# US 9,039,260 B2 · Lightguide element

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 9,039,260 B2
- Document ID: US9039260B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/670,048
- Filed: 2012-11-06
- Published: 2013-05-09
- Granted: 2015-05-26
- Earliest claimed: 2011-11-08
- Assignees: Zizala Lichtsysteme GmbH
- Applicants: Zizala Lichtsysteme GmbH
- Inventors: Anton Faffelberger
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9039260B2

## CPC

- F21S 41/141: Light emitting diodes [LED]
- B60Q 1/04: the devices being headlights
- F21S 41/24: Light guides
- F21S 43/14: Light emitting diodes [LED]
- F21S 43/241: of complex shape
- F21S 43/243: emitting light from one or more of its extremities
- F21S 43/247: with a single light source being coupled into the light guide
- G02B 6/0001: {specially adapted for lighting devices or systems (lighting or signalling on vehicles using light guides B60Q1/00; lighting devices for vehicle dashboards B60Q3/10; lighting devices for vehicle interior using light guides B60Q3/62; lighting devices mounted on the vehicle rear part using light guides F21S43/235; measuring arrangements having light conducting pointers G01D13/265; illumination of liquid crystal displays G02F1/1336; illuminated signs G09F13/00)}
- B60Q 2400/20: Multi-color single source or LED matrix, e.g. yellow blinker and red brake lamp generated by single lamp
- 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
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS

## Abstract

This disclosure concerns a lightguide element (1) for a light unit or an automotive headlight, wherein the light element (1) has at least one light input area (2) for putting in light with at least one light source and the lightguide element (1) furthermore has at least one light output area (3) for putting out the light, wherein a beam splitting area (4) is arranged next to the light input area (2), from which at least one first lightguide part (5) and at least one second lightguide part (6) travel in directions leading away from each other, and a lightguiding connection element (7) is arranged in the area spanned by the lightguide parts (5, 6), which transitions into the light output area (3) on its side facing away from the lightguide parts. The lightguide parts have optical structuring elements (8) on their side facing away from the light output area.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A light guide element (1) for a lamp unit or an automotive headlight comprising:
at least one light input area (2) for putting in light with at least one light source; and
at least one light output area (3) for emitting the light, wherein:
a beam splitting area (4) is arranged between the light input (2) and the light output area (3), where the part of the light guide element (1) coming from the light input area (2) is divided into at least one first light guide part (5) and at least one second light guide part (6), which travel in directions leading away from each other,
a light guiding connection element (7) is arranged in the area spanned by and between the light guide parts (5, 6), which transitions into the light output area (3) on its side facing away from the light guide parts (5, 6), and the light guide parts (5, 6) have optical structuring elements (8) on their side facing away from the light output area (3), and
substrands are provided in the connection element (7) that arise from the light guide parts (5, 6) and emerge into the light output area (3).

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The light guide element of claim 1, wherein at least one bifurcation element (13) is provided in the beam splitting area (4) at the place from which the light guide parts (5, 6) proceed.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The light guide element of claim 2, wherein the bifurcation element (13) is optically thinner than the rest of the light guide element.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The light guide element of claim 1, wherein the cross sections of the substrands are configured with different diameters.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The light guide element of claim 1, wherein the substrands are configured as light guide rods (9) and/or as light guide grooves.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The light guide element of claim 5, wherein the light guide rods (9) and/or light guide grooves originate at the light guide parts (5, 6) away from/outside of the beam splitting area (4) and are configured so that they run in the direction of the light output area (3) in a shadow region (10) of the beam splitting area (4).

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The light guide element of claim 1, wherein the structuring elements (8) have a prismatic structure (11).

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The light guide element of claim 1, wherein the light guide parts (5, 6) have different cross sectional diameters.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The light guide element of claim 1, wherein at least one feed element (12) is provided between the light input area (2) and the beam splitting area (4).

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The light guide element of claim 9, wherein the feed element (12) is configured as light guide.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The light guide element of claim 1, wherein the light input area (2), the beam splitting area (4) and the light guide parts (5, 6) are configured as single pieces.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The light guide element of claim 1, wherein the connection element (7) and the light output area (3) are configured as single pieces.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The light guide element of claim 1, wherein the light input area (2), the beam splitting area (4), the light guide parts (5, 6), the connection element (7) and the light output area (3) are configured as single pieces.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The light guide element of claim 1, wherein interlocking and/or referencing elements (40) are provided on the light guide element (1) in the region of the light input area (2) for the assembly of the light guide element (1).

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The light guide element of claim 1, wherein at least one additional light output area (51, 53) is provided in the light output area.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The light guide element of claim 15, wherein at least one shell element (50, 52) open in the beam direction is provided in the light output area (51, 53), on whose side facing away from the light input area (2) the additional light output area (51, 53) is arranged.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The light guide element of claim 16, wherein a first shell element (50) with a first additional light output area (51) and a second shell element (52) with a second additional light output area (53) are provided.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

A light unit or automotive headlight comprising:
at least one light source module (20); and
at least one light guide element of claim 1 for the putting in of light from the at least one light source module (20).

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The light unit or automotive headlight of claim 18, wherein the light source module (20) is designed to bring in multicolored light to the light guide element (1).

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The light unit or automotive headlight of claim 18, wherein the light source module (20) is configured to be dimmed.

### Claim 21 (depends on 18)

The light unit or automotive headlight of claim 18, wherein at least one LED chip (23) is provided in the light source module (20).