comprises a plurality of convex elements (114). The convex elements (114) are arranged vertically in front of the light source (102) such that direction of the homogenized light beam from the reflector 106 is changed by the light deflecting element (104).

[0028] The homogenized light beam may pass through the atleast one pattern 110 before reaching the light deflecting element 104. The at least one pattern (110) may include a plurality of transparent (120) and opaque portions (118) that may transmit or block the light beam from the light source 102. The light source (102) is mounted on a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) (116) and the PCB (116) may be arranged perpendicular to the light deflecting element (104). In an embodiment, the luminous device (100) further comprises an outer lens (112) arranged in front of the light deflecting element (104). The light emitted by the light deflecting portion 104 may pass through the outer lens (112). In addition to transmitting the light beam, the outer lens (112) may also function as a cover for all other remaining components of the luminous device (100).

[0029] In an embodiment, the light rays from the light source (102) may directly pass through the pattern (110) and the light deflecting element (104) without being reflected by the granular coating (108) provided on the reflector (106). The formation and working of the at least one pattern 110 is explained in detail with respect to Fig.2.

[0030] Fig. 2a shows at least one pattern (202) formed on the light deflecting element (104), according to an embodiment of the present invention. The at least one pattern (202) is formed on at least one portion of the light deflecting element (104). The at least one pattern (202) is formed by a coating process that comprises coating a paint on the light receiving side of the light deflecting element (104). In an embodiment, the color of the paint is at least one of but not limited to black, red, amber or any other color that ensures opacity. Subsequently, the process comprises removing at least a portion of the coating (108) from the surface of the light deflecting element (104) by laser process to form the transparent portion of a two dimensional images A and B as shown in Figure 2b. Further, as can be seen from Fig. 2b, the at least one pattern (202) includes at least a portion of two dimensional images with a plurality of transparent and opaque portions. The at least one pattern arranged on at least one portion of the light deflecting element (104) ensures that a three dimensional effect is obtained at the output of the light deflecting element (104). For example, the two dimensional images A and B of figure 2b is independently obtained and a pattern is formed on the light deflecting element (104) as shown in figure 2a. The arrangement of the plurality of convex elements of the light deflecting element (104) ensures the direction of the light rays are changed such that a three dimensional effect is obtained as output from the light beam that is incident on the reflector (not shown in figure). In an embodiment, the three dimensional effect obtained maybe a pattern formed by either one of the two dimensional images ‘A’, ‘B’, or a combination of two independent two dimensional images ‘A+B’ as shown in figure 2b.

[0031] In an embodiment, the light deflecting element (104) comprising the plurality of convex elements (114) maybe a plurality of lenticular lens. The lenticular lens is adapted to refract the light beam from the light source (102). The light beam may be refracted at different angles by the lenticular lens such that different images are provided as output at different angles. In an example embodiment, the at least one pattern (202) having a two dimensional images A1, and B1 may be formed by a coating process at the light receiving side of the light deflecting element (104). Particularly, the images A1, and B1 may be formed behind a single convex element of the plurality of convex elements 114 of the light deflecting element 104. Similarly, images A2 and B2, A3 and B3 may be formed behind the single convex elements, respectively. As presented earlier, the light beam received by the reflector is made substantially uniform i.e., homogenized and reflected towards the light deflecting element 104. Subsequently, the homogenous light beam passes through the transparent portions 120 of the at least one pattern (202) for example A1, B1, A2, B2, and A3, B3 before entering the light deflecting element (104). The homogenous light beam passing through the opaque portions 118 of the at least one pattern (202) is reflected back or absorbed depending on the type of paint coated to form the at least one pattern (202). The homogenous light beam then entering the light deflecting element (104) is refracted by the plurality of convex elements (114) thereby changing the direction of the light beam before exit. Thus, different patterns such as A1, B1, A2, B2, may be visible at different angles when viewed by an observer from outside. Therefore, a unique lighting effect with different images may be produced by the luminous device 100. The effect obtained is not limited to indirect lighting arrangement as shown in figure 1 and may also be obtained by a direct lighting arrangement with modifications known in the art.

[0032] Therefore, a unique lighting effect may be obtained as an output from the light deflecting element (104). In an embodiment, the luminous device (100) may be a vehicle lighting apparatus such as a headlamp, a front lighting bar, a rear lamp and the like. The device (100) being arranged such that the light it emits goes out of the vehicle lighting apparatus through the outer lens (112) and the patterns are visible through the outer lens (112).

[0033] Although the present disclosure provides references to figures, all embodiments shown in the figures are intended to explain preferred embodiments of the present invention by way of example rather than being intended to limit the present invention. Preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed. However, it should be apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art that certain modifications would come within the teachings of this invention and 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.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS
100 – Luminous Device
102 - Light Source
104 – Light Deflecting element
106 – Reflector
108 – Granular Coating
110 – Atleast one Pattern
112 – Outer Lens
114 – Plurality of Convex Elements
116 –Printed Circuit Board
118 –Opaque Portion
120 – Transparent Portion
202 – Atleast one Pattern

Digitally signed
KARTHIK NARASIMHAN
IN/PA No.:2932,
Agent for the Applicant
, Claims:Claims:

We Claim:

1. A luminous device (100) for a motor vehicle, the device (100) comprising:
a light source (102) configured to emit a light beam;
a reflector (106) provided in proximity with the light source (102), wherein the reflector is adapted to receive a portion of the light beam; and
a light deflecting element (104) provided at a posterior end of the reflector, the light deflecting element 104 comprising a plurality of convex elements (114) arranged vertically in front of the reflector such that the light deflecting element (104) is adapted to receive the light beam reflected from the reflector (106), wherein the light deflecting element (104) is configured to change direction of the light received from the reflector (106).

2. The device (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one portion of a light receiving side of the reflector (106) is provided with a granular coating (108).

3. The device (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reflector is configured to homogenize the light beam received from the light source (106).

4. The device (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one pattern (110) is provided between the reflector (106) and the light deflecting element (104).

5. The device (100) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the at least one pattern (110) comprises a two dimensional image with a plurality of transparent and opaque portions (120 and 118).

6. The device (100) as claimed in claim 5, wherein the at least one pattern (110) is formed on at least a portion of a light receiving side of the light deflecting element (104).

7. The device (100) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the at least one pattern (110) is formed by a coating process that comprises coating a paint and removing at least a portion of the paint from the light deflecting element (104) by laser to form the transparent portion (120).

8. The device (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device (100) comprises an outer lens (112) arranged in front of the light deflecting element (104).

9. The device (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light source (102) is a light emitting diode.

10. The device (100) as claimed in to claim 1, wherein the light source (100) is mounted on a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) (116).

11. A vehicle lighting apparatus, such as a headlamp, a front lighting bar, a rear lamp, comprising the luminous device (100) according to any of claims 1 to 10, the device (100) being arranged such that the light it emits goes out of the vehicle lighting apparatus through the outer lens (112) and the patterns are visible through the outer lens (112).

Digitally signed
KARTHIK NARASIMHAN
IN/PA No.:2932,
Agent for the Applicant