CN112739952B

CN112739952B - Light guide for a vehicle lighting device

Info

Publication number: CN112739952B
Application number: CN201980061443.2A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 鲁道夫·佩伦; 纪尧姆·罗耶
Original assignee: PSA Automobiles SA
Current assignee: PSA Automobiles SA
Priority date: 2018-09-27
Filing date: 2019-09-13
Publication date: 2023-05-30
Anticipated expiration: 2039-09-13
Also published as: EP3857120B1; FR3086729B1; EP3857120A1; FR3086729A1; WO2020065171A1; CN112739952A

Abstract

A light guide for a vehicle light signal device, the light signal device comprising at least one light source arranged to emit at least one signal light, the light guide comprising: a first guiding portion (10) defining a first optical path; a second guiding portion (20) defining a second optical path subsequent to the first optical path; characterized in that the first guide portion (10) and/or the second guide portion (20) are integrally formed with: positioning means arranged to block at least three degrees of freedom between the first guiding portion (10) and the second guiding portion (20); locking means comprising at least one flexible portion arranged to lock the blocking of the degree of freedom by elastic deformation of the at least one flexible portion.

Description

Light guide for a vehicle lighting device

Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to a light guide forming part of an optical signal device of a motor vehicle, such light guide generally comprising a light source and a guiding portion made of transparent material for guiding light to an exit surface visible from the external environment of the vehicle.

Background

As shown in document EP3118060A1, a light guide having a plurality of different light guide portions is known in the prior art, the plurality of light guide portions cooperating with a main light guide or main guide portion, however this document does not give a solution for fastening these guide portions and thus results in manufacturing complexity for assembling all these components together. In addition, changing the shape of the primary light guide results in readjustment of the entire assembly, which thus increases design and tooling costs.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention aims to address the drawbacks of the prior art described above, and in particular, it aims first to propose a light guide that provides a simple fastening solution and allows design or conceptual adjustments to be made without lengthy and expensive development operations.

To this end, a first aspect of the invention relates to a light guide for a vehicle light signal device, the light signal device comprising at least one light source arranged to emit at least one signal light, the light guide comprising:

-a first guiding portion defining a first optical path;

-a second guiding portion defining a second optical path subsequent to the first optical path;

the first guide portion and/or the second guide portion are integrally formed with:

-positioning means arranged to block at least three degrees of freedom between the first guiding portion and the second guiding portion;

-a locking device comprising at least one flexible portion, the locking device being configured to lock the blocking of the degrees of freedom by elastic deformation of the at least one flexible portion.

The light guide according to the above embodiment comprises positioning and locking means integrally formed in the first or second guide portions (the guide portions being different and separate components), thus eliminating the need to provide external fastening means, which simplifies the overall system. Typically, these guide portions are manufactured by moulding of a transparent plastic material. It relates to PMMA (poly (methyl methacrylate)) with a refractive index of 1.49 or polycarbonate with a refractive index of 1.59, for example, and the assembly of these positioning and locking devices is simplified by the simple design of the manufacturing mould. In other words, the two guide portions, which integrate the means (made of the same material) themselves for coupling to each other, provide an integrally fastened solution.

Advantageously, the positioning means are arranged to block at least five degrees of freedom between the first guiding portion and the second guiding portion. And more advantageously, the positioning means are arranged for blocking six degrees of freedom between the first guide portion and the second guide portion, so as to fix the two guide portions to each other.

Advantageously, the positioning means comprises a plurality of support posts arranged on the exit surface of the first optical path or on the entrance surface of the second optical path and arranged to support the entrance surface of the second optical path or the exit surface of the first optical path, respectively, so as to block at least the first degree of freedom of translation in the first direction. Such support columns may, for example, block translation in the X direction, as well as one or two rotations along an axis perpendicular to that direction.

In other words, and according to a particular embodiment, the present invention relates to a light guide of a vehicle light signal device comprising at least one light source arranged to emit at least one signal light, the light guide comprising:

-a first guiding portion comprising:

a first incident surface arranged to capture light emitted by the light source and direct it towards a first optical path of the first directing portion;

a first exit surface provided at an exit of the first optical path of the first guide portion;

-a second guiding portion comprising:

a second entrance surface arranged to capture light emitted by the first exit surface and direct it towards a second optical path of the second guiding portion;

a second exit surface provided at an exit of the second optical path of the second guide portion;

-positioning means arranged to block at least three degrees of freedom between the first exit surface and the second entrance surface;

-a locking device comprising at least one flexible portion, the locking device being arranged to lock the blocking of the degrees of freedom by elastic deformation of the at least one flexible portion.

Advantageously, the positioning means are arranged to block at least five degrees of freedom between the first exit surface and the second entrance surface.

Advantageously, the positioning means comprises a plurality of support posts arranged on one of the first exit surface or the second entrance surface and arranged to support the other of the first exit surface or the second entrance surface so as to block at least translation of the first degree of freedom along the first direction. Such support columns may, for example, block translation in the X direction, as well as one or two rotations along an axis perpendicular to that direction.

Advantageously, the positioning means comprise a plurality of hooks provided on one of the first or second guiding portions so as to couple with the other of the first or second guiding portions, thereby locking the first degree of freedom in the second direction and blocking at least the second degree of freedom of translation. The second degree of freedom is generally along the Y-direction.

Advantageously, the positioning means and the locking means comprise at least one flexible fixing provided on one of the first or second guiding portions so as to couple with the other of the first or second guiding portions, thereby blocking at least the third degree of freedom of translation and locking the first guiding portion on the second guiding portion. The third degree of freedom is generally along the Z-direction. Engagement or coupling by elastic engagement, also known as snap-fit or clamping, is contemplated.

Advantageously, the first guide portion and/or the second guide portion is a thin and/or flat guide portion. In other words, the width of the cross section of the guiding portion (generally perpendicular to the optical path, i.e. perpendicular to the path of the light) is significantly smaller than its length, and the length of the total optical path is also significantly larger than the width of the cross section.

A second aspect of the invention relates to a signaling device, such as a turn indicating device and/or a position indicating device, comprising:

-a light guide according to the first aspect of the invention;

-at least one light source arranged to emit at least one signal light.

Advantageously, the at least one light source is fastened to the first guiding portion.

Advantageously, the light guide comprises two light sources, each light source being arranged to emit a specific signal light.

A third aspect of the invention relates to a motor vehicle comprising at least one light guide according to the first aspect of the invention.

Drawings

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the following detailed description of an embodiment of the invention, given as a non-limiting example and illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which:

fig. 1 shows an overall view of a light guide according to the invention;

fig. 2 shows a rear view of the light guide of fig. 1;

fig. 3 shows a first guiding portion of the light guide of fig. 1;

fig. 4 shows a second guiding portion of the light guide of fig. 1;

fig. 5 shows a detail of a second guiding portion of the light guide of fig. 1;

fig. 6 shows a detail of the light guide of fig. 1, viewed from a first angle;

fig. 7 shows a detail of the light guide of fig. 1, seen from a second angle;

fig. 8 shows a further detail of the light guide of fig. 1;

fig. 9 shows two illustrative examples of the light guide of fig. 1.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows a light guide according to the invention comprising a first guiding portion 10 coupled to a second guiding portion 20. Conventionally, in this application, the first guide portion 10 defines a first optical path that is located upstream (i.e., proximate to the light source), and the second guide portion 20 forms a second optical path that is located downstream (i.e., the first guide portion 10 is located between the light source and the second guide portion 20). In general, the second guiding portion 20, and in particular the exit surface thereof, is visible to the customer.

In this way, it is possible to easily provide the first guide portion 10 having a standard shape, for example, and shape the exit surface 20s of the second guide portion 20 to satisfy the external appearance constraint, so that the light guide includes the standard first guide portion 10 usable for various vehicle types and the exit port is the second guide portion 20 specific to a given vehicle.

Fig. 2 shows a rear view of the first guiding portion 10 loaded with a light source, here one or more light emitting diodes (DEL or LEDs) mounted on the electronic circuit 40.

As shown in fig. 3 and 4, the present invention also proposes an integrated fastening scheme for integrating the first guide portion 10 and the second guide portion 20. In practice, a post 31 is formed on the incident surface 20e of the second guide portion 20, the post 31 supporting the exit surface of the first guide portion 10. The post 31 thus forms part of the positioning device and blocks a first degree of freedom, here translation along the X-axis of the vehicle. Fig. 5 shows a detail of the column 31.

The positioning means further comprise a hook 32b (visible in fig. 4) formed on the entrance surface 20e of the second guide portion 20, the hook 32b being received in an opening 32a formed in the exit surface 10s of the first guide portion 10. The hook 32b and the opening 32a form part of the positioning device and thus block a second degree of freedom, here translation along the Y-axis of the vehicle. Fig. 6 and 7 show the assembled components in a close-up manner and from two different angles, with the hooks 32b engaged in the openings 32 a.

In addition, a flexible fixing 33a is provided on the first guide portion 10 so as to cooperate with a stop 33b of the second guide portion to block the last degree of freedom of translation (along the Z direction) and to engage (by snap, clamping or elastic engagement) the stop 33b after deformation and elastic recovery so as to form a locking means at the same time as forming part of the positioning means. Fig. 8 shows a detail of the flexible mount 33a engaged with the stop 33 b.

In summary, the post 31, the opening 32a, the hook 32b, the flexible fixture 33a and the stop 33b form positioning means for positioning the first guiding portion 10 on the second guiding portion 20 and are integrated into these portions (e.g. integrally made by injection/moulding of a single material). A part of the positioning means also forms locking means, whereby the first guiding portion 10 is firmly fastened to the second guiding portion 20 to form a light guide according to the invention.

Fig. 9 shows two alternative embodiments of a light guide according to the invention coupled to two types of

light sources

41 and 42.

In the left-hand view, the

light sources

41 and 42 are stacked or offset in a direction perpendicular to the view, fastened on the printed circuit 43, and opposite to the single incident surface of the first guide portion 10, the first guide portion 10 is coupled with the second guide portion 20 by a positioning means and a locking means.

In the right-hand illustration, the

light sources

41 and 42 are separated, so that the first guiding portion 10 'has two entrance surfaces and has a single exit surface opposite to the entrance surface of the second guiding portion 20'.

In all cases, only the second guide portion 20 or 20' is visible from the outside, so that in the case of an assembly to a new vehicle, only the second guide portion needs to be modified. In addition, the interface (positioning means and locking means) between the first guiding portion 10 or 10 'and the second guiding portion 20 or 20' is identical and is always directly integrated to the body of these components, which are therefore easy to manufacture and assemble.

It will be appreciated that various modifications and/or improvements obvious to those skilled in the art may be made to the different embodiments of the invention described without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A light guide of an optical signal device of a vehicle, the optical signal device comprising at least one light source (41, 42) arranged to emit at least one signal light, the light guide comprising:

-a first guiding portion (10) defining a first optical path;

-a second guiding portion (20) defining a second optical path subsequent to the first optical path;

wherein the first guide portion (10) and/or the second guide (20) are integrally formed with:

-positioning means arranged to block at least three degrees of freedom between the first guiding portion (10) and the second guiding portion (20);

-a locking device comprising at least one flexible portion arranged to lock the blocking of the degrees of freedom by elastic deformation of the at least one flexible portion, wherein the positioning device comprises a plurality of support posts (31) arranged on the exit surface of the first optical path or the entrance surface of the second optical path and arranged to support the entrance surface of the second optical path or the exit surface of the first optical path, respectively, so as to block at least a first degree of freedom of translation along a first direction, and wherein the positioning device comprises a plurality of hooks (32 b) arranged on one of the first guide portion (10) or the second guide portion (20) so as to couple with the opening of the other of the first guide portion (10) or the second guide portion (20) so as to lock the first degree of freedom of translation along a second direction and to block at least a second degree of freedom of translation.

2. A light guide according to the preceding claim, wherein the positioning means are arranged to block at least five degrees of freedom between the first guiding portion (10) and the second guiding portion (20).

3. A light guide according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the positioning means and the locking means comprise at least one flexible fastener (33 a) provided on one of the first guiding portion (10) or the second guiding portion (20) so as to couple with the other of the first guiding portion (10) or the second guiding portion (20) so as to at least prevent a third degree of freedom of translation and lock the first guiding portion (10) on the second guiding portion (20).

4. The light guide according to the preceding claim 1 or 2, wherein the first guiding portion (10) and/or the second guiding portion (20) are thin and/or flat guiding portions.

5. An optical signal device, such as a turn indicator device and/or a position indicator device, the optical signal device comprising:

-a light guide according to any of the preceding claims;

-at least one light source (41, 42) arranged to emit at least one signal light.

6. The signaling device according to the preceding claim, wherein the at least one light source (41, 42) is fastened to the first guiding portion (10).

7. A signalling device according to claim 5 or 6, comprising two light sources, each light source being arranged to emit a specific signal light.

8. A motor vehicle comprising at least one light guide according to any one of claims 1 to 4.