Patents Assigned to Automotive Lighting Reutlingen GmbH
  • Publication number: 20140016343
    Abstract: A motor vehicle headlamp (10) including a multi-function projection module (14), which is designed to convert light from a first light source (16) into a first light distribution (34) by means of a first primary lens system (18) in a first beam path bounded by an aperture edge (26), and to focus light from a second light source (20) into a beam waist (44) and convert the light into a second light distribution by means of a second primary lens system (22) in a second beam path. The second light distribution has a predetermined central point (56). The projection module includes a mirror (30), which is arranged in the second beam path between the beam waist (44) and the projection lens (28) in such a way that the minor produces a virtual minor image of the beam waist (44) at the focal point of the projection lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: Automotive Lighting Reutlingen GmbH
    Inventor: Matthias Brendle
  • Patent number: 8608358
    Abstract: A light module for a vehicle lighting device comprises a semiconductor light source mounted on a carrier element designed. on/including a first printed-circuit board. A control module is electrically connected to and structurally spaced from the light source and designed on/includes a second printed-circuit board and includes an electric circuit constructed upon the second board and a connection element adapted w be connected to a higher-level controller and/or vehicle power supply. The control module is an electronic component of the light source such that a cable does not connect the control module and light source to each other. A highly thermally conductive carrier module is arranged between the light source and control module and directly attached to the carrier element, second printed-circuit board, and electric circuit. An electrical connection is located on the carrier module between the fight source or carrier element and electric circuit or second printed-circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Automotive Lighting Reutlingen GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Schnerr, Dirk Blum
  • Patent number: 8599566
    Abstract: The invention relates to a printed circuit board having an insulating support layer and a layer of conductive material applied thereto. In order to increase the flexibility of the printed circuit board, it is proposed that material from the support layer have been removed at at least one point on the printed circuit board on a side of the support layer which is opposite the layer of conductive material in order to form a straight groove which extends from one side of the printed circuit board to another side of the printed circuit board, so that the printed circuit board can be bent along the groove, wherein the material of the support layer which has remained in the region of the groove and/or the layer of conductive material in the region of the groove form(s) a bending edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Automotive Lighting Reutlingen GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Froehlich, Jochen Mehl, Christian Johann, Matthias Roder, Franco Marcori, Alain Bosero
  • Patent number: 8598735
    Abstract: A controller controls an illumination device of a motor vehicle including at least one light source. The controller includes at least one first stage that provides electric energy for supplying power to the illumination device. At least one second stage forwards the electric energy to the light source. The first stage includes intelligence for controlling the illuminating device, a first supplier for supplying the illumination device with control signals, a generator for generating a constant intermediate voltage, and a second supplier for supplying the second stage with the intermediate voltage. The second stage includes a converter for conversion of the intermediate voltage into a supply voltage suitable for supplying the power to the light source, a third supplier for supplying the light source with the supply voltage, and a mechanism for controlling the light source in dependency on the control signals. Also, an illumination device for a motor vehicle includes the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Automotive Lighting Reutlingen GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Schnerr, Uwe Bormann
  • Publication number: 20130304304
    Abstract: A combination (10) of a power-supply control device (12) and at least one light-control device (14) of a motor vehicle operates at least one semiconductor light source (36, 38). The control device (12) supplies the light-control device (14) with power via a supply line (18) connected to a first connection pin (20) of the control device (12), monitors current flowing through connection pins of the control device (12), and makes use of diagnoses thereof. The light-control device (14) is connected to an additional connection pin (28) of the control device (12) via an error line (26) and checks function of the connected semiconductor light source (36, 38) and, in the case of a malfunction, triggers a current flow in the error line (26). The control device (12) reacts to the triggered current flow with generation of an error message.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: Automotive Lighting Reutlingen GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Schnerr, Dirk Blum
  • Publication number: 20130242585
    Abstract: A light module of a lighting device comprises one passing-light sub-module for production of a dimmed-light distribution below a horizontal “light/dark” boundary, one high-beam sub-module for production of a light distribution above the boundary, a common projection-lens system for production of an overall light distribution, and one element deflecting a course of light beams of the sub-module(s) before it falls on the system. To realize the smallest system and a reduction of non-homogeneities in the overall light distribution in a region of the boundary, a majority of the light beams of the high-beam sub-module falls on a common segment of the system as a majority of the light beams of the passing-light sub-module, a smaller portion of the light beams of the high-beam sub-module falls on another segment of the system, and the system exhibits a deflector that deflects at least a portion of the light beams falling on the other segment downward.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: AUTOMOTIVE LIGHTING REUTLINGEN GMBH
    Inventor: Matthias Brendle
  • Patent number: 8520392
    Abstract: An electronic-control unit (7) includes a conductor board (12) made of a flexible substrate and defining at least one conducting path and cut (13) of the board (12). A basic body (11) is made of a thermally and electrically conductive material and thermally and electrically coupled to the board (12) and defines at least one elongated groove (15) that acts as a bending area (15) of the body (11) and expands over substantially an entire width of the body (11) in an aligned area of the cut (13) of the board (12) and a flat projection of the body (11) onto which the substrate is fastened. A basic-body-conductor-board unit is formed before the board (12) is assembled with at least one electronic component (16). The basic-body-conductor-board unit is re-shaped into a desired geometry after the assembly of the board (12) with the component (16). A method produces the basic-body-conductor-board unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Automotive Lighting Reutlingen GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Johann, Matthias Roder, Ruediger Laubenstein
  • Publication number: 20130214681
    Abstract: A method for operating a gas-discharge lamp (10) of a motor-vehicle headlamp comprises steps of operating the gas-discharge lamp (10) in a first operating mode at a comparatively higher power and alternating-current voltage and in a second operating mode in a temporally limiting manner at a comparatively lower power and direct-current voltage. When a switch is made from the first operating mode to the second operating mode, a polarity of the direct-current voltage is predefined depending on the respective polarities of the direct-current voltage in at least one previous operating phase of the second operating mode. A device or unit operates the gas-discharge lamp and controls a sequence of the method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: AUTOMOTIVE LIGHTING REUTLINGEN GMBH
    Inventors: Dominik Neeser, Christian Johann
  • Publication number: 20130214694
    Abstract: A method operates a gas-discharge lamp (16) in a transition from a “deactivated” state without an electric arc to a stable “light-generating” state. The method comprises steps of discharging a booster capacitor (C2) in an “acquisition” phase following an ignition-voltage impulse via a current path that conducts a current flowing through the gas-discharge lamp (16) and in which an inductor (L1) having at least one switch (S5) lies in series and cyclically discharging the booster capacitor (C2) by a repeated alternating closing and opening of the switch (S5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2011
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: AUTOMOTIVE LIGHTING REUTLINGEN GMBH
    Inventors: Peter Kluetz, Ruediger Laubenstein, Christian Johann, Bjoern Moosmann, Michael Herrmann, Matthias Roder
  • Patent number: 8465187
    Abstract: The invention relates to a light module (23) for a motor vehicle headlight (2), for generating an adaptive light distribution. The light module (23) comprises a light source (30, 70, 71) for emitting light, a primary optical element (31, 73, 74) for focusing the emitted light, and a diaphragm arrangement (32, 32?) for implementing a variable effective upper edge (36, 36?), which can be introduced into a beam path of the emitted and/or focused light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Automotive Lighting Reutlingen GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Buchberger, Ernst-Olaf Rosenhahn, Benjamin Stauss
  • Patent number: 8432098
    Abstract: The invention relates to a lighting device for a motor vehicle. Said lighting device comprises a gas discharge lamp (1; 96) for emitting light, a starting device for providing a starting voltage for starting the gas discharge lamp (1; 96) and a control device for providing an input voltage for the starting device and an operating voltage for operation of the gas discharge lamp (1; 96). The control device is an integral part of the starting device. In order to come to grips with the problems associated with space and temperature with such lighting devices, the invention proposes that the combined starting and control device (5; 80) has a plug element (6) for connecting a vehicle power supply system voltage (7), the plug element (6) being in the form of a printed circuit board plug, which is formed by conductor tracks (21; 23) guided at an edge of a printed circuit board (20) of the starting and control device (5; 80).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Automotive Lighting Reutlingen GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Froehlich, Jochen Mehl, Christian Johann, Matthias Roder, Franco Marcori, Alain Bosero
  • Patent number: 8403547
    Abstract: A light module (5, 6) for lighting equipment (1) of a motor vehicle comprises a plurality of semiconductor light sources (8, 9) for emitting light, a plurality of reflection areas (10, 11) for reflecting the light and assigned to separate reflector-element sections (10, 11), and a plate-shaped separation element (7) onto which the reflector-element sections (10, 11) are movably fixed separate from one another, arranged between the reflection areas (10, 11), and onto which the light sources (8, 9) are mounted such that an emitting direction of the light sources (8, 9) is substantially perpendicular to an optical axis of the light module (5, 6). The reflector-element sections (10, 11) are adjusted by moving the reflector-element sections (10, 11) in relation to the light sources (8, 9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Automotive Lighting Reutlingen GmbH
    Inventors: Florian Stade, Doris Boebel, Michael Scholl
  • Patent number: 8376599
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a light module (10) for an illumination device, in particular for a headlight (1), of a motor vehicle. The light module (10) comprises at least one light source (18) for emitting light beams, at least one primary optical unit (20) for concentrating the emitted light beams, a diaphragm arrangement (22) in the beam path of the concentrated light beams, and at least one secondary optical unit (30) for imaging the light beams that have traveled past the diaphragm arrangement (22) onto a roadway in front of the motor vehicle in order to generate a desired light distribution. There is formed in the diaphragm arrangement (22) at least one opening (26) and/or cutout to which is assigned an optically active element (28), which deflects or attenuates at least a portion of the light beams passing through the opening (26) and/or cutout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Automotive Lighting Reutlingen GmbH
    Inventors: Florian Stade, Benjamin Stauss, Michael Scholl
  • Patent number: 8267548
    Abstract: The invention relates to a lighting device for a motor vehicle. Said lighting device comprises a light source (1; 96) for emitting electromagnetic radiation, in particular light which is visible to the human eye, and a reflector (70; 81; 90) for focusing the emitted light. The light source (1; 96) is fastened on the reflector (70; 81; 90) at least indirectly in a defined position relative to a reflective surface of said reflector. In order firstly to make heat transfer from the reflector (70; 81; 90) to the light source (1; 96) more difficult and secondly to enable EMC shielding by virtue of an electrical contact between the light source (1; 96) and the reflector (70; 81; 90), the invention proposes that a material (72) with poor thermal conductivity is arranged between the reflector (70; 81; 90) and the light source (1; 96) for thermally insulating the light source (1; 96) from the reflector (70; 81; 90).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Automotive Lighting Reutlingen GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Froehlich, Jochen Mehl, Christian Johann, Matthias Roder
  • Patent number: 8226283
    Abstract: The invention relates to an illumination device for an automobile with at least one light source (11) to emit light and at least one cup (or bowl)-shaped reflector (10) to reflect at least a portion of the light emitted by the light source (11). The reflector (10) is formed as a light-conductor structure (12) with a totally-reflecting reflection surface (16). The light-conductor structure (12) includes at least one light-coupling surface (13) and at least one light-decoupling surface (15). The reflection surface (16) is formed as a border surface of the light-conductor structure (12). It is proposed that either the light-coupling surface (13) and/or the light-decoupling surface (15) and/or the reflection surface (16) of the reflector (10) include means to deflect the light beams passing through them or reflected by them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Automotive Lighting Reutlingen GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Gebauer, Hubert Zwick
  • Patent number: 8206017
    Abstract: An illumination device (11) for a motor vehicle includes a transparent light guide (13). At least a first decoupling element (33) is formed into the light guide (13). At least one reflector (35) is assigned to the first decoupling element (33) for reflection of light coupled-out by the first decoupling element (33) and aligned and formed in such a way that at least a portion of the light reflected by the reflector (35) irradiates the light guide (13). At least one second decoupling element (37) is formed in the light guide (13) for coupling-out of light from the light guide (13) and aligned and formed in such a way that light coupled-out by the second decoupling element (37) ultimately exits the light guide (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Automotive Lighting Reutlingen GmbH
    Inventor: Hubert Zwick
  • Patent number: 8201981
    Abstract: The invention relates to a projection module for a headlight. The module generates light distributions with light sources switchable independently. In order to generate a first distribution, light from a first group is coupled into an optical element in the beam path. The optical element has a reflecting underside having a contour corresponding to the bright-dark boundary. The light coupled out from the optical element is projected by a lens for generating the first distribution. A further light group is additionally activated in order to generate a second distribution. The light emitted by this group illuminates a region of the light distribution above the bright-dark boundary. Part of the light from this group is coupled into the optical element, mixes there with the light from the first group and is then coupled out together to generate an unsharp bright-dark boundary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Automotive Lighting Reutlingen GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Brendle, Matthias Gebauer
  • Patent number: 8177402
    Abstract: The invention relates to a light module (1) for an illumination device (20), in particular for a headlight, for a motor vehicle. The light module (1) comprises a plurality of light sources (2) for emitting light beams (4, 5), at least one primary optical unit (6; 12) for focusing the emitted light beams (4a, 5a), a stop arrangement (8) in the beam path of the focused light beams (4b, 5b), and at least one secondary optical unit (9) for imaging the focused light beams (4b, 5b) which passed the stop arrangement (8) on a roadway in front of the motor vehicle in order to generate a desired light distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Automotive Lighting Reutlingen GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Ackermann, Ernst-Olaf Rosenhahn
  • Patent number: 8092056
    Abstract: The invention relates to a light module (1) for a lighting device for a motor vehicle. The lighting module (1) comprises a light source (3) for emission of electromagnetic radiation, preferably in the form of light which is visible for the human eye, and a reflector (2) for focusing the emitted radiation. At its apex, in the area of its optical axis (8), the reflector (2) has an opening (7) for holding a light-emitting part (5) of the light source (3). A reflector neck (9) is formed on the reflector (2), surrounding at least a part of the holding opening (7), to which reflector neck (9) another part (4, 6) of the light source (3) is attached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Automotive Lighting Reutlingen GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Brendle, Michael Hamm, Ernst-Olaf Rosenhahn, Heike Froehlich
  • Publication number: 20110285291
    Abstract: A controller controls an illumination device of a motor vehicle including at least one light source. The controller includes at least one first stage that provides electric energy for supplying power to the illumination device. At least one second stage forwards the electric energy to the light source. The first stage includes intelligence for controlling the illuminating device, a first supplier for supplying the illumination device with control signals, a generator for generating a constant intermediate voltage, and a second supplier for supplying the second stage with the intermediate voltage. The second stage includes a converter for conversion of the intermediate voltage into a supply voltage suitable for supplying the power to the light source, a third supplier for supplying the light source with the supply voltage, and a mechanism for controlling the light source in dependency on the control signals. Also, an illumination device for a motor vehicle includes the controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: Automotive Lighting Reutlingen GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Schnerr, Uwe Bormann