Illumination device for vehicles

US9915406B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Hella KGaA Hueck & Co. · DE

Inventors

• Carsten Hohmann · Warstein, DE
• Martin Mügge · Geseke, DE
• Antti Mäkiranta · Salo, FI

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 1, 2014
• Grant date: Mar 13, 2018
• Expiry date: Mar 24, 2035

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B60Q1/303
• WIPO field: Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

An illumination device for vehicles, in particular rear light, with a light-emitting unit to generate a predetermined light function. The device comprises a plurality of light sources and an optical unit. The optical unit comprises a light guide with means for the deflection of the light coupled in the same, and a retroreflective unit to generate a retroreflective function. The light guide is designed as a low-profile light guide, which is arranged in the main radiation direction in front of the retroreflective unit. The means for deflecting the light are distributed on or in the low-profile light guide such that the first light beam emitted from the light source and coupled into a narrow side of the low-profile light guide is coupled out at a front flat side of the low-profile light guide to produce the predetermined light function. A second light beam coming from the outside passes the front flat side and a rear flat side of the low-profile light guide and is incident on the retroreflective unit and is reflected by it back through the rear flat side and the front flat side of the low-profile light guide in the main radiation direction to generate the retroreflective function.