# US 10,246,007 B2 · Illumination apparatus, vehicle component and vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,246,007 B2 - Document ID: US10246007B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/262,396 - Filed: 2016-09-12 - Published: 2017-03-16 - Granted: 2019-04-02 - Earliest claimed: 2015-09-15 - Assignees: SMR Patents S.à.r.l. - Applicants: SMR Patents S.à.r.l. - Inventors: Oliver Schmidt; Daniel Fritz - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10246007B2 ## CPC - F21S 43/31: Optical layout thereof - B60Q 1/2619: {built in the vehicle body} - B60Q 1/2665: {on rear-view mirrors (lighting devices for vehicle interior on or for rear-view mirrors B60Q3/258)} - F21S 43/00: Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights - F21S 43/2815: {Mechanical properties, e.g. flexibility} - F21S 43/40: characterised by the combination of reflectors and refractors - F21S 43/601: {characterised by variable optical properties, e.g. involving the use of LCD or movable parts} - G03B 21/28: Reflectors in projection beam {(in illumination beam G03B21/2066)} - B60Q 2400/50: Projected symbol or information, e.g. onto the road or car body - F21S: NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS - B60Q: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL - G03B: APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR (optical parts of such apparatus G02B; photosensitive materials or processes for photographic purposes G03C; apparatus for processing exposed photographic materials G03D) ## Abstract An illumination apparatus for a vehicle component, especially for a rearview device of a motor vehicle, features at least one illuminant for emitting light and a condenser unit having at least one condenser lens. The condenser unit is adapted to focus the light emitted by the at least one illuminant into an optical path. At least one mask means is provided, which is arranged in the optical path and by means of which an image, symbol, logo and/or legend can be displayed on a projection surface. A lens unit having at least one objective lens, is arranged in the optical path, and at least one reflector unit, is arranged between the condenser unit and the projection surface. The reflector unit is adapted to deflect the optical path, especially essentially transversely or diagonally, to the projection surface, wherein the reflector unit comprises a reflector element which comprises at least one surface section by means of which the light can be deflected relative to the optical path. The surface section of the reflector element is configured as a freeform surface in order to focus the light. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An illumination apparatus for a vehicle component, especially for a rearview device of a motor vehicle, comprising: at least one illuminant for emitting light; a condenser unit having at least one condenser lens, wherein the condenser unit is adapted to focus the light emitted by the at least one illuminant into an optical path; at least one mask means, which is arranged in the optical path and by means of which an image, symbol, logo and/or legend can be displayed on a projection surface; a lens unit having at least one objective lens, which is arranged in the optical path and provides a magnification characteristic to the image, symbol, logo and/or legend displayed on the projection surface; and at least one reflector unit, which is arranged between the condenser unit and the projection surface, wherein the reflector unit is adapted to deflect the optical path, especially essentially transversely or diagonally, to the projection surface, wherein the reflector unit comprises a reflector element which comprises at least one surface section by means of which the light can be deflected relative to the optical path, and wherein the surface section of the reflector element is configured as a freeform surface in order to focus the light, and further wherein the light which is emitted from the at least one illuminant is configured to change direction only upon passing through the reflector unit and does not change direction upon passing through the objective lens. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The illumination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one reflector unit is adapted to deflect the optical path in a range of 35° to 145°. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The illumination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one reflector unit is arranged along the optical path of the light from the illuminant up to the projection surface in front of or behind the lens unit. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The illumination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the mask means is arranged along the optical path of the light from the illuminant to the projection surface between the condenser unit and the lens unit. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The illumination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reflector unit comprises the mask means. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The illumination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the mask means is mechanically and/or electrically alterable or adjustable in order to change the image, symbol, logo and/or the legend that the mask means can display on the projection surface. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The illumination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reflector unit comprises a lens means arranged on the reflector element and configured as a separate or separable component in order to focus the light. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The illumination apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the lens means and/or the freeform surface comprises or comprise the condenser unit and/or the lens unit. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The illumination apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the reflector unit comprises both the mask means and also the condenser unit and/or the lens unit. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The illumination apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the reflector element comprises a light guide and/or a prism. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The illumination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one condenser lens of the condenser unit and/or the at least one objective lens of the lens unit comprises or comprise at least one toric lens element. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The illumination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the illuminant emits the light essentially parallel and/or diagonally to the projection surface. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A vehicle component of a motor vehicle having at least one illumination apparatus according to claim 1. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The vehicle component according to claim 13, wherein at least one hollow space, which forms a housing for the illumination apparatus and within which the illumination apparatus can be fixed, is configured in the vehicle component. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) A motor vehicle having at least one vehicle rearview device configured as one of an internal or external mirror or camera, according to claim 13. ### Claim 16 (depends on 2) The illumination apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the at least one reflector unit is adapted to deflect the optical path in the range of 45° to 135°. ### Claim 17 (depends on 2) The illumination apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the at least one reflector unit is adapted to deflect the optical path in the range of 60° to 120°. ### Claim 18 (depends on 2) The illumination apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the at least one reflector unit is adapted to deflect the optical path by about 90°. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The vehicle component according to claim 13 wherein the vehicle component is a rearview device configured as at least one of an internal or external mirror or camera. ### Claim 20 An illumination apparatus for a vehicle component, especially for a rearview device of a motor vehicle, comprising: at least one illuminant for emitting light; a condenser unit having at least one condenser lens, wherein the condenser unit is adapted to focus the light emitted by the at least one illuminant into an optical path; at least one mask means, which is arranged in the optical path and by means of which an image, symbol, logo and/or legend can be displayed on a projection surface; a lens unit having at least one objective lens, which is arranged in the optical path and provides a magnification characteristic to the image, symbol, logo and/or legend displayed on the projection surface; and at least one reflector unit, which is arranged between the condenser unit and the projection surface, wherein the reflector unit is adapted to deflect the optical path, especially essentially transversely or diagonally, to the projection surface, wherein the reflector unit comprises a reflector element which comprises at least one surface section by means of which the light can be deflected relative to the optical path, and wherein the surface section of the reflector element is configured as a freeform surface in order to focus the light. ### Claim 21 An illumination apparatus for a vehicle component, especially for a rearview device of a motor vehicle, comprising: at least one illuminant for emitting light; a condenser unit having at least one condenser lens, wherein the condenser unit is adapted to focus the light emitted by the at least one illuminant into an optical path; at least one mask means, which is arranged in the optical path and by means of which an image, symbol, logo and/or legend can be displayed on a projection surface; a lens unit having at least one objective lens, which is arranged in the optical path; and at least one reflector unit, which is arranged between the condenser unit and the projection surface, wherein the reflector unit is adapted to deflect the optical path, especially essentially transversely or diagonally, to the projection surface, wherein the reflector unit comprises a reflector element which comprises at least one surface section by means of which the light can be deflected relative to the optical path, and wherein the surface section of the reflector element is configured as a freeform surface in order to focus the light, and further wherein the light which is emitted from the at least one illuminant is configured to change direction only upon passing through the reflector unit and does not change direction upon passing through the objective lens.