CN116685801A

CN116685801A - Light emitting device for a motor vehicle

Info

Publication number: CN116685801A
Application number: CN202180084827.3A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 伊维斯·格若姆菲尔德
Original assignee: Valeo Vision SAS
Current assignee: Valeo Vision SAS
Priority date: 2020-12-18
Filing date: 2021-12-17
Publication date: 2023-09-01
Also published as: WO2022129617A1; FR3118126A1; EP4263286A1; FR3118126B1

Abstract

A light emitting module (1, 5, 7) for a motor vehicle, the module comprising at least one light emitting assembly (2) capable of emitting light, and an optical system (4) placed on a specific optical axis (100, 500, 700) of the light emitting module, traversing the light, and configured to project a light beam, the at least one light emitting assembly (2) being placed near an object focal plane of the optical system (4), characterized in that the optical system (4) forms an element (6) for closing the light emitting module, and in that the light emitting assembly (2) is mounted on a rotatable carrier (8) rotated by a specific drive system (10) independent of the optical system (4).

Description

Light emitting device for a motor vehicle

The present invention relates to the field of lighting and/or light-based signaling in the automotive field, and more particularly to a system for adjusting the position of a lighting module for a lighting device of a motor vehicle.

The field of lighting and/or light-based signaling in motor vehicles is limited by regulations that prescribe that each motor vehicle must be equipped with a lamp (and in particular with a high-beam headlamp and a low-beam headlamp) that performs a specific safety function. The low beam headlamps allow the motor vehicle to be seen by other road users and allow the driver of the motor vehicle to properly see the road over a distance of 30 meters without blinding other users in the road environment. The high beam headlamp emits a stronger beam so that the driver of the motor vehicle can properly see a road at least 100 meters away in night conditions.

It is known that low-beam and high-beam headlamps are produced by two lighting modules, each of which can comprise a substantially point source of light (for example of the light-emitting diode type), and a collector (which comprises a rotating reflecting surface with an elliptical profile). The light source is thus located at a first focal point of the reflective surface and is oriented in such a way that it irradiates substantially in the direction of the surface. The light rays are reflected in converging manner towards a second focal point of the reflective surface of the collector, which coincides with a focal point of an optical system (such as a lens) of the light emitting module configured to project the light beam reflected by the collector towards the road.

In particular, it is known to have a light emitting device wherein a first light emitting module is capable of generating a low beam and wherein a second light emitting module is capable of generating a complementary beam forming a high beam in addition to the low beam.

In this case, the second light emitting module may be particularly configured to generate a matrix light beam, which may be partially turned off or on, so as not to cause blinding to road users. Furthermore, the first light-emitting module intended to form the low beam may comprise two light sources which are different, that is to say respectively associated with different optical systems, wherein there are different focal lengths within the same light-emitting module.

In a motor vehicle, the light modules that produce the low-beam and high-beam headlamps can be combined together into the same light-emitting device on the front of the motor vehicle, notably to contribute to the optical continuity when switching from the low-beam to the high-beam headlamp. When the lighting device is mounted on a motor vehicle, it is necessary to precisely adjust the orientation of each lighting module to ensure that the light beam projected by each lighting module properly illuminates the road in accordance with regulations and, on the other hand, to ensure that the transition from one light beam intensity to another is as smooth as possible.

For this purpose, it is known to use different adjustment systems, including means for translational movement of the module as a whole within the headlight, or means enabling control of the light-emitting module as a whole and pivoting in different rotational directions (and in particular along a substantially horizontal rotational axis perpendicular to the optical axis of the light-emitting device). Such an adjustment system allows each module to move as a whole, that is to say the light source and the associated optical system move within the device, the light source and the associated optical system being shielded behind an outer lens closing the container in which the module is received.

However, such a system for adjusting the lighting means has the disadvantage of being cumbersome and complex to use. The adjustment allowed by such a system is all more complex, since the light emitting modules within the same light emitting device consist of several different types of modules with different lighting functions.

Furthermore, the module can be moved as a whole by the design of the headlight such that the module is accommodated in a housing closed by an outer closing lens, the module being arranged at a distance from the outer closing lens. However, it may be desirable for an automotive manufacturer to provide a headlamp without an outer lens, that is, the headlamp is not covered by an outer closing lens, in which the optical system of each light emitting module is visible from outside the vehicle.

In this context, according to a first aspect, the present invention aims to propose a motor vehicle lighting module comprising at least one light emitting assembly capable of emitting light rays, and an optical system arranged on a specific optical axis of the lighting module, traversing the light rays, and configured to project a light beam, the at least one light emitting assembly being arranged near an object focal plane of the optical system.

According to the invention, the light emitting module is notable in that the optical system forms a closing element of the light emitting module and in that the light emitting assembly is mounted on a rotary support which is rotationally driven by a specific driving system independently of the optical system.

In other words, the invention proposes a lighting module in which the position of the light emitting assembly, and in particular of the light source constituting it, can be adjusted by a rotary movement relative to the position of an optical system which also participates in forming a closing element of the lighting module, which optical system is visible from the outside of the vehicle if required, so that it must remain stationary. The position of the optical system can thus be fixed relative to a reference frame, which may in particular consist of the structure of the headlight, or of the vehicle in which the headlight is located, and once this position has been ensured, the position of the light emitting assembly (in particular the light source) relative to the optical system is allowed to be adjusted.

The applicant has been able to verify empirically that when it is desired to increase the attitude of the light beam projected by a lighting module arranged in a headlamp without an external lens, the translational movement of the lighting module as a whole within the device can be replaced by the rotational movement of the light source alone, and if a collector is required, the photometric readings have determined that by moving the light source in a rotational manner independently of the optical system, the light beam is adjusted in a similar manner, as long as the optimal position of the rotation axis is found.

The light emitting module is understood to mean that the lighting unit comprises at least a light emitting assembly and an optical system arranged in the path of the radiation emitted by the light emitting assembly. The characteristics of the light emitting assembly may vary depending on the type of light emitting module, i.e. the module configured to project a low beam, or the module configured to project a high beam, or a complementary beam capable of forming a high beam with a low beam.

A light emitting assembly includes at least one light source and, if desired, a collector. The light emitting assembly may particularly comprise a semiconductor type light source and may consist of a Light Emitting Diode (LED) or a plurality of LEDs formed at an object focal plane of the optical system.

As mentioned before, the light source may be associated in the light emitting assembly with a collector towards which the light source emits its radiation, and the collector is configured to collimate or deflect the light emitted by the light source in the direction of the optical system. The optical system may then be configured to project an image of the reflective surface of the collector. In other words, the image projected onto the road environment by the light emitting device is a direct image of the collector, and the shape of the collector has an influence on the image projected onto the road environment.

The module according to the invention may also have one or more of the following mentioned features, used alone or in combination when these features allow.

According to a feature of the invention, the light source and the collector are fixed on the same rotary support.

According to one feature of the invention, the lighting module is associated with a computing module configured to transmit control instructions to the drive system. In this case of automatic adjustment, the calculation module takes into account the position of the rotation axis of the rotation support to determine by calculation the rotation angle to be given and thus the corresponding movement amount of the drive system. It is understood that the calculation module may be housed in a housing defining the lighting module, or the calculation module is arranged in a lighting device, wherein the lighting module is also housed in the lighting device, or the calculation module is even present in a motor vehicle, at a distance from the lighting module, as long as it is configured to communicate with the drive system.

According to one feature of the invention, the drive system comprises a stepper motor connected to the rotary support by a lever arm of said drive system. In other words, by controlling the motor, the position of the light emitting assembly is adjusted stepwise via the rotary support.

According to one feature of the invention, the motor and the lever arm are housed in a housing which, together with the closing element, participates in defining a volume for housing the lighting module. In this way, protection can be provided for the motor and the drive system as a whole in the volume closed by the closing element.

According to one feature of the invention, the rotary support is rotatable about an axis of rotation perpendicular to the optical axis and at a distance from the light emitting assembly. In other words, the system for adjusting the light emitting assembly relative to the optical system is particularly configured to allow adjusting the attitude of the light emitting device, i.e. the vertical orientation of the light beam emitted by the light emitting device relative to the horizontal.

According to one feature of the invention, the optimal position of the rotation axis about which the rotary support moves is determined by calculation from the mechanical properties of the drive system and/or from the optical properties of the light emitting module.

According to one feature of the invention, the rotation axis of the rotation support is positioned in the vicinity of the optical system. By nearby is meant that the rotational axis is positioned in contact with the optical system or separated from the optical system by a distance less than or equal to three times, in particular less than or equal to two times the maximum thickness of the optical system. The maximum thickness of the optical system is measured in the direction of the optical axis between a first face of the optical system, which is encountered by the light rays emitted by the light source, and a last face of the optical system, which is encountered by said rays before leaving the light emitting module. When the entire optical system passes transversely to the axis, it corresponds to the maximum distance measured between the two faces in the direction of the optical axis.

According to one feature of the invention, the rotation axis of the rotation support is arranged on the opposite side of the optical system from the light emitting assembly.

According to one feature of the invention, the lighting module may consist of a module configured to generate low beam light.

The lighting assembly may comprise two light sources laterally offset relative to each other so as to be arranged facing a first optical system associated with a first of the two light sources and a second optical system associated with a second of the two light sources, respectively, the closure element being formed by lateral juxtaposition of the first and second optical systems, the two light sources being arranged on different object focal planes relative to their associated optical systems. The lighting module is notable in that the two light sources are driven in rotation about the same axis forming the rotation axis independently of the closing element.

In this context of a light emitting module in dual focus (that is to say with two focal planes offset relative to each other), the calculation unit configured to calculate the optimal position of the rotation axis is parameterized with an equation that only considers the optical properties of the module, irrespective of the mechanical properties of the drive system. It has thus been ensured that the position of the first rotation axis can be found, in particular by means of a triangulation method, such that the amount of movement of one of the light sources is larger than the amount of movement of the other light source during rotation of the light emitting assembly, and that these different amounts of movement allow for a uniform adjustment of the two parts of the distance light formed by each light source.

The equation can be written specifically as follows:

wherein:

d is the distance along the optical axis between the rotation axis and the light source furthest from the optical system of the light emitting module;

f1, F2 is the distance of each light source from the object focal plane, wherein F1 is the distance associated with the light source closest to the optical system of the light emitting module;

h1, H2 is the theoretical adjustment height of each light source, wherein H1 is the height associated with the light source closest to the optical system of the light emitting module.

The collector of such a light emitting module may here in particular be composed of a reflector provided with a reflective surface configured to deflect light rays emitted by the light source in the direction of the optical system. The reflector has an elliptical or parabolic shape, which advantageously makes it possible to reduce the height of an optical system arranged on the trajectory of the reflected light, which optical system consists of a projection lens, for example.

The reflector may be configured to present an end edge near the light source with a specific contour, for example in the form of a step, which helps to give the projected image a suitable contour, and in particular a suitable cut-off, to achieve the desired optical function.

According to one feature of the invention, the lighting module may consist of a module configured to generate a light beam complementary to the low beam to form the high beam.

The complementary part of the beam formed by the module may be a matrix beam forming the upper part of the beam and the matrix cut of the beam makes it possible to switch on or off a band of the beam to avoid blinding the driver of another vehicle by switching on or off one light source.

The light emitting assembly may comprise a plurality of light sources arranged in a matrix, wherein each light source is capable of being powered independently of the other light sources.

In this context of a light emitting assembly with a matrix of light sources, the calculation unit configured to calculate the optimal position of the rotation axis comprises a storage memory in which a database obtained empirically and taking into account the mechanical properties of the drive system is stored.

The collector of such a light emitting module comprises a light emitting assembly with a matrix of light sources, which collector may consist of a collimator, which collimator is penetrated by light rays emitted by the matrix light sources being supplied with power, which collimator is configured to direct the light rays towards a single optical system of the light emitting module. As mentioned, the light emitting assembly is arranged near the object focal plane of the optical system, and more specifically it is the output face of the collimator, which is arranged at or substantially at this object focal plane of the optical system.

According to a feature of the invention, the rotary support comprises a printed circuit board on which the light source is fixed and, if necessary, the collector.

According to one feature of the invention, the optical system consists of a projection lens. More specifically, in the context of compact lighting devices, the optical system may consist of a thin projection lens having a thickness, i.e. a dimension perpendicular to the optical axis of the optical system, which may be less than 8.5mm and for example of the order of 7 mm. In order to reduce the size of the light emitting module and the size of the light emitting device in which the light emitting module can be integrated, the optical system is arranged in particular in the vicinity of the light source and, where appropriate, in the vicinity of the collector of the respective module. For example, when the module comprises a collector and when the collector has an elliptical shape, the optical system may be interposed between the first and second foci of the collector.

According to a second aspect, the invention also relates to a motor vehicle lighting device comprising a housing, and at least two lighting modules according to the description immediately above, and which are housed in the housing.

In other words, the invention relates to a lighting device forming a motor vehicle headlamp, comprising a first lighting module, at least one light source of which is rotatable independently of an optical system of the first lighting module, and a second lighting module, at least one light source of which is rotatable independently of an optical system of the second lighting module. Thus, within the same headlight, a first light-emitting module capable of generating a low beam and a second module capable of generating a high beam or a beam complementary to the low beam are arranged side by side to form a high beam, and are ensured by suitable means specific to each module, for example, both beams can be uniformly adjusted when the vehicle leaves the factory.

According to one feature of the invention, the closing element of each light emitting module participates in the closing of the housing of the light emitting device, the closing element of one of the light emitting modules being made integrally with the closing element of the other light emitting module.

In other words, the lighting device or the motor vehicle headlight has a volume which is closed by a closed window and within which the components of each lighting module are arranged, the optical system being integrated in the closed window. Thus, the closing window includes two optical systems integrated, and a supporting portion capable of fixing the closing window to the housing.

More specifically, the closed window is at least partially transparent and is configured as an optical system integrating at least two light modules of the light emitting device. By integrating these optical systems, the configuration of the closing window integrating these optical systems, that is to say that it is made integrally with the optical systems, should be understood as well, and the configuration of the closing window carrying these optical systems, that is to say that the optical systems are attached to the closing window, should be understood as well. Thus, the closing window and the optical system may be made of the same material, for example polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) or Polycarbonate (PC), or the closing window may be similar to the protective window and made of a neutral material, such as glass or a synthetic polymer, such as Polyetherimide (PEI), so as to carry the optical system which itself may be made of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) or Polycarbonate (PC).

According to one feature of the invention, the optical system consists of a defining portion of the closed window, for example with a convex surface facing the light source of the respective light emitting module. In other words, the closing window may have an inner face facing the interior of the housing, which inner face is substantially flat, except for two areas formed by the optical system integrated in the closing window, which areas have a dome shape by their convex surfaces, respectively.

According to one feature of the invention, the first light emitting module corresponds to the above description, having two light sources respectively associated with the optical system (i.e. the bifocal system), and the second light emitting module corresponds to the above description, having a plurality of emission sources arranged in a matrix.

According to one feature of the invention, each light emitting module has an axis of rotation of at least one light source of the module, said axis of rotation being arranged at a distance from the closing element, and for the one light emitting module and the other light emitting module, the axis of rotation is arranged at different distances from the closing element.

According to one feature of the invention, the light emitting module comprises, in addition to the rotary drive system, a position stop means which allows to fix the position of the light emitting assembly once it has been pivoted by a suitable angle.

According to one feature of the invention, the position stop means comprise an actuating element passing through a wall of the projection means. In this way, the position stop means may be realized from outside the housing defining a volume of the projection means in which the light emitting module is arranged. The sealing of the light emitting device is easy, which only needs to be done at the channel area through the housing. Sealing elements may be provided around these channel areas, which sealing elements are advantageously compressed when the light emitting module is stopped in place.

According to one feature of the invention, as previously mentioned, the position of the entire lighting device can be adjusted by means of an adjusting device dedicated to the lighting device, by means of a possible independent drive of each lighting module arranged within the lighting device. It is therefore advantageous, thanks to this staggered adjustment, to adjust the light sources of the light emitting modules on the one hand independently and on the other hand simultaneously by movement of the housing that accommodates them as a whole, for optimal adjustment in several adjustment sequences in different places. In particular, the position of each light emitting assembly relative to each other may be adjusted at the manufacturer of the light emitting device in order to ensure that in a given position of the light emitting device, the light beams projected by the first and second light emitting modules are coherent, thereby adjusting the position of the light emitting device as a whole when mounted on a vehicle.

According to one feature of the invention, the closed window comprises at least two parts for fixing to the housing of the lighting device, for example by gluing, said fixing parts being optically neutral. Optically neutral means that the radiation passing through the material of interest is hardly deflected.

According to one feature of the invention, each optically neutral zone of the closed window is superimposed on an opaque wall of the housing. In this way, the housing of the light emitting device and the protection window form a sealed space configured to protect the light emitting module from the environment outside the vehicle. These opaque walls are in particular capable of at least partially absorbing external light rays, emitted for example by the sun, or any artificial light source external to the motor vehicle, able to enter the internal volume of the lighting device.

The invention also proposes a motor vehicle comprising at least one lighting device as described above formed on the front and/or rear of the motor vehicle.

Further features, details and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following description, given by way of non-limiting indication, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a vehicle having a headlamp including a light emitting device according to one aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a lighting device in accordance with one aspect of the present invention and particularly suited for equipping the vehicle of FIG. 1, the lighting device having a housing a first lighting module and a second lighting module, each lighting module being in a first configuration;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view equivalent to FIG. 2, wherein the first and second light modules housed in the housing are in a second configuration;

fig. 4 is a perspective view of a first light emitting module of the apparatus of fig. 2 and 3, the first light emitting module including two separate light emitting assemblies;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second light module of the apparatus of FIGS. 2 and 3, the second light module including at least one light source matrix assembly;

fig. 6 is a schematic view of the first light emitting module of fig. 4, more specifically illustrating an apparatus for rotating the first light emitting module, wherein the position of the rotation shaft is determined by calculation by an equation considering mechanical characteristics of the driving system;

fig. 7 is a schematic view of the light emitting module of fig. 2, more specifically illustrating an apparatus for rotating a second light emitting module, wherein the position of the rotation axis is determined by an equation considering only the optical characteristics of the module irrespective of the mechanical characteristics of the driving system.

It should be noted at first that although the figures illustrate in detail the implementation of the invention, they may of course be used if desired in order to better define the invention.

Conventionally, in the present disclosure, the qualifier "longitudinal" applies to a direction in which an optical axis of at least one light emitting module extends, and the qualifiers "transverse" and "vertical" apply to directions substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and to each other, respectively.

As a reminder, the invention relates in particular to a lighting module 1 of a motor vehicle, comprising at least one light emitting assembly 2, and an optical system 4, said optical system 4 being arranged across the light rays emitted to project a light beam, wherein said optical system forms a closing element 6 of the lighting module 1, said light emitting assembly being mounted on a rotary support 8 rotationally driven by a specific driving system 10 independently of the optical system.

Such a lighting module 1 may in particular be arranged on a front face 12 of a vehicle, in a headlight configured to project a light beam, whether it is a low beam or a high beam, for example, onto a road environment on which the vehicle is travelling.

More specifically, the lighting module 1 according to the invention can be implemented in a lighting device 14 without a headlight of the outer lens type, as illustrated in fig. 1 and described in detail below.

The headlight without an outer lens is such that, for at least one light-emitting module accommodated in the headlight, no optical element is arranged between the optical system 4 of the light-emitting module 1 and the road on which the light beam generated by the light-emitting module is projected, even if the optical element is optically neutral.

Fig. 2 and 3 illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the invention, wherein the lighting device 14 comprises a housing 16, which houses a plurality of lighting modules 1, here two in number.

The housing 16 includes a plurality of walls defining an interior receptacle 18 that is open on an end face that directly faces the roadway, the end face being closed by a closing window 20.

The walls defining the housing may be opaque so as to absorb any light outside the light emitting device. Thus, by the assembly formed by the closed window 20 and the housing 16, the light emitting module 1 housed in the housing can be protected from the environment outside the vehicle, in particular from bad weather, dust accumulation, or sunlight.

More specifically, in the illustrated example, the housing 16 specifically includes a partially open front wall 22, with a first opening 24 formed between a central strip 26 and an upper edge of the front wall covered by the closed window 20, and a second opening 28 formed between the central strip 26 and a lower edge of the front wall covered by the closed window 20.

The closing window 20 integrates the optical system 4 of each lighting module 1, so that as mentioned before no optical elements are arranged between these optical systems and the road. More specifically, each optical system 4 forms both the closing element 6 of the light emitting module 1 to which it belongs and, together with the optical system of the other light emitting module, participates in forming the closing window 20 of the light emitting device 14 in which at least two light emitting modules 1 are housed.

In the context of such an integration, the closing window 20 may be made of the same material as the material of the optical system 4, or may also be made of a second material different from the material used for manufacturing the optical system, as long as the second material does not have an optical effect. The protective window 20 and/or the optical system 4 integrated into the protective window may be made of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) of Polycarbonate (PC). Each optical system integrated in the closed window forms part of one light emitting module, respectively, and these optical systems will therefore be described in more detail below.

The closing window 20 further comprises a fixing portion 30 intended to press against the inner face of the front wall 22 around the openings 24, 26 formed in the front wall. Thus, the closed window 20 forms a protective physical barrier between the lighting module and the environment outside the vehicle.

The lighting modules 1 are housed within the housing 16 in such a way that they can be adjusted rotationally within the internal container 18 defined by the housing 16 and the closed window 20 of the lighting device 14, and it should be noted that, in addition, the lighting device can be adjusted as a whole with respect to the structure of the vehicle, in particular by means of more conventional adjustment means, so that movements according to a multiaxial rotary movement of the housing of the lighting device can be allowed, for example. More specifically, as schematically illustrated in fig. 2 and 3, the housing 16 is attached to a structure 32 of the motor vehicle by at least one adjustable fixing member 34 forming such conventional adjustment means as mentioned.

The adjustment of the position of the light emitting modules here is in particular that the light emitting assemblies 2 of each light emitting module 1 can be pivoted independently of the fixed position of the optical system 4 associated with each light emitting assembly 2. In the illustrated embodiment, the optical system 4 is fixed relative to the vehicle reference frame, and here relative to the housing 16 of the lighting device 14, while being in contact with and directly fixed to the front wall 22 of the housing of the lighting device. Conversely, the light emitting assembly 2 is carried by the housing 16 of the light emitting device via the rotary support 8, so that the light emitting assembly 2, and in particular the light source, can be pivoted relative to the vehicle reference frame and thus relative to the optical system 4.

As mentioned below, the rotary support 8 thus participates in forming a system for adjusting the position of the associated light source, and a position stop means associated with the rotary support may be provided, so that when the adjustment of the position of the light emitting assembly is completed, the position of the rotary support 8 may be fixed. The rotary support 8 is in particular configured to comprise a pivoting member that participates in forming a rotation axis, and is linked to a drive system 10 that tends to push the support to force it to pivot about the rotation axis.

In the illustrated example, each light emitting module 1 comprises, on the one hand, a light emitting assembly 2 having a light source 36 capable of emitting light rays and a collector 38 configured to collimate or deflect the light rays emitted by the light source 36 along the optical axis 100 of the light emitting module 1, and, on the other hand, an optical system 4 arranged in the path of the light rays and configured to form a conditioning light beam with these rays.

For each lighting module 1, fixed to the rotary support 8 is a light emitting assembly 2, and thus a light source 36, and where applicable a collector 38.

Each optical system 4 is in particular part of a light emitting module 1, in particular associated with a light emitting assembly 2, and is also part of a closing window 20, which, as mentioned above, defines with the housing 16 a container common to both modules.

In the illustrated example, the light emitting device 14 is configured to accommodate two light emitting modules 1, and more specifically, a first light emitting module 5 and a second light emitting module 7, in a housing thereof. Here, the first light emitting module 5 is configured to form a first light beam corresponding to the low beam type of adjustment illumination, and the second light emitting module 7 is configured to form a second light beam complementary to the first light beam, such that a combination of the two light beams may form a high beam type of adjustment light beam.

The first light emitting module 5 will now be described in more detail with reference to fig. 2 to 4, it being understood that other forms of modules may be implemented, provided that as mentioned above at least the light emitting assembly of the first light emitting module is configured such that its position can be adjusted by rotation of the optical system independent of the light emitting module.

Here, the light emitting assembly 2 comprises two semiconductor type light sources 36a, 36b, or more specifically, two groups of light sources, arranged on a printed circuit board 40 fixed to the rotary support 8.

The two sets of light sources 36a, 36b are laterally offset with respect to each other, that is to say in a lateral direction perpendicular to the optical axis 500 of the first light emitting module 5, and are included in the main elongated plane of the printed circuit board 40 so as to be arranged facing one of the two optical systems 4a, 4b respectively comprised by the first light emitting module 5, which two optical systems 4a, 4b are also laterally offset with respect to each other.

Here, the first light emitting module 5 forms a bifocal system, since the two optical systems 4a, 4b are aligned in a transverse direction perpendicular to the optical axis 500, whereas the two sets of light sources 36a, 36b are offset longitudinally along the optical axis 500 in addition to the aforementioned transverse offset. The alignment of the optical systems 4a, 4b makes it possible to produce a closing element 6 of the first light emitting module which extends substantially integrally mainly perpendicular to the optical axis 500, and the longitudinal offset of the groups of light sources 36a indicates that the position of the first group is at a first focal distance F1 from the associated optical system 4a and the position of the second group is at a second focal distance F2 from the associated optical system 4 b.

This arrangement makes it possible to produce a low beam having two portions of the light beam, which are distinguished by their light concentration, for example to increase the concentration of light at the center and at the cut-off level of the light beam projected by the first light emitting module.

The fixation of the two sets of light sources 36a, 36b on the same rotary support 8 makes it possible to drive all the light sources 36 to rotate about the same first rotation axis 101 independently of the closing element 6.

Each light source 36 is configured to emit light in a half-space defined by a principal plane of elongation of the printed circuit board, particularly in the direction of the collector 38 associated with each light source.

Each collector 38 has a reflective inner surface configured to deflect light rays emitted by the light source 36 of the respective light emitting module in the direction of the optical system 4 along an optical axis specific to each light emitting module. In this way, the image projected by the lighting module onto the road environment consists of direct imaging of the collector 38.

The collector 38 is advantageously made of a material with good heat resistance, for example made of glass or a synthetic polymer such as Polycarbonate (PC) or Polyetherimide (PEI).

In this first light emitting module 5, each collector 38 has a substantially elliptical shape, and each light source 36 is in particular arranged at a first focus of its associated collector such that the deflected rays are directed towards a second focus of the elliptical collector arranged on the optical axis 100. The optical system 4 is arranged on the optical axis 100 between the two foci of the elliptical collector, the optical system 4 extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to said optical axis in the path of the deflected light rays.

Here, the optical system 4 has the form of a converging lens, the focal point of which is here arranged in the vicinity of the collector 38. The optical system 4 of each light emitting module may in particular consist of a thin (e.g. having a thickness in the order of 7 mm) projection lens. It should be noted that such a projection lens configuration is given here by way of example only, and that projection lenses having a greater thickness and being made in several layers may be provided without departing from the context of the present invention.

As can be seen in fig. 2 and 3, the first light emitting module 5 is pivotable about a first rotation axis 101 perpendicular to the optical axis 500, such that the optical system 4 of the first light emitting module 5 remains fixed. Fig. 2 and 3 particularly illustrate the first light emitting module 5 within the light emitting device 14 in a first position (fig. 2) corresponding to the installation position, in which the optical axis 500 of the first light emitting module 5 is included in a main elongated plane of the vehicle, which is substantially horizontal, and in a second position (fig. 3) corresponding to the attitude adjustment position, in which the optical axis 500 is angularly offset about the first rotational axis 101. More specifically, the light emitting assembly 2 and the rotary support 8 on which the light emitting assembly is fixed are rotatable about the first rotation axis 101.

The rotary support 8 of the first lighting module 5 comprises means for guiding the rotation about this first axis of rotation, an exemplary embodiment of which will be described below with particular reference to fig. 4, and which is moved via the drive system 10. Here, the drive system includes a motor 44, the operation of which produces movement against a lever arm 46 of the rotary support. As a non-limiting example, the motor may be controlled by a computing module housed in the housing of the light emitting device.

The rotation guide means is configured such that the first rotation axis 101 is formed at a distance from the light emitting assembly 2 of the first light emitting module 5.

In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in fig. 4, the rotary support 8 comprises branches 48 extending longitudinally to the optical systems 4a, 4b on a plurality of sides of the light emitting module, and the free ends of these branches 48 are remote from the light emitting assembly 2, each free end carrying a pivoting member 50, said pivoting members 50 participating in forming the pivoting connection schematically shown in the figure. It will be appreciated that without limiting the invention, the rotary support may carry both a male member capable of cooperating with an aperture formed in the housing of the light emitting module or in a wall of the housing of the light emitting device, and a female member capable of cooperating with a lug present in said housing or in said wall.

Furthermore, in the case where this is not shown, different exemplary embodiments are conceivable in which the rotation guide means are formed by lugs forming lateral projections of the rotation support at the level or height of the printed circuit board, which lugs are translatable within curved grooves whose centers of curvature lie on the rotation axis of the light emitting assembly.

In the case of the previously mentioned light-emitting modules in bifocal form (that is to say with two focal planes offset from one another), the position of the first rotation axis 101 is determined by means of an equation which only takes into account the optical properties of the first light-emitting module, independently of the mechanical properties of the drive system 10. Thus, in particular by means of a trigonometric calculation method, the position of the first rotation axis 101 can be found, so that it can be ensured that the movement amount of one set of light sources 4b is larger than the movement amount of the other set of light sources 4a during rotation of the light emitting assembly 2, and that these different movement amounts allow for a uniform adjustment of the two parts of the high beam formed by each light source.

Referring specifically to fig. 6, the equation is as follows,

d is the distance along the optical axis 500 between the first rotation axis 101 and the light source 36 furthest from the optical systems 4a, 4b of the light emitting module. The structural data of the optical system (such as the distance F1, F2 from the object focal plane for each set of light sources 36a, 36b and their associated optical system 4a, 4 b) and the desired adjustment data (such as the vertical movement amount H1, H2 of each set of light sources, which is positive or negative with respect to the optical axis) are integrated into this equation, so that the distance D and thus the correct positioning of the first rotational axis 101 can be calculated. With the correct positioning of the rotation axes, it will be appreciated that this is a problem in calculating the position of the first rotation axis 101 about which the rotation support 8 will rotate and which will allow the light emitting assembly 2 of the first light emitting module 5 to pivot, wherein in case of simultaneous pivoting of two groups of light sources, the uniformity of the light beam formed by the two light beam portions emitted by each group of light sources and their associated optical system is maintained.

For example, for a light emitting module in which the first focal length F1 is of the order of 65mm and in which the second focal length F2 is of the order of 95mm, the position of the rotation axis and the rotation angle of the rotation support to be imparted to the first light emitting module can be determined by this equation such that the light source moves rotationally under the influence of the light beam, similar to a translational movement of the light source. The theoretical adjustment height H1, H2 for each light source, where H1 is the height associated with the light source closest to the optical system of the light emitting module, a distance D of the order of 112mm is obtained and the value of the rotation angle a of the order of 2.1 ° is trigonometrically deduced.

The second light emitting module 7 will now be described in more detail with reference to fig. 3 to 5, it being understood that other forms of modules may be implemented, provided that, as mentioned above, at least the light emitting assembly of the second light emitting module is configured such that its position can be adjusted by rotation of the optical system independent of the light emitting module.

The light emitting assembly 2 of the second light emitting module 7 may comprise a plurality of light sources 36 arranged in a matrix, wherein each light source can be powered independently of the other light sources. In the illustrated embodiment, the light sources are arranged in two rows 52, one above the other. As can be seen in fig. 5, the light sources may be divided into two groups of light sources 36a, 36b, each group having a matrix of two rows. Each light source may in particular consist of a light emitting diode which can be controlled independently of the other light sources so as to be switched off or on independently of the switching on of adjacent sources and which participates in forming thereby a light pattern (in particular in the form of a band) with parts of the light beam, which are switched off or on. The complementary part of the beam formed by the module may be a matrix beam forming the upper part of the beam and the matrix cut of the beam makes it possible to switch on or off a band of the beam to avoid blinding the driver of another vehicle by switching on or off a source.

Each light source 36 is arranged on a printed circuit board 40, here substantially perpendicular to the optical axis 700 of the second light emitting module 7, and which participates in forming a rotary support 8 that will drive the light emitting assembly 2 in rotation. If desired, as may also be the case for the printed circuit board of the first light emitting module, the printed circuit board and the rotary support may be fixed to the body of the light emitting module, e.g. forming a heat sink configured to dissipate heat generated by operation of the light source matrix.

Here, each light source 36 is configured to emit light in a half-space defined by the principal elongated plane of the printed circuit board, in particular in the direction of the collector 38.

Here, the collector 38 has the form of a collimator having an input face through which all rays emitted by the light source pass and an output face 54 which forms an image obtained by adding the various rays emitted. The image may in particular comprise dark bands due to extinction of this or such light source facing the input face of the collector. The output surface 54 of the collector 38 is arranged at or near the focal plane Pf of the optical system associated with the second light emitting module. The collector 38 is advantageously made of a material with good heat resistance, for example made of glass or a synthetic polymer such as Polycarbonate (PC) or Polyetherimide (PEI).

The optical system 4 of the second light emitting module 7 comprises, according to what has been described above, a projection lens which can be integrated into a closed window 20 common to both light emitting modules 5, 7. In the illustrated example, it should be noted that the additional lens 56 is located upstream of the lens with respect to the direction of circulation of the light rays.

As seen in fig. 2 and 3, and similar to that described for the first light emitting module, the second light emitting module 7 is pivotable about a second rotation axis 102 perpendicular to the optical axis, such that the optical system 4 of the second light emitting module 7 remains fixed. More specifically, in the second light emitting module 7, the light emitting assembly 2 and the rotary support 8 on which the light emitting assembly is fixed can rotate about the second rotation axis 102. Furthermore, it is worth noting that the second rotation axis 102 is different from the first rotation axis 101, and more particularly parallel to and at a distance from the first rotation axis.

The rotary support 8 of the second light emitting module 7 comprises means for guiding the rotation about this second axis of rotation, an exemplary embodiment of which will be described below with particular reference to fig. 5, and which is moved via the drive system 10. Here, the drive system includes a motor 44, the operation of which produces movement against a lever arm 46 of the rotary support.

The rotation guide means is configured such that the second rotation axis 102 is formed at a distance from the light emitting assembly 2 of the second light emitting module 7.

In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in fig. 5, the rotary support 8 comprises at least one limb 48 extending longitudinally on one side of the light emitting module up to the optical system and having a free end at a distance from the light emitting assembly, which extends by a lever arm 46 on which the motor 44 of the drive system 10 can push. More specifically, without limitation, the motor is a linear stepper motor.

In this context of a light emitting module with a single focusing optical system and a light emitting assembly arranged in this single focal plane, here by means of a collimator arranged facing the light source matrix, the position of the second rotational axis 102 is determined by means of a database obtained empirically and taking into account the mechanical properties of the drive system 10.

These mechanical properties may in particular be one or more of the values of the angular accuracy of the stepper motor 44, the maximum travel distance of the output shaft of the stepper motor 44, and the length of the lever arm 46, and then the distance of the second rotation axis 102 relative to the focal plane is defined as a function of these values and the desired theoretical movement height in order to adjust the attitude of the light emitting module.

As already mentioned, once the distance over which the rotational axis of the focal plane of the second light emitting module extends is determined, the rotational angle to be imparted to the second light emitting module 7 can be trigonometrically derived therefrom, such that the adjustment of the light emission resembles a translational or rotational movement of the entire light emitting module. Thus, the second rotation angle β associated with the rotational movement of the light emitting components of the second light emitting module 7 may have a value equal to or different from the first rotation angle α associated with the rotational movement of the light emitting components of the first light emitting module 5, it being understood that an independent adjustment is made to each light emitting component of the light emitting modules.

For each light emitting module, the mounting and position adjustment methods are equivalent, the rotation of the light emitting assembly taking place around an axis of rotation formed at a distance from the light emitting assembly independent of the optical system participating in forming the light emitting module with the light emitting assembly.

In each of these cases, the movement of the light emitting assembly must be understood as a specific movement of the light source and associated collector (if applicable) with respect to a fixed reference frame, including in particular the optical system. In this way, the optical system remains stationary during pivoting of the light source. It is therefore necessary to find an advantageous position of the rotation axis so that the pivoting of the light source can keep the passage of most of the light rays emitted by the optical system.

The aforementioned position stop means enable to fix the position of the light emitting assembly after rotation about a determined rotation axis. These position stop means may consist of mechanical means and in particular comprise threaded holes made in the housing of the lighting module or in the housing of the lighting device, circular arc holes made in the rotary support, and fastening screws which may be permanently left in the threaded holes, screwed to a greater or lesser extent, or these position stop means may be added when the desired position is obtained. The position stopping means may further comprise electronic means for ensuring a stopping position of a motor arranged for driving the light emitting module in a rotational manner. In the case of a mechanical device, a sealing member may advantageously be provided on the face of the housing of the light emitting module and/or on the face of the housing of the light emitting device.

It will be appreciated from reading the foregoing that the present invention proposes a simplified and more compact lighting device for a motor vehicle, comprising at least two lighting modules housed in a housing of the device, the closed windows of which are common to the optical system of the modules, and allowing the position of at least one of the lighting modules to be adjusted independently of at least one other lighting module, with the respective light source being rotated independently of the optical system.

However, the invention is not limited to the devices and arrangements described and illustrated herein, and extends to any equivalent device or arrangement, and any technical operational combination of such devices. In particular, the number of light emitting modules may be modified without negatively affecting the invention, as long as the light emitting device finally achieves the same functions as those described in this document.

Claims

1. Motor vehicle lighting module (1, 5, 7) comprising at least one light emitting assembly (2) capable of emitting light, and an optical system (4) arranged on a specific optical axis (100, 500, 700) of the lighting module, traversing the light, and configured to project the light beam, the at least one light emitting assembly (2) being arranged near an object focal plane of the optical system (4), characterized in that the optical system (4) forms a closing element (6) of the lighting module, and the light emitting assembly (2) is mounted on a rotary support (8) rotationally driven by a specific driving system (10) independently of the optical system (4).

2. The light emitting module (1, 5, 7) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the rotational support (8) is rotatable about a rotational axis (101, 102) perpendicular to the optical axis (100, 500, 700) and remote from the light emitting assembly (2).

3. The lighting module (1, 5, 7) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the position of the rotation axis of the rotation support (8) is in the vicinity of the optical system (4).

4. A light emitting module (1, 5) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the light emitting assembly (2) comprises two light sources (36 a, 36 b) which are laterally offset from each other to be arranged facing a first optical system (4 a) associated with a first of the two light sources and a second optical system (4 b) associated with a second of the two light sources, respectively, the closing element (6) being formed by lateral juxtaposition of the first and second optical systems, the two light sources being arranged on different object focal planes with respect to their associated optical systems, the light emitting module (5) being characterized in that the two light sources (36 a, 36 b) are driven to rotate about the same axis forming the rotation axis independently of the closing element (6).

5. A light emitting module (1, 7) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the light emitting assembly (2) comprises a plurality of light sources (36) arranged in a matrix, each light source in the matrix being electrically energizable independently of the other light sources.

6. A motor vehicle lighting device (14) comprising a housing (16), and at least two lighting modules (1, 5, 7) according to any of the preceding claims, and the lighting modules are accommodated in the housing.

7. Motor vehicle lighting device (14) according to the preceding claim, wherein the closing element (6) of each lighting module (1, 5, 7) participates in the closing of the housing (16), the closing element of one of the lighting modules being made in one piece with the closing element of the other lighting module.

8. Motor vehicle lighting device (14) according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the first lighting module (5) is according to claim 4 and the second lighting module (7) is according to claim 5.

9. The lighting device (14) according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein each lighting module (1, 5, 7) has an axis of rotation of at least one light source of the module, which axis of rotation is arranged at a distance from the closing element (6), and characterized in that for the one lighting module and the other lighting module the axes of rotation (101, 102) are arranged at different distances from the closing element (6).

10. Motor vehicle comprising at least one light emitting device (14) according to any one of claims 6 to 9, which is arranged on the front and/or on the rear of the motor vehicle.