EP3597987A1 - Phare automobile - Google Patents

Phare automobile Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3597987A1
EP3597987A1 EP18425046.2A EP18425046A EP3597987A1 EP 3597987 A1 EP3597987 A1 EP 3597987A1 EP 18425046 A EP18425046 A EP 18425046A EP 3597987 A1 EP3597987 A1 EP 3597987A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
transparent
shell
lcd panel
front half
automotive light
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP18425046.2A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP3597987A8 (fr
Inventor
Michele Antonipieri
Giulio MANFREDA
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Marelli Automotive Lighting Italy SpA
Original Assignee
Automotive Lighting Italia SpA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Automotive Lighting Italia SpA filed Critical Automotive Lighting Italia SpA
Priority to EP18425046.2A priority Critical patent/EP3597987A1/fr
Publication of EP3597987A1 publication Critical patent/EP3597987A1/fr
Publication of EP3597987A8 publication Critical patent/EP3597987A8/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
    • F21S41/00—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps
    • F21S41/60—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by a variable light distribution
    • F21S41/63—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by a variable light distribution by acting on refractors, filters or transparent cover plates
    • F21S41/64—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by a variable light distribution by acting on refractors, filters or transparent cover plates by changing their light transmissivity, e.g. by liquid crystal or electrochromic devices
    • F21S41/645—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by a variable light distribution by acting on refractors, filters or transparent cover plates by changing their light transmissivity, e.g. by liquid crystal or electrochromic devices by electro-optic means, e.g. liquid crystal or electrochromic devices
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
    • F21S43/00—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights
    • F21S43/50—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights characterised by aesthetic components not otherwise provided for, e.g. decorative trim, partition walls or covers

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an automotive light.
  • the present invention preferably relates to a taillight for cars and similar vehicles, i.e. a lighting apparatus adapted to be incorporated in a motor vehicle with the function of signalling the position, sudden deceleration and/or turn direction of the vehicle, and/or with the function of lighting the area surrounding the vehicle.
  • a lighting apparatus adapted to be incorporated in a motor vehicle with the function of signalling the position, sudden deceleration and/or turn direction of the vehicle, and/or with the function of lighting the area surrounding the vehicle.
  • taillights for cars and the like generally comprise: a rigid and substantially basin-shaped rear casing which is structured to be stably recessed into a compartment specially realized in the rear part of the vehicle bodywork; a front half-shell which is arranged to close of the mouth of the rear casing so as to surface outside the vehicle bodywork, and is provided with a plurality of transparent or semi-transparent sectors, generally of a different colour from one another; and a series of lighting assemblies which are located inside the casing, each immediately beneath a respective transparent or semi-transparent sector of the front half-shell, so as to be able to selectively backlight the superjacent transparent or semi-transparent sector of the front half-shell.
  • each transparent or semi-transparent sector of the front half-shell is moreover exclusively associated with a specific light signal adapted to indicate the position of the vehicle, its sudden deceleration or the turning direction of the vehicle while driving, and each lighting assembly is specifically structured to emit, on command, a light beam that, once exited from the automotive light through the corresponding transparent or semi-transparent sector of the half-shell, meets the approval specifications (colour and light distribution) provided for this light signal.
  • each lighting assembly is basically made up of one or more high-power LEDs (acronym of Light Emitting Diode) that are placed inside the rear casing, generally close to the bottom of the casing together with the relative control electronics; and of a light-guide body which is made of polymethyl-methacrylate (PMMA) or other photoconductive material, and is placed inside the rear casing with a first end immediately adjacent to the LED(s) and a second end skimmed over the transparent or semi-transparent sector to be backlighted, in order to channel, by total internal reflection, the light emitted by the LED or LEDs up to the same transparent or semi-transparent sector of the half-shell.
  • PMMA polymethyl-methacrylate
  • the second end of the light-guide body is also specifically structured/shaped so as to direct the light emitted by the LEDs towards the facing transparent or semi-transparent sector of the half-shell, so as to be able to backlight the whole transparent or semi-transparent sector of the half-shell in a substantially even manner.
  • Aim of the present invention is to realize automotive lights that, when not in use, camouflage with the vehicle bodywork.
  • an automotive light as defined in claim 1 and preferably, though not necessarily, in any one of the depending claims.
  • numeral 1 indicates as a whole an automotive light, i.e. a lighting apparatus particularly adapted to be placed on the front or rear part of the bodywork of a motor vehicle, with the function of emitting light signals adapted to indicate the position of the vehicle and/or the sudden deceleration of the vehicle and/or the turning direction of the vehicle while driving.
  • a lighting apparatus particularly adapted to be placed on the front or rear part of the bodywork of a motor vehicle, with the function of emitting light signals adapted to indicate the position of the vehicle and/or the sudden deceleration of the vehicle and/or the turning direction of the vehicle while driving.
  • the automotive light 1 is adapted to be attached to the front or rear part of the bodywork of a car, van, truck, motorcycle or other similar motor vehicle, to perform the function of a headlight or taillight.
  • the automotive light 1 is preferably structured to be stably recessed into the rear part of the bodywork of a car or other similar motor vehicle.
  • the automotive light 1 is a taillight for cars and the like.
  • automotive light 1 could also be structured so as to simply cantilever fixed to the rear part of the vehicle bodywork (not shown).
  • the automotive light 1 firstly comprises: a rear casing 2, substantially rigid and preferably made of plastic material, which is substantially basin-shaped, and is preferably structured so as to be at least partially recessed into a seat specially formed in the rear part of the vehicle bodywork (not shown); and a front half-shell 3, substantially rigid and preferably made of plastic material, which is arranged to close the mouth of rear casing 2, preferably so as to be able to surface outside the vehicle bodywork; and one or more electrically-powered lighting assemblies, which emit light on command and are located inside the casing each immediately beneath a respective transparent or semi-transparent sector of the front half-shell 3, so as to be able to selectively backlight the superjacent transparent or semi-transparent sector of front half-shell 3.
  • a rear casing 2 substantially rigid and preferably made of plastic material, which is substantially basin-shaped, and is preferably structured so as to be at least partially recessed into a seat specially formed in the rear part of the vehicle bodywork (not shown); and a front half-shell 3, substantially rigid and preferably made
  • front half-shell 3 is preferably provided with at least three transparent or semi-transparent sectors, optionally also coloured.
  • automotive light 1 is preferably provided with at least three electrically-powered lighting assemblies 4, 5 and 6, each of which is arranged inside the rear casing 2 in a position to be able to backlight a corresponding transparent or semi-transparent part of front half-shell 3, preferably separately and independently from the other lighting assemblies of the automotive light.
  • the rear casing 2 is preferably made of an opaque plastic material, preferably via an injection moulding process.
  • the front half-shell 3, is preferably made of a transparent or semi-transparent plastic material, such as for example polycarbonate or polymethyl-methacrylate, also in this case preferably via an injection moulding process.
  • the automotive light 1 also comprises: a thin intermediate LCD panel 10 (acronym of Liquid Crystal Display) which extends skimmed over the front half-shell 3, preferably substantially for the whole extent of the same front half-shell 3, so as to be crossed by the light crossing the front half-shell 3; and an electronic control unit 11 which is located inside the rear casing 2, preferably behind the various lighting assemblies 4, 5 of the automotive light, and is adapted to drive the LCD panel 10 so as to make, on command, the body of the LCD panel transparent or opaque to the incident light.
  • LCD panel 10 an electronic control unit 11 which is located inside the rear casing 2, preferably behind the various lighting assemblies 4, 5 of the automotive light, and is adapted to drive the LCD panel 10 so as to make, on command, the body of the LCD panel transparent or opaque to the incident light.
  • the intermediate LCD panel 10 is preferably placed inside the rear casing 2 attached to the rear face of front half-shell 3, and is capable of assuming, on command and alternately, a transparent configuration to the incident light and an opaque configuration to the incident light.
  • the LCD panel 10 allows the light emitted by the single lighting assemblies 4, 5, 6 to freely come out from the front half-shell 3, and to the exterior/ambient light to freely enter/penetrate into the automotive light 1 through the front half-shell 3.
  • the intermediate LCD panel 10 allows the various lighting assemblies 4, 5, 6 of automotive light 1 to backlight the respective transparent or semi-transparent sectors of front half-shell 3.
  • the LCD panel 10 prevents the light emitted by the individual lighting assemblies 4, 5, 6 from coming out of front half-shell 3, and the external/ambient light to enter/penetrate into the automotive headlight 1 through front half-shell 3.
  • the LCD panel 10 When opaque to the incident light, therefore, the LCD panel 10 is able to substantially hide all the internal components of automotive light 1, giving the front half-shell 3 a predetermined opaque colour which is preferably more or less uniform throughout the whole extent of the front half-shell 3.
  • the electronic control unit 11 is preferably programmed/configured to turn/place the LCD panel 10 in the transparent configuration solely when the car or other motor vehicle mounting the automotive light 1 has the engine running and/or is moving.
  • the electronic control unit 11 is preferably programmed/configured so as to turn/place the LCD panel 10 in the transparent configuration when it receives a predetermined electric or electronic control signal.
  • This control signal is preferably associated with the starting or running of the engine of the car or other vehicle mounting the automotive light 1.
  • the electronic control unit 11 may also be programmed/configured so as to turn/place the LCD panel 10 in the transparent configuration when any of the lighting assemblies 4, 5 and 6 of automotive light is switched on/activated to backlight the corresponding semi-transparent or transparent sector of front half-shell 3.
  • the intermediate LCD panel 10 has a curved shape substantially complementary to the rear face of the front half-shell 3, and is preferably divided into a multitude of small-size basic sectors or pixels, preferably arranged in a matrix configuration, each of which is able to, selectively and alternately, allow or prevent the light to pass through the same pixel.
  • each pixel of the LCD panel 10 can be selectively and alternatively transparent or opaque to the light passing through the front half-shell 3.
  • the LCD panel 10 has a known TFT architecture (acronym of Thin Film Transistor).
  • the LCD panel 10 can be a cholesteric liquid crystal display (ChLCD).
  • ChLCD cholesteric liquid crystal display
  • the LCD panel 10 won't be further described.
  • the electronic control unit 11 is preferably adapted to control the transparent or opaque state of the individual pixels of the intermediate LCD panel 10, so as to be able to selectively allow or prevent the incident light to pass through limited single portions of LCD panel 10.
  • LCD panel 10 is preferably divided into a plurality of active portions 10a each of which is aligned to a respective transparent or semi-transparent sector of front half-shell 3, and preferably has a shape substantially equal to that of the same transparent or semi-transparent sector.
  • the electronic control unit 11 is preferably adapted to control the transparent or opaque state of each active portion 10a of LCD panel 10, or rather of the pixel (s) inside each active portion 10a of LCD panel 10, so as to selectively allow or prevent the light to pass through the same active portion 10a, separately and independently with respect to the other active portions 10a of the same LCD panel 10.
  • electronic control unit 11 is capable of controlling the passing of the light through each individual transparent or semi-transparent sector of front half-shell 3 separately and independently from the other transparent or semi-transparent sectors of front half-shell 3.
  • the electronic control unit 11 is moreover adapted to also synchronise the switching of the individual active portions 10a of LCD panel 10 with the activation/ turning on of the single lighting assemblies 4, 5 and 6 of automotive light 1.
  • the electronic control unit 11 is preferably configured to cause the switching of each active portion 10a of LCD panel 10 from the opaque to the transparent configuration when the corresponding lighting assembly 4, 5 and 6 is activated/turned on, and to cause the switching of the same active portion 10a of LCD panel 10 from the transparent to the opaque configuration when the corresponding lighting assembly 4, 5 and 6 is deactivated/ switched off.
  • the electronic control unit 11 is preferably programmed/configured to turn/place the single active portions 10a of LCD panel 10 in the transparent configuration when it receives a predetermined electric or electronic control signal.
  • This control signal preferably corresponds to the electric or electronic signal of switching on/off the lighting assembly 4, 5 or 6.
  • the lighting assembly 4 in turn comprises: a light bulb 20 or the like, which is placed inside the rear casing 2, preferably, though not necessarily, close to the bottom of rear casing 2; and a reflector body (not shown) preferably with a cup-shaped structure, which is placed inside the rear casing 2 so as to at least partially surround the light bulb 20, and is, in turn, structured to direct the light emitted by the light bulb 20 towards the corresponding and immediately superjacent transparent or semi-transparent sector of front half-shell 3.
  • the lighting assembly 4 additionally also comprises a diffusing body 21 preferably with a platelike structure, which is located between the reflector body and the transparent or semi-transparent sector of front half-shell 3, and is structured to scatter the light directed towards the front half-shell 3 preferably substantially evenly over the whole extent of the corresponding transparent or semi-transparent sector of the half-shell.
  • a diffusing body 21 preferably with a platelike structure, which is located between the reflector body and the transparent or semi-transparent sector of front half-shell 3, and is structured to scatter the light directed towards the front half-shell 3 preferably substantially evenly over the whole extent of the corresponding transparent or semi-transparent sector of the half-shell.
  • the lighting assembly 5 preferably comprises: a series of LEDs 30 (acronym of Light Emitting Diode) that are placed inside the rear casing 2, preferably spaced one beside the other so as to form at least one row of LED; and a concave reflector body 31, which is arranged inside the rear casing 2 at the LEDs 30, and is structured to direct the light emitted by the various LEDs 30 towards the corresponding and immediately superjacent transparent or semi-transparent sector of front half-shell 3.
  • a series of LEDs 30 (acronym of Light Emitting Diode) that are placed inside the rear casing 2, preferably spaced one beside the other so as to form at least one row of LED
  • a concave reflector body 31 which is arranged inside the rear casing 2 at the LEDs 30, and is structured to direct the light emitted by the various LEDs 30 towards the corresponding and immediately superjacent transparent or semi-transparent sector of front half-shell 3.
  • the LEDs 30 are moreover fixed on one or more (two in the example shown) support boards 32 that preferably also host the electronic power-supply and/or control circuits of the same LEDs (not shown), and are placed inside the rear casing 2 preferably close to the bottom of the casing 2.
  • the lighting assembly 6 preferably comprises: a light-guide body 40 which is made of a photoconductive material, is placed inside the rear casing 2 with its front end facing and/or adjacent to the corresponding transparent or semi-transparent sector of front half-shell 3, and with its rear end facing the bottom of rear casing 2; and one or more LEDs 41 (acronym of Light Emitting Diode) that are arranged inside the rear casing 2, close or adjacent to the rear end of the light-guide body 40, so as to direct the emitted light inside the light-guide body 40.
  • a light-guide body 40 which is made of a photoconductive material, is placed inside the rear casing 2 with its front end facing and/or adjacent to the corresponding transparent or semi-transparent sector of front half-shell 3, and with its rear end facing the bottom of rear casing 2; and one or more LEDs 41 (acronym of Light Emitting Diode) that are arranged inside the rear casing 2, close or adjacent to the rear end of the light-guide body 40, so as to direct the
  • the light then travels within the guide-light body 40 by total internal reflection, and comes out in known manner from the front end of light-guide body 40 directed towards the facing front half-shell 3.
  • the guide-light body 40 is preferably made of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), preferably via an injection moulding process.
  • PMMA polymethylmethacrylate
  • the guide-light body 40 can also be made of polycarbonate or other similar plastic material.
  • the LED or LEDs 41 are preferably placed on a supporting board 42 that preferably also hosts the electronic power-supply and/or control circuits of the LEDs (not shown), and is arranged inside the rear casing 2 preferably adjacent to the rear end of guide-light body 40.
  • the automotive light 1 finally comprises an opaque spacer mask 14 preferably with a plate-like structure, which is interposed between the lighting assemblies 4, 5 and 6 and the front half-shell 3, or rather the LCD panel 10, and is provided with a series of pass-through openings each of which is aligned to a respective transparent or semi-transparent sector of front half-shell 3, and preferably furthermore substantially copies the shape of the immediately superjacent transparent or semi-transparent sector.
  • Spacer mask 14 is adapted to hide to sight some components of the automotive light 1.
  • spacer mask 14 is furthermore adapted to directly support one or more components of the lighting assembly 4 and/or 5 and/or 6.
  • the spacer mask 14 is preferably made of opaque plastic material, and is preferably structured to support the diffusing body 21 of lighting assembly 4 and/or the reflector body 31 of lighting assembly 5 and/or the guide-light body 40 of lighting assembly 6.
  • the front half-shell 3 acts like an opaque body/screen more or less of a uniform colour, which hides to sight all the components of automotive light 1 located inside the rear casing 2.
  • the colour of front half-shell 3 when the LCD panel 10 is opaque to the incident light is a function of the material constituting the front half-shell 3 and the optoelectronic structure of LCD panel 10.
  • the front half-shell 3 can assume a uniform opaque colour that, when equal or similar to that of the vehicle body, allows the automotive light 1 to be more or less effectively camouflaged.
  • the LCD panel 10 instead of being located on the rear face of front half-shell 3, may be incorporated into the front half-shell 3, preferably substantially for the whole extent of front half-shell 3.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Crystallography & Structural Chemistry (AREA)
  • Vehicle Waterproofing, Decoration, And Sanitation Devices (AREA)
  • Planar Illumination Modules (AREA)
EP18425046.2A 2018-06-21 2018-07-21 Phare automobile Withdrawn EP3597987A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP18425046.2A EP3597987A1 (fr) 2018-06-21 2018-07-21 Phare automobile

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP18425046.2A EP3597987A1 (fr) 2018-06-21 2018-07-21 Phare automobile

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3597987A1 true EP3597987A1 (fr) 2020-01-22
EP3597987A8 EP3597987A8 (fr) 2020-04-15

Family

ID=63350486

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP18425046.2A Withdrawn EP3597987A1 (fr) 2018-06-21 2018-07-21 Phare automobile

Country Status (1)

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EP (1) EP3597987A1 (fr)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102019128342A1 (de) * 2019-10-21 2021-04-22 HELLA GmbH & Co. KGaA Beleuchtungseinrichtung für ein Kraftfahrzeug
WO2023025626A1 (fr) * 2021-08-27 2023-03-02 HELLA GmbH & Co. KGaA Dispositif d'éclairage pour un véhicule

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4872745A (en) * 1987-02-18 1989-10-10 Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd. Cover for car lamps
US20030202357A1 (en) * 2001-05-25 2003-10-30 Illume, L.L.C. Lamp masking method and apparatus
EP2743131A2 (fr) * 2012-12-14 2014-06-18 SL Corporation Lampe pour véhicule
DE102014205243A1 (de) * 2014-03-20 2015-09-24 Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft Vorrichtung und Verfahren zur Steuerung des Erscheinungsbildes eines oder mehrerer sichtbaren Fahrzeugteile

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4872745A (en) * 1987-02-18 1989-10-10 Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd. Cover for car lamps
US20030202357A1 (en) * 2001-05-25 2003-10-30 Illume, L.L.C. Lamp masking method and apparatus
EP2743131A2 (fr) * 2012-12-14 2014-06-18 SL Corporation Lampe pour véhicule
DE102014205243A1 (de) * 2014-03-20 2015-09-24 Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft Vorrichtung und Verfahren zur Steuerung des Erscheinungsbildes eines oder mehrerer sichtbaren Fahrzeugteile

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102019128342A1 (de) * 2019-10-21 2021-04-22 HELLA GmbH & Co. KGaA Beleuchtungseinrichtung für ein Kraftfahrzeug
WO2023025626A1 (fr) * 2021-08-27 2023-03-02 HELLA GmbH & Co. KGaA Dispositif d'éclairage pour un véhicule

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP3597987A8 (fr) 2020-04-15

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