US 12,436,356 B2
Lens system including distance means for a vehicle headlamp
Hans-Jörg Riegler, Petzenkirchen (AT); Christian Jackl, Wieselburg (AT); and Alexander Hacker, Wilhelmsburg (AT)
Assigned to ZKW Group GmbH, Wieselburg (AT)
Appl. No. 18/703,469
Filed by ZKW Group GmbH, Wieselburg (AT)
PCT Filed Oct. 20, 2022, PCT No. PCT/EP2022/079159
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Apr. 22, 2024,
PCT Pub. No. WO2023/078683, PCT Pub. Date May 11, 2023.
Claims priority of application No. 21206250 (EP), filed on Nov. 3, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2025/0116839 A1, Apr. 10, 2025
Int. Cl. G02B 7/02 (2021.01); F21S 41/27 (2018.01)
CPC G02B 7/021 (2013.01) [F21S 41/27 (2018.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A vehicle headlamp comprising:
a lens system (1) which comprises:
a light source (2);
an array (3) of consecutively arranged lenses (3a, 3b, 3c), wherein said array (3) of lenses is configured to receive light from the light source (2), wherein each lens (3a, 3b, 3c) of the array (3) of lenses has:
a light receiving side, wherein a portion of the light receiving side is configured as a light entry surface, through which light enters the lens (3a, 3b, 3c), and
a light emitting side for emitting light, wherein a portion of the light emitting side is configured as a light exit surface, through which light exits the lens (3a, 3b, 3c),
wherein the light receiving side is opposite to the light emitting side, wherein the array (3) of lenses is configured to project the light from the light source (2) as a light pattern in front of the lens system (1); and
a lens holding member (4), which is configured to encase the array (3) of lenses, wherein said lens holding member (4) has a first end portion (4a), a second end portion (4c) and a hollow body structure (4b) with a longitudinal extension in a longitudinal axis (x), wherein the body structure (4b) extends from the first end (4a) portion to the second end portion (4c),
wherein the array (3) of lenses comprises:
an entrance lens (3a), which is mounted to the first end portion (4a) of the lens holding member (4), wherein the entrance lens (3a) is configured to receive the light from the light source (2) and to emit the light towards the other lenses of the array (3) of lenses,
at least one intermediate lens (3b), wherein a first distance means (5a) is arranged between the intermediate lens (3b) and the entrance lens (3a), wherein the light receiving side of the intermediate lens (3b) partially contacts the first distance means (Sa), wherein the light emitting side of the entrance lens (3a) partially contacts the first distance means (5a), said first distance means (5a) is configured to prohibit movement of the intermediate lens (3b) towards the entrance lens (3a) by contacting a first contact face of the body structure (4b), and
an exit lens (3c), which is arranged at the second end portion (4c) of the lens holding member (4) in such a way that the light emitting side of the exit lens (3c) partially contacts a holding protrusion of the second end portion (4c) of the lens holding member (4), wherein the light receiving side of the exit lens (3c) partially contacts a last distance means (Sb), wherein the last distance means (5b) is elastic and arranged between the at least one intermediate lens (3b) and the exit lens (3c) and is configured to establish a sprung connection between the at least one intermediate lens (3b) and the exit lens (3c),
wherein the at least one intermediate lens (3b) is retained within the body structure (4b) such that the at least one intermediate lens (3b) can only move along the longitudinal axis (x) of the lens holding member (4), and
wherein the sprung connection is such that a force, caused by a displacement of the entrance lens (3a) and/or the at least one intermediate lens (3b) along the longitudinal axis (x) due to thermal expansion, which acts towards the exit lens (3c) is absorbed by a compression of the last distance means (5b).