EP3531010B1 - Lighting device for a motor vehicle, and lighting and/or signalling unit comprising such a device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates in particular to a lighting device for a motor vehicle, and to a lighting and / or signaling unit provided with such a device.

A preferred application relates to the automotive industry, for the equipment of vehicles, in particular for the production of devices capable of emitting light beams, also called lighting and / or signaling functions, generally complying with regulations. The invention can allow the production of a light beam at the front of the vehicle.

• un faisceau de croisement, dirigé vers le bas, encore parfois appelé faisceau de code et utilisé en cas de présence d'autres véhicules sur la chaussée ;
• un faisceau de route dépourvu de coupure, et caractérisé par un éclairement maximal dans l'axe du véhicule ;
• un faisceau d'éclairage pour temps de brouillard, caractérisé par une coupure plate et une grande largeur d'éclairement ;
• un faisceau de signalisation pour la circulation en ville, encore appelé lampe de ville.

Motor vehicle signaling and / or lighting fires are luminous devices which include one or more light sources and a lens which closes the fire. In a simplified manner, the light source emits light rays to form a light beam which is directed towards the window in order to produce an illuminating surface which transmits the light outside the vehicle. These functions must comply with regulations in terms of light intensity and angles of visibility in particular. Known lighting and signaling modules have hitherto been designed to emit, for example:

• a passing beam, directed downwards, also sometimes called a code beam and used when there are other vehicles on the road;
• a main beam without cut-off, and characterized by maximum illumination in the axis of the vehicle;
• a fog light beam, characterized by a flat cut-off and a large illumination width;
• a signal beam for city traffic, also called a city lamp.

It is shown in the figure 1 , a motor vehicle 1 moving on a traffic lane 2 adjacent to another lane 3.

In low beam mode, as shown in figure 1 , a light beam emitted by front headlamps has a first lighting zone 4 extending to the ground of track 2 on which the vehicle 1 is traveling, and a second lighting zone 5 extending to the ground of track 3 .

It is known that the second lighting zone 5 has a cut-off 6 so that the area of the second lighting zone 5 is smaller than the area of the first zone. lighting 4. Cut-off 6 makes it possible not to dazzle a driver of a vehicle traveling on track 3.

We know from the document EP-A1-2306074 , a device for emitting a light beam having a plurality of light-emitting diodes organized in the form of a matrix with rows and columns of diodes, each diode being associated with a complex optical element making it possible to project a part unit of the global beam. The individual and selective control of the diodes makes it possible to shape a resulting beam with great freedom of shape definition. For example, to produce a low beam, only the rows of the matrix emitting below the horizon are activated, unlike the high beams; further, to form a cut corresponding to the shape of the illustration of the figure 1 , the highest row activated in the low beam mode is not fully lit, so as to produce illumination, in this row, only on a predetermined lateral zone in front of the vehicle. The solution proposed by EP-A1-2306074 could appear satisfactory in terms of beam shape flexibility. However, it turns out that this is not the case in particular when a cutoff has to be precisely defined.

EP 2 306 075 A2 shows a light device producing unit beams making it possible to generate different light functions.

The present invention aims to remedy at least in part the drawbacks of current techniques.

• un premier module lumineux comprenant une rangée de premières unités d'illumination chacune configurée pour produire un faisceau unitaire à pente formé par un premier faisceau unitaire selon une forme de premier faisceau unitaire présentant une portion supérieure dotée d'un premier bord latéral comprenant une pente s'étendant jusqu'à un sommet de la portion supérieure du premier faisceau unitaire de sorte qu'une dimension en largeur de la portion supérieure tende à décroitre vers le sommet ;
• un deuxième module lumineux comprenant une rangée de deuxièmes unités d'illumination chacune configurée pour produire un deuxième faisceau unitaire selon une forme de deuxième faisceau unitaire présentant une portion supérieure rectangulaire.

The present invention relates, according to one aspect, to a light device for a motor vehicle, comprising a plurality of light sources and an optical system configured to produce an output beam from light rays coming from at least a part of the plurality of sources. bright, and comprising:

• a first light module comprising a row of first illumination units each configured to produce a sloping unit beam formed by a first unit beam in a first unit beam shape having an upper portion having a first side edge including a slope s extending to a top of the top portion of the first unit bundle so that a width dimension of the top portion tends to decrease towards the top;
• a second light module comprising a row of second illumination units each configured to produce a second unit beam in a second unit beam shape having a rectangular upper portion.

Characterized in that each of the first unit beams is associated with one of the second unit beams such that an upper corner of the upper portion of the second unit beam of said one of the second unit beams coincides with the apex of the upper portion of the associated first unit beam and such that the upper portion of the second unit beam extends laterally from said upper corner opposite the slope of the first associated unit beam.

Thus, the sloping shape gives the resulting projection an inclined cutoff which corresponds to a more progressive shape than that produced by current pixel arrays for which the cuts are vertical. At the same time, the remainder of the upper part of the resulting beam extends laterally from the slope evenly thanks to the rectangular shape, which may be square, of at least a second beam from the first beam. And the device always benefits from the discretization allowed by the LED matrices, to adapt the projection to the desired lighting and / or signaling functions.

It is also advantageously possible to produce a light beam in low beam mode which follows the geometry of the road without having to resort to a mechanical pivoting system while benefiting from an inclined edge cut-off.

According to another aspect, the present invention also relates to a motor vehicle lighting and / or signaling unit equipped with at least one lighting device. This unit may include at least one additional device configured to produce a low beam base beam. For example, the additional device can make it possible to provide uniform lighting essentially below the horizon line. The device of the invention can at the very least allow the cut-off zone of a low beam to be defined.

Another aspect of the invention is a method of controlling a lighting device.

The present invention also relates to a vehicle equipped with at least one device and / or one unit according to the present invention.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the device is such that the upper portion of the shape of the first unit beam is a trapezoid defined by the first lateral edge, a second lateral edge opposite the first lateral edge and comprising a slope, a first base located at the level of the top and a second base, of greater width than the first base and opposite to the first base.

This provides a shape with two slopes ensuring the possibility of a beam cut off to the right or to the left.

Advantageously, the shape of the first unit beam comprises a rectangular lower portion in the continuity of the second base.

It is thus possible in particular to spread the first unit beam downwards, for example just below the horizon line, preferably so as to effect a smooth connection with another beam, for example a base part of a low beam. projected in a manner spread mostly or entirely below the horizon line.

According to one embodiment, the trapezoid is isosceles.

Optionally, the width of the first base is equal to that of the upper portion of the second unit beam.

In this way, the second unit beam is part of the strict continuity of the first base, between the two slopes; the area of overlap of the two unit beams is then very small and does not affect the slopes.

Preferably, the height of the upper portion of the first beam is equal to the height of the upper portion of the second unit beam.

The shape adaptation between the two unit beams is increased accordingly.

Further, the greater width of the upper portion of the first unit beam is twice as large as the greater width of the shape of the second unit beam.

The pitch of the pixels corresponding to the row of second unit beams is thus half, offering greater resolution of this defining part of the resulting high beam. The number of light sources assigned to the second unit beams is therefore greater than that of the light sources assigned to the first unit beams, and preferably of the order of two times greater.

In addition, it preferably comprises for each first illumination unit a first light source belonging to the plurality of light sources, and a first optical element associated with said first light source and configured to receive light from said associated first light source. and to transmit one of the first unit beams.

Optionally, each second illumination unit comprises a second light source belonging to the plurality of light sources, and a second optical element, associated with said second light source and configured to receive light from said second associated light source and to transmit a light. second unit beams.

Advantageously, the first light module is configured to produce, for each first unit beam, a first additional unit beam.

Preferably, the first additional unit beams are each located in the continuity and above a first unit beam.

According to a non-limiting embodiment, the first light module comprises at least one additional row of first additional light sources belonging to the plurality of light sources, and at least one additional row of first additional optical elements each associated with a different one. , first additional light sources, each first additional light source and the associated first additional optical element being configured to produce an additional first unit beam.

Advantageously, the association of the additional row of first additional light sources and of the additional row of first additional optical elements is configured to produce an output beam projection mainly or even entirely above the horizon line, to achieve or participate in making part of a driving beam.

Preferably, the second light module comprises at least one additional row of second additional light sources belonging to the plurality of light sources, and at least one additional row of second additional optical elements each associated with a different one of the second additional light sources. , each second additional light source and the associated second additional optical element being configured to produce an additional second unit beam.

Advantageously, the association of the additional row of second additional light sources and of the additional row of second additional optical elements is configured to produce an output beam projection mainly to see in full above the horizon line, to achieve or participate in making part of a driving beam.

According to a non-limiting example, the second additional unit beams are each located in the continuity and above a second unit beam.

Further, a third light module includes a row of third light sources belonging to the plurality of light sources, and third optical elements, individually associated with a different one of the third light sources and configured to receive light from said third source. associated and to each transmit a sloping unit beam formed by a third unit beam, in a shape of third unit beam determined by a shape of third optical elements, the third unit beam shape having an upper portion having a first side edge including a slope extending to a top of the third unit beam shape so that a width dimension of the portion upper tends to decrease towards the top; and wherein each of the third unit beams is associated with one of the second unit beams such that an upper corner of the upper portion of the second unit beam of said one of the second optical elements coincides with the top of the third unit beam of the said one of the second optical elements. associated third optical element and such that the upper portion extends laterally opposite the slope of the third unit beam of the associated third optical element; and wherein the first unit beam and the third unit beam associated with the same second unit beam are laterally offset.

Thanks to the third module, there is an additional element for generating sloping unit beams. Providing these additional slopes increases the edge definition resolution of the resulting beam envelope; when it comes to cutting a dipped beam, there is then a greater number of potential cutting edges depending on the width of the total possible beam.

Preferably, the shape of the first unit beam and the shape of the third unit beam are identical.

Advantageously, the light modules each comprise an optical field element.

According to one example, an optical projection element is common to the light modules.

Preferably, control means comprise a low beam control configuration in which the control means are configured to turn on only a single light source assigned to a unit slope beam and to turn on a series of at least a light source assigned to a second unit beam so as to form a beam portion resulting in the lateral continuity of said unit sloping beam.

In this way, the row of first sources and possibly the row of third sources only serves to generate one unit beam at a time, while the row of second sources serves to generate the rest of the width of the beam to be formed ( in particular the dipped beam beam area comprising the cut-off). By limiting the superposition of the illuminations from the sloped unit beams and those from the third unit beams, we limit, or even eliminate, the phenomena of localized highlighting which could occur if more beams in sloping shape were activated simultaneously. The dipped beam portion generated by the sloping unit beam and by the second unit beams may form the dipped beam portion located around the horizon line (the upper part of the dipped beam); the rest of the dipped beam may be formed by an additional beam, such as a so-called “flat” beam, that is to say straight and homogeneous, essentially below the horizon line.

Optionally, one of the light modules, and particularly advantageously the second light module, comprises a row of marking light sources, each source of which is associated with an optical marking element. This assembly allows the generation of a plurality of unit marking beams that can be used to have a discrete projection element below the horizon line, either as a base portion of a low beam, or as a as over-illumination of the base portion of a dipped beam headlight generated elsewhere. For example, a “marking line” function making it possible to over-illuminate an area in front of the vehicle can be achieved in this way. In this configuration, it is possible to control the lighting of only a series of at least one marking light source to produce a highlighted strip in the lower part of the low beam.

Optionally, the sources of the plurality of sources each comprise at least one light emitting diode.

Advantageously, at least one of the row of first optical elements, the row of second optical elements, the row of third optical elements and any rows of additional optical elements are made from a single piece of a material, in particular an optical material such as PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate), the optical elements of a row considered being juxtaposed edge to edge in the width direction of the beam to be produced.

The invention also relates to a motor vehicle lighting and / or signaling unit equipped with at least one device as described above.

• la figure 1 présente en vue de dessus une portion de voie de circulation et la projection d'un feu de croisement à l'avant d'un véhicule automobile ;
• la figure 2 est une vue en perspective de composants de l'invention dans un mode de réalisation ;
• la figure 3 donne une vue de dessus d'un dispositif selon la figure 2 ;
• la figure 4 présente de face un partie de dispositif mettant en évidence des éléments optiques sous forme de lentilles ;
• la figure 4A donne un exemple agrandi de forme de lentilles ;
• la figure 5 illustre les sources lumineuses sous forme de LEDs associées aux éléments optiques de la figure 4 ;
• la figure 6 schématise en 3 lignes les faisceaux unitaires que l'on peut obtenir à partir, successivement, d'un premier module, d'un troisième module et d'un deuxième module, dans un mode de réalisation, le troisième module produisant aussi dans ce cas un faisceau à fonction de ligne de marquage;
• la figure 6A donne une vue plus précise d'un faisceau unitaire à pente pouvant former un premier faisceau unitaire ou un troisième faisceau unitaire ;
• la figure 6B fournit un exemple de forme de deuxième faisceau unitaire ;
• la figure 7 montre, sur la base des arrangements de faisceaux unitaires possibles de la figure 6, un exemple de portion à coupure d'un faisceau de feu de croisement obtenu par allumage sélectif de certaines sources lumineuses des modules ;
• la figure 8 donne, en projection dans un plan vertical à l'avant du véhicule, un exemple d'enveloppe de faisceau résultant du cas de la figure 7 ;
• la figure 9 est une projection dans un plan vertical à l'avant du véhicule d'un faisceau de feu de croisement combinant le faisceau à coupure montré en figure 8 et un faisceau de feu de croisement complémentaire, formant une base du faisceau global ;
• la figure 10 est une illustration de faisceaux unitaires complémentaires que peuvent présenter les modules, outre les premiers, deuxièmes et troisièmes faisceaux unitaires ;
• la figure 11 représente une possibilité de modulation de l'éclairement en pleins phares, grâce à la commande sélective d'allumage de certaines sources lumineuses.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood with the aid of the exemplary description and the drawings, among which:

• the figure 1 shows a top view of a portion of the traffic lane and the projection of a low beam at the front of a motor vehicle;
• the figure 2 is a perspective view of components of the invention in one embodiment;
• the figure 3 gives a top view of a device according to the figure 2 ;
• the figure 4 has a front part of a device showing optical elements in the form of lenses;
• the figure 4A gives an enlarged example of lens shape;
• the figure 5 illustrates the light sources in the form of LEDs associated with the optical elements of the figure 4 ;
• the figure 6 schematizes in 3 lines the unit beams that can be obtained from, successively, a first module, a third module and a second module, in one embodiment, the third module also producing in this case a beam with the function of a marking line;
• the figure 6A gives a more precise view of a sloping unit beam which can form a first unit beam or a third unit beam;
• the figure 6B provides an example of a second unit beam shape;
• the figure 7 shows, based on the possible unit beam arrangements of the figure 6 , an example of a cut-off portion of a dipped-beam headlamp obtained by selective switching on of certain light sources of the modules;
• the figure 8 gives, in projection in a vertical plane at the front of the vehicle, an example of a beam envelope resulting from the case of the figure 7 ;
• the figure 9 is a projection in a vertical plane at the front of the vehicle of a dipped-beam beam combining the cut-off beam shown in figure 8 and a complementary low beam beam, forming a base of the overall beam;
• the figure 10 is an illustration of complementary unit beams that the modules may have, in addition to the first, second and third unit beams;
• the figure 11 represents a possibility of modulating the illumination in full headlights, thanks to the selective ignition control of certain light sources.

Unless specifically indicated to the contrary, technical characteristics described in detail for a given embodiment can be combined with technical characteristics described in the context of other embodiments described by way of example and not by way of limitation.

In the characteristics set out below, the terms relating to verticality, horizontality and transversality, or their equivalents, are understood in relation to the position in which the lighting module is intended to be mounted in a vehicle. The terms “vertical” and “horizontal” are used in the present description to denote directions, following an orientation perpendicular to the plane of the horizon for the term “vertical”, and following an orientation parallel to the plane of the horizon for the term. term "horizontal". They are to be considered in the operating conditions of the device in a vehicle. The term "width" means a dimension oriented in the horizontal direction and the term "height" means a dimension oriented vertically. The word "lateral" means a position of an element relative to another according to the dimension in width. The use of these different words does not mean that slight variations around the vertical and horizontal directions are excluded from the invention. For example, an inclination relative to these directions of the order of + or - 10 ° is here considered as a minor variation around the two preferred directions.

In the context of the invention, the term “passing beam” is understood to mean a beam used in the presence of vehicles passed and / or being followed and / or other elements (individuals, obstacles, etc.) on the roadway or in the vicinity. . This beam has an average downward direction. It can optionally be characterized by an absence of light above a plane inclined 1% down on the side of the traffic in the other direction, and another plane inclined 15 degrees from the previous one of the side of the traffic in the same direction, these two planes defining a cut-off in accordance with European regulations. The purpose of this top descending cut-off is to avoid dazzling other users present in the road scene extending in front of the vehicle or on the sides of the road. The dipped beam, formerly coming from a simple headlamp, has undergone changes, the dipped beam function being able to be coupled with other lighting characteristics which are still considered as low beam functions within the meaning of the present invention. .

• faisceau AFS (abréviation pour « Advanced Frontlighting System » en anglais), qui propose notamment d'autres types de faisceaux. Il s'agit notamment de la fonction dite BL (Bending Light en anglais pour éclairage de virage), qui peut se décomposer en une fonction dite DBL (Dynamic Bending Light en anglais pour éclairage mobile de virage) et une fonction dite FBL (Fixed Bending Light en anglais pour éclairage fixe de virage) ; ces fonctions permettant d'adapter le feu de croisement au cours de la conduite du véhicule permettent notamment de modifier la position de la coupure suivant une direction horizontale en fonction des conditions de route et notamment des virages sur la chaussée. Suivant une possibilité, on utilise une détection de l'angle de rotation du volant pour modifier la position latérale de la coupure ; on peut ainsi asservir la direction du faisceau émis par les projecteurs avant du véhicule automobile à un angle de rotation du volant, ce qui assure que la direction du faisceau suive la géométrie de la voie sur laquelle circule le véhicule, et en particulier la trajectoire du véhicule dans un virage.
• faisceau dit « Town Light » en anglais, pour éclairage de ville. Cette fonction assure l'élargissement d'un faisceau de type feu de croisement tout en diminuant légèrement sa portée ;
• faisceau dit « Motorway Light » en anglais, pour éclairage d'autoroute, réalise quant à elle la fonction autoroute. Cette fonction assure une augmentation de la portée d'un feu de croisement en concentrant le flux lumineux du feu de croisement au niveau de l'axe optique du dispositif projecteur considéré ;
• faisceau dit « Overhead Light » en anglais, pour feu de portique. Cette fonction assure une modification d'un faisceau de feu de croisement typique de telle sorte que des portiques de signalisation situés au-dessus de la route soient éclairés de façon satisfaisante au moyen des feux de croisement ;
• faisceau dit AWL (Adverse Weather Light en anglais, pour feu de mauvais temps).

This includes in particular the following functions:

• AFS beam (abbreviation for "Advanced Frontlighting System" in English), which offers in particular other types of beams. These include the so-called BL (Bending Light) function, which can be broken down into a so-called DBL (Dynamic Bending Light) function and a so-called FBL (Fixed Bending) function. Light in English for fixed bend lighting); these functions making it possible to adapt the dipped beam headlight while the vehicle is being driven make it possible in particular to modify the position of the cut-off in a horizontal direction according to road conditions and in particular turns on the roadway. According to one possibility, a detection of the angle of rotation of the steering wheel is used to modify the lateral position of the cut-off; it is thus possible to control the direction of the beam emitted by the front headlights of the motor vehicle to an angle of rotation of the steering wheel, which ensures that the direction of the beam follows the geometry of the track on which the vehicle is traveling, and in particular the trajectory of the vehicle in a bend.
• beam called "Town Light" in English, for city lighting. This function ensures the widening of a low beam type beam while slightly reducing its range;
• The so-called “Motorway Light” beam in English, for highway lighting, performs the highway function. This function ensures an increase in the range of a low beam by concentrating the luminous flux of the low beam at the level of the optical axis of the headlight device in question;
• beam said "Overhead Light" in English, for gantry light. This function provides for a modification of a typical dipped-beam beam such that signal gates above the road are adequately illuminated by means of the dipped-beam headlamps;
• beam says AWL (Adverse Weather Light in English, for bad weather light).

On the contrary, a basic main beam has the function of illuminating the scene facing the vehicle over a large area, but also over a substantial distance, typically around 200 meters. This light beam, due to its lighting function, is mainly located above the horizon line. It may have a slightly ascending optical axis of illumination, for example.

The device can also be used to train other lighting functions via or beyond those described above.

In a manner known per se, light sources are used. In general, the present invention can use light sources of the light-emitting diode type also commonly called LEDs. It may possibly be organic LED (s). In particular, these LEDs can be provided with at least one chip using semiconductor technology and capable of emitting light of advantageously adjustable intensity according to the lighting and / or signaling function to be performed. Furthermore, the term light source is understood here to mean an assembly of at least one elementary source such as an LED capable of producing a flux leading to the generation of at least one light beam at the output of the module of the invention. In an advantageous embodiment, the output face of the source is of rectangular section, which is typical for LED chips.

The invention comprises a plurality of modules each making it possible to transmit at least one type of unit beams. They are preferably juxtaposed, that is to say arranged in a direction of horizontal alignment. The term module does not mean that the modules are necessarily totally distinct organs; they are understood simply as organs of formation of distinct beams; they can share common parts, such as a support, projection optics or electronic elements, control for example.

A unit beam here means an elementary beam which can be generated alone or in association with other unit beams of the same type (that is to say advantageously of the same shape) and possibly with one or more unit beams of at least one other type. In one case of the invention, these unit beams which can be activated at will make it possible to produce, at the desired location at the front of the vehicle, a cut-off beam by association of a unit beam with a slope (in the form of a sloping cut) and at least one rectangular unit beam; the desired location can be modified, in particular according to the curves of the traffic lane, by modifying the unit beams activated during movement of the vehicle. The sloped unit beam is a beam of which at least a side edge portion is inclined, preferably in a straight line, relative to the horizon line, this inclination being such that the sloped beam forms at this location an acute angle with the horizon line. An example of the invention will be given later in which the unitary sloping beams are produced by two modules, the first and the third modules, but a single module may be sufficient.

The figure 2 gives an example of a device 7 according to the invention with three modules. The first module 10 is intended, in particular in the present case, to produce first unit beams. It comprises a support on which are attached lenses 12 forming optical elements for light sources. The lenses 12 are organized in rows, as well as the corresponding sources, as detailed below. We also note in figure 2 an optical field element 13 which may be a biconvex lens. The figure 2 also gives a representation of components which may be similar for a second module 20: support 21, lenses 22 and field optical element 23. Likewise for the third module 30: support 31, lenses 32 and field optical element 33. Preferably , the three modules 10, 20, 30 share the same optical element (typically a lens) for projection.

The modules in question are also visible from above in figure 3 . The light produced by a light source of a module is first shaped by a lens of the module, then by the field lens and is finally projected by the element 8.

The light sources are therefore each associated with an optical element (a lens 12, 22, 32) so as to form in combination an illumination unit producing a unit beam of a shape defined by the optical element.

The organization of lenses and light sources emerges from figures 4, 4a and 5 especially. In figure 4 , the front face of the lenses 12, 22, 32 is shown. These lenses are located downstream of light sources (masked in figure 4 ) but carried by the electronic cards 14, 24, 34 which are visible. For the first module 10, two rows of lenses 12 are visible, in superposition. Similar rows are formed for the third module. In the example, the second module 20 comprises three rows of superimposed lenses 32.

Advantageously, each optical element comprises or is a lens, and, preferably, a microlens. The microlens preferably has dimensions substantially of the same order of magnitude as those of an LED. Preferably, the lens is a spherical lens, a focal point of which is disposed behind the LED array. This advantageously makes it possible to generate an enlarged virtual image behind the LED matrix and which is projected by a projection element to infinity. Alternatively, the infinity projection element can image the exit surface of the lens.

For the first and third modules 10, 30, the figure 4a gives an example of the shape of these lenses or more generally of these optical elements. A row of first optical elements 17 is organized with a shape conferring the cutoff slopes. Another row of additional optical elements is also present, to provide additional beams, in particular for part of the driving beam, in a matrix beam function called “matrix beam”. In the illustrated case, the elements 17 and 18 are of the same number and are associated two by two so as to be aligned vertically; each pair of elements 17, 18 having a rectangular envelope and the element 18 constituting the counter-form of the element 17 here with a trapezoidal portion. They are preferably produced as a single piece, made from a single material, such as PMMA. The lenses forming the second optical elements of the figure 4 are generally simpler in shape because the beam shapes are here preferably rectangular (which includes square shapes). Advantageously, their width is half that of the lenses of the other modules (at least the lenses 22 of the second unit beams are half the width of the lenses 12 and 32). We will see that this choice of dimensions ensures a particular distribution of the projected beams.

The figure 5 shows the organization of the light sources of the three modules 10, 20, 30. In correspondence with the lenses 12 forming the first optical elements 17, the first module 10 comprises a row of first sources 15 in the form of LEDs aligned laterally. A row of additional LEDs 16 is in correspondence with the row of elements 18. Equivalently, the third module 30 comprises a row of third sources 35 and a row of additional sources 36, respectively in association with the row of third optical elements. 37 and with the third row of additional optical elements 38. The second module 20 comprising three rows of optical elements in this embodiment, it comprises in correspondence three rows of light sources. Row 25 makes it possible to produce the second unit beams. The second row 26 produces unit beams of "matrix beam" as in the case of rows 16 and 36. Row 27 produces unit beams, in association with the third row of optical elements of the second module, for a function of additional lighting, for example a marking line function. Preferably, row 27 is located above row 25, opposite row 26. At least row 25 of second module 20 has a resolution double (a half step between the sources) of that sources forming the slope beams.

The figures 6 to 11 illustrate the illuminations which can be produced by virtue of the invention.

The figure 6 presents the result of a projection under the assumption that all the first, second and third unit beams are projected simultaneously in addition to all the marking beams.

The first line illustrates the first unit beams each forming a first beam pixel 41 coming from the first module 10. This pixel 41 comprises an upper trapezoidal portion forming the sloped portion of the unit beam. Preferably, the trapezoid is isosceles and / or the slope of at least one lateral side is 45 ° relative to the horizon line. The upper portion is preferably at least partly and possibly totally projected above the horizon line 40. Another pixel portion 41 is generated at the base of the trapezoid in the form of a rectangle inscribed in the continuity. from the large base of the trapezoid. The row of pixels 41 can be symmetrical around a central pixel 41 through the middle of which passes a vertical axis 46 of average projection.

The second line shows the pixels 43 of unit beams of identical shape to that of the pixels 41. These beams are third beams generated by the third module 30. The pixels 43 are nevertheless laterally offset relative to the pixels 41, with an offset pitch 47. advantageously corresponding to the length of the small base, upper base, of the trapezoidal portion of the unit beams.

The third line presents pixels 42, 44 produced by the second module 20. The pixels 42 correspond to the second unit beams previously described and the pixels 44 to pixels of marking line function. The latter are preferably rectangles in the downward continuity of the pixels of second unit beams.

The figure 6 further shows that every other pixel 42 is advantageously aligned on the small base of a trapezoid with respect to one of the rows of pixels 41, 43 (the row of pixels 41 in the figure 6 ) and is preferably made so that the small base of the trapezoids coincides with the upper side of the pixel 42 corresponding to this alignment. The other pixels 42 are preferably aligned on the small base of a pixel trapezoid 43. Preferably, the height of the portion of the pixels 42 located above the horizon line 40 is the same as the height of the portion. top of the pixels 41, 43. The line of pixels 42 is advantageously symmetrical around the line 46. There may be nine pixels 41, 43 and nineteen pixels 42.

The shape of a pixel 41 (advantageously identical to that of pixels 43) is given in detail in figure 6a . The upper portion 41a is a trapezoid whose side edges 41b and 41c are symmetrical. The inclination is here at 45 ° so that the width of the first base 41d, small base, is half that of the second base 41e, large base. The first base 41d forms the top of the shape of the first unit beam. The pixel 41 here comprises a rectangular lower portion of which the second base 41e forms an upper edge. The 41st base is here located on the horizon line. According to the invention, it is not absolutely necessary for the pixel 41 to include a lower portion; in particular the pixel 41 can consist of the upper portion only. The lower portion can however soften the transition between the pixel 41 and another part of the beam, in particular the edge of a so-called "flat" beam, that is to say flat, complementary to the pixels 41, 42, 43 activated to form a complete low beam beam. Furthermore, the trapezoidal shape is not limiting and one could resort to other shapes having at least one slope on a lateral edge, for example a triangle, possibly isosceles.

The figure 6b gives an example of a second pixel 42. This is a square of sides 42a, 42b of length identical to the width of the first base 41d. This dimension is preferably also equal to the height of the first pixel 41. This shape defines an upper edge which can coincide with the first base of the trapezoid. In general, we arrange for a corner of the rectangular shape to fit on one of the ends of the top of the sloping shape (preferably the trapezoid).

In the low beam function, only one part of the pixels 41, 42, 43 is lit so as to produce a high part of the cut-off low beam beam. It is one of the pixels 41, 43 which will define the cutoff; the other pixels 41, 43 are then preferably off. A pixel 42 coinciding with the first base of the two active pixels 41, 43 is also activated. Advantageously at least one other pixel 42, in the continuity of the pixel 42 in question, is also activated, to form a set of active pixels 42 in the continuity of the cutoff slope defined by the active pixel 41, 43. This configuration is shown in figure 7 . The cutoff 48 is given by one of the trapezoidal edges of the active pixel 41, 43. The rest of the resulting beam is given by pixels 42; there is some overlap between pixels 42 and the active pixel 41, 43.

It should be noted that, advantageously, the lighting device also comprises means for controlling the lighting of the LED array to a sensor of a path parameter of a motor vehicle. The sensor advantageously provides an angle of rotation of a steering wheel of the motor vehicle, the path parameter indicating a deviation from a road on which the vehicle is traveling relative to a straight line, such as, in particular, a bend. Thus, the present invention has the advantage of being able to generate a light beam for a low beam, the cut of which follows the trajectory of the vehicle on a winding road, due to a discretization of the beam in portions of the successive isosceles trapezium type.

The discretization according to the present invention also allows adaptation to a vehicle for driving on the right as well as a vehicle for driving on the left, and even allows a change of right or left driving for a given vehicle.

The discretization in sloping shapes, and particularly in trapezoids, also allows adaptation to a non-dazzling high beam for another vehicle.

Thus, the present invention makes it possible to perform various functions, such as: directional low beam, driving on the left and on the right, and non-dazzling high beam.

It will be noted that the rows of pixels 41, 43 associated with pixels 42 of width twice as small give a greater resolution for the placement of the cut.

An example of the placement of the cut-off beam area permitted by the invention is given in figure 8 . The figure 9 gives an example of a complete dipped beam beam, resulting from the combination of the portion obtained by figure 8 by the modules 10, 20, 30 with a complementary low beam of the "flat" type.

According to one embodiment, the modules 10, 20, 30 can also be used to generate other beams, in beam matrix logic. So the figure 10 shows schematically the definition of other additional unit beams with pixels 51, 52, 53. These make it possible to generate an upper part of a complete beam, for example to produce a high beam by simultaneously lighting the pixels 41, 42, 43 , 51, 52, and 53. The pixels 51, 52, 53 are in this sense respectively in the continuity and above a pixel 41, 42, 43. The figure 10 Also features the line mark feature with the pixels 44 this time directed below the horizon line 40.

The figure 11 shows the high beam shape resulting from the lighting of pixels 41, 42, 43, 51, 52, 53. As shown, not all pixels may be activated simultaneously to isolate a section of the light, as a vertical stripe , for example for an anti-glare vignetting function. For example, it is possible to deactivate two adjacent pixels 41, two adjacent pixels 43 and two adjacent pixels 42 so as not to illuminate a zone of width corresponding to two pixels 42. There is, in addition, a smooth transition between the off zone and the dark zone. area illuminated by the fact that a patch area 49 is illuminated only by pixels 42 from the overlap boundary 50. In this example, the illumination extends 5 degrees above the line d 'horizon. The lateral angular sector is 41 degrees with 23 degrees on the unlit side up (here left side) and 18 degrees on the right side.

REFERENCES

1.

Motor vehicle

2.

Lanes

3.

Other way

4.

First lighting zone

5.

Second lighting zone

6.

Cut

7.

Device

8.

Projection optical element

10.

First module

11.

Support

12.

Lentils

13.

Field optical element

14.

Electronic card

15.

First sources

16.

First additional sources

17.

First optical element

18.

First additional optical element

20.

Second module

21.

Support

22.

Lentils

23.

Field optical element

24.

Electronic card

25.

Second sources

26.

Second additional sources
27a Row of marking sources
27b. Optical marking element

28.

Second optical element

29.

Second additional optical element

30.

Third module

31.

Support

32.

Lentils

33.

Field optical element

34.

Electronic card

35.

Third sources

36.

Third additional sources

37.

Third optical element

38.

Third additional optical element

40.

Skyline

41.

First beam pixel
41a. Top portion
41b. First slope
41c. Second slope
41d. First base
41st. Second base
41f. Lower portion

42.

Second beam pixel
42a. Upper corner
42b. First side edge

43.

Third beam pixel

44.

Marking beam pixel

46.

Median axis

47.

Not

48.

Cut

49.

Connection area

50.

Overlap limit

51.

Additional first beam pixel

52.

Additional second beam pixel

53.

Additional third beam pixel

Claims (20)

1. Luminous device (7) for a motor vehicle (1), said device comprising a plurality of light sources and an optical system configured to produce an output beam from light rays generated by at least some of the plurality of light sources, and comprising

   - a first luminous module (10) comprising a row of first illuminating units each configured to produce a slope-comprising unitary beam that is formed by a first unitary beam (41) having a first-unitary-beam shape comprising an upper segment (41a) endowed with a first lateral edge comprising a slope extending to a top of the upper segment of the first unitary beam (41) so that a widthwise dimension of the upper segment tends to decrease towards the top;

   - a second luminous module (20) comprising a row of second illuminating units each configured to produce a second unitary beam (42) having a second-unitary-beam (42) shape comprising a rectangular upper segment;

   and characterized in that each of the first unitary beams (41) is associated with one of the second unitary beams (42) so that an upper corner of the upper segment of the second unitary beam (42) of said one of the second unitary beams (42) coincides with the top of the upper segment (41a) of the associated first unitary beam (41) and so that the upper segment of the second unitary beam (42) extends laterally from said upper corner away from the slope of the associated first unitary beam (41).
2. Device (7) according to the preceding claim, wherein the upper segment (41a) of the first-unitary-beam (41) shape is a trapezium defined by the first lateral edge, a second lateral edge opposite the first lateral edge and comprising a slope, a first base (41d) located level with the top and a second base (41e), of width larger than the first base (41d) and opposite the first base (41d).
3. Device (7) according to the preceding claim, wherein the first-unitary-beam (41) shape comprises a rectangular lower segment (41f) in the continuity of the second base (41e) .
4. Device (7) according to one of the two preceding claims, wherein the trapezium is an isosceles trapezium.
5. Device (7) according to one of the three preceding claims, wherein the width of the first base (41d) is equal to that of the upper segment of the second unitary beam (42).
6. Device (7) according to the preceding claim, wherein the height of the upper segment (41a) of the first unitary beam (41) is equal to the height of the upper segment of the second unitary beam (42).
7. Device (7) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the largest width of the upper segment (41a) of the first unitary beam (41) is two times larger than the largest width of the second-unitary-beam (42) shape.
8. Device (7) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein:

   - each first illuminating unit comprises a first light source (15) belonging to the plurality of light sources, and a first optical element (17) associated with said first light source (15) and configured to receive light from said associated first light source (15) and to transmit one of the first unitary beams (41);

   - each second illuminating unit comprises a second light source (25) belonging to the plurality of light sources, and a second optical element (28) associated with said second light source (25) and configured to receive light from said associated second light source (25) and to transmit one of the second unitary beams (42) .
9. Device (7) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first luminous module (10) is configured to produce, for each first unitary beam (41), a first additional unitary beam.
10. Device (7) according to the preceding claim, wherein the first additional unitary beams are each located in the continuity and above a first unitary beam (41).
11. Device (7) according to one of the two preceding claims, wherein the first luminous module (10) comprises at least one additional row of first additional light sources (16) belonging to the plurality of light sources, and at least one additional row of first additional optical elements (18) each associated with a different one of the first additional light sources (16), each first additional light source (16) and the associated first additional optical element (18) being configured to produce a first additional unitary beam.
12. Device (7) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the second luminous module (20) comprises at least one additional row of second additional light sources (26) belonging to the plurality of light sources, and at least one additional row of second additional optical elements (29) each associated with a different one of the second additional light sources (26), each second additional light source (26) and the associated second additional optical element (29) being configured to produce a second additional unitary beam.
13. Device (7) according to the preceding claim, the second additional unitary beams each being located in the continuity and above a second unitary beam (42).
14. Device (7) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a third luminous module (30) comprising a row of third light sources (35) belonging to the plurality of light sources, and third optical elements (37) that are individually associated with a different one of the third light sources (35) and that are configured to receive light from said associated third source and to each transmit a sloped unitary beam that is formed by a third unitary beam (43) having a third-unitary-beam (43) shape, said beam being defined by a shape of the third optical elements (37), the third-unitary-beam (43) shape comprising an upper segment endowed with a first lateral edge comprising a slope extending to a top of the third-unitary-beam (43) shape so that a widthwise dimension of the upper segment decreases towards the top; and wherein each of the third unitary beams (43) is associated with one of the second unitary beams (42) so that an upper corner of the upper segment of the second unitary beam (42) of said one of the second optical elements (28) coincides with the top of the third unitary beam (43) of the associated third optical element and so that the upper segment extends laterally away from the slope of the third unitary beam (43) of the associated third optical element (37); and wherein the first unitary beam (41) and the third unitary beam (43) that are associated with one same second unitary beam (42) are offset laterally.
15. Device (7) according to the preceding claim, wherein the first-unitary-beam (41) shape and the third-unitary-beam (43) shape are identical.
16. Device (7) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the luminous modules (10, 20, 30) each comprise one field optical element (13, 23, 33).
17. Device (7) according to the preceding claim, comprising a projecting optical element (8) common to the luminous modules (10, 20, 30).
18. Device (7) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising control means comprising a low-beam command configuration in which the control means are configured to turn on only a single light source assigned to a unitary slope-comprising beam and to turn on a series of at least one light source assigned to a second unitary beam (42) so as to form a resulting beam segment in the lateral continuity of said slope-comprising unitary beam.
19. Device (7) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sources of the plurality of sources each comprise at least one light-emitting diode.
20. Motor-vehicle lighting and/or signalling unit equipped with at least one device (7) according to any one of the preceding claims.

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