Lighting device for vehicles

Abstract

A lighting device for vehicles with an elongated light guide comprising an end face for the coupling-in of light, into which a light beam radiated from a light source can be coupled-in. The lighting device further comprises elements for the coupling-out of light for the deflection of the coupled-in light beam in the direction of a front skin surface of the elongated light guide, on which the light beam can be coupled-out for the generation of a given light function, such that the front skin surface of the elongated light guide is connected to a rear skin surface by means of a curved dispersion surface. At least one light directing element is arranged between a row of light sources and the light guide so that the light of the light sources arranged in a row can be coupled into the rear skin surface or the curved dispersion surface of the light guide.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A lighting device for vehicles comprising:
 an elongated light guide including:
 an end face for the coupling-in of light, into which a light beam radiated from a light source can be coupled-in, and 
 elements for the coupling-out of light for the deflection of the coupled-in light beam in the direction of a front skin surface of the elongated light guide, on which the light beam can be coupled-out for the generation of a given light function, 
   a curved dispersion surface connecting the front skin surface of the elongated light guide to a rear skin surface of the elongated light guide, and   at least one light directing element located between a row of light sources and the light guide so that light from the light sources arranged in a row can be coupled into the rear skin surface or the curved dispersion surface of the light guide.   
     
     
         2 . The lighting device according to  claim 1 , wherein the light sources assigned to the elongated light directing element can be sequentially switched on or off for the creation of an illumination which is locally changeable in the longitudinal direction of the light guide. 
     
     
         3 . The lighting device according to  claim 1  wherein the elongated light directing element is embodied as a light guide element extending between the row of light sources and the light guide, wherein the second light beam coupled into a surface for the coupling-in of light of the light guide element facing the light sources can be deflected in direction of the light guide by means of total reflection on the lateral surfaces of the light guide element. 
     
     
         4 . The lighting device according to claim  10 , wherein the light guide element has a jaw-shaped embodiment with two light guide legs reaching into the vicinity of the curved dispersion surface of the light guide. 
     
     
         5 . The lighting device according to  claim 1  wherein the light directing element has a cuboidal embodiment and is either segmented or continuous in the longitudinal direction. 
     
     
         6 . The lighting device according to  claim 1  wherein the light directing element has open slots or closed slots on the side facing the row of light sources. 
     
     
         7 . The lighting device according to  claim 1  wherein on both sides of a median plane of the light guide, there are light directing elements arranged, each of which has a row of light sources assigned on a surface for the coupling-in of light facing away from the light guide and each of which has, on the side for the coupling out of light facing the light guide, a surface for the coupling-out of light following the contour of the curved dispersion surface of the light guide.