US-12624820-B1 - Lens assembly and lighting apparatus using same

US12624820B1US 12624820 B1US12624820 B1US 12624820B1US-12624820-B1

Abstract

A lens assembly includes a light source, a first lens part configured to focus light emitted from the light source, and a second lens part through which the light focused by the first lens part passes, the second lens part including: (i) a light-receiving surface on which fine lenses are arranged; (ii) a light-emitting surface on which fine prisms are arranged; and (iii) a pattern layer disposed between the light-receiving surface and the light-emitting surface, the pattern layer configured to arrange the light passing through the second lens part. The arranged light is emitted through the light-emitting surface.

Inventors

Kwan Woo Lee
Sung Min Hong

Assignees

HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
OPTOELEC. CO., LTD

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20250523
Priority Date: 20250314

Claims (10)

1 . A lens assembly comprising: a light source; a first lens part configured to focus light emitted from the light source; and a second lens part through which the light focused by the first lens part passes, the second lens part comprising: a light-receiving surface on which fine lenses are arranged; a light-emitting surface on which fine prisms are arranged; and a pattern layer disposed between the light-receiving surface and the light-emitting surface, the pattern layer being configured to arrange the light passing through the second lens part, wherein the arranged light is emitted through the light-emitting surface.
2 . The lens assembly of claim 1 , wherein the pattern layer is configured to block light incident at an angle equal to or greater than a critical angle.
3 . The lens assembly of claim 1 , wherein the pattern layer is formed to cover spaces between the fine lenses arranged on the light-receiving surface of the second lens part.
4 . The lens assembly of claim 1 , wherein the pattern layer is formed of a material comprising a resin.
5 . The lens assembly of claim 1 , wherein the fine prisms and the fine lenses are formed by circular patterns repeat in a radial direction.
6 . The lens assembly of claim 1 , wherein an emission angle of light emitted from the fine prisms is adjusted to be equal to or greater than 120 degrees.
7 . The lens assembly of claim 1 , wherein: the fine lenses, a glass layer, and the fine prisms are stacked to form the second lens part; and the pattern layer is formed on one surface of the glass layer.
8 . The lens assembly of claim 7 , wherein the pattern layer is formed on a surface of the glass layer that is in contact with the fine lenses.
9 . A lighting apparatus comprising: the lens assembly according to claim 1 ; and a reflecting surface on which light passing through the lens assembly is incident, wherein the reflecting surface comprises a curved surface, and wherein at least one of an angle or brightness of the light emitted onto the reflecting surface is adjusted by changing an angle between an inclined surface of the fine prisms and the incident light.
10 . The lighting apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the light emitted from the light-emitting surface is directed toward an end portion of the reflecting surface.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2025-0033464, filed on Mar. 14, 2025, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. BACKGROUND 1. Field The present disclosure relates to a lens assembly and a lighting apparatus including the same, and more specifically, to a lens assembly capable of easily controlling emitted light, and a lighting apparatus incorporating the same. 2. Discussion of Related Art The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and do not necessarily constitute prior art. Conventional vehicle interior lighting apparatuses are positioned on components such as cockpits, doors, seats, and are implemented using both direct and indirect lighting concepts. In the case of the indirect lighting, light is transmitted to the passenger via reflection from a reflective surface, and the lighting design of the indirect lighting is determined based on the shape and configuration of the reflective surface. Conventional indirect lighting apparatuses have limitations in that the arrangement direction of a light guide is constrained by the optical design required to achieve lighting uniformity, and other aspects of the lighting design are dictated by the shape of the garnish. As a result, in order to implement a desired lighting design, the shape of the garnish must be modified, or alternatively, the desired lighting design may need to be abandoned. In the indirect lighting concept, there is a need to improve the design flexibility and autonomy by enabling implementation of a lighting design desired by the designer, through the application of a new lighting module structure that is not constrained by the shape of the garnish. SUMMARY This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. One example of the present disclosure is directed to providing a lens assembly capable of improving autonomy of a lighting design by easily controlling light to be emitted and a lighting apparatus using the same. Objects to be achieved from the present disclosure are not limited to the above-described objects, and other objects not described above will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art through the following descriptions. In one general aspect, a lens assembly according to one example of the present disclosure includes a light source, a first lens part configured to focus light emitted from the light source, and a second lens part through which the light focused by the first lens part passes, the second lens part including: (i) a light-receiving surface on which fine lenses are arranged; (ii) a light-emitting surface on which fine prisms are arranged; and (iii) a pattern layer disposed between the light-receiving surface and the light-emitting surface, the pattern layer being configured to arrange the light passing through the second lens part. The arranged light is emitted through the light-emitting surface. The pattern layer may be configured to block light incident at an angle equal to or greater than a critical angle. The pattern layer may be formed to cover spaces between the fine lenses arranged on the light-receiving surface of the second lens part. The pattern layer may be formed of a material comprising a resin. The fine prisms and the fine lenses may be formed by circular patterns repeat in a radial direction. An emission angle of light emitted from the fine prisms may be adjusted to be equal to or greater than 120 degrees. The fine lenses, a glass layer, and the fine prisms may be stacked to form the second lens part, and the pattern layer may be formed on one surface of the glass layer. The pattern layer may be formed on a surface of the glass layer that is in contact with the fine lenses. In another general aspect, a lighting apparatus includes the lens assembly and a reflecting surface on which the light passing through the lens assembly may be incident. The reflecting surface may include a curved surface, and at least one of an angle or brightness of the light emitted onto the reflecting surface may be adjusted by changing an angle between an inclined surface of the fine prism and the incident light. The light emitted from the light-emitting surface may be directed toward an end portion of the reflecting surface. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by describing exemplary examples thereof in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 illustrates a lens as