Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60Q1/00—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor
  • B60Q1/0017—Devices integrating an element dedicated to another function
  • B60Q1/0023—Devices integrating an element dedicated to another function the element being a sensor, e.g. distance sensor, camera
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60Q9/00—Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00, e.g. haptic signalling
  • B60Q9/008—Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00, e.g. haptic signalling for anti-collision purposes
• • 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
  • F21S41/28—Cover glass
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G02—OPTICS
  • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
  • G02B5/00—Optical elements other than lenses
  • G02B5/003—Light absorbing elements
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60Q1/00—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor
  • B60Q1/02—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments
  • B60Q1/04—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments the devices being headlights
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60Q1/00—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor
  • B60Q1/26—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic
  • B60Q1/34—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic for indicating change of drive direction

Definitions

• Optical module comprising a camera and an optical deflection element
• the present invention relates to an optical module for a vehicle. It finds a particular but non-limiting application in motor vehicles.
• an example known to those skilled in the art of an optical module 6 for a vehicle comprises:
• a camera 60 comprising a set of optical lenses 600
• a housing 61 configured to receive said camera 60
• At least one light source 63 configured to emit light rays RI to illuminate said protective lens 62, said at least light source 63 being arranged next to housing 61 of said camera 60.
• the camera 60 is used to monitor the environment outside the vehicle and is used for driving assistance functions such as parking assistance, overtaking assistance; and security functions such as automatic braking in the event of detection of pedestrians or bicycles crossing in front of said vehicle. It generates images of the environment outside the vehicle, images which in non-limiting embodiments:
• the latter displays the images of the camera 60 on his on-board screen, and/or,
• a disadvantage of this state of the art is that the light rays RI from said at least one light source 63 are reflected on the inner surface 62.2 of the protective lens 62 thus creating primary reflections rl as illustrated in Figure 1. These primary reflections rl are 1st order reflections. Some of these primary reflections rl return to the lens assembly 600 as shown in Figure 1. turn on the inner surface 62.2 of said protective lens 62 and thus create secondary reflections r2, some of which also return to the set of lenses 600 as illustrated in FIG. 1, and so on. All of these so-called multiple reflections including, among other things, the primary reflections r1 and the secondary reflections r2 inside the set of optical lenses 600 and will thus interfere with the FoV field of view of the camera 60.
• the present invention aims to provide an optical module that solves the drawback mentioned.
• the invention proposes an optical module for a vehicle, said optical module comprising:
• a camera comprising a set of optical lenses and having a field of vision
• said optical module further comprises at least one element optical deflection configured to deflect the multiple reflections on said protective lens of all or part of the light rays emitted by said at least one light source so as to prevent them from returning to all of the optical lenses of said camera.
• the reflections of the light rays from said at least one light source will not return to all of the optical lenses of the camera. Thus, they will not interfere with the field of view of the camera. This way, there will be no stray light on the camera images.
• said optical module may further include one or more additional characteristics taken alone or in any technically possible combination, among the following.
• said at least one optical deflection element is a groove which originates on the internal diopter of said protective lens.
• said groove has an internal surface covered with black paint.
• said groove comprises prisms.
• said outer diopter of said protective lens comprises a curved surface arranged facing said at least one light source.
• said at least one optical deflection element is made of a light-absorbing material.
• said at least one optical deflection element is arranged adjacent to said internal diopter of said protective lens and extends along said internal diopter.
• said at least one optical deflection element is formed by prisms located on the internal diopter of said protective lens.
• said at least one optical deflection element is a cavity on the internal diopter of said protective lens and arranged facing the field of view of the camera.
• all or part of said at least one optical deflection element is arranged on the optical path of said multiple reflections.
• said protective lens is a logo of said vehicle, or an exit window of a front headlight of said vehicle, or a front face grille of said vehicle, or an exit window of a rear light, or a luminous repeater.
• said groove is arranged on the optical path of said multiple reflections.
• said groove is configured to further deflect certain light rays.
• said groove is arranged on the optical path of certain light rays.
• said groove is arranged outside the field of vision of said camera.
• said groove is arranged outside the field of vision of said at least one light source.
• the prisms are located on the inner surface of the groove.
• said light-absorbing material is placed inside or outside of said protective lens.
• said light-absorbing material is placed outside the field of view of said camera.
• said light-absorbing material is placed outside the field of vision of said at least one light source.
• the prisms are directed towards the inside of the protective lens.
• the prisms are directed towards the outside of the protective lens.
• FIG. 1 is a schematic top view of an optical module for a vehicle, said optical module comprising a camera, a housing for said camera, a protective lens, and at least one light source, according to the state of the prior art ,
• FIG. 2 is a schematic top view of an optical module for a vehicle, said optical module comprising a camera, a housing for said camera, a protective lens, at least one light source, and at least one optical deflection element, according to a first non-limiting embodiment of the invention
• FIG. 3 is a zoomed view of part of said optical module of Figure 2, according to a non-limiting embodiment
• FIG. 4 is a schematic top view of an optical module of FIG. 2, according to a first variant embodiment of the first non-limiting embodiment
• FIG. 5 is a schematic top view of an optical module of FIG. 2, according to a second variant embodiment of the first non-limiting embodiment
• FIG. 7 is a schematic top view of an optical module for a vehicle, said optical module comprising a camera, a housing for said camera, a protective lens, at least one light source, and at least one optical deflection element, according to a second non-limiting embodiment of the invention,
• FIG. 8 is a schematic top view of an optical module for a vehicle, said optical module comprising a camera, a housing for said camera, a protective lens, at least one light source, and at least one optical deflection element, according to a third non-limiting embodiment of the invention,
• FIG. 9 is a schematic top view of an optical module for a vehicle, said optical module comprising a camera, a housing for said camera, a protective lens, at least a light source, and at least one optical deflection element, according to a third non-limiting embodiment of the invention.
• the optical module 1 for vehicle 2 is described with reference to Figures 2 to 9.
• the vehicle 2 is a motor vehicle.
• Motor vehicle means any type of motorized vehicle. This embodiment is taken as a non-limiting example in the remainder of the description. In the remainder of the description, vehicle 2 is thus otherwise called motor vehicle 2.
• the optical module 1 for motor vehicle 2 comprises:
• the camera 10 includes an optical lens assembly 100.
• the optical lens assembly 100 includes one or more optical lenses.
• the camera 10 has a FoV1 field of view shown in alternating lines in the figures.
• the camera 10 generates images it of the external environment of the motor vehicle 2. In other words, it generates images it relating to a scene of the external environment.
• the camera 10 thus detects moving objects such as other vehicles, pedestrians, bicycles, etc. or static objects such as sidewalks, road markings, buildings, trees etc.
• the camera 10 is used for driving assistance functions.
• the images 11 are displayed on the dashboard of the motor vehicle 2 and allow the driver of the motor vehicle 2 to perform maneuvers for parking said motor vehicle 2, overtaking another vehicle in non-limiting examples.
• the images il allow the driver to see at an intersection the vehicles coming from the right and from the left in order to know whether he can cross the intersection in complete safety or not.
• the images 11 are images from a reversing camera. They thus make it possible to see the pedestrians who are behind the motor vehicle 2 and thus allow the driver to carry out a reversing maneuver in complete safety without crushing pedestrians.
• the camera 10 is used for security functions such as as automatic braking in the event that the camera 10 has detected pedestrians or bicycles crossing in front of the motor vehicle 2 in a non-limiting example.
• the camera 10 is used for autonomous driving functions such as an autonomous parking function.
• camera 10 is a wide-angle camera.
• the camera 10 has an angle of 170° horizontally in total with respect to the vehicle axis Ax.
• the camera 10 is placed at the front, at the rear or on a side of said motor vehicle 2.
• the camera 10 is positioned:
• the housing 11 is configured to receive the camera 10.
• the interior surface 11.2 of the housing 11 is black and non-reflecting. To be non-reflective, it is in a non-limiting embodiment, covered with a matte paint. This makes it possible to conceal the camera 10 from outside the motor vehicle 2. Thus, an observer outside the motor vehicle 2 will not see the camera 10 if he is looking at the optical module 1.
• the protective lens 12 is the logo itself
• the protection lens 12 is the front face grid.
• Said at least one light source 13, otherwise called light source 13, is configured to illuminate the protective lens 12.
• it illuminates either a logo to create an illuminated logo, or a front face grille to create an illuminated front face grille, ie the exit window of a front headlight when it is the light source of the front headlight.
• Said light source 13 is arranged next to the camera 10.
• the optical module 1 comprises a plurality of light sources 12 as shown in Figure 8 where it comprises two light sources 12 Said at least one light source 13 has a FoV2 field of view.
• said at least one light source 13 is a semiconductor light source.
• the semiconductor light source is part of a light emitting diode.
• light-emitting diode we mean any type of light-emitting diode, whether in non-limiting examples LED (“Light Emitting Diode”), OLED (“organic LED”), AMOLED (Active-Matrix-Organic LED), or FOLED (Flexible OLED).
• the light source 13 is illustrated on the left of the camera 10 in a non-limiting example. It is located behind the protective lens 12 with respect to an observer who is outside the motor vehicle 2.
• the two light sources 13 are illustrated on the left and on the right of the camera 10 in a non-limiting example. They are behind the protective lens 12 relative to an observer who is outside the motor vehicle 2.
• the optical module 1 comprises a single optical deflection element 14 as illustrated in Figures 2 to 8.
• the non-limiting embodiment with a single optical deflection element 14 is taken as a non-limiting example.
• the optical deflection element 14 is configured to deflect the multiple reflections r on said protective lens 12 of all or part of the light rays RI emitted by said at least one light source 13 and some of said light rays RI so to prevent them from returning to the set of optical lenses 100 of said camera 10 and consequently to prevent them from interfering with its field of vision FoV1.
• These light rays R are those which can be reflected on the internal surface 12.2 of the protection lens 12 and which can return to the set of optical lenses 100 of the camera 10 by multiple reflections r.
• the optical deflection element 14 is configured to deflect the multiple reflections r on said protective lens 12 of all the light rays RI from said at least one light source 13 and some of said light rays RI so as to prevent them from returning to all of the optical lenses 100 of said camera 10.
• the optical deflection element 14 thus prevents the multiple reflections r of certain light rays RI, otherwise called parasitic reflections r, from interfering with the field of view FoV1 of the camera 10.
• the multiple reflections r include the reflections of order 1, reflections of order 2 and all other reflections of order n, with n an integer.
• the reflections of order 1 are those which come from the light rays RI which are reflected on the internal surface 12.2 of the protection lens 12.
• the reflections of order 2 are those which come from the reflections of order 1 which are reflected on the internal surface 12.2 of the protection lens 12.
• only the reflections r1 and reflections r2 have been illustrated in the figures.
• optical deflection element 14 is configured:
• the optical deflection element 14 is a groove which originates on the internal diopter 12b of the protective lens 12.
• the groove 14 is arranged outside the field of vision FoV1 of the camera 10 and out of the field of vision FoV2 of the light source 13.
• the groove 14 is arranged on the optical path of the multiple reflections r of all or part of the light rays R1 and on the optical path of certain rays light R1 emitted by the light source 13.
• the groove 14 is arranged on the optical path of the multiple reflections r of all the light rays RI and on the optical path of certain light rays RI emitted by the light source 13.
• the transmitted ray Rl has an exit angle of incidence (3 less than an entry angle a (inside the groove 14)
• the exit angle of incidence (3) is defined with respect to the normal to the groove 14 along its longitudinal axis.
• the transmitted ray R1" emerges from the groove 14 with the exit angle of incidence (3) such that it will not reach the set of optical lenses 100 of the camera 10. Thanks to the groove 14, the exit angle of incidence (3 approaches the normal N with respect to the light ray Rl. Thus, the groove 14 makes it possible to reduce the exit angle of incidence (3 of the transmitted ray Rl.
• the entrance reflection angle of incidence 01 is equal to l angle of incidence of inlet reflection ⁇ 2 and it is greater with the groove 14 than without the groove 14 which makes it possible to properly direct said reflections r1 so that they do not return to all of the optical lenses 100 of the camera 10.
• the angle of incidence of input reflection ⁇ 1 and the angle of incidence output reflection 02 are defined with respect to the normal to the outer diopter 12a.
• the black paint b also makes it possible to stop the multiple reflections r which come from other reflections r or from light rays R1 which are reflected on the internal surface 12.2 of the protective lens In the nonlimiting example illustrated, it can be seen that the black paint b stops the reflections rl of a light ray R which is reflected on the internal surface 12.2 on the external diopter side 12a of the protective lens 12.
• the groove 14 comprises prisms 141 (illustrated).
• the prisms 141 deflect the light rays R1 and their reflections r so that they are not directed in the direction of the field of view FoV1 of the camera.
• the prisms 141 are adapted to direct the light rays R1 in privileged directions, directions different from those which tend towards the camera 10.
• the prisms 141 are located on the internal surface 14.2 of the groove 14.
• the outer diopter 12a of the protective lens 12 comprises a curved surface 12a.1 arranged facing the light source 13, in particular in its field of vision FoV2.
• the curved surface 12a.1 is therefore placed outside the field of view FoV1 of the camera 10.
• the curved surface 12a.1 will amplify the phenomenon of deviation produced by the groove 14 so that the light rays R1 and the multiple reflections r already deviated by the groove 14 will be deviated even further away from the camera 10, here to the left. Thanks to the curved surface 12a.1, no light ray R1 or multiple reflections r will be directed to the right in the direction of the camera 10.
• the curved surface 12a.1 is offset to the left of the groove next to said groove 14.
• the optical deflection element 14 is made of a light absorbing material.
• the deflection element 14 is arranged on the optical path of the multiple reflections r of all or part of the light rays RI emitted by said at least one light source 10, namely those which risk returning to all of the optical lenses 100 of the camera 10.
• the light-absorbing material is black-tinted polycarbonate with a high linear absorption coefficient.
• the optical deflection element 14 is arranged adjacent to the internal diopter 12b of the protective lens 12 and extends along said internal diopter 12b. In one illustrated non-limiting embodiment, the optical deflection element 14 is located inside the protective lens 12.
• the optical deflection element 14 is disposed close to the housing 11 of the camera 10 outside the field of vision FoV1 of the camera 10 and also outside the field of vision FoV2 of the light source 13. As can be seen in the figure, certain light rays RI which are reflected on the internal surface 12.2 of the protection lens 12 come on the internal diopter 12b at the level of the absorbent material 14 and will be absorbed by said absorbent material 14. It will be noted that the embodiment in which the optical deflection element 14 is located inside the protective lens 12 is more aesthetic than the embodiment in which it is located outside. It will be noted that the embodiment in which the optical deflection element 14 is located outside the protective lens 12 is easier to manufacture than the embodiment in which it is located inside.
• the optical deflection element 14 is formed by prisms 140 (illustrated) located on the internal diopter 12b of the protective lens 12, in particular along said internal diopter 12b.
• a surface part 12b.1 of the internal diopter 12b comprises said prisms 140.
• the optical deflection element 14 comprising the prisms 140 is placed on the optical path of the multiple reflections r on the said protective lens 12 of all or part of the light rays RI emitted by the light source 10, namely those which risk returning to the set of optical lenses 100 of the camera 10.
• the prisms 140 are arranged outside the field of view FoV1 of the camera 10.
• the prisms 140 are also arranged outside the field of vision FoV2 of the light source 13.
• the prisms 140 are adapted to direct the multiple reflections r (including rl) of the light rays RI in preferred directions, directions different from those which tend towards the camera 10.
• prisms 140 face inward from cover lens 12 (not shown) or face outward from cover lens 12 as illustrated in FIG. 8.
• the multiple reflections r of the light rays R1 which are reflected on the internal surface 12.2 of the protective lens 12 are deflected by the prisms 140 in a direction different from the direction of the camera 10 and will thus not be reflected on the set of optical lenses 100 of the camera 10 and consequently will not interfere with its field of vision FoV1.
• the embodiment in which the optical deflection element 14 comprising the prisms 140 is located outside the protective lens 12 is easier to manufacture than the embodiment in which it is located outside. interior.
• the optical deflection element 14 is a cavity which originates on the internal diopter 12b of said protective lens 12 and which is arranged facing the field of FoVl vision of the camera 10.
• Part of the cavity 14 is arranged on the optical path of multiple reflections r on said protection lens 12 of all or part of the light rays RI emitted by said at least one light source 10, namely those which risk return to interfere with the FoVl field of view of the camera 10.
• the cavity 14 is trapezoidal or curved.
• the cavity 14 comprises a bottom 14.4 and two sides 14.3 originating from each end of said bottom 14.4.
• the part which makes it possible to deviate the reflections r is composed of one or both sides 14.3.
• each side 14.3 is arranged to respectively deflect the multiple reflections r of certain light rays RI emitted by each light source 13.
• the cavity 14 the multiple reflections r of certain light rays RI so that they do not return to the camera 10.
• only the rl reflections have been illustrated.
• the optical module 1 comprises several optical deflection elements 14 according to any one of the non-limiting embodiments presented or according to any combination of the non-limiting embodiments presented.
• the prisms 141 are located on the external surface 14.1 of the groove 14 instead of the internal surface 14.2.
• the prisms 141 of the groove 14 can be replaced by graining.
• the prisms 140 of the optical deflection element 14 can be replaced by graining located on the internal diopter 12b of the protection lens 12.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Optics & Photonics (AREA)
• Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Lenses (AREA)
• Studio Devices (AREA)
• Structure And Mechanism Of Cameras (AREA)
• Camera Bodies And Camera Details Or Accessories (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

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ID=78049445

Family Applications (1)

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Family Cites Families (7)

• 2021
  • 2021-09-14 FR FR2109648A patent/FR3127037B1/fr active Active
• 2022
  • 2022-09-12 CN CN202280062355.6A patent/CN117980189A/zh active Pending
  • 2022-09-12 JP JP2024516520A patent/JP7763939B2/ja active Active
  • 2022-09-12 US US18/691,752 patent/US20250121766A1/en active Pending
  • 2022-09-12 WO PCT/EP2022/075242 patent/WO2023041472A1/fr not_active Ceased
  • 2022-09-12 EP EP22782700.3A patent/EP4402019A1/de active Pending

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