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
  • F21S41/30—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by reflectors
  • F21S41/32—Optical layout thereof
  • F21S41/36—Combinations of two or more separate reflectors
  • F21S41/365—Combinations of two or more separate reflectors successively reflecting the light
• • 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
  • F21S41/20—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters
  • F21S41/285—Refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters not provided in groups F21S41/24 - F21S41/2805
• • 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
  • F21S41/30—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by reflectors
  • F21S41/32—Optical layout thereof
  • F21S41/322—Optical layout thereof the reflector using total internal reflection
• • 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
  • F21S41/67—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by a variable light distribution by acting on reflectors
  • F21S41/675—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by a variable light distribution by acting on reflectors by moving reflectors
• • 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
  • F21S41/10—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by the light source
  • F21S41/14—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by the light source characterised by the type of light source
  • F21S41/141—Light emitting diodes [LED]
  • F21S41/147—Light emitting diodes [LED] the main emission direction of the LED being angled to the optical axis of the illuminating device

Definitions

• Light module for a motor vehicle and lighting and / or signaling device provided with such a module
• the present invention relates in particular to a light module for a motor vehicle, and to a lighting and / or signaling device provided with such a module.
• a preferred application relates to the automotive industry, for vehicle equipment, in particular for the production of devices capable of emitting light beams, also called lighting and / or signaling functions, which generally meet regulations.
• the invention can allow the production of a light beam, preferably highly resolved, of pixelated type, in particular for signaling and / or participation in lighting functions at the front of a vehicle. It can be used to display pictograms or variable patterns on an outgoing light projection surface.
• Signaling and / or lighting lights for motor vehicles are light devices which include one or more light sources and lens which closes the light.
• the light source emits light rays to form a light beam which is directed towards the ice in order to produce an illuminating surface which transmits light outside the vehicle.
• These functions must meet regulations in terms of light intensity and visibility angles in particular.
• the known lighting and signaling modules have hitherto been designed to emit, for example:
• a dipped beam directed downwards, also sometimes called a code beam and used in the presence of other vehicles on the road;
• FIG. 1 gives an example of installation of a pixelated and digital imaging system in the form of a micro-mirror matrix 13 in a beam projection module.
• a light source 11 generates light rays towards an optical device 12 making it possible to generate a beam which will impact a reflection face 14 of a matrix with micro mirrors 13. According to the inclination of the mirrors, controlled, the light is either returned to the projection device 15, or returned to a dead zone so as not to participate in active illumination.
• the patent document WO 2017 / 143371 A1 discloses a headlamp for a motor vehicle comprising a matrix of micro mirrors and provided with a pair of light sources with light-emitting diodes each associated with a lens for focusing a light beam on the reflection surface of the matrix of micro mirrors.
• This duplication of sources obviously increases the luminous flux leaving the projector. However, it inevitably increases the cost and the bulk.
• the present invention aims to remedy at least in part the drawbacks of current techniques.
• the present invention relates, in one aspect, to a light module for a motor vehicle configured to produce an output beam, comprising a light source comprising at least one light-emitting diode, a pixelated and digital imaging system, and an optical input device. inserted, according to path of the light rays coming from the light source between the light source and the pixelated and digital imaging system so as to transmit at least a part, called transmitted part, of the light rays coming from the light source towards an impact surface of the pixelated and digital imaging system.
• a prism comprising a first face, a second face and a third face, and configured for:
• a pane is arranged between the impact surface and the third face, and a solid interface joins the third face and one face of the pane arranged opposite the third face.
• the interface material, that of the glass and that of the prism have the same optical index, or optical indices not differing by more than 10% from each other. Under these conditions, we suppress, or very strongly limit, parasitic reflections due to Fresnel's laws, which is all the more favorable to the efficiency of the module.
• the light rays are deflected during their journey from the light source to the projection device at least partly through the prism.
• the function of the prism comprises, upstream of the imaging system, a transmission of light rays from the source and, downstream of the imaging system, a total internal reflection making it possible to effect an angular modification of the rays, advantageously strong , so as to return the rays coming out of the prism towards the projection device.
• the prism allows large angular variations in the direction of the beams between the beam upstream of the imaging system and the beam downstream of the latter.
• the assembly of the glass on the third face of the prism by the solid interface ensures continuity of transmission of light rays between these two parts. Thanks to this, possible phenomena of reflection in a solid / air / solid interface are avoided; however, such untimely reflections could produce a re-emission of parasitic light rays and their projection onto the road at the same time as the desired effective beam, which would limit the potential for application of pixelated beams in the automotive field in particular, especially in which relates to applications to anti-glare road beams.
• the imaging device and the optical elements are currently considered as complementary but distinct organs of a light module, the present invention combats this prejudice and associates them more intimately, by assembling a window of the imaging device and a face.
• optical index on the path of light rays while that of air is currently automatically encountered.
• close or identical optical indices are selected, as will appear below.
• the present invention also relates to a lighting and / or signaling device for a motor vehicle equipped with at least one light module.
• This device can comprise at least one additional module comprising at least one of an additional module configured to produce a basic beam of low beam and an additional module configured to produce a basic beam of high beam.
• the pixelated beam can be an effective complement to another beam, or even several.
• the device comprises an additional module configured to produce a basic beam of low beam and an additional module configured to produce a basic beam of high beam and in which the output beam of the module overlaps in party at the times the main beam of high beam and / or the basic beam of low beam.
• the present invention also relates to a vehicle equipped with at least one module and / or a device according to the present invention.
• the interface is a polymerized optical adhesive.
• the maximum thickness of the adhesive interface is less than 1 mm, or even 0.5 mm.
• the third face and the face of the glass are parallel.
• the thickness of the interface is constant.
• the module is such that the second face and the third face are carried by two planes perpendicular to each other.
• it preferably comprises an optical device for projecting the output beam at least partially receiving the at least part of the returned rays.
• the optical projection device has an optical axis perpendicular to the second face.
• the optical projection device has an optical axis forming an obtuse angle with a mean direction of the transmitted part. This possibility is very useful for limiting the size and gives great freedom in lens size for the optical input device.
• the third face is parallel to the impact surface.
• the third face has an anti-reflective coating. This avoids the ghost image phenomena that strong reflections from mirrors on the third side can produce.
• the prism is made of a material whose Abbe number is greater than or equal to 50.
• the prism is made of PMMA or Crown glass.
• a pane is arranged between the impact surface and the third face.
• a first face of the window is located opposite the impact surface and comprises an anti-reflective coating. This avoids phenomena ghost images produced by strong reflections from mirrors on the glass.
• the anti-reflective coating is configured to reflect less than 4%, preferably less than 2% of the light rays in the visible range.
• the mean direction of the transmitted part forms, with a normal to the first face, an angle between -20 ° and + 20 °.
• the distance between the impact surface and the third face is less than or equal to 2 mm, and preferably less than or equal to 1 mm.
• the pixelated and digital imaging system includes an array of micro-mirrors.
• the output beam is configured to project at least one pictogram pattern.
• the module is configured to project a light beam into the front of a motor vehicle.
• FIG. 1 shows a diagram of a projection of a pixelated beam according to the state of the art
• verticality 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 designate directions, in an orientation perpendicular to the plane of the horizon for the term “vertical”, and in an orientation parallel to the plane of the horizon for the term “horizontal”. They are to be considered in the operating conditions of the device in a vehicle.
• the use of these 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 considered here as a minor variation around the two preferred directions.
• the device of the invention incorporates at least one module making it possible to generate a pixelated type beam, but also preferably ensures the projection of at least one other beam, by means of at least one other module.
• the device of the invention can therefore be complex and combine several modules which can also optionally share components.
• the expression “passing beam” is understood to mean a beam used during the presence of crossed and / or followed vehicles and / or other elements (individuals, obstacles, etc.) on or near the roadway. .
• This beam has a descending mean direction. It can possibly be characterized by an absence of light above a plane inclined by 1% downwards on the side of the traffic in the other direction, and by another plane inclined by 15 degrees compared to the previous of the side of traffic in the same direction, these two plans defining a cut in accordance with European regulations.
• the purpose of this top down cutoff is to avoid dazzling other users present in the road scene extending in front of the vehicle or on the side of the road.
• the passing beam formerly from a simple headlamp, has undergone changes, the passing function being able to be coupled with other lighting characteristics which are still considered as passing beam functions within the meaning of the present invention .
• BL Bit in English for cornering light
• DBL Dynamic Bending Light in English for mobile cornering light
• FBL Fiberd Bending
• Motorway Light in English, for highway lighting, performs the highway function. This function provides an increase of the range of a low beam by concentrating the luminous flux of the low beam at the level of the optical axis of the headlamp device considered;
• AWL Advanced Weather Light in English, for bad weather light
• the function of the basic driving beam is to illuminate the scene in front of the vehicle over a wide area, but also over a considerable distance, typically around 200 meters.
• This light beam by 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 outside those described above.
• one aspect of the invention relates to a module allowing the generation of an output beam of the pixelated type, that is to say processed by a pixelated and digital imaging system offering great flexibility, by imaging system control, in terms of beam patterns actually projected.
• pixelated and digital imaging system “pixelated ray imaging system” or their equivalents have for definition a system emitting a light beam, said light beam being formed of a plurality of light sub-beams , each light sub-beam being able to be controlled independently of the other light sub-beams.
• These systems can for example be micro-mirror arrays 23 as shown, liquid crystal devices, a digital light processing technology (DLP) in Anglo-Saxon terms.
• DLP digital light processing technology
• Micro-mirror arrays are also called, in English terms, "Digital Micromirror Device” (DMD).
• Each independently controllable sub-beam forms a pixelated ray.
• the control of the micro-mirror arrays is carried out by control electronics.
• Each micro-mirror preferably has two operating positions. A so-called active position corresponds to an orientation of the micro-mirrors allowing reflection towards an output diopter of an incident light beam.
• a so-called passive position corresponds to an orientation of the micro-mirrors allowing reflection towards an absorbing surface of an incident light beam, that is to say towards a direction different from that of the output diopter.
• this type of imaging system is implemented in mechanical micro-electronic systems known under the term MEMS, which also includes in the present application the so-called NEMS nano systems.
• a light source 21 is used to illuminate an impact surface 24 of the pixelated imaging system, for example the reflective face of the micro-mirrors of a matrix of micro-mirrors 23, and the rays treated by the pixelated imaging system are returned to be projected, generally via an optical output element such as a projector glass or a projection lens.
• the present invention can use light sources of the light-emitting diode type also commonly called LEDs. It can possibly be organic LED (s). In particular, these LEDs can be provided with at least one chip capable of emitting light of advantageously adjustable intensity according to the lighting and / or signaling function to be performed.
• the term light source is understood here to mean a set of at least one elementary source such as an LED capable of producing a flux leading to generate at the output of the module of the invention at least one light beam.
• the output face of the source is of rectangular section, which is typical for LED chips.
• the light source 21 is configured to produce a light flux greater than 3000 Im and for example of the order of 4000 Im.
• Figure 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of the present invention which allows relative placement of the light source and the improved optical input device relative to the prior art.
• a light source 21 which may be of the type previously indicated.
• the light source 21 is configured to emit in a half-space from an emissive area of rectangular shape.
• At least a part of the rays emitted by the source 21 is optically treated by an optical device 22.
• the latter may comprise one or more lenses of more or less complex shape.
• the optical device 22 takes the form of a lens having an inlet face 22a making it possible to admit the light rays coming from the source 21 and an outlet face 22b ensuring projection towards the rest of the module .
• the light rays first enter through a prism 26, via a first face 26a of the latter.
• the first face 26a forms an acute angle with the mean direction of the transmitted part "a" of the light rays coming from the source 21. More preferably, the mean direction and normal to the first face 26a forms an angle between -20 ° and + 20 °. Preferably, the angle formed between the first face 26a and the third face 26c is between 40 and 50 °.
• the prism 26 a transparent material and advantageously having a high Abbe number, preferably greater than or equal to 50. It may be Crown glass or alternatively polymethacrylate. methyl (PMMA).
• the light rays entering the prism 26, referenced “a” in FIG. 2, are directed towards a third face 26c of the prism 26 facing which the imaging system is located, which is, in the example shown, a matrix of micro-mirrors 23.
• the impact surface 24 (corresponding to the exposed surface of the micro-mirrors) is parallel to the third face 26c, the latter being preferably plane.
• the impact surface 24 is protected by a window 27, a first face 27a of which is situated opposite the impact surface 24.
• a second face 27b of the window 27 is situated opposite the third face 26c.
• the second face 27b and the third face 26c are spaced from each other so that a space exists between them, space which is filled by the interface 30 so that there is no residual air space between the interface 30 and the faces 26c, 27, on the path of the light rays.
• the distance separating the impact surface 24 and the third face 26c is limited and can for example be less than 2 mm or even 1 mm, and preferably 0.5 mm.
• the presence of the window 27 can be used to adjust this spacing without the risk of damaging the impact surface 24.
• the window 27 and the prism 26 are joined by means of an interface 30.
• the latter may also be the place for adjusting the overall thickness of the light transmission leaving the prism towards the surface of impact 24.
• the interface 30 is located in contact and between the second face 27 b of the window 27 and the third face 26 c of the prism 26.
• the third face 26c and the second face 27b are parallel, if although the thickness of the interface 30 is continuous.
• thickness is understood to mean the dimension of the interface 30 directed perpendicular to the faces considered.
• One aspect of the interface 30 is to completely fill, with a solid medium, the space between the prism and the glass. For this purpose, a contact of the interface 30 on each of the faces 26c and 27b is sufficient, even without adhesion on these faces.
• the interface can also provide a mechanical joining effect so that it forms a coherent whole with at least one of the prism and the glass.
• the interface 30 is produced thanks to a layer, preferably a single layer, of a transparent material, in particular an optical adhesive.
• a film of liquid adhesive precursor of the interface on one of the second face 27b is the third face 26c, then attach the other of these faces to the film thus deposited, and crosslink glue.
• a glue polymerized under a light in the ultraviolet can be sensitive to ultraviolet in a range between 320 and 380 nanometers in wavelength. Cross-linking by annealing is also possible.
• the interface 30 forms a solid portion.
• solid is meant a state of matter which is neither gaseous nor liquid, which does not exclude that the interface 30 is made of a soft material, for example of elastomer or in the form of a paste.
• the interface 30 creates a solid continuity between the prism 26 and the window 27. In order to make this continuity all the more effective from an optical point of view, it is advantageous for the optical index of the interface 30 to be identical or similar to the optical index of at least one of the material of the glass 27 and the material of the prism 26.
• a prism and a glass of Crown glass in particular of index 1, 52, or even a poly (methyl methacrylate) prism (PMMA) having an optical index of 1.49 and a glass pane 27 made of glass (in particular Crown glass of index 1.52).
• PMMA poly (methyl methacrylate) prism
• the material of the adhesive interface 30 is then chosen to be identical or similar to these indices.
• the optical glue sold by the company Norland Products Incoporated under the reference "Norland Optical adhesive 83H” can give satisfaction, with an index of 1.56.
• Similar is understood to mean optical indices which have no more than 10% difference in magnitude and / or which are not distant by more than 0.15 of optical index value.
• the indices of the prism, of the window and of the interface are all three within a range of 0.15 in value of index and / or of 10%.
• the optical indices of the glass and of the prism may be such that they are not distant, each more than 10%, and / or more than 0.15, from the value of the index of the interface.
• the window 27 with an anti-reflective coating 28 which may be of common design and in particular be configured to produce a reflection of a maximum of 4%, or even a maximum of 2% in the visible spectrum.
• the anti-reflection is chosen with a maximum reflection of 1% in the visible spectrum.
• the impact surface 24 defined by the set of micro-mirrors is of rectangular shape. It preferably extends in a plane perpendicular to a plane carrying the second face 26b of the prism 26 and / or parallel to the optical axis of the projection device 25.
• the rays are reflected, either so as to participate in the projected beam, or so as to be inactive. This is how the configuration of the pixelated beam can be controlled at will.
• the active rays "c" are directed so as to re-enter the prism 26 through the third face 26c. This ray path is configured so that the active rays "c" reach the first face 26a again. However, this time, the angle of the rays relative to the first face 26a is such that a total internal reflection takes place in the prism 26 so as to form reflected rays “d” which are directed towards the second face 26b of the prism 26.
• the outgoing rays "e” are directed towards a projection device 25, which is or which typically comprises a projection lens.
• a projection device 25 which is or which typically comprises a projection lens.
• it is a convex plane lens
• the inlet face 25a is planar
• the outlet face 25b is convex.
• the reference “f” represents an example of projected radius.
• the prism 26 is configured, in terms of angle and choice of materials, so that all of the light rays coming from the input device 22 are transmitted to the matrix of micro mirrors 23 and so that all of the light rays reflected by the latter is reflected by the first face 26a. It will be noted that the zone of the first face 26a through which the rays "a” enter the prism 26 and the zone of the first face 26a through which the rays "c" again reach the first face 26a to be reflected, can be overlap.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Non-Portable Lighting Devices Or Systems Thereof (AREA)
• Optical Elements Other Than Lenses (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=65244031

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

Family Cites Families (8)

• 2018
  • 2018-09-28 FR FR1859032A patent/FR3086730B1/fr active Active
• 2019
  • 2019-09-23 CN CN201980063172.4A patent/CN112771304A/zh active Pending
  • 2019-09-23 WO PCT/EP2019/075459 patent/WO2020064592A1/fr unknown
  • 2019-09-23 EP EP19769820.2A patent/EP3857115A1/de active Pending

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events