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
  • F21S41/20—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters
  • F21S41/25—Projection lenses
  • F21S41/26—Elongated lenses
• • 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
  • B60Q1/30—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 rear of vehicle, e.g. by means of reflecting surfaces
• • 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
  • B60Q1/44—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 braking action or preparation for braking, e.g. by detection of the foot approaching the brake pedal
• • 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
  • B60Q1/50—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 other intentions or conditions, e.g. request for waiting or overtaking
  • B60Q1/503—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 other intentions or conditions, e.g. request for waiting or overtaking using luminous text or symbol displays in or on the vehicle, e.g. static text
• • 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]
  • F21S41/151—Light emitting diodes [LED] arranged in one or more lines
  • F21S41/153—Light emitting diodes [LED] arranged in one or more lines arranged in a matrix
• • 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
  • F21S43/10—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights characterised by the light source
  • F21S43/13—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights characterised by the light source characterised by the type of light source
  • F21S43/14—Light emitting diodes [LED]
• • 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
  • F21S43/26—Refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters not provided in groups F21S43/235 - F21S43/255

Definitions

• the invention relates to the field of light signaling for motor vehicles.
• the published patent document FR 3 077 117 A1 relates to a light signaling module for a motor vehicle, comprising a liquid crystal imager.
• the published patent document WO 2011/092121 A1 relates to a light signal module for a motor vehicle, comprising a surface light source of the OLED type (acronym for “organic light-emitting diode”) and a projection lens.
• a surface light source of the OLED type (acronym for “organic light-emitting diode”) and a projection lens.
• a pictogram display does not seem planned.
• the published patent document FR 3 048 059 A1 relates to a light signaling module for a motor vehicle, comprising a matrix of light sources and a projection lens.
• a pictogram display does not seem planned.
• the published patent document US 4,740,780 relates to a head-up display device, comprising a matrix type light source, in this case a matrix of 64 by 64 light points of the electroluminescence diode type, and a converging lens, the light matrix being arranged between the focus and the entrance face of the lens so as to project an enlarged image of the light matrix.
• this device is specifically designed for a head-mounted display. high intended to be placed in a dashboard in order to project light images towards the windshield.
• the invention aims to overcome at least one of the problems of the aforementioned state of the art. More particularly, the invention aims to propose a light module for a motor vehicle, capable of projecting light images containing in particular pictograms and which is economical from a manufacturing cost and/or use cost point of view.
• the subject of the invention is a light module for a motor vehicle, comprising an optical projection device with a focus, an entry face and an exit face; an imager forming a matrix of light sources, arranged between the focus and the entrance face so that the optical device can project an enlarged image of said imager; remarkable in that the imager has a width I and a height h, the entry face and/or the exit face have a width L and a height H, where L>l, H>h, and L-l>H-h , so that the light module has a horizontal field of view greater than a vertical field of view, when said light module is oriented in the mounting position on the motor vehicle.
• imager forming a matrix of light sources is meant a matrix of light sources whose light sources can be controlled individually or in groups, so as to selectively form different light images.
• the light sources may in particular be electroluminescence diodes (LED for "Light Emitting Diode”), in particular of the "miniLED” type whose dimension is between 100 and 300pm, or of the "MicroLED” type whose dimension is less than 100pm .
• the light sources can be arranged on a printed circuit board (PCB) or a monolithic type where the light sources are epitaxied on a substrate.
• the imager can also be a display, in particular of the “MicroLED” type on a “CMOS” type semiconductor, an acronym for “Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor”.
• the light source matrix has at least two rows and two columns. According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the lines are oriented in the direction of the width of the imager, and the columns are oriented in the direction of the height of the imager.
• the matrix of light sources comprises a number of columns strictly greater than the number of lines.
• the light source matrix has more light sources in the width direction than in the height direction.
• the matrix of light sources comprises at least 20 lines, in particular at least 50 lines.
• the matrix of light sources comprises at least 50 columns, in particular at least 100 columns.
• a high number of rows and/or columns improves the definition of the projected image.
• the matrix of light sources has at most 200 lines.
• the matrix of light sources has at most 400 columns.
• field of view we mean a field in which the image of the imager can be observed by an observer located on the side of the projection.
• the imager comprises a center in a vertical direction and the optical projection device comprises an optical axis, said center being offset vertically, preferably downwards, relative to said optical axis, when the module light is oriented in the mounting position.
• the focus of the projection device is located on said optical axis.
• the optical projection device comprises a single optical axis.
• the optical projection device thus differs of a matrix of optical projection devices which would have several optical axes, each linked to one of the optical projection devices of the matrix.
• the distance between the edges of two adjacent light sources is greater than or equal to half the dimension of each of said adjacent light sources.
• dimension we understand the greatest length that can be measured on the emitting surface of the light source.
• the distance between the edges of two adjacent light sources is between one time and ten times the dimension of each of said adjacent light sources.
• each source is square or rectangular in shape.
• each source is circular in shape.
• the filling factor is less than or equal to 50%, in particular less than or equal to 25%.
• the filling factor is greater than or equal to 1%. This value ensures sufficient overall brightness of the light source matrix.
• the light rays coming from the light sources of the matrix of light sources directly impact the optical projection device.
• No intermediate optical element is placed between the matrix of light sources and the optical projection device.
• a projection of the imager on the entry face, along an optical axis of the projection device, is completely included in said entry face, when the light module is oriented in the position disassembly.
• the imager is arranged between the focus and the entrance face so as to obtain an enlargement rate of the projected image of between 1.5 and 2.5.
• the optical projection device has a horizontal optical power Ph and a vertical optical power Pv, where Ph ⁇ Pv, when the light module is oriented in the mounting position.
• optical power we mean the vergence of the optical projection device, corresponding to the inverse of the focal length.
• the optical projection device has a horizontal magnification Gh and a vertical magnification Gv, where Gh Gv, preferably Gh ⁇ Gv, when the light module is oriented in the mounting position.
• the optical projection device is a lens, preferably comprising an anti-reflection treatment on the entry face and/or on the exit face.
• the optical projection device comprises several lenses arranged one behind the other in the direction of travel of the light, in particular comprises one or more doublets. This makes it possible to correct aberrations present with a single lens.
• the lens extends horizontally over at least 80% of the width L with a constant cross section.
• the invention also relates to a light device comprising a housing, a glass for closing the housing, and a light module housed in the housing, in which the light module is according to the invention, the optical projection device being a lens formed directly on an interior face of the closing window.
• the measures of the invention are advantageous in that they make it possible to enlarge the imager while optimizing the luminance in the horizontal and vertical fields of view required for a light signaling device on a motor vehicle.
• FIG 1 is a view from the top of a motor vehicle, illustrating the horizontal field of view that a rear light must provide;
• FIG 2 is a side view of a motor vehicle, illustrating the vertical field of view that the rear light must provide;
• FIG 3 is a schematic side representation of a light module according to a first embodiment of the invention.
• FIG 4 is a rear view of the imager and light module lens in Figure 3.
• FIG 5 is a schematic side representation of two variants of the light module of Figure 3, corresponding to different magnification rates.
• FIG 6 is a schematic side representation of another variation of the light module of Figure 3.
• FIG 7 is a perspective representation of a light module according to a second embodiment of the invention.
• FIG 8 is a perspective representation of a glass of a light device according to the invention, on which the projection lens is directly formed.
• FIG. 1 is a representation, seen from above, of a motor vehicle 2 equipped with a light device forming a rear light 4, in this case a light left rear, likely to be observed and correctly perceived by following motorists located behind.
• the vehicle 4 moves on a central traffic lane while the two following motor vehicles each move on a traffic lane located laterally to the so-called central traffic lane.
• Each of the two motorists located respectively in each of the following motor vehicles, whether they are the driver of a left-hand drive or right-hand drive vehicle, must be able to correctly perceive the light signal of the rear light 4 from a certain distance.
• the rear light 4 has an optical axis 6 which is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle 2.
• the field of view of the rear light 4 extends horizontally on either side of the optical axis 6, and symmetrically.
• the field of view thus extends horizontally by approximately +/- a relative to the optical axis 6, in this case by +/- 40° relative to said axis.
• This is a minimum desirable field of view, particularly in line with the regulations relating to motor vehicles. It is notably greater than the horizontal extension of the photometric grids defined by this regulation, which is generally +/- 20°.
• Figure 2 is a representation, in side view, of the vehicle 4 of Figure 1.
• a following motorist which may correspond to one of the two following motor vehicles in Figure 1.
• the following vehicle could also move on the same lane as the motor vehicle 2 equipped with the light device of the present presentation.
• the field of view of the rear light 4 extends vertically on either side of the optical axis 6, and asymmetrically, namely from +p upwards and -y downwards.
• Figure 3 is a schematic side view of a light module according to the invention, which can then be integrated into the rear light 4 of the motor vehicle 2 illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.
• the light module 8 comprises an imager 10 forming a matrix 10.1 of light sources, preferably of the electroluminescence diode (LED) type. It is therefore a generally planar and matrix imager in which each pixel is luminous. Each of the light sources or pixels can be electrically powered individually, in particular so as to produce a light image stylized as a pictogram, a symbol or even text. It is understood, however, that the imager 10 can also form more basic light images such as a rectangle or a square, in particular to provide one or more classic light signaling functions such as a stop function, direction indicators, lantern, fog light, light reversing, etc.
• the light module also includes an optical projection device which is in this case embodied by a lens 12.
• the latter conventionally comprises an entry face 12.1, an exit face 12.2 and a focus 12.3.
• This is a converging lens which can notably be of the plano-convex, biconvex or even meniscus-shaped type.
• the imager 10 is located between the focus 12.3 and the entry face 12.1 of the lens 12, in this case at a distance from said focus 12.3 and said entry face 12.1, so that the lens 12 can project an enlarged image of the imager 10.
• the virtual enlarged image 10' is represented at focus 12.3.
• the positioning of the imager 10 between the entry face 12.1 of the lens 12, in this case at a distance from said focus 12.3 and said entry face 12.1, is advantageous in that it makes it possible to project a light image with a given luminance while reducing the size, cost and electrical consumption of the imager 10 in comparison with a situation where the projection lens would be absent and the imager would have the size of the desired light image. Indeed, it is easy to understand that the fact of enlarging the light image by means of the optical projection device, being in this case a lens 12, makes it possible to reduce the size and cost of the imager.
• the gain in energy efficiency is explained by the fact that the size of the light image formed through the lens is larger than the image of the imager, and in that the luminance of the light image, which is precisely the visible light flux emitted by a surface element of the The image in a given direction, per unit of surface and per unit of solid angle, is unchanged during optical enlargement by the lens 12. More precisely, the luminance of the image is equal to the luminance of the imager itself, excluding light losses when passing through the optical device, such as for example the Fresnel reflection factors at the interfaces, and the absorption of the material(s) making up the optical device. In other words, only these losses are likely to reduce the luminance of the image.
• the entry face 12.1 of the lens being more extensive than the imager 10, but also more extensive than the light image of the imager, no ray coming from the edge of the imager is obscured by the edge of the lens so that the image is seen entirely by an observer - without vignetting.
• the electrical power consumed by the imager is much lower than the power consumed by a larger imager, having the size of the desired light image, and without a projection lens. It is understood, however, that what has just been described applies for a luminance in directions close to that of the optical axis, that is to say in the horizontal and vertical fields of view as described below. before in relation to Figures 1 and 2.
• Figure 4 is a rear view of the imager and the optical projection device of the light module of Figure 2, in the direction of the optical axis.
• Figure 4 illustrates an asymmetry between the imager and the optical projection device, being in this case a projection lens, making it possible to optimize the luminance of the light image in the horizontal and vertical fields of view described above in relation to figures 1 and 2.
• the projection lens 12 is extended more horizontally than vertically with respect to the imager 10. The reason is to be able to capture more horizontally diverging light rays and thus ensure sufficient luminance in the larger horizontal field of view. than the vertical field of view.
• the imager 10 and the projection lens 12 are rectangular, it being understood that other shapes are possible.
• the imager 10 has a width I and a height h
• the projection lens at least its entry face and/or its exit face, has a width L and a height H.
• Each of the width L and the height H of the projection lens 12 is greater than the width I and the height h of the imager 10, respectively.
• the width L is greater than the width I than the height H is greater than the height h, namely Ll>Hh. More particularly, this asymmetry can be expressed by the relationship Ll>n (Hh), where n is greater than or equal to 1, more particularly greater than or equal to 2, preferably 3, and/or less than or equal to 5.
• the imager 10 can be decentered vertically, in this case downwards, relative to the optical projection device, being in this case a projection lens 12.
• This vertical decentering towards the bottom is explained by the asymmetry of the vertical field of view, as illustrated in Figure 2, namely where j3>y.
• the vertical decentering towards the bottom of the imager 10 makes it possible to collect more rays diverging upwards and thus to ensure sufficient luminance upwards following the angle
• the center of the imager is imaged in a direction which connects the center of the imager to the optical center of the projection lens 12 (namely its zone of maximum thickness).
• the center is imaged upwards and the overall image is located on an angular field more upwards than downwards, relative to a horizontal axis.
• Figure 5 is a schematic side representation of two variants of the light module of Figure 3, corresponding to different magnification rates.
• magnification rate can thus be greater than 2 since the distance between the focus 12.3 and the imager 10 is less than the distance between the imager 10 and the entrance face 12.1 of the projection lens.
• a particularly high magnification rate, for example above 3, can be interesting but has the limitation that the visual field, in which the projected image is visible, is reduced angularly.
• the growth rate of the light module of the invention is advantageously between 1.5 and 3, corresponding to a compromise between reduction in manufacturing and use costs and optical performance.
• Figure 6 is a schematic side representation of the light module of Figure 3 illustrating the downward offset of the imager relative to the projection lens, as shown in Figure 4.
• the projection lens 12 can be truncated at its lower edge, taking into account the smaller downward extent of the field of view.
• the imager 10 can be vertically centered with the projection lens, while the latter can be truncated in its lower part and thus present an apparent centering being in reality rather a vertical offset resulting from the truncated lower edge of the lens projection.
• Such an arrangement allows more upwardly diverging rays to be exploited for luminance in the upper part of the vertical field of view.
• Figure 7 is a perspective representation of a light module according to a second embodiment of the invention.
• the reference numbers of the first embodiment are used to designate the identical or corresponding elements of the second embodiment, these numbers being however increased by 100. Reference is also made to the description of these elements in the context of the first mode of achievement.
• the light module 108 of Figure 7 differs from that of the first embodiment in that the projection lens 112 extends horizontally with a constant section over a major part of this horizontal extent. This means that the projection lens 112 in question has zero or at least very low horizontal optical power Ph.
• the horizontal magnification Gh is then close to 1.
• the projected image therefore has a size close to that of the object, in the direction considered.
• optical power corresponds to the vergence or even the inverse of the focal length, that is to say the distance between the optical projection device, in this case the projection lens, and the focus.
• the magnification is a ratio of the size of a focal object to its image through the optical projection device, the size being in this case considered perpendicular to the optical axis of the optical projection device.
• the imager 110 also extends and similarly horizontally along the projection lens 112.
• the vertical optical power Pv and/or the vertical magnification Gv of the projection lens 112 thus makes it possible to ensure vertical magnification of the image projected while no horizontal magnification takes place or a significantly smaller horizontal magnification takes place.
• the light module in Figure 7 can be interesting for displaying pictograms in the form of text or at least a line of characters or signs.
• Figure 8 is a perspective representation of a closing glass of a housing (not shown) intended to receive a light module according to the invention, in particular according to the two embodiments described above, on which the lens of projection is directly formed.
• the glass 14 or 114 forms in a manner known and conventional in itself a transparent or translucent wall intended to be fixed along its periphery to the housing (not shown) intended to receive a light module according to the invention, in particular for the purposes of protecting said light module from bad weather and other attacks from the outside world.
• It is preferably made of plastic material, such as for example polycarbonate (PC) or polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), and for example produced by injection molding. It comprises an exterior face, intended to be outside the housing, and an interior face, intended to be inside said housing. It can be observed that the projection lens 12 or 112 is in contact with the interior face of the glass 14 or 114.
• the projection lens 12 or 112 is advantageously made of plastic material, such as for example polycarbonate (PC) or polymethacrylate methyl (PMMA), and for example produced by injection molding.
• plastic material such as for example polycarbonate (PC) or polymethacrylate methyl (PMMA)
• one of the glass 14 or 114 and the projection lens 12 or 112 is initially produced by injection of plastic material into a mold according to a first configuration, and then the other of the glass 14 or 114 and of the projection lens 12 or 112 is produced by injection of plastic material in the same mold but in a second configuration.
• the first configuration forms a volume corresponding to that of the glass 14 or 114 and the projection lens 12 or 112 which is initially formed, while the second configuration forms a larger volume corresponding to that of the glass 14 and the lens projection 12 or 112.
• the glass 14 or 114 and the projection lens are then co-molded. It is understood, however, that other methods or variants to the method described above are possible.
• the mold may include a single cavity having the shape of the projection lens 12 or 112 combined with the shape of the lens 14 or 114.
• the projection lens may have an anti-reflective coating on the exit face and/or on the entry face.
• the anti-reflection coating on the exit face is particularly advantageous in that it reduces the luminance of the external light reflected towards an observer and thus avoids a reduction in contrast between the light image of the imager and the reflected external light .
• the application of such an anti-reflective coating is also advantageous on the glass, particularly on the exterior side, for the same reasons as for the projection lens.
• the coating anti-reflection is then applied to the exterior face of the glass and/or to the entrance face of the projection lens.
• the anti-reflective coating mentioned above is in itself well known to those skilled in the art.
• the optical projection device can have a horizontal optical power Ph and a vertical optical power Pv greater than the horizontal optical power Ph.
• the optical projection device can have a horizontal magnification Gh and a vertical magnification Gv greater than the horizontal optical power Ph. at horizontal magnification Gh.
• Optical power and/or magnification may vary in directions perpendicular to the optical axis.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Microelectronics & Electronic Packaging (AREA)
• Optics & Photonics (AREA)
• Mathematical Physics (AREA)
• Non-Portable Lighting Devices Or Systems Thereof (AREA)
• Led Device Packages (AREA)
• Devices For Indicating Variable Information By Combining Individual Elements (AREA)
• Lenses (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=83188999

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

Family Cites Families (9)

• 2022
  • 2022-06-30 FR FR2206698A patent/FR3137438B1/fr active Active
• 2023
  • 2023-06-28 WO PCT/EP2023/067644 patent/WO2024003133A1/fr not_active Ceased
  • 2023-06-28 CN CN202380054776.9A patent/CN119585568A/zh active Pending
  • 2023-06-28 EP EP23736079.7A patent/EP4548005A1/de active Pending

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