EP1637800A1 - Signal lamp, in particular for motor vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

The light has an optics located in front of a light source (S) constituted by a 16 watt HiPer lamp. The optics have a transparent disc orthogonal to an optical axis and centered on the axis, where the disc surface has prisms (12) operative by refraction to recover light rays coming from a concave mirror (M). Two parabolic crown arcs (9) permit to obtain a parallel beam that does not converge into a lamp (2).

Description

The invention relates to a lighting and / or signaling device for a vehicle, more particularly a signaling light for a motor vehicle, of the type which comprises: a concave mirror of revolution around the optical axis admitting a focus on this axis; a light source arranged at or near the home; and an optic located in front of the light source.

A traffic light of this kind is known in particular from FR-A-2745365. Such a traffic light may serve as an indicator of a change of direction, a reversing light or any other light used on a motor vehicle.

The object of the invention is, above all, to provide a signaling light of small dimensions having a maximum light output so that a high level of performance can be obtained in a small space, with a low power light source, considering the thermal requirements and the service life.

In particular, it is desired to achieve a direction indicator of 500 Cd category (candelas) having the smallest possible dimensions with a light source constituted by a HiPer lamp 16 W (watts).

It is furthermore desirable that the proposed solution makes it possible to capture a large luminous flux regardless of the orientation, axial or transverse, of the filament of the light source.

The invention relates to a traffic light, in particular for a motor vehicle, comprising: a concave mirror around the optical axis and a focus on this axis; a light source arranged at or near the home; and an optic located in front of the light source. According to the invention the optics is provided for straightening the light rays coming from the mirror and the mirror comprises a reflector converging and enveloping with respect to the light source, the optics being formed by a disc of transparent material orthogonal to the axis optical and centered on this axis, a face of the disc comprising prisms or pavers operating by refraction to straighten the light rays.

According to the invention, the term "fire" is used for the sake of brevity, to designate any lighting and / or vehicle signaling device.

According to the invention, a "convergent" mirror is understood to mean a mirror such that, if we consider the straight line passing through the optical axis and the focus, the rays reflected by the said mirror converge towards a point on this line.

According to the invention, "straightening the light rays" is understood to mean replacing the rays in a direction close to the optical axis, or even attenuating their convergence, so that, on average, those they are deviated by approaching an orientation parallel to the optical axis.

Advantageously, the mirror has an inner surface of revolution having a convergent meridian. The meridian of the internal surface of the mirror is a curve arc or a conical arc, the conic having a focus coinciding with that of the reflector.

Preferably, the mirror comprises a reflector with an inner surface of revolution having a meridian formed by a conical arc whose geometric axis is inclined at an angle, with respect to the axis of revolution, in a direction which makes the reflector wrapping with respect to the light source, the conic having a focus coinciding with that of the reflector.

Preferably, the conical arc is a parabola bow.

The inclination of the meridian on the optical axis makes it possible to bring the reflecting surface closer to the optical axis and thus to make it more enveloping to capture a lot more luminous flux than with a conventional reflector of revolution.

The mirror generally comprises an opening in its bottom, in particular for the passage of the power supply of the light source; advantageously, the reflector is extended in the bottom zone by a second reflector formed by a ring of revolution about the optical axis. Preferably, this crown has meridian a parabola arc whose geometric axis coincides with the optical axis.

Preferably, the focus of the parabolic crown coincides with the focus of the first reflector.

The line of intersection between the first and second reflectors is a circle whose plane is orthogonal to the optical axis, this circle constituting the base of a cone of revolution having its apex on the optical axis, with a half angle at the apex equal to the angle of inclination of the geometric axis of the meridian of the first reflector, this cone passing around the balloon of the light source, without interfering with it.

The angle of inclination of the geometric axis of the meridian of the first reflector with respect to the optical axis is preferably between 10 and 30 °, in particular between 15 ° and 25 °, in particular equal to or about 20 °.

The optics located in front of the source is designed to straighten the light rays coming from the mirror and thus form a beam that meets the regulatory requirements.

Advantageously, the prisms can be distributed according to concentric circular rings, divided into several angular sectors, in particular symmetrical two by two or with respect to a vertical axial plane, or with respect to a horizontal axial plane.

Prisms are advantageously designed to straighten more and more light rays when one deviates from the optical axis.

The faces of the prisms or paving stones may be curved, in particular along two orthogonal directions to ensure a vertical and horizontal deflection.

• Fig. 1 est une coupe verticale axiale, schématique, d'un feu de signalisation selon l'invention.
• Fig. 2 est une vue de face schématique, à plus grande échelle, de l'optique du feu de Fig. 1.
• Fig. 3 illustre les courbes isolux, sur un écran de projection, produites par le miroir seul, l'optique étant retirée.
• Fig. 4 illustre les courbes isolux du feu de signalisation correspondant au seul secteur D1 de l'optique.
• Fig. 5 illustre les courbes isolux correspondant au seul secteur D5 de l'optique.
• Fig. 6 illustre les courbes isolux résultant de l'addition des secteurs D1 et D5.
• Fig. 7 illustre les courbes isolux correspondant au secteur D3 de l'optique.
• Fig. 8 illustre les courbes isolux correspondant au secteur D7.
• Fig.9 illustre les courbes isolux correspondant à l'addition des secteurs D3 et D7.
• Fig. 10 illustre les courbes isolux correspondant au secteur D2 de l'écran optique.
• Fig. 11 illustre les courbes isolux correspondant au secteur D4 de l'optique.
• Fig. 12 illustre les courbes isolux résultant de l'addition des secteurs D2 et D4.
• Fig. 13 et 14 illustrent les courbes isolux respectivement des secteurs D6 et D8 de l'optique.
• Fig. 15 illustre les courbes isolux résultant de l'addition des secteurs D2, D4, D6 et D8, et
• Fig. 16 illustre les courbes isolux du feu de signalisation selon l'invention, muni de son optique.

The invention consists, apart from the arrangements set out above, in a number of other arrangements which will be more explicitly discussed below with respect to an embodiment described with reference to the accompanying drawings, but which is in no way limiting. On these drawings:

• Fig. 1 is an axial vertical section, schematic, of a signaling light according to the invention.
• Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic front view, on a larger scale, of the fire optics of FIG. 1.
• Fig. 3 illustrates the isolux curves, on a projection screen, produced by the mirror alone, the optics being removed.
• Fig. 4 illustrates the isolux curves of the traffic light corresponding to the only sector D1 of the optics.
• Fig. 5 illustrates the isolux curves corresponding to the single sector D5 of the optics.
• Fig. 6 illustrates the isolux curves resulting from the addition of sectors D1 and D5.
• Fig. 7 illustrates the isolux curves corresponding to the sector D3 of the optics.
• Fig. 8 illustrates the isolux curves corresponding to sector D7.
• Fig.9 illustrates the isolux curves corresponding to the addition of sectors D3 and D7.
• Fig. 10 illustrates the isolux curves corresponding to the sector D2 of the optical screen.
• Fig. 11 illustrates the isolux curves corresponding to the sector D4 of the optics.
• Fig. 12 illustrates the isolux curves resulting from the addition of sectors D2 and D4.
• Fig. 13 and 14 illustrate the isolux curves respectively of the sectors D6 and D8 of the optics.
• Fig. 15 illustrates the isolux curves resulting from the addition of sectors D2, D4, D6 and D8, and
• Fig. 16 illustrates the isolux curves of the signaling light according to the invention, provided with its optics.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, we can see a traffic light 1, for a motor vehicle, which comprises a concave mirror M paraboloid type. The mirror M is of revolution around the optical axis Y-Y of the fire, and admits a focus F located on this optical axis.

A light source S is disposed at the focus F or in its vicinity. The light source S is advantageously constituted by a HiPer lamp 16W having a small balloon 4 or bulb of transparent material, in particular glass, substantially spherical, with a maximum diameter of about 18 mm. Such a lamp has an axial filament which passes through the focus F or in its vicinity. However, it would be possible to use a lamp with transverse filament, for example a white H21 lamp, in which case it would be necessary to provide a colored screen. When a colored lamp is used, the optics 5 may be made of transparent material.

The light source may also be constituted by one or more light-emitting diodes or LEDs which illuminate laterally.

An optic 5 is located in front of the light source, according to the direction of propagation of the light rays.

The mirror M comprises a first reflector R1 having an internal reflective surface of revolution about the optical axis Y-Y. According to the invention, the meridian of the reflecting surface of R1 is formed by a parabola arc 6a whose geometric axis Xa is inclined at an angle Ba with respect to the optical axis YY (axis of revolution) in one direction which makes the reflector R1 enveloping with respect to the light source S.

The intersection of the reflecting surface of the reflector R1 by the axial vertical plane comprises another parabolic arc 6b symmetrical with the first ratio to the axis YY. The geometric axis Xb of the arc 6b is inclined by an angle Bb = Ba on the optical axis YY in a direction opposite to that of the arc 6a. It should be noted that the two arcs 6a, 6b do not belong to the same parabola.

Preferably, the angle Ba is between 15 ° and 25 °, and is in particular equal to 20 °.

The inclination of the parabola arches 6a, 6b according to the angles Ba, Bb makes it possible to capture as much light flux as a paraboloid of conventional revolution 7 shown in broken lines and whose opening diameter would be greater than that of the reflector R1. Indeed, in Fig. 1, the extreme light ray i5 recovered by the reflector R1, could be by the conventional parabolic system 7 only for a larger diameter corresponding to the intersection q of the extension of i5 with the parabola 7.

According to another formulation, the inclination of the arches 6a, 6b makes it possible to capture much more luminous flux than with a conventional dish of revolution which would have the same maximum diameter.

The geometric focus of the parabola arches such as 6a, 6b coincides with the focus F of the traffic light.

A light ray i1 from the focus F and pointing towards the arc 6a is reflected along the radius k1 parallel to the geometric axis Xa of the arc 6a.

A light ray i2 coming from F and falling on the arc 6b is reflected along the radius k2 parallel to the geometric axis Xb of the arc 6b.

It is substantially the same for the points of the light source located in the vicinity of the focus F.

The light beam from the reflector R1 will therefore be essentially conical with its apex located on the optical axis Y-Y.

The mirror M has, in its bottom, an opening 8 for the passage of the base of the source S and its support. In this bottom zone, the mirror M comprises a second reflector R2 formed by a parabolic crown of revolution about the optical axis Y-Y. This crown admits for meridian an arc of parabola 9 whose geometric axis coincides with the optical axis YY and whose focus coincides with F. The two arcs 9 of the parabolic crown R2 located in the vertical plane of intersection of Fig. 1 belong to the same parable, which was not the case for the arches 6a, 6b.

Two light rays i3, i4 from the focus F and falling on the ends of an arc 9 are reflected along the rays k3, k4 parallel to the optical axis Y-Y.

The connecting line 10 between the first reflector R1 and the second reflector R2 is a circle whose plane is orthogonal to the optical axis YY. The diameter of this circle 10 is chosen so that the light rays i2 from the focus F and reflected by the zone of the meridians 6a, 6b close to the intersection line 10 are not intercepted by the balloon 4. This avoids a loss of luminous flux. The circle 10 constitutes the base of a cone of revolution having its vertex C on the optical axis, with a half angle α at the vertex equal to the angle of inclination Bb = Ba of the geometric axis of the meridian 6a of the first reflector; this cone passes around the balloon 4 of the lamp 2 without interfering with it. The surface of the cone is external or tangent to the balloon 4.

The smallest diameter of the parabolic crown 9, corresponding to the edge of the opening 8, is chosen such that a radius such as k4 reflected by the radially inner edge of the ring 9 remains spaced from the balloon 4 to avoid being intercepted.

The parabolic crown of revolution 9 makes it possible to obtain a parallel beam that does not converge in the lamp 2, which avoids a loss of luminous flux.

The beam obtained using the reflectors R1 and R2 and the source S produces a network of isolux curves, such as that illustrated in FIG. 3, on a projection screen located at a determined distance from the light and orthogonal to the optical axis Y-Y. The graduations of the screen correspond to the angle formed between the optical axis, which cuts the screen in the center, and a straight line passing through the focus and cutting the screen at the level of the graduation considered. These graduations range from -30 ° to + 30 ° both in the horizontal transverse direction and in the vertical direction.

The isolux obtained with the source S and the mirror M are formed substantially by circles centered on the optical axis Y-Y. The strongest illumination is obtained near this axis.

Such a distribution of the luminous flux does not satisfy the regulatory requirements according to which the isolux must substantially form a horizontally spread cross as illustrated in FIG. 16.

The optics 5 arranged in front of the source S is designed to straighten the light rays and to form a beam according to the legislation according to FIG. 16.

The optic 5 is formed by a disk 11 (see Fig. 2) of transparent material, in particular of plastic or glass, orthogonal to the optical axis and centered on this axis.

The front face of the disc 11 comprises prisms 12 or, more generally, blocks or blocks for straightening the light rays in order to obtain the grating of FIG. 16.

Each prism 12 is oriented to give the desired photometry.

By way of non-limiting example, the front face of the disc 11 is divided into eleven concentric rings E1-E11 of the same radial width. The width of the crowns will depend on the style desired for the traffic light. The pitch may be about 2.5 mm. The extra thickness created by the prisms or blocks 12 may be of the order of 1 mm.

The disc 11 is further divided into eight angular sectors D1, D2, ... D8 of 45 ° each. Each sector is divided radially into four elementary zones of the same angular extent, which has been shown only for sector D4, for the sake of clarity of the drawing, but all other sectors are divided as D4. A prism 12 corresponds to the intersection of an elementary zone and a crown.

The sector D5 is symmetrical sector D1 relative to the vertical plane passing through the optical axis.

The sectors D3 and D7 are symmetrical to one another with respect to the horizontal plane passing through the optical axis.

Sector D2 is between sectors D1 and D3 while sector D6 is between sectors D5 and D7.

Sectors D4 and D8 are respectively between sectors D3, D5 and D1, D7.

The prisms 12 may be straight prisms whose base (hypotenuse of the right-angled triangle section) is turned outward and inclined on the optical axis. The inclination of the base is variable, depending on the distance to the optical axis, to modulate the recovery of the reflected rays according to the requirements.

In an annular zone corresponding to the ring 9 and the parallel beam of beams k3, k4 the blocks are provided to take account of this parallel beam.

The faces of the prisms or blocks 12 may be bulged in particular in two orthogonal directions to ensure a vertical and horizontal deflection.

It is possible to provide a ridged glass in front of the optics 5. In this case, this striated crystal is taken into account for the production of the optics 5.

The sector D1 of the optics 5, combined with the source S and the mirror M, gives the network of isolux curves illustrated in FIG. 4. The maximum illumination area, corresponding to the inner curve of the grating, is located in the horizontal direction substantially between -5 ° and -12 ° and in the vertical direction between -3 ° and + 3 °.

Sector D5 gives a configuration, illustrated in FIG. 5, substantially symmetrical with the network of D1 relative to the vertical plane passing through the optical axis, with a maximum illumination zone lying horizontally substantially between + 5 ° and + 12 ° and vertically between -3 ° and + 3 °.

The addition of sectors D1 and D5 gives the network of isolux illustrated in FIG. 6 which extends essentially horizontally.

Sector D3 gives the network of isolux illustrated in FIG. 7 with a zone of maximum illumination (inner curve) lying horizontally substantially between -6 ° and + 6 ° and vertically between -12 ° and + 5 °.

Sector D7 gives the isolux network shown in FIG. 8 which is substantially symmetrical network sector D3 relative to the horizontal plane passing through the optical axis. The addition of the networks of sectors D3 and D7, illustrated in FIG. 9, gives an illumination oriented mainly in the vertical direction.

Sector D2 gives an isolux network illustrated in FIG. 10. The grating has a mean direction inclined 45 ° from top to bottom, from right to left, and the maximum illumination area is, in the horizontal direction, substantially between -8 ° and + 4 ° and, in the vertical direction between -8 ° and + 4 °.

Sector D4 gives an isolux network illustrated in FIG. 11 practically symmetrical with the mains network D2 (Fig. 10) with respect to the vertical plane passing through the optical axis.

The combination of the isolux curves produced by the sectors D2 (FIG. 10) and D4 (FIG. 11) is illustrated in FIG. 12. The zone of maximum illumination is comprised horizontally substantially between -5 ° and + 5 ° and vertically substantially between -7 ° and + 3 °. The isolux curves surround this main zone with two branches extending downward on either side of the vertical plane substantially at a 45 ° inclination.

The network of isolux curves from sector D6 is illustrated in FIG. 13 and has a mean direction inclined substantially at 45 ° from bottom to top and from left to right.

The network of isolux curves of sector D8 is substantially symmetrical with that of sector D6 with respect to the vertical plane passing through the optical axis as illustrated in FIG. 14.

The network of isolux curves resulting from the union of sectors D2 (FIG. 11), D4 (FIG. 12), D6 (FIG. 13) and D8 (FIG. 14) is illustrated in FIG. 15 and has a substantially X-shaped mean line centered on the optical axis, the maximum illumination being located in the central area.

Fig. 16 illustrates the network of isolux curves obtained with the signaling light according to the invention equipped with the optics 5. The isolux curves are spread horizontally and tightened vertically, so as to satisfy the regulatory requirements.

The invention applies to a traffic light in general, including a traffic light.

With a reflector R1 with a maximum diameter of 63 mm, a luminous flux equivalent to that of a conventional parabolic projector with a maximum diameter of 93 mm is recovered.

If the reflector R1 is extended, the optical 5 instead of being located in a plane can be concave forward to avoid two incidents on the same block or optical block.

In a fire according to the invention, if the optics 5 does not occupy exactly the expected position, it does not result in a major drawback: only the photometry and the network of isolux curves are slightly rotated. Keying is provided for the positioning of the optics 5, even if a mounting defect of this optics is not very sensitive. This would not be the case for mounting a lens in front of an ellipsoid type reflector, very sensitive to a mounting defect of the convergent lens located in front of the reflector.

The description was made in the case where the conical arc constituting the meridian 6a, 6b of the reflector R1 is a parabola arc.

One could, however, provide another type of conic, for example an elliptical arc with a focus at point F and the other focus would be located in front of the fire.

Claims (14)

Traffic light, in particular for a motor vehicle, comprising: a concave mirror (M) around the optical axis (YY) and a focus (F) on this axis; a light source (S) disposed at or near the focus; and an optic (5) located in front of the light source, characterized in that the optic (5) is provided for straightening the light rays from the mirror (M), and in that the mirror (M) comprises a reflector (R1) converging and enveloping with respect to the light source, the optic (5) being formed by a disk (11) of transparent material orthogonal to the optical axis and centered on this axis, a face of the disk comprising prisms ( 12) or pavers operating by refraction to straighten the light rays. Signaling light according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the mirror (M) has an inner surface of revolution having a meridian (6a) convergent. Signaling light according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the meridian (6a) of the inner surface of the mirror (M) is a curve arc or a conical arc, the cone having a focus coinciding with that (F) of the reflector . Signaling light according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the meridian (6a) is formed by a conical arc whose geometric axis (Xa) is inclined at an angle (Ba) with respect to the axis of revolution ( YY) Signaling light according to one of claims 3 or 4, characterized in that the conical arc is a parabolic arc (6a). Signaling light according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mirror (M) has an opening (8) in its bottom and the reflector (R1) is extended in the bottom area by a second reflector (R2 ) formed by a ring of revolution around the optical axis. Signaling light according to the preceding claim characterized in that the crown has as meridian a parabola arc (9) whose geometric axis coincides with the optical axis (YY). Signaling light according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the focus of the parabolic crown (9) coincides with the focus of the first reflector (R1). Signaling light according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the line of intersection between the first (R1) and the second reflector (R2) is a circle (10) whose plane is orthogonal to the optical axis (YY ), this circle forming the base of a cone of revolution having its vertex (C) on the optical axis, with a half angle at the vertex (α) equal to the angle of inclination (Ba) of the geometric axis (Xa) of the meridian of the first reflector, this cone passing around the balloon (4) of the light source, without interfering with it. Signaling light according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the angle of inclination (Ba) of the geometric axis (Xa) of the meridian of the first reflector with respect to the optical axis (YY) is included between 10 ° and 30 °, in particular between 15 ° and 25 °, in particular equal to 20 °. Signaling light according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the prisms (12) or blocks are distributed in concentric circular rings (E1, ... E11), divided into several angular sectors (D1, ... D8). Signaling light according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the angular sectors (D1, ... D8) are symmetrical in pairs either with respect to a vertical axial plane or with respect to a horizontal axial plane. Signaling light according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the prisms (12) or blocks are provided to straighten more and more light rays when one deviates from the optical axis. Signaling light according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the faces of the prisms (12) or paved are curved, in particular in two orthogonal directions to ensure a vertical and horizontal deflection.

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