EP1596126A1 - Lighting or signalling device with an optical component autonomously providing a prescribed beam - Google Patents

Abstract

The lamp has an optical unit (16) with a central zone (Z0) and two annular zones (Z1, Z2). Output surface of the central zone and/or output surface of the annular zone (Z1) are constituted of multiple annular sectors of distinct profiles. The sectors and optical refraction units distribute light rays forward so that light flux forms regulatory lighting or signaling beam, at the output of the optical unit. An output surface of the annular zone (Z2) has the optical refraction units. The light rays are distributed forwards along nonparallel directions. The light flux is emitted by a light source (12).

Description

The invention proposes a device for lighting or signaling in particular for a motor vehicle.

The invention more particularly proposes a device lighting or signaling, in particular for a vehicle automotive, planned to achieve a regulatory beam lighting or signaling, having an optical axis oriented from the back to the front, on which is arranged a source which is intended to emit a luminous flux towards the front, an optical part that is arranged at the front of the source light, which is generally centered on the optical axis, and which is intended to collect the light rays emitted by the source by means of its back side of entrance and to distribute the rays bright forward, through its front exit face, following at least one determined direction, of the type in which the piece optics includes, from its center to its periphery, an area center consisting of a Fresnel lens, a first zone provided on the exit side with elements prismatic working in refraction, and a second zone provided on the side of the entrance face with elements prismatic working in total reflection.

A signaling device of this type is described and represented in particular in document FR-A-2 507 741.

In this document, the entrance face of the optical part allows you to recover most of the light beam emitted by a lamp. The light rays are diffused towards the front, by the exit face of the optical part, according to directions substantially parallel to the optical axis.

In this signaling device, the optical part therefore constitutes a recuperator for the luminous flux emitted by the lamp.

This signaling device requires an ice cream deviation, which is arranged at the front of the optical part and which is provided, on its rear face of entry, of dioptric elements cylindrical, in order to achieve a photometric distribution in accordance with the regulations in force in signaling.

Diversion ice may consist of ice closing of the signaling device or by an ice intermediate, called intermediate screen, which is arranged between the recuperator and the closing glass.

The present invention aims in particular to provide a improvement to the signaling device described in the document FR-A-2,507,741.

In particular, the present invention aims at simplifying the signaling device and to reduce its manufacturing cost in removing the intermediate screen.

For this purpose, the invention proposes a lighting device or of the type described above, characterized in that what the exit face of the central area and / or the exit face of the first annular zone consist of several annular sectors of distinct profiles, in axial section, and in that that the exit face of the second annular zone is provided of refractive optical elements, the annular sectors of distinct profiles of the exit face of the central area and / or the first annular zone and the refractive optical elements of the second annular zone distributing the light rays towards forward following non-parallel directions so that the luminous flux emitted by the source forms, at the exit of the room optical, the regulatory beam of lighting or signaling.

• au moins une partie des éléments optiques de réfraction est constituée par un maillage de facettes élémentaires prévues pour réaliser individuellement un pinceau lumineux comportant des caractéristiques photométriques spécifiques aptes à compléter au moins une zone du faisceau réglementaire d'éclairage ou de signalisation ;
• les facettes ont globalement une forme de coussin ;
• au moins une partie des éléments optiques de réfraction est constituée par des stries sensiblement parallèles ;
• au moins une partie des éléments optiques de réfraction est constituée par des secteurs annulaires centrés sur l'axe optique ;
• la pièce optique comporte une zone annulaire périphérique dont la face de sortie est munie d'éléments prismatiques qui travaillent en réflexion totale et qui possèdent un profil, en coupe axiale, apte à répartir les rayons lumineux vers l'avant suivant des directions non parallèles de manière à compléter le faisceau réglementaire d'éclairage ou de signalisation réalisé par la zone centrale et par la première zone annulaire ;
• la zone centrale, la première zone annulaire, la seconde zone annulaire, et la zone annulaire périphérique sont adjacentes deux à deux par leurs bords circonférentiels périphériques ;
• la face de sortie de la pièce optique est isolée du milieu extérieur par une glace de protection qui est transparente et qui est dépourvue de moyens pour dévier les rayons lumineux, de manière que les rayons lumineux issus de la face de sortie de la pièce optique traversent la glace de protection sans être déviés.

According to other features of the invention:

• at least a part of the optical refraction elements is constituted by a mesh of elementary facets provided for individually producing a light brush having specific photometric characteristics capable of completing at least one zone of the regulatory lighting or signaling beam;
• the facets generally have a cushion shape;
• at least a portion of the refractive optical elements are substantially parallel striations;
• at least a portion of the optical refraction elements are annular sectors centered on the optical axis;
• the optical part comprises a peripheral annular zone whose output face is provided with prismatic elements which work in total reflection and which have a profile, in axial section, able to distribute the light rays forward in non-parallel directions of in order to complete the regulatory lighting or signaling beam produced by the central zone and by the first annular zone;
• the central zone, the first annular zone, the second annular zone, and the peripheral annular zone are adjacent two by two by their peripheral circumferential edges;
• the exit face of the optical part is isolated from the external medium by a protective glass which is transparent and which has no means for deflecting the light rays, so that the light rays coming from the exit face of the optical part pass through the protective glass without being deflected.

• la figure 1 est une demi-vue en coupe axiale qui représente un feu de signalisation réalisé conformément aux enseignements de l'invention ;
• la figure 2 est une vue en perspective qui représente la pièce optique équipant le feu de signalisation de la figure 1 sans sa zone annulaire périphérique ;
• la figure 3 est une demi-vue en coupe axiale qui représente la portion de la pièce optique représentée sur la figure 2,
• la figure 4 est une vue similaire à celle de la figure 1 qui représente une variante de réalisation du feu de signalisation selon l'invention.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the detailed description which follows for the understanding of which reference will be made to the appended drawings among which:

• Figure 1 is a half-view in axial section which shows a traffic light produced in accordance with the teachings of the invention;
• FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the optical part equipping the traffic light of FIG. 1 without its peripheral annular zone;
• FIG. 3 is a half-view in axial section which represents the portion of the optical part represented in FIG. 2,
• Figure 4 is a view similar to that of Figure 1 which shows an alternative embodiment of the signaling light according to the invention.

For the description of the invention, it will be adopted as a non limiting the vertical, longitudinal and transverse orientations according to the reference V, L, T indicated in the figures.

In the following description, identical elements, similar or similar will be designated by the same figures reference. By convention, we will call "before" the direction towards which the luminous flux is emitted, and "backward" the direction opposite. In Figures 1 to 4, the front is thus to the right of the figure and the back left.

FIGS. 1 to 3 show a fire signaling 10 of a motor vehicle which is realized according to the teachings of the invention and which is provided to achieve a regulatory signaling beam corresponding to a given signaling function, by example a direction indicator light function.

It is recalled that the signaling functions of a motor vehicle must meet a regulation that defines specific photometric conditions for each signaling function to perform.

For example, according to the regulations currently in force in Europe, a traffic light fulfilling a function direction indicator light shall form, on a measuring screen placed at ten meters, an image which has the overall shape of a cross.

This cross is defined by characteristic points that are arranged on the measurement screen and which must receive each a luminous intensity whose value must be understood within a specified interval.

In the same way, a traffic light producing a reversing light function must form, on the measurement screen, a rectangle of determined dimensions and whose length is parallel to the horizontal plane.

The signaling beam is globally centered on a longitudinal optical axis A-A which is oriented from the rear towards the front, which corresponds to an orientation of the left towards the right considering FIGS. 1 to 4.

The traffic light 10 comprises a light source 12 which is constituted here by the filament of a lamp 14 and which is arranged on the optical axis A-A.

The lamp 14 is mounted inside a housing 15, at through a rear transverse wall 17 of the housing 15.

According to an alternative embodiment (not represented), the lamp 14 can be mounted on an intermediate part called mask which is itself attached to the housing 15.

Depending on the color of the signaling function to be carried out, the lamp 14 can be encapsulated in a globe or balloon 13 in colored transparent material.

The traffic light 10 comprises an optical part 16, at the front of the light source 12, which is mounted on the face before 19 of the rear transverse wall 17.

The optical part 16 is generally centered on the axis optical A-A, and it is intended to collect light rays emitted by the source 12 by means of its input rear face 18 and to distribute the light rays forward, through its exit front panel 20.

The entrance face 18 has globally a form of revolution around the optical axis A-A.

According to the embodiment represented here, the optical part 16 comprises, respectively from its center towards its periphery, a central zone Z ₀ , a first annular zone Z ₁ , a second annular zone Z ₂ , and a peripheral annular zone Z ₃ .

The four zones Z ₀ , Z ₁ , Z ₂ , Z ₃ are here adjacent two by two by their peripheral circumferential edges.

The central zone Z ₀ consists of a Fresnel lens which has an input rear face 22 extending in a transverse plane.

The central zone Z ₀ retrieves, for example, the light rays emitted by the source 12 at a solid angle of about twenty degrees centered on the optical axis AA.

The first annular zone Z ₁ has an inlet rear face 24 of generally frustoconical shape and of decreasing diameter towards the front.

The first annular zone Z ₁ retrieves, for example, the light rays emitted by the source 12 at an angle of between twenty and forty five degrees with respect to the optical axis AA.

The second annular zone Z ₂ comprises an input rear face 26 which is provided with prismatic elements 28 of revolution about the optical axis AA, these prismatic elements 28 being designed to work in total reflection.

The second annular zone Z ₂ retrieves, for example, the light rays emitted by the source 12 at an angle of between forty five and sixty degrees with respect to the optical axis AA.

The peripheral annular zone Z ₃ consists of a series of juxtaposed juxtaposed juxtaposed elements working in total reflection, each prismatic element 30 having an input facet 32, a total reflection facet 34, and an output facet 36. input facets 32 are separated from each other by recesses 38.

The peripheral annular zone Z ₃ retrieves, for example, the light rays emitted by the source 12 at an angle of between sixty and one hundred and twenty degrees with respect to the optical axis AA.

The input face 18 of the optical part 16 is made according to the teachings of FR-A-2,507,741. We will therefore refer to this document to obtain more details on the technical characteristics of the entrance face 18, including page 4, line 29, to page 8, line 14.

The optical part 16 according to the invention differs from that described in document FR-A-2 507 741 mainly by its exit face 20.

The outlet face 40 of the central zone Z ₀ and the outlet face 42 of the first annular zone Z ₁ comprise prismatic elements working in refraction.

According to the teachings of the invention, the outlet face 40 of the central zone Z ₀ and the outlet face 42 of the first annular zone Z ₁ consist of several annular sectors of distinct profiles, in axial section, which distribute the radii luminous forward in non-parallel directions.

The profile of the annular sectors is determined in a manner that the luminous flux emitted by the source 12 forms, directly at the output of optical part 16, the regulatory beam of signaling.

According to the embodiment shown here, as can be seen in FIG. 2, the outlet face 40 of the central zone Z ₀ comprises, in the center, a transverse circular facet 44 surrounded by two concentric rings which are each composed of four annular sectors 46, 48, 50, 52.

The annular sectors 46, 48, 50, 52 of the two rings are here aligned radially in pairs which delimits, in the central zone Z ₀ , four angular sectors a1, a2, a3, a4.

In FIG. 2, the angular sectors a1, a2, a3, a4 are delimited by lines in dotted line.

The central zone Z ₀ here admits a first plane of symmetry P1 which extends horizontally along the optical axis AA, and a second plane of symmetry P2 which extends vertically along the optical axis AA.

The central zone Z ₀ here comprises two angular sectors, respectively upper a1 and lower a2, which are symmetrical with respect to the first plane of symmetry and which have an angular dimension greater than the angular dimension of the two other angular sectors, respectively left a3 and right a4.

According to the embodiment shown here, the annular sectors 46, 48 of the central zone Z ₀ which are arranged in the upper angular sectors a1 and lower a2 have a profile which defines facets oriented on the opposite side to the optical axis AA, and the annular sectors 50, 52 of the central zone Z ₀ which are arranged in the left angular sectors a3 and right a4 have a profile which defines facets oriented towards the optical axis AA.

With this arrangement of the annular sectors 46, 48, 50, 52, the central zone Z ₀ distributes the light rays received on its input face 22 partly upwards and partly downwards relative to the axis. optical AA, and partly to the sides of the optical axis AA, so as to fulfill the regulatory requirements for luminous intensity in the different parts of the signaling beam.

On the exit face 42 of the first annular zone Z ₁ , the prismatic elements consist of annular sectors 54, 56, 58, 60, which are distributed here in angular sectors a1, a2, a3, a4 identical to those of the central zone Z ₀ .

The first annular zone Z ₁ thus admits the same plane of symmetry P1, P2 as the central zone Z ₀ .

It is therefore found that the circumferential ends of the annular sectors 54, 56 arranged in the upper angular sectors a1 and lower a2 are aligned radially with the circumferential ends of the corresponding annular sectors 46, 48 of the central zone Z ₀ .

In the same way, the circumferential ends of the annular sectors 58, 60 arranged in the left angular sectors a3 and right a4 are aligned radially with the circumferential ends of the annular sectors 50, 52 corresponding to the central zone Z ₀ .

According to the embodiment shown here, the annular sectors 54, 56 of the first annular zone Z ₁ which are arranged in the angular sectors upper a1 and lower a2 have an inclination, with respect to the optical axis AA, which is less than the inclination of the annular sectors 58, 60 which are arranged in the left angular sectors a3 and right a4.

Preferably, the outlet face 62 of the second annular zone A2 is provided with refractive optical elements 64, called tori, which distribute the light rays forward in non-parallel directions so as to complete the regulatory signaling beam. made by the central zone Z ₀ and the first annular zone Z ₁ .

According to the embodiment represented here, the refractive optical elements 64 of the second annular zone Z ₂ constitute a mesh of elementary facets, generally in the form of cushions, designed to each individually produce a luminous brush having specific photometric characteristics capable of completing several parts of the regulatory signaling beam.

The refractive optical elements 64 form here contiguous cushions but the cushions could be arranged from non-joined way, or following non-joined lines.

Each optical refractive element 64 can be provided to deflect the light symmetrically with respect to an axis longitudinal or be provided to deflect the light to one side determined from the optical axis A-A.

According to an alternative embodiment (not shown), the refractive optical elements 64 of the second annular zone Z ₂ consist of substantially parallel ridges.

The exit surface 62 of the second annular zone Z ₂ may comprise several zones each having striations parallel to a given direction, the determined direction being different for each zone so that each zone completes the signaling beam in a distinct region of the beam. signaling.

Other variants (not shown) of refractive optical elements 64 are conceivable such that prismatic elements forming circular crowns centered on the optical axis A-A, each ring having a defined number of angular sectors of distinct profiles.

Advantageously, the peripheral annular zone Z ₃ of the traffic light 10 according to the invention differs from the rear peripheral zone of document FR-A-2 507 741 in that the profile of the exit facets 36 of each prismatic element 30, in axial section, is provided for distributing the light rays forward in non-parallel directions so as to complete the regulatory signaling beam produced by the central zone Z ₀ , by the first annular zone Z ₁ , and by the second zone ring Z ₂ .

Advantageously, the housing 15 of the traffic light 10 is closed at the front of the exit face 20 of the optical part 16 by a protective glass 66.

The protective glass 66 isolates the exit face 20 from the optical part 16 with respect to the external environment.

Preferably, the protective glass 66 is transparent and it has no means to deflect the light rays, in such a way that the light rays coming from the exit face 20 of the optical part 16 pass through the protective glass 66 without to be deviated.

If the protective glass 66 significantly deteriorates the light beam coming from the exit face 20 of the optical part 16, then the optical characteristics of the different zones Z ₀ , Z ₁ , Z ₂ , Z ₃ of the optical part 16 must be adapted to take account of the deviation of the light rays as they pass through the protective glass 66.

Of course, streaks, or optical elements of refraction of another type, can be arranged on the face rear of the protective glass 66 so as to achieve a part of the distribution of light rays in the beam regulatory signaling.

According to an alternative embodiment, which is shown in FIG. 4, the peripheral annular zone Z ₃ may be replaced by a mask 68 made of opaque material, which forms an annular housing for the lamp 14.

The mask 68 is fixed on the rear transverse wall 17 of the housing 15 and has a circular opening 70 at the front which is closed by the optical part 16 according to the invention, that is to say by the central zone Z ₀ , the first annular zone Z ₁ and the second annular zone Z ₂ .

Advantageously, the optical part 16 is fixed on the mask 68.

One can also provide, according to an embodiment variant (not shown), fix the lamp 14 on the mask 68.

Such a signaling light 10 makes it possible to fulfill the intended function even in the absence of a peripheral annular zone Z ₃ , since its luminous efficiency is sufficient to fulfill the regulatory requirements.

Claims (8)

Lighting or signaling device (10), in particular for a motor vehicle, intended to provide a regulatory lighting or signaling beam, comprising an optical axis (AA) oriented from the rear towards the front, on which is arranged a light source (12) which is arranged to emit a forward light flux, an optical piece (16) which is arranged in front of the light source (12), which is generally centered on the optical axis (AA), and which is intended to collect the light rays emitted by the source (12) by means of its input rear face (18) and to distribute the light rays forwards, through its front exit face (20), in at least one determined direction, of the type in which the optical part (16) comprises, from its center towards its periphery, a central zone (Z ₀ ) consisting of a Fresnel lens, a first annular zone ( Z ₁ ) provided, on the side of the exit face (20), prismat elements (46, 48, 50, 52) operating in refraction, and a second annular zone (Z ₂ ) provided, on the side of the input face (18), prismatic elements (28) working in total reflection,
characterized in that the outlet face (40) of the central zone (Z ₀ ) and / or the exit face (42) of the first annular zone (Z ₁ ) consist of a plurality of annular sectors (46, 48, 50 , 52, 54, 56, 58, 60) of distinct profiles, in axial section, and in that the outlet face (62) of the second annular zone (Z ₂ ) is provided with refractive optical elements (64) , the annular sectors of distinct profiles of the exit face of the central zone and / or of the first annular zone and the refractive optical elements of the second annular zone distributing the light rays forward in non-parallel directions so as to the luminous flux emitted by the source (12) forms, at the exit of the optical part (16), the regulatory lighting or signaling beam. Device (10) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that at least a portion of the optical refraction elements (64) is constituted by a mesh of elementary facets provided for individually producing a light brush having specific photometric characteristics capable of completing at least one area of the regulatory lighting or signaling beam. Device (10) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the facets (64) have generally a cushion shape. Device (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least a portion of the refractive optical elements (64) consist of substantially parallel ridges. Device (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least a portion of the refractive optical elements (64) consist of annular sectors centered on the optical axis (AA). Device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the optical part (16) comprises a peripheral annular zone (Z ₃ ) which consists of a series of juxtaposed prismatic elements (30) working in reflection. total, each prismatic element (30) having an input facet (32), a total reflection facet (34), and an output facet (36), in that the input facets (32) are separated from each other; each other by recesses (38), and in that the profile, in axial section, of the output facets (36) is able to distribute the light rays forward in non-parallel directions so as to complete the beam lighting or signaling regulation carried out by the central zone (Z ₀ ) and by the first annular zone (Z ₁ ). Device (10) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the central zone (Z ₀ ), the first annular zone (Z ₁ ), the second annular zone (Z ₂ ), and the peripheral annular zone (Z ₃ ) are adjacent two by two by their peripheral circumferential edges. Device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the exit face (20) of the optical part (16) is isolated from the external medium by a protective glass (66) which is transparent and which is devoid of means for deflecting the light rays, so that the light rays from the exit face (20) of the optical part (16) pass through the protective glass (66) without being deflected.

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