# US 12,181,131 B2 · Adjustable optical system for lighting units > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,181,131 B2 - Document ID: US12181131B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/548,269 - Filed: 2022-03-22 - Published: 2024-04-11 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2021-03-25 - Assignees: Zumtobel Lighting GmbH - Applicants: Zumtobel Lighting GmbH - Inventors: Benjamin Hildebrand - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12181131B2 ## CPC - F21V 17/02: with provision for adjustment (F21V17/04 - F21V17/08 take precedence) - F21S 8/066: {from a light track (details of supporting elements displaceable along a guiding element F21V21/34)} - F21V 5/008: {Combination of two or more successive refractors along an optical axis} - F21V 14/06: by movement of refractors {(in vehicle head lamps F21S41/635)} - F21V 17/002: {with provision for interchangeability, i.e. component parts being especially adapted to be replaced by another part with the same or a different function (F21V17/10 takes precedence)} - F21V 17/104: {using feather joints, e.g. tongues and grooves, with or without friction} - F21V 17/107: {using hinge joints} - F21Y 2115/10: Light-emitting diodes [LED] - F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - F21S: NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS - F21Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO THE FORM OR THE KIND OF THE LIGHT SOURCES OR OF THE COLOUR OF THE LIGHT EMITTED ## Abstract The invention relates to an optical system (2) for lighting units (S), having: an optical support (3) which extends linearly along a longitudinal axis (A) between a light inlet opening (LE) and a light outlet opening (LA) and which delimits a receiving area (R) for receiving optical elements (4, 5) between the openings (LE, LE), wherein an inner wall (30) of the optical support (3) facing the receiving area (R) has at least two structural sections (31), which are axially offset to each other with respect to the longitudinal axis (A), for releasably mounting a respective optical element (4, 5) in the receiving area (R). ## Claims ### Claim 1 An optical system (2) for lighting units comprising: an optics carrier (3) which extends rectilinearly between a light inlet opening (LE) and a light outlet opening (LA) along a longitudinal axis (A) and delimits a receiving space (R) between the openings (LE, LE) for receiving optical elements (4, 5), wherein an inner wall (30) of the optics carrier (3) facing the receiving space (R) has at least two structural sections (31) arranged axially offset relative to each other with respect to the longitudinal axis (A) for releasably mounting an optical element (4, 5) in the receiving space (R); at least two optical elements (4, 5), each of which is inserted into one of the structural sections (31), so that they are axially arranged spaced apart from each other, viewed axially with respect to the longitudinal axis (A), in the receiving space (R), such that light coupled in via the light inlet opening (LE) and coupled out again via the light outlet opening (LA) at least partially passes through the at least two optical elements (4, 5) to optically influence the light; wherein the optical elements (4, 5) are a Fresnel lens and a diffuser lens (5). ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A lighting system (1) having an LED lighting unit(S) and an optical system (2) as recited in claim 1, wherein the optical system (2) is arranged relative to the lighting unit(S), said optical system and said lighting unit are connected to each other via a fastening section (20) such that light from the lighting unit(S) initially passes through the optical system (2) via the light inlet opening (LE) and then the light outlet opening (LA) for the lighting system (1) emitting light. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The lighting system according to claim 2, wherein the structural sections (31) are each provided circumferentially along the inner wall (30) and in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (A). ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The lighting system according to claim 2, wherein the structural sections (31) each have groove sections extending around the longitudinal axis (A) and open radially with respect to the longitudinal axis (A) towards the receiving space (R). ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The lighting system according to claim 4, wherein the groove sections are designed as ring grooves which are formed continuous around the longitudinal axis (A). ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The lighting system according to claim 4, wherein the groove sections widen radially with respect to the longitudinal axis (A) and towards the receiving space (R). ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The lighting system according to claim 2, wherein the structural sections (31) are provided equidistantly at least in part along the longitudinal axis (A). ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The lighting system according to claim 2, wherein the optics carrier (3), at least its inner wall (30), is mirror-symmetrical with respect to a mirror plane having the longitudinal axis (A). ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The lighting system according to claim 2, wherein the optics carrier (3) is composed of two sub-elements (32), wherein a parting plane has the longitudinal axis (A). ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The lighting system according to claim 9, wherein the sub-elements (32) are identical. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The lighting system according to claim 9, wherein the sub-elements (32) each have coupling structures (33, 34), on an outer wall (35) of the optics carrier (3) facing away from the receiving space (R) for connecting the sub-elements (32) to each other, releasably and/or without tools. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The lighting system according to claim 9, wherein the sub-elements (32) are articulated to each other about a pivot axis (X) via an articulated section (37) for pivoting the sub-elements (32) relative to each other and thus selectively expose the receiving space (R) for inserting the optical elements (4, 5) into the structural portions (31). ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The lighting system according to claim 11 wherein the coupling structures (33, 34) have the articulated section (37). ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The lighting system according to claim 12, wherein the pivot axis (X) extends parallel to the longitudinal axis (A). ### Claim 15 (depends on 2) The lighting system according to claim 2, wherein the optics carrier (3) is produced from injection-molded plastic. ### Claim 16 (depends on 2) The lighting system according to claim 2, further having a system housing (6) for receiving the optics carrier (3) which system housing surrounds the optics carrier (3) circumferentially on the outside. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The lighting system according to claim 16, wherein the optics carrier (3) is insertable into the system housing (6) along the longitudinal axis (A). ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The lighting system according to claim 17, wherein the system housing (6) and the optics carrier (3) have connecting structures (36, 66) corresponding to the sides (35, 60) facing each other, which connecting structures guide the optics carrier (3) along the longitudinal axis (A) relative to the system housing (6) during insertion and prevent said optics carrier and said system housing from rotating relative to each other about the longitudinal axis (A). ### Claim 19 (depends on 2) The lighting system according to claim 2, wherein the system housing (6) has two retaining sections (61, 62) which are axially opposite with respect to the longitudinal axis (A), which retain and the optics carrier (3) axially therebetween. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The lighting system according to claim 19, wherein one of the retaining sections (61, 62) is releasably provided on the system housing (6). ### Claim 21 (depends on 2) The lighting system according to claim 2, further having an attachment (7) which is releasably provided at the side facing the light outlet opening (LA) such that light emitted via the light outlet opening (LA) passes through the attachment (7) for light emission by the lighting unit(S). ### Claim 22 (depends on 2) The lighting system according to claim 2, wherein the fastening section (20) has a thread or a part of a bayonet connection in order to fasten the optical system (2) by relative rotation about the longitudinal axis (A). ### Claim 23 (depends on 2) The lighting system according to claim 2, wherein the optical elements (4, 5) have an outer circumferential contour which corresponds to the contour of the optics carrier (3) in the region of the structural sections (31). ### Claim 24 (depends on 2) The lighting system according to claim 2, wherein the optical elements (4, 5) are at least partially or continuously clamped radially in relation to the longitudinal axis (A) around the outside, by the optics carrier (3). ### Claim 25 (depends on 1) The optical system (2) according to claim 1 wherein the diameter of the Fresnel lens is substantially the same as the diameter of the diffuser lens.