FR2627256A1 - Indicator lamp assembly for vehicle - includes reflector forming line of virtual sources and lens providing horizontal beam - Google Patents

Abstract

The vehicle lamp assembly includes a lamp with a filament (110), a back reflector (200), and a front deflector element (300) and cover glass (400). The reflector has a number of individual sections (201-210) which are arranged to form a series of virtual images of the lamp filament (Sv1-6) in a horizontal line with the filament itself. The lens deflector (300) has the effect of bringing vertically diverging light parallel with the horizontal plane. This lens may for example be a cylindrical convex lens with its focus nearly aligned with the line of virtual sources. USE/ADVANTAGE - Vehicle indicator. Wide area of uniform illumination.

Description

 The present invention relates generally to a signaling light for a motor vehicle, and more particularly relates to an indicator light with illuminating surface of large width relative to its height.

 Such illuminating surfaces are presently highly desirable for reasons of aesthetic nature, but the known fires including a lamp, a parabolic reflector and a globe are unsuitable for forming an illuminating surface with good homogeneity and good performance. stream recovery.

 Already known in the prior art a multi-lamp signaling light, intended to overcome this limitation of conventional fires. It comprises a set of lamps juxtaposed horizontally, a set of parabolic reflectors associated with said lamps and a common closure globe.

 Such a fire provides an illuminating surface which, in front view, has a suitable homogeneity. However, it is disadvantageous in that, when viewed from the side, the direct light of the lamps becomes quite predominant over that of the reflected rays, which manifests itself in a succession of very bright spots separated by more dark. The appearance of the illuminating surface is then quite inhomogeneous, which affects the aesthetics.

 In addition, when these lights are very low, the flow recovery offered is modest.

 The present invention aims to overcome these drawbacks of the prior art and to provide a signaling light whose illuminating range is homogeneous in a wide range of observation angles and which offers increased flux recovery.

 Another object of the present invention is to offer, in a particular embodiment, an extremely uniform illuminating surface even when the light has a very large width and has a limited number of lamps.

 For this purpose, the present invention relates to a signaling light, in particular for a motor vehicle, characterized in that it comprises - a set of light sources arranged in the vicinity of a substantially horizontal line; and a transparent deflection element disposed in front of said sources, having a substantially constant vertical section, with which is associated a focal point and designed to deflect the light rays from said focal point vertically so that they propagate substantially parallel to a horizontal plane said element being obtained by a displacement of said section such that the focal point substantially follows said line of the sources.

Preferred aspects of the signaling light of the present invention are as follows: the light sources comprise at least one real source and at least one virtual source generated by at least one portion of substantially ellipsoidal associated shape of a reflector; the light sources comprise a plurality of real sources and a plurality of virtual sources situated between said real sources, the reflector extending behind said sources and comprising a plurality of adjacent portions substantially in the form of ellipsoids, each portion being associated with a real source and a virtual source and having its homes located in the vicinity of the latter; the reflector is designed so that the virtual sources generate beams having essentially the same divergence (a) in a horizontal plane, symmetrically on either side of a general direction of emission (xx); two reflector portions associated with the same real source and with two virtual sources are separated by a body which constitutes a portion of the reflector associated with a real neighboring source and a virtual source located between said first virtual sources; the section of the reflector; deflecting element defines a set of staggered prisms or striations of divergence; - some prisms or striations of deviation operate by refraction and others by total reflection; the line of the sources is essentially straight and the deflection element has approximately the shape of a cylindrical Fresnel lens whose focal line is essentially merged with said line of sources; the deflection element comprises at least one zone operating by refraction, at least one zone operating by total reflection and at least one zone operating by total reflection then refraction; said source line is a curve; it furthermore comprises, in front of the deflection element, a globe comprising diffusion balls or the like
Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, given by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a horizontal sectional view of a principle embodiment of a signaling light of the present invention;
- Figure 2 is an axial vertical sectional view of the fire of Figure 1;
- Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view of a traffic light according to another embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 4 is a horizontal sectional view of a practical embodiment of the signaling light of the invention;
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of a fire element of FIG. 4; and
- Figure 6 is a partial horizontal sectional view of a variant of a signaling light of the invention.

 Referring firstly to Figures 1 and 2, a signaling light according to the invention comprises a lamp (not shown) provided with a filament 110, a rear reflector 200, a transparent deflection element 300 placed in front of the lamp and back of a closing globe 400.

 This light is characterized by an illuminating range of large width Q and low height h, and is capable of delivering a light beam adapted in particular to European regulations, and having a good homogeneity.

 It may be recalled in this respect that these regulations require a substantial dispersion of the light in the lateral direction, and a lesser dispersion in the vertical direction.

 According to the invention, the reflector 200, in cooperation with the actual light source 110 (Sr), is designed to create, on a substantially horizontal line L and, in the present case, perpendicular to the general direction of emission or axis optical xx, a plurality of virtual light sources Sv distributed on this line; in this example, dries its sources are equidistant from each other.

 In practice, the reflector is subdivided for this purpose into a plurality of sections 201 to 206 which are respectively associated with the virtual sources Sv1 to Sv6 and which have the shape of elliptical portions whose first focus is located on the filament 110 and whose second focus is at the location of the associated virtual source.

 Thus, in the present example, these sections define three virtual sources Sv1 to Sv3 on one side of the filament and three virtual sources Sv4 to Sv6 on the other side.

 In the present example, the various sections of the reflector are staggered together to minimize the depth of the reflector, and are joined together by struts 210 extending substantially in a vertical plane passing through the actual source, to prevent these spoils do not generate parasitic rays.

 Forward of the source line is provided, according to a second essential aspect of the present invention, a deflector element 300 which has the property of vertically folding the light rays emitted by the sources (real or virtual), so that they propagate at the outlet of the element 300 in a direction substantially horizontal or slightly inclined relative to the horizontal, as shown in Figure 2 (R-rays).

 Specifically, the element 300 acts on the angle of elevation of the incident rays, to bring it back to a value close to zero, while leaving substantially unchanged their azimuth angle.

 At the output of the element 300, a beam is thus obtained that is relatively spread in the lateral direction, while having a certain concentration in a vertical plane; in other words, it is well adapted to the regulations.

In principle, the deflection element 300 may be embodied as a convex cylindrical lens focused approximately on the line of the sources L
But in practice, as shown in Figure 2, it is designed as a Fresnel cylindrical lens, that is to say that it is constituted by a set of streaks or horizontal prisms 310, 310 ' substantially parallel to the line L, focused thereon and staggered between them. This makes it possible to minimize the thickness of the element 300.

 In other words, the deflection element is obtained by substantially translational movement of the section as shown in Figure 2 so that the focal point F of this section approximately follows the line of the sources.

 In the present example, the high and low end zones of the deflection element 300 receive strongly inclined light rays. This is why these zones are used for total reflection prisms (prisms 310 'in FIG. 2).

 Finally, the fire according to this embodiment comprises a closure globe 400 which has on its inner surface a network of diffraction beads 410 which give the beam a good homogeneity and allows it, together with its specific shape given by the element 300 to respect a given photometry.

In particular, the present invention overcomes a disadvantage of the prior art, mentioned in the introduction, according to which a conventional multi-lamp and multi-reflector lamp, when turned on,
sees the appearance of its illuminating surface vary greatly when the observer moves to view it at an angle, because the reflected rays, substantially parallel to the optical axis, gradually no longer participate in the beam thus observed. On the contrary, the reflector of the present invention creates a plurality of virtual sources which each emit with a substantial divergence, so that the appearance of the fire observed under the same conditions as above hardly varies.

 FIG. 3 shows a variation of embodiment of the invention. According to the latter, the lamp has no reflector and, instead, a plurality of lamps 101 to 107 are provided whose filaments 111 to 117 constitute real sources 5R1 to SR7 which are all located in the vicinity of the line L substantially corresponding to the focal line of the deflection element 300, which is here analogous to that of Figures 1 and 2.

 Of course, in this case, lamps of much lower power are used, since their respective fluxes accumulate to form the beam.

 FIG. 4 shows a signaling light according to a practical embodiment of the invention.

 In this figure, elements or parts identical or similar to those of Figures 1 and 2 are designated by the same reference numbers.

 Such a traffic light combines the solutions envisaged with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3, that is to say that it comprises a plurality of real sources constituted by the regularly spaced lamp filaments, and a plurality of regularly distributed virtual sources. between the real sources.

 In addition, a particularity of this embodiment lies in the fact that the line L, in the vicinity of which all the real or virtual sources are located, extends in a horizontal plane while being slightly curved, in connection with the general shape of the light such as illustrated, which has a leaking line intended to fit the correspondingly shaped edge of the body of the vehicle. Furthermore, in accordance with the invention, this line L is not in its entirety perpendicular to the optical axis xx, but this, as will be seen below, does not compromise the qualities of the beam as indicated here. -above.

 Thus, the traffic light here comprises five real sources SR1 to SR5 constituted by the filaments of five lamps not shown in themselves).

 At the source SR1 are associated four virtual sources SV1 to SV1 ', using four reflective sections in the form of portions of elipsoids 201 to 201 "' as indicated above, two being located on the left (by observing the figure) on line L and two others on the right.

Similarly, from these real sources 5R1 to SR5 are generated corresponding virtual sources, using appropriate sections of the reflector 200, according to the table below.

<tb> Actual <SEP> Sources <SEP> SR1 <SEP> SR2 <SEP> 5R3 <SEP> SR4 <SEP> SR5 <SEP>
<tb> shadow <SEP> of <SEP> sources <SEP> 4 <SEP> 3 <SEP> 4 <SEP> 3 <SEP> 3
<tb><SEP> virtual <SEP> (Sv1 to <SEP> SV1 ') <SEP> (sv2s <SEP> sv2) <SEP> 5v3 <SEP> Sv "3? <SEP> fsV4d <SEP> SV4) <SEP > (sv5 <SEP> SV5) <SEP>
<tb> of which <SEP> to <SEP> left <SEP> 2 <SEP> 2 <SEP> 3 <SEP> 3 <SEP> 3
<tb><SEP> to <SEP> right <SEP> 2 <SEP> 1 <SEP> i <SEP><SEP> 0 <SEP> 0
<Tb>
According to a secondary characteristic of the present invention, the reflector is designed so that each virtual source emits light rays forwards substantially in the same angular range a (in the median horizontal plane of FIG. 4), so that that the entire illuminating surface of the fire keeps a homogeneous appearance from wherever it is observed in this angular range.

 It is further observed that, by appropriate choice of the depth of each ellipse, the number and the importance of the remains 210 are minimized, which minimizes the creation of parasitic rays.

 Due to the substantial curvature of the line of the sources L, the deflection element 300, described in detail below, is not rigorously cylindrical.

 FIG. 5 concretely illustrates a preferred cross section for the deflection element 300.

 Its special design as illustrated allows effective recovery of light rays very inclined relative to the horizontal, this inclination can reach here-an angle of the order of 70 ".

 As can easily be understood, this makes it possible to bring the element 300 considerably closer to the line of the sources L, but also to bring the reflector 200 closer to this same line. Flux recovery is thus increased while giving the fire an extremely compact construction in depth, which is desirable given the current requirements for the installation of lights embedded in an associated recess of the body.

 More precisely, the section of the deflection element comprises, from its center towards its upper edge, a first part 311 similar to a conventional plane / convex lens, a second part 312 whose inner surface is convex and whose outer surface, substantially inclined, complements the deviation made by the inner surface. The first and second parts operate by refraction.

 A third portion 313 of the element 300 is a conventional structure with two inner reflective prisms, the outer surface being substantially vertical. Finally, the deflection element 300 comprises a fourth portion 314 formed inside by a large total reflection stripe, whose face operating the reflection is convex, in combination with two concave refraction streaks on the outer surface.

 The lower half of this section is preferably symmetrical to the upper half with respect to the x-x axis, this being of course not limiting.

 As can be seen (RnX rays, such a section has the property of vertically deflecting the light rays passing through an associated focal point F so that they propagate at the output substantially horizontally (but not necessarily parallel to the axis xx, because their azimuth orientation is not substantially affected).

 In the present example, the deflection element 300 is generated by displacement, at least substantially in translation, of the section as described above, so that its focal point F above-mentioned follows the curved line of sources L.

 In other words, the volume of the element 300 is generated by moving the contour illustrated in FIG. 5 parallel to L.

 Such a design of the deflection element 300 makes it easy to adapt it to any essentially aligned arrangement of real or virtual sources, even with a line of curvature sources more pronounced than that illustrated.

 In practice, this makes it possible to keep the fire substantially constant over its entire width, as illustrated in FIG. 4.

 It may also be noted as an accessory, with reference to this same figure, that the lamp is housed in a housing 500 provided with a connector 510. In addition, still incidentally, the reflector 200 here comprises an end portion 205 "'which, associated with the actual source SRS 'allows to create in this region, corresponding to the "wing return" of the fire, a beam directed transversely and providing a lateral signaling function, required by certain regulations.

 FIG. 6 schematically shows an embodiment of a fire with several real sources and several associated virtual sources.

Elements or parts identical or similar to those of previous embodiments are designated by the same reference numbers.

 More precisely, this variant makes it possible to effectively use a taper between two portions of ellipsoids 201, 201 'associated with a real source 5R1 to create two virtual sources SV1' S; 1, this body being designed as an ellipsoid portion 202 intended to create a virtual source S'V2 between the virtual sources SV1, S 'in cooperation with a neighboring real source 5R2 This other real source SR2 can of course generate other virtual sources such as 5v2 with the aid of a virtual source section 202 of the reflector.

 It is understood that it is thus possible to optimize the construction of a reflector 200 for the application in question so that it no longer has any body. No parasitic radiation is thus generated.

 Although a number of preferred embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated, it is understood that many variations or modifications may be made by those skilled in the art in accordance with his spirit.

 In particular, as a first approximation, the portions of ellipsoid may be replaced by portions of a truncated cone (for example of revolution) of axis substantially parallel to the optical axis, without degrading the above-mentioned qualities the beam obtained. It is also possible to use portions of spheres, in particular in the case where the considered part of the reflector must generate a virtual source in the very near vicinity of the associated real source.

 Moreover, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the real or virtual sources may not be equidistant, their distribution on the line L depending essentially on their respective intensities (determined, for the virtual sources, by the solid angle covered by the associated reflector portion).

 The invention is advantageously applicable to any kind of traffic light of a motor vehicle, and in particular position lamp, brake light, direction indicator flashing light, etc.

 In this regard, when the beam must have a specific color, it may be given either by the deflector element 300, or by the globe 400, the element under consideration then being made of colored transparent material, or by a balloon colored surrounding the actual source (s).

 In addition, when the color is given by the deflector element 300, the globe can be made at least partially colorless, for aesthetic reasons.

 Finally, in the case where the regulations or the optical functions to be fulfilled allow it, the deflection element and the globe can be merged into a single element combining the effects of these two parts.

Claims (11)

1. Signaling light, in particular for a motor vehicle, characterized in that it comprises  - a set of light sources (SRrSV) disposed in the vicinity of a line (L) substantially horizontal; and  a transparent deflection element (300) disposed in front of said sources, having a substantially constant vertical section, with which is associated a focal point (F) and designed to deflect the light rays coming from said focal point vertically so that they propagate substantially in parallel at a horizontal plane, said element being obtained by a displacement of said section such that the focal point substantially follows said line of the sources (L). 2. Signaling light according to claim 1, characterized in that the light sources comprise at least one real source (SR) and at least one virtual source (Sv) generated by at least one portion of substantially elliposoldal shape associated with a reflector (200). Signaling light according to Claim 2, characterized in that the light sources comprise a plurality of real sources (SR) and a plurality of virtual sources (Sv) situated between said real sources, the reflector (200) extending in rear of said sources and having a plurality of adjacent substantially ellipsoid-shaped portions, each portion being associated with a real source and a virtual source and having its foci located in the vicinity of the latter. 4. Signaling light according to claim 3, characterized in that the reflector (200) is designed so that the virtual sources generate beams having essentially same-divergence (a) in a horizontal plane, symmetrically on either side of a general direction of transmission (xx). 5. Signaling light according to one of claims 3 and 4, characterized in that two reflector portions (201, 201 ') associated with the same real source (SR1) and two virtual sources (SV1, S'v1) are separated by a draft which constitutes a portion of the reflector (202 ') associated with a neighboring real source (SR2) and a virtual source (su2) located between said first virtual sources.  6. Signaling light according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the section of the deflector element defines a set of staggered prisms or striations (310, 310 ', 311-314). Signaling light according to claim 6, characterized in that certain deflection prisms or striations (310) operate by refraction and others (310 ') by total reflection. 8. Signaling light according to one of claims 6 and 7, characterized in that the line of the sources (L) is substantially rectilinear and in that the deflector element (300) has approximately the shape of a Fresnel lens cylindrical whose focal line is essentially confused with said line of sources. 9. Signaling light according to claim 6, characterized in that the deflection element comprises at least one refractive zone (311, 312), at least one zone (313) operating by total reflection, and at least one zone ( 314) operating by total reflection then refraction. 10. Signaling light according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that said line of sources (L) is curved. 11. Signaling light according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that it further comprises in front of the deflector element a globe (400) having diffusion beads or the like (410).