U.S. patent application number 16/896036 was filed with the patent office on 2021-02-11 for lamp for vehicle.
The applicant listed for this patent is SL Corporation. Invention is credited to Jin Han BAE, Jae Hyun SEOK, Dong Soo SHIN.
Application Number | 20210041079 16/896036 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000004917502 |
Filed Date | 2021-02-11 |
![](/patent/app/20210041079/US20210041079A1-20210211-D00000.png)
![](/patent/app/20210041079/US20210041079A1-20210211-D00001.png)
![](/patent/app/20210041079/US20210041079A1-20210211-D00002.png)
![](/patent/app/20210041079/US20210041079A1-20210211-D00003.png)
![](/patent/app/20210041079/US20210041079A1-20210211-D00004.png)
![](/patent/app/20210041079/US20210041079A1-20210211-D00005.png)
![](/patent/app/20210041079/US20210041079A1-20210211-D00006.png)
![](/patent/app/20210041079/US20210041079A1-20210211-D00007.png)
United States Patent
Application |
20210041079 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SEOK; Jae Hyun ; et
al. |
February 11, 2021 |
LAMP FOR VEHICLE
Abstract
A lamp for a vehicle includes a light source unit including at
least one first light source for generating first light and at
least one second light source for generating second light formed in
a color different from a color of the first light, a light guide
unit for guiding the first light and the second light incident
through an incident member thereof, a transmission lens disposed
between the first light source and the incident member of the light
guide unit, through which the first light is incident and emitted,
and an outer lens through which at least a portion of the first
light and the second light guided by the light guide unit is
transmitted. In particular, the color of the first light is changed
by the transmission lens and is subsequently changed by the outer
lens.
Inventors: |
SEOK; Jae Hyun;
(Gyeongsan-si, KR) ; SHIN; Dong Soo;
(Gyeongsan-si, KR) ; BAE; Jin Han; (Gyeongsan-si,
KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SL Corporation |
Daegu |
|
KR |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000004917502 |
Appl. No.: |
16/896036 |
Filed: |
June 8, 2020 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F21V 23/003 20130101;
F21W 2103/20 20180101; F21S 43/237 20180101; F21S 43/14 20180101;
F21Y 2115/10 20160801; F21S 43/40 20180101; B60Q 2400/20 20130101;
F21S 43/26 20180101; B60Q 1/0041 20130101; F21W 2103/35 20180101;
F21Y 2113/13 20160801 |
International
Class: |
F21S 43/20 20060101
F21S043/20; F21S 43/237 20060101 F21S043/237; F21S 43/40 20060101
F21S043/40; F21V 23/00 20060101 F21V023/00; F21S 43/14 20060101
F21S043/14 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 6, 2019 |
KR |
10-2019-0095645 |
Claims
1. A lamp for a vehicle, comprising: a light source unit including
at least one first light source for generating first light and at
least one second light source for generating second light formed in
a color different from a color of the first light; a light guide
unit for guiding the first light and the second light incident
through an incident member thereof; a transmission lens disposed
between the first light source and the incident member of the light
guide unit, through which the first light is incident and emitted,
the transmission lens being formed in a first color; and an outer
lens through which at least a portion of the first light and the
second light guided by the light guide unit is transmitted, the
outer lens being formed in a second color, wherein the color of the
first light is changed by the transmission lens and is further
changed by the outer lens.
2. The lamp for the vehicle of claim 1, wherein the light guide
unit further comprises: a reflective optic member formed on at
least a portion of a rear surface of the light guide unit, the
reflective optic member reflecting at least a portion of the
incident first light and second light; and an emission member
arranged opposite to the rear surface, the emission member emitting
light reflected from the reflective optic member.
3. The lamp for the vehicle of claim 1, wherein the incident member
comprises: a first incident surface on which the first light is
incident; and a second incident surface on which the second light
is incident, wherein the second incident surface is formed to
protrude farther than the first incident surface in a direction
toward the light source unit.
4. The lamp for the vehicle of claim 3, wherein an incident surface
of the transmission lens is disposed on a same plane as the second
incident surface of the light guide unit.
5. The lamp for the vehicle of claim 3, wherein the transmission
lens is formed larger than the first incident surface, and wherein
the transmission lens includes a hole.
6. The lamp for the vehicle of claim 5, wherein the hole of the
transmission lens corresponds to a circumference of the first
incident surface of the light guide unit.
7. The lamp for the vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first color of
the transmission lens is green.
8. The lamp for the vehicle of claim 1, wherein the second color of
the outer lens is pink.
9. The lamp for the vehicle of claim 1, further comprising: a
control unit for controlling the first light source and the second
light source, wherein the control unit is configured to turn off
the second light source when the first light source is turned on,
and to turn off the first light source when the second light source
is turned on.
10. The lamp for the vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first light
performs a turn signal function as it transmits through the outer
lens, and wherein the second light performs at least one of a tail
lamp function or a brake lamp function as it transmits through the
outer lens.
11. The lamp for the vehicle of claim 1, wherein the color of the
first light transmitted through the outer lens is formed in a shade
of yellow, and wherein the color of the second light transmitted
through the outer lens is formed in a shade of red.
12. The lamp for the vehicle of claim 1, further comprising: an
inner lens disposed between the light guide unit and the outer
lens, wherein the inner lens includes a plurality of optics that
diffuse the first light and the second light emitted from the light
guide unit in a direction of the outer lens.
13. The lamp for the vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first light
source includes a white LED, and the second light source includes a
red LED.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority from Korean Patent
Application No. 10-2019-0095645 filed on Aug. 6, 2019, the contents
of which are herein incorporated by reference in their
entirety.
BACKGROUND
1. Technical Field
[0002] The present disclosure relates to a lamp for a vehicle, and
more particularly, to a lamp for a vehicle capable of irradiating a
plurality of colors through a light guide unit.
2. Description of the Related Art
[0003] Generally, a light guide unit provides a path for scattering
and diffusing light from a light source. In the light guide unit, a
light emitting diode (LED) light source, which is a point light
source that outputs light having straightness, is usually arranged
on a side surface. The light incident from the LED light source is
converted to surface light through the light guide unit and then
emitted.
[0004] Accordingly, the light guide unit may provide an indirect
lighting effect without directly exposing the light source to be
visible. The indirect lighting effect of the light guide unit
improves aesthetics. As such, in accordance with the recent trend
that emphasizes not only the illumination and signal functions of
vehicle lamps but also aesthetic effects, the light guide unit is
being applied to a lamp for a vehicle. However, in the related art,
a single LED light source is used for the light guide unit, and it
is arranged at one end of the light guide unit to irradiate light
to the light guide unit.
[0005] The light irradiated to the light guide unit is totally
reflected inside the light guide unit and transmitted to the other
end, and a portion of the light is projected to the outside of the
light guide unit. By the light projected to the outside through the
light guide unit, it is recognized from the outside as if the light
guide unit emits light from its surface.
SUMMARY
[0006] Aspects of the present disclosure provide a lamp for a
vehicle capable of irradiating light with a plurality of colors
through a light guide unit. However, aspects of the present
disclosure are not restricted to those set forth herein. The above
and other aspects of the present disclosure will become more
apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art to which the present
disclosure pertains by referencing the detailed description of the
present disclosure given below.
[0007] According to an aspect of an exemplary embodiment, a lamp
for a vehicle may include a light source unit including at least
one first light source for generating first light and at least one
second light source for generating second light formed in a color
different from a color of the first light; a light guide unit for
guiding the first light and the second light incident through an
incident member thereof; a transmission lens disposed between the
first light source and the incident member of the light guide unit,
through which the first light is incident and emitted; and an outer
lens through which at least a portion of the first light and the
second light guided by the light guide unit is transmitted. The
transmission lens may be formed in a first color, and the outer
lens may be formed in a second color. In particular, the color of
the first light may be changed by the transmission lens when the
first light is incident on the incident member of the light guide
unit, and may be subsequently changed by the outer lens when the
first light is emitted through the outer lens.
[0008] The light guide unit may further comprise a reflective optic
member formed on at least a portion of a rear surface of the light
guide unit, which may reflect at least a portion of the incident
first light and second light; and an emission member arranged
opposite to the rear surface, which may emit light reflected from
the reflective optic member.
[0009] The incident member may comprise a first incident surface on
which the first light is incident and a second incident surface on
which the second light is incident. The second incident surface may
be formed to protrude farther than the first incident surface in a
direction toward the light source unit. An incident surface of the
transmission lens may be disposed on a same plane as the second
incident surface of the light guide unit. The transmission lens may
be formed larger than the first incident surface, and the
transmission lens may include a hole. The hole of the transmission
lens may correspond to a circumference of the first incident
surface of the light guide unit.
[0010] In particular, the first color of the transmission lens may
be green, and/or the second color of the outer lens may be
pink.
[0011] The vehicle may further comprise a control unit for
controlling the first light source and the second light source. The
control unit may be configured to turn off the second light source
when the first light source is turned on, and to turn off the first
light source when the second light source is turned on.
[0012] The first light may perform a turn signal function as it
transmits through the outer lens, and the second light may perform
at least one of a tail lamp function or a brake lamp function as it
transmits through the outer lens. The color of the first light
transmitted through the outer lens may be a shade of yellow, and
the color of the second light transmitted through the outer lens
may be a shade of red.
[0013] Further, the vehicle may also comprise an inner lens
disposed between the light guide unit and the outer lens, and the
inner lens may include a plurality of optics that diffuse the first
light and the second light emitted from the light guide unit in a
direction of the outer lens. The first light source may include a
white LED, and the second light source may include a red LED.
[0014] According to a light guide unit of the present disclosure
and a lamp for a vehicle including the same, one or more of the
following benefits may be obtained. As the light transmits through
the light guide unit and a transmission lens formed in a first
color, the lamp may perform a signal function and a tail lamp
function. As first light and second light are diffused through an
inner lens and transmitted to an outer lens, a uniform lighting
image may be formed.
[0015] The effects of the present disclosure are not limited to the
above-described effects, and other effects which are not described
herein will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the
following description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] The above and other aspects and features of the present
disclosure will become more apparent by describing in detail
exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the attached
drawings, in which:
[0017] FIGS. 1 to 3 show a lamp for a vehicle according to an
exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0018] FIG. 4 shows a first light source and a second light source
according to the exemplary embodiment of the present
disclosure;
[0019] FIG. 5 shows a portion of a light guide unit of the lamp for
the vehicle according to the exemplary embodiment of the present
disclosure;
[0020] FIG. 6 shows a transmission lens of the lamp for the vehicle
according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;
and
[0021] FIG. 7 schematically shows an optical path of the lamp for
the vehicle according to the exemplary embodiment of the present
disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0022] Advantages and features of the disclosure and methods to
achieve them will become apparent from the descriptions of
exemplary embodiments herein below with reference to the
accompanying drawings. However, the inventive concept is not
limited to exemplary embodiments disclosed herein but may be
implemented in various ways. The exemplary embodiments are provided
for making the disclosure of the inventive concept thorough and for
fully conveying the scope of the inventive concept to those skilled
in the art. It is to be noted that the scope of the disclosure is
defined only by the claims. Like reference numerals denote like
elements throughout the descriptions.
[0023] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and
scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly
understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this
disclosure belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such
as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be
interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their
meaning in the context of the relevant art and/or the present
application, and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly
formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
[0024] Terms used herein are for illustrating the exemplary
embodiments rather than limiting the present disclosure. As used
herein, the singular forms are intended to include plural forms as
well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Throughout
this specification, the word "comprise" and variations such as
"comprises" or "comprising," will be understood to imply the
inclusion of stated elements but not the exclusion of any other
elements.
[0025] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure
will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
[0026] FIGS. 1 to 3 show a lamp for a vehicle according to an
exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 4 shows a
first light source and a second light source according to the
exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 5 shows a
portion of a light guide unit of the lamp for the vehicle according
to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 6 shows
a transmission lens of the lamp for the vehicle according to the
exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 7
schematically shows an optical path of the lamp for the vehicle
according to the exemplary embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0027] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, the lamp for the vehicle
according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may
include a light source unit 10, a light guide unit 100, a
transmission lens 20, and an outer lens 200. The light source unit
10 may be formed to include a plurality of light sources, and may
include at least one first light source 12 for generating first
light and at least one second light source 14 for generating second
light. In addition, the first light source 12 and the second light
source 14 may be formed to generate light having a brightness or a
color suitable for the use of the lamp for the vehicle of the
present disclosure. An light emitting diode (LED) semiconductor
light emitting device may be used as a light source. However, the
present disclosure is not limited thereto, and a laser diode (LD)
or bulb type lamp may be used as a light source. A halogen lamp or
a high intensity discharge (HID) lamp may be used as the bulb type
lamp.
[0028] The color of the first light and the color of the second
light may be formed differently. For example, the first light
source 12 may be formed of a white LED that generates the first
light in white color, and the second light source 14 may be formed
of a red LED that generates the second light in red color. In
addition, The light source unit 10 may further include a substrate
(not shown), and the at least one first light source 12 and the at
least one second light source 14 may be attached to the substrate
to generate light in a direction of the light guide unit 100.
[0029] The light guide unit 100 may convert the light emitted from
a point light source into surface light. For example, in the
exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the light guide
unit 100 may surface-emit by emitting a portion of light incident
from one end toward the front of the vehicle.
[0030] The light guide unit 100 may be formed of a linear or
curvilinear rod elongated in the left and right directions.
However, the light guide unit 100 may be implemented in various
designs based on the consumer preference and a shape of the
vehicle. For example, it may be formed in a curved shape, an arc
shape, an annular shape, or the like, and the light guide unit may
be bent in a direction from an inboard to an outboard of the
vehicle. In addition, the light guide unit 100 according to the
exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may be arranged on
both sides of the front or rear of the vehicle, and it may be
applied as a signal lamp, a tail lamp, a brake lamp, or the like in
some implementations. The light guide unit 100 may be formed of a
transparent material such as acrylic resin, urethane acrylate,
epoxy acrylate, or the like. Accordingly, the light guide unit 100
may allow the incident light to be emitted to the outside.
[0031] As shown in FIG. 5, the light guide unit 100 may include an
incident member 110, a reflective optic member 120, and an emission
member 130. The incident member 110 may be formed at one end of the
light guide unit 100, and light irradiated from the light source
unit 10 may be incident on the incident member 110. The incident
member 110 may be formed in various shapes. In the drawing, the
incident member 110 is illustrated as a circular shape. However,
the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the incident
member 110 may be formed in an oval shape, a polygon shape, a
square shape, or the like.
[0032] In addition, the incident member 110 may include a plurality
of incident surfaces, and more specifically, may include a first
incident surface 112 on which the first light is incident and a
second incident surface 114 on which the second light is
incident.
[0033] When an incident angle of the first light and the second
light with respect to an interface of the light guide unit 100 is
less than a critical angle, the light may not be totally reflected
within the light guide unit 100, and may be emitted to the outside
of the light guide unit 100.
[0034] Due to the first light and/or the second light emitted to
the outside, the light guide unit 100 may provide
surface-emission.
[0035] However, since the amount of light emitted to the outside is
less, the light distribution quality of the light guide unit 100
may become poor. Therefore, the reflective optic member 120 may be
formed on a rear surface of the light guide unit 100 to reflect at
least a portion of the incident light to the emission member 130.
Accordingly, at least a portion of the first light and the second
light incident from the incident member 110 may be reflected in a
direction of the emission member 130 by the reflective optic member
120.
[0036] The emission member 130 may be arranged to face the rear
surface of the light guide unit 100. Accordingly, the emission
member 130 may correspond to the front of the light guide unit 100.
The emission member 130 may emit the first light and the second
light reflected from the reflective optic member 120.
[0037] The reflective optic member 120 may be formed at least in
part along the shape of the light guide unit 100, and the
reflective optic member 120 may reflect at least a portion of the
first light and/or the second light incident on the incident member
110 of the light guide unit 100 to the emission member 130.
Accordingly, the emission member 130 of the light guide unit 100
may emit light incident on the incident member 110 and reflected by
the plurality of reflective optic members 120, or the like.
Therefore, the reflective optic member 120 may increase the amount
of light emitted from the emission member 130 of the light guide
unit 100 to the outside.
[0038] Therefore, the light guide unit 100 of the present
disclosure may be improved in light distribution performance
compared with a conventional light guide unit of the related art
without the reflective optic member 120. As the light distribution
performance is improved, the light distribution performance of the
light guide unit 100 of the present disclosure may satisfy the
conditions of light distribution regulations.
[0039] In addition, as shown in FIG. 5, the reflective optic member
120 may be formed to protrude outward from the rear surface of the
light guide unit 100. However, the present disclosure is not
limited thereto. For example, although not shown in the drawing, it
may be formed by being recessed inward from the rear surface of the
light guide unit 100. In addition, in FIG. 5, the light guide unit
100 is described as having only one reflective optic member 120.
However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and it may
be provided in plurality on the rear surface of the light guide
unit 100.
[0040] As shown in FIG. 4, the transmission lens 20 may be disposed
between the first light source and the incident member 110 to
change the color of the first light while allowing the first light
to be incident and be emitted. Therefore, the transmission lens 20
may be formed in a first color which is a complementary color.
Accordingly, the color of the first light may be changed by the
transmission lens 20 and be incident on the incident member 110.
Here, the first color may be green.
[0041] Furthermore, the transmission lens 20 may contact the first
incident surface 112 while being disposed between the first light
source 12 and the first incident surface 112 to transmit the first
light. As a result, the color of the first light may be changed to
a shade of green color as it transmits through the transmission
lens 20 and may be incident on the first incident surface 112.
[0042] Meanwhile, the second incident surface 114 according to the
exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may be formed to
protrude from the first incident surface 112 in the direction
toward the light source unit 10. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 6,
an incident surface of the transmission lens 20 through which the
first light is incident may be disposed on the same plane as the
second incident surface 114.
[0043] In addition, referring to FIG. 4 again, the transmission
lens 20 may be formed larger than the first incident surface for
fixing to a bracket provided in the lamp for the vehicle.
Therefore, some of the first light incident on the transmission
lens 20 may be transmitted in a direction perpendicular to a light
traveling direction due to the shape of the transmission lens 20,
thereby negatively affecting the light efficiency.
[0044] To address this issue, a hole (e.g., a slot) 22 may be
formed in the transmission lens 20 to prevent the first light from
traveling in the direction perpendicular to the light traveling
direction. The hole 22 may be formed in various shapes. For
example, the hole 22 may be formed on the transmission lens 20
corresponding to a circumference of the first incident surface
112.
[0045] The outer lens 200 may be the first visible portion of the
lamp for the vehicle when the lamp for the vehicle of the present
disclosure is mounted on the vehicle. In order to transmit at least
a portion of the first light and the second light guided by the
light guide unit 100, the outer lens 200 may be formed in front of
the light guide unit 100 to allow the first light and the second
light emitted from the emission member 130 of the light guide unit
100 to be incident and emitted. The outer lens 200 may be formed in
a second color. In particular, the second color may be pink.
Accordingly, the first light and the second light may be emitted
after the color is changed by the outer lens 200.
[0046] Referring to FIG. 7, as a result, the first light may be
transmitted through the transmission lens 20 and be incident on the
first incident surface 112 of the light guide unit 100, be
reflected by the reflective optic member 120 to be emitted in a
direction from the emission member 130 to the outer lens 200, and
be incident on and emitted through the outer lens 200. As the
second light is incident on the second incident surface 114 of the
light guide unit 100 and is reflected by the reflective optic
member 120, the second light may be emitted in a direction from the
emission member 130 to the outer lens 200, and be incident on and
emitted through the outer lens 200.
[0047] In addition, the color of the first light, which is white,
may be changed to a shade of green by the transmission lens 20, be
incident on and emitted through the light guide unit 100, be
transmitted to the outer lens 200, and subsequently be changed to a
shade of yellow by the outer lens 200 and be emitted.
[0048] The color of the second light may be formed of a shade of
red as it is generated from a red LED, be transmitted by the light
guide unit 100 to the outer lens 200 and transmitted through the
outer lens 200. Therefore, even if the color changes, it may be
emitted in the shade of red by the outer lens 200 formed of a pink
color.
[0049] As a result, the first light may perform a signal function
as it transmits through the outer lens 200, and the second light
may perform at least one of a tail lamp function or a brake lamp
function as it transmits through the outer lens 200. Therefore, the
lamp for the vehicle according to the exemplary embodiment of the
present disclosure may perform the signal function, the tail lamp
function, and/or the brake lamp function through the transmission
lens 20, the light guide unit 100, and the outer lens 200.
[0050] In the conventional lamp for the vehicle, the outer lens is
formed by dividing into a portion that forms a turn signal and a
portion that forms the tail-brake lamp. The portion that forms a
plurality of turn signals among the outer lenses is formed in a
white shade or transparent color, and the portion that forms the
tail-brake lamp is formed in a shade of red. In addition, when any
one of the above two parts is damaged, either the turn signal
function or the tail-brake lamp function cannot be performed.
[0051] The outer lens 200 of the present disclosure may be formed
in a single second color without distinctive portions. Therefore,
as the first light and the second light are transmitted through the
same area in the outer lens 200, it is possible to perform the turn
signal function and the tail-brake lamp function more efficiently
than the lamp of the related art. In addition, even if a portion of
the outer lens 200 is damaged, the turn signal and tail-brake lamp
functions may be performed by the remaining portions.
[0052] Meanwhile, the lamp for the vehicle according to the
exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may further include
a control unit (not shown). The control unit may be configured to
control the first light source 12 and the second light source 14.
In particular, when the first light source 12 and the second light
source 14 are illuminated simultaneously, the colors of the first
light and the second light may be mixed and irradiated through the
outer lens 200. Therefore, in order to more efficiently perform the
turn signal function and the tail-brake lamp function, the control
unit may be configured to turn off the second light source 14 when
the first light source 12 is turned on. Also, when the second light
source 14 is turned on, the first light source 12 may be turned
off.
[0053] In addition, the lamp for the vehicle according to the
exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may further include
an inner lens 300. The inner lens 300 may be disposed between the
light guide unit 100 and the outer lens 200, and may diffuse at
least one of the first light or the second light emitted from the
light guide unit 100 in the direction of the outer lens 200.
Accordingly, a plurality of optics may be formed in the inner lens
300. Specifically, the plurality of optics may be formed on at
least one of an incident surface or an emission surface of the
inner lens 300 to diffuse the first light and/or the second light,
thereby efficiently forming a uniform lighting image.
[0054] Many modifications and other embodiments of the present
disclosure will come to the mind of one skilled in the art having
the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing
descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is
understood that the present disclosure is not to be limited to the
specific exemplary embodiments disclosed, and that modifications
and embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the
appended claims.
* * * * *