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
  • 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
• • 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
  • F21S43/20—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights characterised by refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters
  • F21S43/235—Light guides
  • F21S43/236—Light guides characterised by the shape of the light guide
  • F21S43/241—Light guides characterised by the shape of the light guide of complex shape
• • 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
  • F21S43/20—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights characterised by refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters
  • F21S43/235—Light guides
  • F21S43/242—Light guides characterised by the emission area
  • F21S43/245—Light guides characterised by the emission area emitting light from one or more of its major surfaces
• • 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
  • F21S43/20—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights characterised by refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters
  • F21S43/235—Light guides
  • F21S43/249—Light guides with two or more light sources being coupled into the light guide
• • 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
  • F21S43/20—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights characterised by refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters
  • F21S43/235—Light guides
  • F21S43/251—Light guides the light guides being used to transmit light from remote light sources
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F21—LIGHTING
  • F21W—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO USES OR APPLICATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS
  • F21W2104/00—Exterior vehicle lighting devices for decorative purposes

Definitions

• the invention relates to the field of light signaling and lighting, in particular for motor vehicles.
• optical guides In the field of lighting and signaling of motor vehicles, it is increasingly common to use optical guides. Indeed, these have the advantage of being able to take a wide variety of geometric shapes and to bring an illuminating surface into areas that are not easily accessible from a lighting and / or signaling device. This is particularly interesting in the current context where car manufacturers seek to give their vehicles a signature of their own, in particular by proposing complex shapes to lighting and / or signaling devices.
• the patent document US 2014/0177278 A1 discloses a light guide in the form of a plate with two opposite main faces. Light produced by light sources enters the guide via one of the side faces. The light rays then propagate by successive reflections on the two main faces of the guide. The latter indeed form diopters with the ambient air and thus allow the incident rays at an angle greater than the limit angle of refraction, to undergo a so-called total reflection.
• One of the main faces of the guide comprises microstructures in the form of hollows or bumps also forming dioptres with the ambient air. The rays propagating essentially along the extent of the guide which meet one face of the hollows undergo a total reflection directed towards the other main face. The latter is then the exit face of the guide.
• the invention aims to overcome at least one of the drawbacks of the aforementioned state of the art. More particularly, the invention aims to allow the production of light in a homogeneous manner, in particular in the context of light signaling with potentially complex shapes.
• the invention relates to an optical guide in transparent or translucent material, extending in a main direction, and comprising a tubular and rounded guide portion, forming with the external environment a tubular and rounded diopter, said portion being able to guide light along the main direction by successive reflections on the diopter; and a rib adjacent to the guide portion, capable of bringing light out of said portion; remarkable in that the rib has a variable shape along the main direction so as to modulate the quantity of outgoing light along said direction.
• optical guide in the present application is intended a transparent or translucent part inside which light rays propagate in a controlled manner from one of the ends of the guide, called the entry face, up to at least an exit face.
• the propagation of light in a controlled manner is generally carried out by successive total reflections on various reflection faces internal to the optical guide.
• variable shape of the rib comprises the thickness of the rib and / or an inclination of the rib relative to a direction transverse to the main direction, passing through the center of the guide portion and the rib at the level of the adjacency with said portion.
• the thickness of said rib varies by a value greater than 50% of the average value of said thickness and / or the inclination of the rib varies by more than 20 °.
• the guide comprises at one end an entry face of the light, the shape of the rib being variable so as to favor the exit of light as the distance from said face increases, and thus compensates for a decrease in the amount of light passing through the guide portion.
• the thickness of the rib increases with the distance from the entry face and / or the inclination of the rib decreases with the distance from the entry face .
• the guide portion has an average diameter, the rib having a maximum thickness of less than 70% of said diameter.
• the maximum thickness of the rib is less than 60% of the average diameter of the guide portion.
• the average diameter of the guide portion is constant over more than 90% of the length of said portion.
• the guide portion has an average diameter and the optical guide extends in the main direction over a length greater than 20 times said diameter.
• variable shape of the rib has variations over more than 80% of the length of the guide.
• the guide further comprises a ply adjacent to the rib and optically connected to the guide portion by said ply.
• the ply is unitary and made in one piece with the rib and the guide portion.
• the guide portion is a first guide portion and the rib is a first rib
• the optical guide comprising a second guide portion and a second rib adjacent to the web.
• the sheet comprises two main and opposite faces, at least one of said faces comprises zones with means for outputting light from one of said faces, forming lighting zones.
• the light output means on one of the main faces of the sheet include a graining.
• the graining has an average grain size greater than 20pm and / or less than 40pm.
• the invention also relates to a light module comprising: at least one light source; at least one optical guide capable of being supplied with light by the at least one light source; remarkable in that the at least one optical guide conforms to the invention.
• the at least one optical guide further comprises a sheet adjacent to the rib and optically connected to the guide portion by said sheet, the sheet comprising two main and opposite faces , at least one of said faces comprising areas with means for outputting light from one of said faces in lighting areas, and the module further comprises a mask disposed against the web, said mask comprising windows aligned with the zones provided with means for emitting light.
• the mask is made of transparent or translucent material and includes a paint delimiting the windows.
• the windows of the mask have grained faces facing the web.
• the invention also relates to a light device for a motor vehicle, comprising at least one light signaling light module; remarkable in that the at least one light module conforms to the invention.
• the light device is a projector and further comprises at least one light module for lighting.
• the at least one optical guide further comprises a ply adjacent to the rib and optically connected to the guide portion by said ply, the ply comprising two main and opposite faces , at least one of said faces comprising zones with means for outputting light from one of said faces in lighting zones, the guide portion or portions extend mainly transversely and the sheet extends from said portion or portions guiding mainly longitudinally forward, the zones of lighting of the sheet being located on an upper main face of said sheet.
• the invention also relates to a light module comprising: at least one light source; at least one optical guide with a tubular and rounded guide portion, forming with the external environment a tubular and rounded diopter, said portion being capable of guiding light along the main direction by successive reflections on the diopter, and a tablecloth optically connected to said portion and able to be supplied with light by said portion and to form lighting zones; and a mask disposed against the web, said mask comprising windows aligned with the lighting zones.
• the mask is made of transparent or translucent material and comprises a paint delimiting the windows.
• the windows of the mask have grained faces facing the web.
• the lighting zones extend beyond the corresponding windows so as to avoid parallax defects.
• the sheet comprises two main and opposite faces, at least one of said faces comprises zones with means for outputting light from one of said faces, forming the lighting zones.
• the light output means on one of the main faces of the sheet include a graining.
• the graining has an average grain size greater than 20pm and / or less than 40pm.
• the measures of the invention are advantageous in that they make it possible to perform a light signaling function of potentially complex shape while ensuring good light uniformity according to different points of observation at the front of the light module.
• Varying the shape of the rib along the guide portion allows the amount of light to be adjusted according to the light requirements. In other words, this modulation makes it possible not only to compensate for the gradual decrease in light along the guide portion but also to dose the quantity of light distributed as required. For reasons notably of homogeneity, it is indeed possible that the quantity of light required along the guide portion is not constant.
• the modulation by the shape of the rib thus gives great freedom, especially for complex shapes and configurations.
• the fact of varying the shape of the rib at the level of its thickness and at the level of its inclination also makes it possible to form profiles on the two opposite faces of the optical guide, at the level of the rib, particularly favorable to the production of said guide by plastic injection, in particular at the level of demolding.
• the release is particularly delicate for large and thin parts, typically extended over more than 150mm and with an average thickness of less than 7mm, which is precisely the case in the embodiment below.
• the embossing of the exit face of the sheet is advantageous for bringing out the light and can be produced during molding.
• a mask of transparent or translucent material covered with an opacifying coating so as to leave windows is also advantageous because it makes it possible to obtain a very satisfactory optical result, with very good luminous homogeneity along windows and avoiding parallax defects.
• FIG. 1 is a perspective and front view of a projector according to the invention, comprising a light module also according to the invention.
• FIG. 2 is a perspective and front view of the mask of the projector of Figure 1.
• FIG. 3 is a perspective and front view of the optical guide disposed behind and under the mask of Figure 2 in the projector of Figure 1.
• FIG. 4 is a rear perspective representation of the optical guide of Figure 3.
• FIG. 5 is an enlarged representation of a central part of the optical guide of Figure 4.
• FIG. 6 is a representation from another angle of the central part of the optical guide, of Figure 5.
• FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the central part of the optical guide, of Figure 5.
• FIG. 8 is a view from another angle of the section of Figure 7, with the mask of Figure 2.
• Figure 9 is a detail view in section of the optical guide near the light entry face.
• Figure 10 corresponds to Figure 9 at a distance from the light entry face.
• FIG. 1 1 is a perspective and front view of the optical guide of Figures 3 to 10, showing a surface treatment, of the graining type, intended to exit the light upwards.
• Figure 12 corresponds to Figure 1 1 illustrating, in addition, the mask transmission windows of Figure 2.
• Figure 1 illustrates a headlamp 2 for a motor vehicle, in this case a left headlamp, it being understood that the right headlamp is symmetrical to the left headlamp with respect to a longitudinal and vertical plane of symmetry.
• the projector 2 comprises a housing 4 forming a cavity open towards the front, the latter being closed by a glass (not visible).
• the cavity contains two lighting modules 6 and 8 for so-called code (in English "low-beam”) and route (in English "high-beam”) functions. It also contains a light module 10 of the daytime running light type or DRL (acronym of the English expression "Daytime Running Light”).
• the cavity of the headlight 2 further comprises a light signaling module 12 situated in this case between the daytime running light module 10 and the code and driving modules 6 and 8. It is a style light module intended to be permanently on. As can be seen in FIG.
• the projector 2 includes for this purpose a mask 14 with apertures for the day module 10 and comprising transparent windows corresponding to the light strips of the style signaling module 12.
• Figure 2 illustrates in perspective the mask 14 of the projector of Figure 1.
• the mask 14 includes openings 14.1, 14.2 and 14.3 for the daytime running light module 10 ( Figure 1). It also includes elongated windows, in this case three transparent windows 14.4 intended to form the light strips of the style 12 signaling module.
• the mask 14 is advantageously made of transparent or translucent material covered, on the external face, with a layer opaque paint 14.5 except windows 14.4. More particularly, the mask 14 is advantageously a piece in one piece produced by injecting plastic material into a mold.
• Figures 3 and 4 are two perspective views of an optical guide 16 of the style 12 signaling module ( Figure 1) disposed behind and under the mask 14 ( Figures 1 and 2).
• Figure 3 is a front view of the optical guide 16 oriented essentially according to its mounting position in the projector as illustrated in Figure 1 while Figure 4 is a rear view.
• the optical guide 16 is made of transparent or translucent material, advantageously in one piece, produced by injecting plastic material into a mold.
• the optical guide 16 is generally extended and essentially comprises a guide portion 18.1 and 18.2, tubular and rounded, and an adjacent ply 20 and connected to the guide portion 18.1 and 18.2. More particularly, the optical guide 16 comprises two guide portions 18.1. and 18.2 arranged one in the extension of the other, along the rear edge of the ply 20. Each of the guide portions 18.1 and 18.2 is fed at one end, at an entry face, by a specific light source. It is understood that the number of guide portions may vary and depend in particular on the length of the sheet to be supplied with light and also on the space available for accommodating light sources. The light gradually leaves the guide by a rib connecting the guide portion to the sheet. The tablecloth is thus supplied with light all along its rear edge.
• the guide portions are generally tubular with a cross section having a rounded profile such as a circle or an oval, so as to be able to guide the light by successive reflections on the diopter formed by the outer surface in contact with Ambiant air.
• FIGs 5 and 6 are rear detail views of the central part of the optical guide of Figures 3 and 4. It shows the end of the first guide portion 18.1 and especially the start of the second guide portion 18.2 .
• Each of the guide portions 18.1 and 18.2 is connected to the ply 20 by a rib 22.1 and 22.2 respectively. It can be observed that these ribs 22.1 and 22.2 form grooves on the upper and lower faces of the optical guide 16, essentially due to the thickness and the inclination of the ribs in question.
• Each of the portions of guide 18.1 and 18.2 has at one of its ends a light entry face. In FIG. 6, the entry face 18.2.1 of the second guide portion 18.2 is visible. Fixing means, such as positioning pins, are visible near the entry face 18.2.1 of the second guide portion. Similar means are also provided at the other ends of the guide portions 18.1 and 18.2, namely near the entry face of the first guide portion 18.1 (on the left in FIG. 4) and at the end of the second guide portion 18.2 (right in Figure 4).
• Figures 7 and 8 are two sectional views of the central part of the optical guide, illustrated in Figures 5 and 6.
• FIG 7 we can observe the rib 22.2 connecting the web 20 to the guide portion 18.2 and the grooves that form said rib at the upper and lower faces of the optical guide 16.
• the rib 22.2. has an evolving shape so as to progressively promote the light output from the guide portion 18.2 towards the sheet 20, as one moves away from the light source, so as to compensate for the progressive loss of light .
• the sectional view in Figure 7 is close to the entry face 18.2.1 visible in Figure 6.
• the amount of light transmitted by the guide portion 18.2 is therefore still important.
• the rib 22.2 has a shape which is not very favorable to the transmission of light towards the sheet 20, while further downstream along the main direction of the guide portion 18.2, the shape of the rib 22.2 progressively evolves. to favor the transmission of light towards the sheet in order to ensure a homogeneous distribution of the light all along the guide portion.
• the direction in which the shape of the rib changes namely by decreasing or increasing the fraction of light passing through the guide portion which has left said portion, along the guide portion may be different , depending in particular on the location of the light source (s) and the light requirements.
• the thickness of the rib allows a fairly direct influence on the amount of light transmitted to the web.
• the rib 22.2 has a limited thickness near the light entry face and progressively more significant downstream along the guide portion 18.2.
• Other parameters of the shape of the rib are also likely to influence the amount of light transmitted to the web, such as the inclination of the rib relative to a direction passing through the center of the guide portion and the area of junction of the rib.
• FIG. 8 illustrates the correspondence between the optical guide 16 and the mask 14, more particularly at the level of the windows 14.4 forming the light bands.
• the sheet 20 comprises means for exiting from the upper face the light passing through the sheet by successive reflections along its extent. These means may include embossing on the outlet face and are detailed below in connection with FIG. 10.
• Figures 9 and 10 detailed sectional views of the guide portion and the rib connecting it to the web, Figure 9 illustrating a rib shape less favorable to the transmission of light to the web and Figure 10 illustrating a more favorable form of light transmission to the sheet.
• Figure 9 essentially corresponds to the configuration of Figure 7.
• the rib 22.1, 22.2 extends in a main direction 24.1, 24.2 with an average thickness e, and forms an angle a with a radial direction passing the area d adjacent to the guide portion 18.1, 18.2.
• a small thickness e decreases the fraction of light leaving the guide portion, per unit length of said guide, and vice versa.
• a low angle increases the fraction of light exiting the guide portion, per unit length of said guide, and vice versa.
• the rays of light which propagate along the guide portion 18.1 and 18.2 are likely to leave the guide and undergo a reflection in the rib at a distance from said portion or in the web mainly when the rib is aligned with the radius passing through the region of adjacent rib to the guide portion, in other words when the angle a is zero.
• this angle is large, a portion of spokes reflecting on the region of the rib adjacent to the guide portion will remain in said portion.
• Another part of the rays will be reflected multiple times in this area and then in the rest of the rib before reaching the tablecloth. This means that the re-entry of these outgoing rays into the water table takes place further downstream.
• the thicker the rib the greater will be the number of spokes which exit from the guide portion towards the web.
• the thickness e of the rib 22.1 and 22.2 may have a minimum value of 0.3mm and have a variation of more than 1 mm, preferably more than 1.5mm.
• the maximum value of the thickness e of the rib is less than the average diameter of the guide portion, preferably less than 70% of said diameter.
• FIG. 10 illustrates a shape of the rib 22.1, 22.2 which is more favorable for the light output towards the sheet, due to the greater thickness e and the smaller angle a, in comparison with the configuration of Figure 9.
• Figure 1 1 is a representation of the optical guide 16, as in Figure 3 but showing however the light output means of the upper face of the sheet 20. These means consist of a graining 20.2 of certain areas of the upper face, while the rest of said face 20.1 remains smooth.
• the graining advantageously has a grain size greater than 20 ⁇ m and / or less than 40 ⁇ m.
• This embossing is advantageously carried out during the molding of the optical guide 16, by embossing of the zones concerned of the mold. Such embossing of the mold can be carried out by applying a laser beam.
• Figure 12 corresponds to Figure 1 1 with however shown the windows 14.4 of the mask, the latter however not being shown.
• optical guide, the style signaling module and the projector which have just been described are advantageous in that they make it possible to perform a signaling function of potentially complex shape while ensuring good homogeneity of light intensity, in particular from different points of view at the front of the projector, and this in an economical manner.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Planar Illumination Modules (AREA)
• Non-Portable Lighting Devices Or Systems Thereof (AREA)
• Optical Couplings Of Light Guides (AREA)
• Optical Elements Other Than Lenses (AREA)
• Light Guides In General And Applications Therefor (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=66286505

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (5)

Family Cites Families (12)

• 2018
  • 2018-12-18 FR FR1873210A patent/FR3090075B1/fr active Active
• 2019
  • 2019-12-17 US US17/414,013 patent/US11408581B2/en active Active
  • 2019-12-17 EP EP19832333.9A patent/EP3899362B1/de active Active
  • 2019-12-17 WO PCT/EP2019/085783 patent/WO2020127371A1/fr unknown
  • 2019-12-17 CN CN201980084244.3A patent/CN113227646B/zh active Active

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