Light system with a single one-part lens
AssigneeMotherson Innovations Company Limited
InventorIlka Rötzer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A light system includes a light source for emitting divergent light, and only one imaging lens arranged in front of the light source in the divergent light for imaging the divergent light directly received from the light source, where the imaging lens is one-piece fabricated part and comprises a first lens section with a non-structured and convex light entry surface curved in a direction of the light source for the entry of the divergent light of the light source into the imaging lens, a second lens section with a convex light exiting surface curved in a light propagation direction for imaging the light entered, and a mask arranged between the first and second lens sections for modifying the light entered into the first lens section before leaving the light exiting surface.
Claims16
A light system, comprising
- a light source for emitting divergent light;
- and
- only one imaging lens arranged in front of the light source in the divergent light for imaging the divergent light directly received from the light source,
- wherein the imaging lens is one-piece fabricated part and comprises a first lens section with a convex shape having convex light entry surface curved in a direction of the light source for the entry of the divergent light of the light source into the imaging lens, a second lens section with a convex light exiting surface curved in a light propagation direction for imaging the light entered, and a mask arranged between the first and second lens sections for modifying the light entered into the first lens section before leaving the light exiting surface,
- wherein the light source has a light exiting surface which is smaller by at least a factor of five than a maximum area of the imaging lens perpendicular to the light propagation direction, and
- wherein a distance between the light source, the imaging lens, and the maximum area of the imaging lens are selected so that the light source fully illuminates the light entry surface of the first lens section of the imaging lens.
A method for manufacturing a light system, the method comprising:
- providing the light system, comprising
- a light source for emitting divergent light;
- and
- only one imaging lens arranged in front of the light source in the divergent light for imaging the divergent light directly received from the light source,
- wherein the imaging lens is one-piece fabricated part and comprises a first lens section with a convex shape having convex light entry surface curved in a direction of the light source for the entry of the divergent light of the light source into the imaging lens, a second lens section with a convex light exiting surface curved in a light propagation direction for imaging the light entered, and a mask arranged between the first and second lens sections for modifying the light entered into the first lens section before leaving the light exiting surface;
- fabricating a first lens section with the convex shape having convex light entry surface curved in the direction of the light source for the entry of the divergent light (DL) of the light source into the first lens section and a suitably shaped opposite light exiting surface;
- fabricating a second lens section with a convex light exiting surface curved in the light propagation direction to image the light entered and an opposite light entry surface;
- assembling the first and second lens sections and the mask for modifying the light entered the first lens section into a one-part imaging lens;
- and
- arranging the one-part imaging lens in front of the light source for directly receiving the divergent light of the light source,
- wherein the first and second lens sections are manufactured by injection molding, and
- wherein the fabricating of the first and second lens sections and the assembling comprises:
- equipping the first mold half of an injection molding tool with a slider to create a material-free volume as the later cavity;
- injecting of the first lens section using the first mold half in the presence of the slider;
- attaching a second mold half to the injection molding tool;
- injecting of the second lens section onto the light exiting surface of the first lens section using the second mold half;
- removing of the first and second mold halves and the slider for defining a list between light exiting surface of the first lens section and light entry surface of the second lens section in the one-part interconnected first and second lens sections;
- and
- inserting the mask into the slit between the first and second lens sections as assembling of the one-part imaging lens.
A light system, comprising
- a light source for emitting divergent light;
- and
- only one imaging lens arranged in front of the light source in the divergent light for imaging the divergent light directly received from the light source,
- wherein the imaging lens is one-piece fabricated part and comprises a first lens section with a convex shape having convex light entry surface curved in a direction of the light source for the entry of the divergent light of the light source into the imaging lens, a second lens section with a convex light exiting surface curved in a light propagation direction for imaging the light entered, and a mask arranged between the first and second lens sections for modifying the light entered into the first lens section before leaving the light exiting surface,
- wherein the mask has a flat shape or is arranged in a cavity between the first and second lens sections, and
- wherein the cavity is created by a recess in a light exiting surface of the first lens section facing the second lens section or by a recess in a light entry surface of the second lens section facing the first lens section.
A light system, comprising
- a light source for emitting divergent light;
- and
- only one imaging lens arranged in front of the light source in the divergent light for imaging the divergent light directly received from the light source,
- wherein the imaging lens is one-piece fabricated part and comprises a first lens section with a convex shape having convex light entry surface curved in a direction of the light source for the entry of the divergent light of the light source into the imaging lens, a second lens section with a convex light exiting surface curved in a light propagation direction for imaging the light entered, and a mask arranged between the first and second lens sections for modifying the light entered into the first lens section before leaving the light exiting surface,
- wherein the mask has a flat shape or is arranged in a cavity between the first and second lens sections, and
- wherein the cavity is connected via a slit to the surroundings of the imaging lens so that the mask for manufacturing the one-part imaging lens can be inserted into the cavity after manufacturing the interconnected first and second lens sections, the slit being sealable or closable.
A method for manufacturing a light system, the method comprising:
- providing the light system, comprising
- a light source for emitting divergent light;
- and
- only one imaging lens arranged in front of the light source in the divergent light for imaging the divergent light directly received from the light source,
- wherein the imaging lens is one-piece fabricated part and comprises a first lens section with a convex shape having convex light entry surface curved in a direction of the light source for the entry of the divergent light of the light source into the imaging lens, a second lens section with a convex light exiting surface curved in a light propagation direction for imaging the light entered, and a mask arranged between the first and second lens sections for modifying the light entered into the first lens section before leaving the light exiting surface;
- fabricating a first lens section with the convex shape having convex light entry surface curved in the direction of the light source for the entry of the divergent light (DL) of the light source into the first lens section and a suitably shaped opposite light exiting surface;
- fabricating a second lens section with a convex light exiting surface curved in the light propagation direction to image the light entered and an opposite light entry surface;
- assembling the first and second lens sections and the mask for modifying the light entered the first lens section into a one-part imaging lens;
- and
- arranging the one-part imaging lens in front of the light source for directly receiving the divergent light of the light source,
- wherein the assembling comprises applying the mask to the light exiting surface of the first lens section or to the light entry surface of the second lens section prior to the one-part interconnection of the first and second lens sections with each other.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.