FR2718824A1 - Signaling light for a motor vehicle, comprising a light of general color different from the color of an emitted beam. - Google Patents

Abstract

A signal light comprises a light source, means for concentrating the flux emitted by the source, and an indicator (30). The indicator comprises first (31) and second (32) alternate zones formed respectively, throughout the thickness of the indicator, of two transparent materials of different colors; the first zones (31) have, on the inside of the light, surfaces (31a) allowing the passage of the radiation from the source to the outside; the second zones (32) have, on the interior side of the light, surfaces (32a) ensuring a reflection of the greater part of the incident radiation coming from the source. Application in particular to lights having, when turned off, a tint different from the color of the light emitted and equipped with a catadioptric function.

Description

SIGNALING LIGHT FOR MOTOR VEHICLE, COMPRISING

  A light of general tint different from the color of a

BEAM ISSUED.

  The present invention relates generally to the signaling lights of motor vehicles, and relates more particularly to a new traffic light emitting a signaling beam of a certain color and having, when extinguished and observed from the outside. , a different color, and if necessary a catadioptric function with a color

different from that of the beam.

  There are currently several techniques for producing a traffic light whose color of

  beam and the color in the off state differ.

  The first known technique, illustrated schematically in FIG. 1, consists in equipping the fire with a transparent indicator light 10 alternately comprising strips 11 transparent to the radiation and strips 12 opacified on the inside by a coating 13 (applied

  by screen printing or other) having the desired color.

  In the case of a reversing light to which it is desired to give a red appearance, the plastic material of the indicator light is colorless

  and the coating of the strips 12 is red on the outer side.

  In addition, to prevent the rays meeting the coating 13 from becoming red in color before finally emerging from the fire and tinting the beam undesirably, the coating 13 is given on the inside.

  a neutral color, for example white.

  However, the need to selectively deposit a double coating on certain areas of the inner face

  the indicator significantly increases the cost.

  A second known solution is illustrated in FIG. 2. It consists in providing an ordinary indicator light 20, for example of red tint, and inside the indicator, an intermediate filter plate 21, whose filtering characteristics are such that the light passing through the plate 21 and the light 20 is white. On the contrary, when the extinguished fire is observed from the outside, it has the appearance of the indicator light 20, that is to say red. This second solution, however, has two major drawbacks: first, the presence of a

  additional piece in the fire strike its cost price.

  But above all, because of the filtering principle adopted, the light output is low and the regulations concerning

  photometry may be difficult to satisfy.

  Another solution of the state of the art is illustrated by the document FR-A-2 604 240 in the name of the

Applicant.

  In this known traffic light, the light is transparent and equipped with reflectors arranged in strips, by adding colored translucent material for example red. And we associate with the indicator a transparent inner backplate which includes, in the right of the catadioptric bands, strips of opaque material also added. The structure thus obtained is complex and expensive,

  since the fire must include a seer and a counterfeit

  plate both made with added material (by

example by overmolding).

  The present invention aims at overcoming the disadvantages of the prior art and at producing a signaling light which, while being easy and inexpensive to manufacture, leads to the desired results in the introduction.

with satisfactory quality.

  It proposes for this purpose a signaling light, of the type comprising a light source, means of concentration of the flux emitted by the source, and a light, characterized in that the indicator comprises first and second alternating zones constituted respectively, in any the thickness of the indicator, of two transparent materials of different hues, in that the first zones have, on the inner side of the fire, surfaces allowing the passage of the radiation coming from the source towards the outside, and in that the second zones have, on the inner side of the fire, surfaces that reflect the majority of the radiation

  incident from source or from outside.

  Advantageously, on the outer side, the surfaces of

  first and second zones are smooth and flush.

  The inner surfaces of the second zones advantageously consist at least in part of catadioptric retroreflection trihedra, and may comprise for the rest of the surfaces similar to catadioptric trihedra but not ensuring retro-reflective reflexion. Various combinations of colors can be envisaged for the bulb of the lamp, the first zones and the second zones, these colors being chosen according to the color of the beam to be generated, the desired appearance for the extinguished fire, and the color of the

catadioptric function.

  According to one variant, the fire further comprises an intermediate plate situated in the vicinity of the sight glass and comprising optical elements homologous to the first zones and capable of directing the radiation coming from the

  source to these only first zones.

  This intermediate plate preferably defines with the light a closed cavity protection of catadioptric trihedrons. Other aspects, purposes and advantages of this

  invention will appear better on reading the description

  following detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof, given by way of nonlimiting example and with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: - Figure 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a traffic light indicator according to an embodiment of the prior art, - Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a light and an intermediate plate of a signal light according to another embodiment of the prior art, FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of a signaling light of a signaling light according to the invention, and FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of a light and an intermediate screen of FIG. a

  another embodiment of a fire according to the invention.

  Referring now to FIG. 3, there is illustrated a traffic light indicator 30 which comprises zones such as alternately arranged strips constituted by two different plastics materials.

  extending over the entire thickness of the indicator.

  The indicator lamp is preferably made by double molding

  material, for example with a multicolored press.

  On its outer face 33, the indicator is generally

  smooth, in accordance with the regulations.

  First strips 31 are made of a first transparent plastic material, colored or not, and each have on the inner side of the surfaces 31a intended to ensure spreading, horizontally and / or vertically, incident radiation. It may be in particular streaks or a series of spherical balls or

  toric, in a manner known per se.

  Second strips 32, alternating with the first, are made of a second transparent plastic material, colored or not, but of different color from that of the first bands. They have surfaces

  the interior, capable of ensuring a total or quasi-reflective

  total incident radiation from either the

  light source, from the outside.

  In the present example, these inner surfaces are trirectangular trihedra 32a, so that the zones 32 provide a total reflection with three functions.

catadioptric retroreflection.

  Due to the inclination of the inner facets of the zones 32, most of the radiation incident on

  these facets are reflected towards the interior of the fire.

  In this way, the amount of radiation passing through the second strips 32 is small compared to that passing through the strips 31, and in practice low enough that the regulatory requirements for colorimetry can be met. Indeed, the majority of the luminous flux coming out of the light of the light is that which crossed the first bands 31 and which if necessary adopted the uniform shade provided by these bands. On the other hand, when the fire is extinguished and observed from the outside, the visual impression for the observer results from the juxtaposition of the alternating strips 31 and 32, the overall hue being typically different from the hue.

  radiation from the light when the light is on.

  According to another characteristic of the invention, the light produced by the lamp can also be tinted, for example by equipping this lamp with a colored bulb, so that the final color of the radiation coming out of the light results from the crossing of the lamp. a part of the bulb and other

part of the areas 31.

  It may be provided that all or part of the zones 32 are not catadioptric elements, but so-called "pseudocatadioptric" elements, that is to say having, when the fire is extinguished, an aspect very close to that of retro-reflectors, without however Such elements may be, for example, non-hierarchical

  trirectangles, or corner cones at the appropriate apex.

  Thus it is possible for all of the zones 31 to have a homogeneous appearance over the whole extent of the fire or of a group of fire, while circumscribing to a given zone of the light the parts of these zones having a

true catadioptric function.

  We will now indicate, in certain contexts of light functions and desired aspects when the fire is off, various possible combinations of shades of the lamp and the two zones of the light, and the context in

  which these functions can be used.

  a) colorless reverse light with red appearance and red catadioptric function: lamp: colorless areas 31: colorless areas 32: red b) amber flashing light with red appearance and red catadioptric function: lamp: amber areas 31: colorless areas 32: red c ) colorless backlight with smoked appearance and red catadioptric function: lamp: colorless zones 31: smoke areas 32: red d) amber flashing light with smoky appearance and red catadioptric function: lamp: amber zones 31: smoke areas 32: red e) front position light, colorless with amber aspect and amber catadioptric function: lamp: colorless areas 31: colorless areas 32: amber f) front amber flashing light with amber aspect and colorless catadioptric function: lamp: colorless areas 31: amber areas 32: colorless g) amber rear flashing light with red / amber appearance and red catadioptric function: lamp: colorless areas 31: amber zones 32: red

  Other combinations are of course possible.

  In all the embodiments above, the overall hue of the fire when it is extinguished is a function in particular of the relative size of the first zones 31 and the second zones 32. These relative sizes are determined case by case according to the desired hue. and photometric requirements for light emission and retroreflective catadioptric reflection when

  have catadioptric elements.

  FIG. 4 illustrates an alternative embodiment in which, to further reduce the proportion of outgoing rays having passed through the zones 32, an intermediate plate 40 provided, in this case on its inner face, is immediately provided behind the ice with a plurality of lenses 41, adapted to the geometry of the zones 31 and likewise not these, which may be in the form of ridges, spherical or toric balls, etc ... Each of these lenses 41 is intended to concentrate the whole of the radiation that it receives from inside the fire over the whole of the homologous zone 31, so that the proportion of the radiation likely to reach the inner faces

  32a of the zones 32 is practically zero.

  This intermediate plate can act as a counter

  plate for the catadioptric elements located in the zones 32, defining with the light a

  enclosed space and generally sealed.

  Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and shown in the drawings, but one skilled in the art will be able to make any variant or modification within the spirit.

Claims (13)

  1. Signaling light, of the type comprising a light source, flux concentration means emitted by the source, and a light (30), characterized in that the light comprises first (31) and second (32) alternating zones. constituted respectively, throughout the thickness of the indicator, of two transparent materials of different hues, in that the first zones (31) have, on the inner side of the fire, surfaces (31a) allowing the passage of the radiation coming from the source towards the outside, and in that the second zones (32) have, on the inner side of the fire, surfaces (32a) providing a reflection of most of the incident radiation from the source or the outside . 2. Fire according to claim 1, characterized in that, on the outer side, the surfaces of the first and   second zones (31, 32) are smooth and flush.   3. Fire according to one of claims 1 and 2,   characterized in that the inner surfaces (32a) of the second zones (32) consist at least in part of   catadioptric retroreflective triadrons.   4. Fire according to one of claims 1 to 3,   characterized in that the inner surfaces (32a) of the second zones (32) consist at least in part of surfaces similar to catadioptric trihedra but   not providing retro-reflective reflection.   5. A fire according to claim 3, characterized in that it consists of a colorless red-out reverse light with a red catadioptric function, and in that the lamp is colorless, the first zones are   colorless and the second areas are red.   6. A lamp according to claim 3, characterized in that it consists of an amber flashing light of red off aspect and having a red catadioptric function, and in that the lamp is amber, the first areas are colorless and the second zones are red.   7. Fire according to claim 3, characterized in that it consists of a colorless, smoky-out reverse light with a red catadioptric function, and in that the lamp is colorless, the first zones are smoked. and the second zones are red.   8. A lamp according to claim 3, characterized in that it consists of an amber flashing light of smoked extinct appearance and having a red catadioptric function, and in that the lamp is amber, the first zones are smoked and the second zones are red.   9. A lamp according to claim 3, characterized in that it consists of a front position marker colorless amber off and endowed with an amber catadioptric function, and in that the lamp is colorless, the first   areas are colorless and the second areas are amber.   10. A lamp according to claim 3, characterized in that it consists of a flashing amber before light amber light and has a colorless catadioptric function, and in that the lamp is colorless, the first   areas are amber and the second areas are colorless.   11. A lamp according to claim 3, characterized in that it consists of an amber rear flashing light of red / amber-off aspect and having a red catadioptric function, and in that the lamp is colorless, the first   areas are amber and the second areas are red.   Fire according to one of claims 1 to 11,   characterized in that it further comprises an intermediate plate (40) located in the vicinity of the sight glass and having optical elements (41) homologous to the first zones (31) and capable of directing the radiation   from the source to these only first zones.   13. Fire according to claim 12, attached to one of claims 3 and 5 to 11, characterized in that   said intermediate plate (40) defines with the indicator (30) a closed cavity for protecting the catadioptric trihedra.