# US 12,111,033 B2 · Illumination device for vehicle lamp

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- Number: US 12,111,033 B2
- Document ID: US12111033B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/271,718
- Filed: 2022-01-10
- Published: 2024-06-27
- Granted: 2024-10-08
- Earliest claimed: 2021-02-08
- Assignees: ZKW Group GmbH
- Applicants: ZKW Group GmbH
- Inventors: Viktor Lenický; Peter {hacek over (S)}cibrányi
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12111033B2

## CPC

- F21S 43/239: plate-shaped
- B60Q 1/2607: {comprising at least two indicating lamps}
- F21S 43/15: Strips of light sources
- F21S 43/243: emitting light from one or more of its extremities
- F21S 43/26: {Refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters not provided in groups F21S43/235 - F21S43/255}
- F21S 43/2605: {Refractors}
- F21S 43/27: Attachment thereof
- F21S 43/50: characterised by aesthetic components not otherwise provided for, e.g. decorative trim, partition walls or covers
- F21S 43/51: {Attachment thereof}
- F21W 2103/20: Direction indicator lights
- F21W 2103/35: Brake lights
- 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
- F21W: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO USES OR APPLICATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS

## Abstract

1. Illumination device (10) for a vehicle lamp, preferably a rear vehicle lamp, comprising: —a first light source (100) configured to emit light in a main direction (X) and contributes to a first light distribution, —a second light source (200) configured to emit light in the main direction (X) and contributes to a second light distribution, —a cover lens (300) with a translucent section (310), —a mounting body (20), on which the first and second light source (100, 200) are mounted, wherein the illumination device (10) comprises an additional lens device (400) comprising a first projection section (410) and a second projection section (420), which are at least partly translucent and are configured to project light of the first and second light source (100, 200) into the translucent section (310) of the cover lens (300), wherein the first projection section (410) in combination with the first light source (100) is configured to produce the first light distribution, and wherein the second projection section (420) in combination with the second light source (200) is configured to produce the second light distribution, wherein the additional lens device (400) comprises a first opaque section (430), which is arranged between the first and second projection section (410, 420) and is configured to separate both projection sections (410, 420) from each other, wherein the first opaque section (430) comprises an extension element (440), which is mechanically connected to the first opaque section (430) and extends from the first opaque section (430) towards and reaches between the first and second light source (100, 200), wherein the extension element (440) is arranged in a way to prevent light emitted from one of the light sources (100, 200) to couple into the other light source.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An illumination device (10) for a vehicle lamp, comprising:
a first light source (100) configured to emit light in a main direction (X), wherein the first light source (100) contributes to produce a first light distribution;
a second light source (200) configured to emit light in the main direction (X), wherein the second light source (200) contributes to produce a second light distribution;
a cover lens (300) with a translucent section (310) configured to project the light of the first and second light source (100, 200) in the main direction (X) in front of the illumination device (10); and
a mounting body (20), on which the first and second light source (100, 200) are mounted, and wherein the cover lens (300) is mountable on the mounting body (20) in such a way, so that the mounting body (20) and the cover lens (300) build a closed casing for the first and second light source (100, 200),
wherein the illumination device (10) comprises an additional lens device (400) arranged in the closed casing and comprising a first projection section (410) and a second projection section (420), which first and second projection section (410, 420) are at least partly translucent and are configured to project light of the first and second light source (100, 200) into the translucent section (310) of the cover lens (300), wherein the first projection section (410) of the additional lens device (400) is assigned to the first light source (100) and is in combination with the first light source (100) configured to produce the first light distribution, and wherein the second projection section (420) of the additional lens device (400) is assigned to the second light source (200) and is in combination with the second light source (200) configured to produce the second light distribution,
wherein the additional lens device (400) comprises a first opaque section (430), which is arranged between the first and second projection section (410, 420) and is configured to separate both projection sections (410, 420) from each other, so that the light coupled into a projection section (410, 420) of the additional lens device (400) is prevented to couple into the other projection section,
wherein the first opaque section (430) of the additional lens device (400) comprises an extension element (440), which is mechanically connected to the first opaque section (430) by means of a mounting device (450) and extends from the first opaque section (430) towards and reaches between the first and second light source (100, 200), wherein the extension element (440) is arranged in a way to prevent light emitted from one of the light sources (100, 200) to couple into the other light source and to prevent light emitted from one of the light sources (100, 200) to couple into a projection section (410, 420) assigned to the other light source,
wherein the first and second light source (100, 200) are built as light guides, each of which extend along a longitudinal axis, and
wherein the extension element (440) is movable around an adjusting axis (Y) of the mounting device (450), which adjusting axis (Y) is orthogonal to the main direction (X).

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The illumination device according to claim 1, wherein in an installed position of the illumination device (10), the first and second light source (100, 200) are arranged in a vertical plane and parallel to each other along a horizontal axis, wherein the vertical plane is orthogonal to the main direction (X).

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The illumination device according to claim 1, wherein the mounting device (450) is configured to allow an adjusting of the position of the extension element (440) to the first opaque section (430) of the additional lens device (400) and a fixation in a final position.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The illumination device according to claim 1, wherein the translucent section (310) of the cover lens (300) is surrounded by an opaque area (320) of the cover lens (300).

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The illumination device according to claim 1, wherein the additional lens device (400) is made by an injection molding process.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The illumination device according to claim 1, wherein the additional lens device (400) comprises at least one first engaging element (460) and the cover lens (300) comprises at least one second engaging element (360) corresponding to the first engaging element (460), wherein in a mounted position of the additional lens device (400) on the cover lens (300) the first engaging element (460) engages with the second engaging element (360) so that the additional lens device (400) is mounted on the cover lens (300).

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The illumination device according to claim 6, wherein the first engaging element (460) is built as a protrusion and the second engaging element (360) is built as receiving opening, or the second engaging element (360) is built as protrusion and the first engaging element (460) is built as receiving opening.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The illumination device according to claim 6, wherein the cover lens (300) having a cavity, wherein the additional lens device (400) is mountable into the cavity of the cover lens (300) and fixed in a mounting position by pushing the additional lens device (400) in the main direction (X) so that the first engaging element (460) of the additional lens device (400) engages with the second engaging element (360) of the cover lens (300).

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The illumination device according to claim 1, wherein the cover lens (300) comprises a third and fourth projection section (310a, 310b) and a second opaque section (330) which is arranged between the third and fourth projection section (310a, 310b) and is configured to separate both projection sections (310a, 310b) from each other, so that the light coupled into a projection section (310a, 310b) of the cover lens (300) is prevented to couple into the other projection section, wherein the third projection section (310a) corresponds to the first projection section (410) of the additional lens device (400) and the fourth projection section (310b) corresponds to the second projection section (420) of the additional lens device (400) in a way, that light coupled into the first projection section (410) is only projected into the third projection section (310a) of the cover lens (300), and that light coupled into the second projection section (420) is only projected into the fourth projection section (310b) of the cover lens (300).

### Claim 10 (depends on 6)

The illumination device according to claim 6, wherein the at least one first engaging element (460) of additional lens device (400) is further glued or welded to at least one second engaging element (360) of the cover lens (300).

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The illumination device according to claim 1, wherein the first projection section (410) has a color different from the second projection section (420) of the additional lens device (400).

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The illumination device according to claim 1, wherein the extension element (440) is glued or welded to the first opaque section (430) of the additional lens device (400).

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The illumination device according to claim 1, wherein the first light distribution is a brake light distribution, wherein the second light distribution is a turn indicator light distribution.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The illumination device according to claim 1, wherein the extension element (440) comprises a flexible and/or elastic mounting section, which mounting section is in mechanical contact with the first opaque section (430) of the additional lens device (400), wherein the mounting section touches the first opaque section (430) and is fixed in this position, by screws, welding or gluing.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

A vehicle rear lamp comprising at least one illumination device (10) according to claim 1.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The illumination device according to claim 1, wherein the longitudinal axes of the light guides are parallel to each other.

### Claim 17 (depends on 5)

The illumination device according to claim 5, wherein the cover lens (300) is made by a two-component injection molding process.

### Claim 18 (depends on 6)

The illumination device according to claim 6, wherein the at least one first engaging element (460) is arranged on the first and second projection section (410, 420) of the additional lens device (400).