ES2966991T3 - Gloomy looking luminous device for automobile vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

Dull-looking luminous device (2) for a motor vehicle, comprising an optical housing (4) containing a light source (6A, 6B) and at least one optical reflector (16) arranged so as to direct a light beam emitted by the light source (6A, 6B), through an opening (14) of the optical housing, the opening (14) being closed by an external indicator light (18) in order to protect the light source (6A, 6B). 6B) and the optical reflector (16) against bad weather, characterized in that the external indicator light (18) has a dull appearance in daylight, and because a translucent screen (16) is inserted between the optical reflector (26). and the external light indicator (18), leaving the translucent screen (26) at a certain distance from the external light indicator (18). (Automatic translation with Google Translate, without legal value)

Description

DESCRIPTION

Gloomy looking luminous device for automobile vehicle

Technical field to which the invention refers

The present invention refers to the technical field of lighting and/or light signaling. It refers, more particularly, to a luminous and/or signaling device for a motor vehicle.

Background of the technique

Regulatory standards require that each motor vehicle be equipped with luminous devices, in order to warn road users of the presence and intentions of other drivers. We can mention, specifically, the position lights, located at the rear of the vehicle, red in color and of moderate intensity to indicate its position and the stop lights, also, red in color, but of stronger intensity to warn of the braking of the motor vehicle.

These luminous devices, an example of which is presented in the United States document US 4,153,928, include reflective surfaces that allow the light beam emitted by a light source to be directed outwards and in a desired direction. Metallic surfaces are favored due to their strong reflection coefficient, such as chrome or aluminum. In daylight, these metallic surfaces are characterized by a light tone color, which can create an unwanted contrast with the body color. This is the case, in particular, when the body is painted in a color whose tone is dark, which locally and markedly modifies the aesthetic appearance of the vehicle in daylight.

The purpose of the present invention is to solve this problem by proposing a luminous device whose external appearance, when turned off, is dark and homogeneous in color in daylight.

Object of the invention

In order to remedy the aforementioned drawback of the state of the art, the present invention proposes a lighting device for a motor vehicle, according to claim 1.

The outer light has an ombre or dark tone color, in order to shadow the interior of the optical housing when the luminous device is turned off and exposed to daylight. Preferably, the outer pilot light is characterized by a homogeneous color in daylight. According to the invention, a translucent screen is placed between the optical reflector and the outer pilot, to homogenize the daylight reflected by the different elements present inside the optical housing. The translucent screen is placed at a distance from the exterior pilot light, in order to attenuate the contrast in luminous intensity of daylight reflected by the different elements that make up the optical housing. Sufficient space is maintained between the translucent screen and the outer pilot, to promote better dissipation of humidity between the translucent screen and the outer pilot.

According to a preferred embodiment, the outer pilot light is black. Obviously, the color of the exterior light may vary depending on the color of the body of the motor vehicle on which the lighting device is intended to be mounted. In this way, the color of the outer pilot light can also be blue, red or another. According to another variant embodiment of the invention, the separation between the translucent screen and the external pilot is between 1 mm and 10 mm, preferably between 2 mm and 4 mm. These value ranges are favorable to obtain a luminous device with a very dark appearance in daylight and when it is off, while limiting its necessary space according to the direction of propagation of the light emitted by the light source of said device.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the outer pilot has a thickness between 2 mm and 3.5 mm, preferably of the order of 2.2 mm.

According to another variant embodiment of the invention, the external pilot light absorbs between 80% and 95% of the intensity of daylight, preferably of the order of 90%.

According to another variant embodiment of the invention, the optical housing is preferably opaque to daylight, so that daylight only penetrates the optical housing through the outer pilot light.

According to another variant embodiment of the invention, a light beam under normal incidence is diffused through the translucent screen, in a diffusion angle range between 0° and 41°, preferably between 0° and 20°. According to another variant embodiment of the invention, the translucent screen includes a visible pattern, through the external pilot light, when the light source is on. According to a preferred embodiment, the pattern is silk-screened and/or embedded in the translucent screen.

According to the invention, the luminous device comprises a frame, placed between the light source and the translucent screen, the frame includes at least one opening that allows at least part of the light beam emitted by the light source to pass through. Preferably, the frame masks at least a part of the interior of the housing, in order to promote greater homogenization of the light reflected from the interior of said housing.

According to a preferred embodiment, the frame closes a part of the optical housing that includes the light source.

According to the invention, the translucent screen covers at least in part the surface of the frame in front of the external pilot, preferably the translucent screen covers the entire surface of the frame in front of the external pilot. According to another embodiment variant, the surface of the frame in front of the outer pilot has a dark or dark tint color, preferably a color similar to the outer pilot or black. Preferably, the surface of the frame facing the outer pilot is parallel or substantially parallel to the outer pilot to promote a homogeneous tint of the outer pilot when the luminous device is turned off and exposed to daylight.

Obviously, the different characteristics, variants and embodiments mentioned above can be associated with each other according to various combinations, to the extent that they are not incompatible or exclusive from each other.

The present invention also concerns a motor vehicle comprising at least one luminous device according to one of the preceding claims.

Description of the figures

The description that will follow with respect to the following attached drawings, given as non-limiting examples, will allow a better understanding of what the invention consists of and how it can be carried out:

- Figure 1 represents a schematic view of a cross section of a luminous device according to the invention;

- Figure 2 represents the luminous device represented in Figure 1, illuminated by daylight.

Detailed description of an embodiment example

As a reminder, the invention proposes a luminous device whose external appearance, when turned off, is dark and homogeneous in color in daylight.

Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a non-limiting embodiment of a lighting device 2 according to the invention, intended for use as a position light or headlight by a motor vehicle.

The luminous device 2 includes an optical housing 4 in which two light sources 6A and 6B are present. A first light source 6A is configured to emit an amber light beam, in order to signal the driver's intention to change lanes or turn. A second light source 6B is configured to emit a red light beam to indicate the position of the motor vehicle and/or its braking. Each light source includes one or more light emitting diodes maintained at the level of the same front face of a printed circuit board 8. In a known manner, the board 8 allows a control device not shown in the figures to control the operation. of light sources 6A and 6B.

In order to limit the heating of the light sources during use, the optical housing 4 also includes a thermal radiator 10 that extends along the rear face of the plate. The heat emitted by the thermal radiator 10 is evacuated outside the optical housing 4 through a vent 12.

The light sources are oriented so that their light beam passes through the same opening 14 of the optical housing 4. The opening 14 is located at a distance from the light sources 6, between 25 mm and 80 mm, preferably of the order of 50 mm. In order to direct the light beams through the opening 14 in a desired direction, an optical reflector 16 is associated with each light source. Optical reflectors are characterized by a surface with a strong reflection coefficient on its internal face.

To protect the elements present in the optical housing 4 from inclement weather, the opening 14 is sealed by an external pilot 18. Obviously, the external pilot is partially transparent to the light beams emitted by the light sources, in order to that the lighting device can emit light signals visible to other drivers.

As mentioned above, normally, the outer pilot light is transparent or translucent in daylight. The elements present in the optical housing are therefore visible through the outer light, which locally and very strongly modifies the appearance of the body of the motor vehicle in daylight.

In order to solve this problem, the present invention proposes to replace the external pilots usually used, with an external pilot 18 that is characterized by a homogeneous color of somber or dark tint, in order to very strongly limit the amount of daylight. that passes through said pilot. By the terms "daylight", we mean all forms of light coming from the sun, direct and indirect. The outer pilot has a color whose trichromatic coordinates are included in the following ranges of values: for red between 0.4 and 0.5; for green between 0.35 and 0.45 and for blue between 0.1 and 0.2. Preferably the outer pilot has a color whose trichromatic coordinates are of the order of 0.441 for red, 0.408 for green and 0.153 for blue. The outer pilot 18 has a thickness between 2 mm and 3.5 mm, preferably of the order of 2.2 mm. The thickness of the outer pilot 18 is defined, in this document, according to the direction of incidence of the light beams emitted by the light sources 6 on said pilot. The external pilot 18 is characterized by an absorption of daylight that is between 80% and 95%, preferably of the order of 90%. The outer pilot 18 is made from one of the following materials: polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) or polycarbonate (PC).

In order to promote a homogeneous tint color of the outer light in daylight, the optical housing 4 also includes a frame 20 that rests on the internal walls of the optical housing 4. The frame 20 closes a part of said housing, comprising the light sources 6 and the optical reflectors 16. The frame includes a front face 22 parallel or substantially parallel to the outer pilot 18. The front face 22 is opaque to daylight, in order to form a background of gloomy and homogeneous color. The frame also includes passages 24 that extend the optical reflectors, to allow the light sources to illuminate the outer pilot light 18.

The entire surface of the front face 22 of the frame 20 is covered by a translucent screen 26. The translucent screen 26 is characterized by a thickness between 0.1 mm and 3 mm, preferably of the order of 0.3 mm. The thickness of the translucent screen is defined, in this document, according to the direction of incidence of the light beams emitted by the light sources 6A and 6B on said screen. Preferably, the front face 22 of the translucent screen facing the outer pilot 18 favors the reflection of a light beam under normal incidence, in a reflection angle range between 0° and 41°, preferably between 0° and 20°. For this, the front face 28 of the translucent screen 26 may include raised patterns made by a molding technique. The translucent screen is made from one of the following materials: polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) or polycarbonate (PC).

The frame 20 maintains the translucent screen 26 at a distance from the outer pilot 18 that is between 1 mm and 10 mm, preferably between 2 mm and 4 mm, preferably of the order of 3 mm. In these ranges of values, the circulation of air between the translucent screen 26 and the external pilot 18 is simultaneously favored, in order to avoid a condensation phenomenon and, at the same time, a homogenization of the tint of said pilot to the day light. Optionally, the optical housing 4 may include vents, not shown, to promote air flow between the frame 20 and the outer pilot 18.

Obviously, the light sources 6A and 6B mentioned above are chosen so that they can emit 18 light signals through the external pilot light in accordance with current standards. By way of non-limiting example, the first light source 6A is configured to emit a light beam whose luminous intensity is between 5 lm and 200 lm depending on the desired function. The second light source 6B is configured to emit a light beam whose luminous intensity is between 5 lm and 200 lm, depending on the desired function.

In conclusion, the luminous device 2 according to the invention is characterized by a particular arrangement between the external light 18 of dark color, the frame 20 and the translucent screen 26. As illustrated in Figure 2, this arrangement advantageously allows the majority of the luminous intensity of daylight 30, so that the light sources 6A and 6B and their optical reflector 16 are not visible from the outside of the luminous device 2. Due to this fact, when it is turned off, the luminous device appears colored very gloomy and very homogeneous in daylight. A lighting device according to the invention thus makes it possible to avoid or at least reduce a color contrast with the body of a dark-colored motor vehicle.

Claims (9)

1. Lighting device (2) for a motor vehicle, comprising an optical housing (4) in which a light source (6A, 6B) and an optical reflector (16) are present, arranged to direct a light beam, emitted by the light source (6A, 6B), through an opening (14) of the optical housing, the opening (14) being closed by an external pilot (18), in order to protect the light source from inclement weather. light (6A, 6B) and the optical reflector (16), the outer pilot (18) being black or colored in daylight, characterized in that the outer pilot (18) absorbs between 80% and 95% of the intensity of daylight and because a translucent screen (26) is interposed between the optical reflector (16) and the outer pilot (18), with the translucent screen (26) being distant from the outer pilot (18), to homogenize the light of the day reflected by the different elements present inside the optical housing and because a frame (20) is placed between the light source (6A, 6B) and the translucent screen (26), the frame (20) including at least one opening which allows at least part of the light beam emitted by the light source (6A, 6B) to pass and because the frame (20) masks at least a part of the interior of the housing, in order to promote greater homogenization of the reflected light through the interior of said housing and because the surface of the frame in front of the outer pilot (18) is parallel or substantially parallel to the outer pilot and because the translucent screen (26) covers, at least in part, the surface of the frame (20) in front of the outer pilot (18). 2. Luminous device (2) according to the previous claim, characterized in that the outer pilot light (18) is blue, red or another color. 3. Luminous device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the separation between the translucent screen (26) and the external pilot light (18) is between 1 mm and 10 mm, preferably between 2 mm and 4 mm. 4. Luminous device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the outer pilot light (18) has a thickness between 2 mm and 3.5 mm, preferably of the order of 2.2 mm. 5. Luminous device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a light beam under normal incidence is diffused by the translucent screen (26), in a reflection angle range between 0° and 41°, preferably between 0 ° and 20°. 6. Luminous device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the translucent screen (26) includes a visible pattern, through the external pilot light (18), when the light source (6A, 6B) is on. 7. Luminous device (2) according to the previous claim, characterized in that the pattern is silk-screened and/or embedded in the translucent screen (26). 8. Luminous device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the surface of the frame (20), in front of the outer pilot (18), has a dark or dark tint color, preferably a color similar to the outer pilot (18). ). 9. Motor vehicle comprising at least one luminous device (2) according to one of the preceding claims.