FR3022011A1 - LIGHT-EMITTING DEVICE FOR CARRYING OUT A SIGNALING AND / OR LIGHTING FUNCTION OF A MOTOR VEHICLE - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a luminous device for carrying out a signaling and / or lighting function of a motor vehicle, in which at least two adjacent modules (2) are capable of emitting light rays in a direction of longitudinal emission at the output of the device, are arranged in series so as to form each separate illuminating surfaces. Each module includes an optical surface for deflecting said light rays emitted by a light source as well as a mask (12) disposed in the vicinity of the optical surface and at least one wall (30) of which is capable of delimiting an occultation plane of rays reflected by the optical surface. According to the invention, at least one wall (30) of the mask of at least one of said modules comprises an opening for passing through an extension (26) of the optical surface beyond said occultation plane.

Description

Luminous device for carrying out a signaling and / or lighting function of a motor vehicle The technical field of the invention is that of lighting and / or signaling of a motor vehicle. The invention relates more particularly to light devices in which a plurality of light sources are provided, and the arrangement of these sources in such devices. When several modules are arranged in a light device, such as a motor vehicle headlight, they each take a fixed position that is imposed by the style. Projectors are particularly known, such as that illustrated in FIG. 1, in which three light modules are aligned horizontally. Each module is able to emit a light beam towards the output of the projector, to form a specific illuminating surface, all of the illuminating areas forming the light beam emitted by the projector.

The size and layout of these illuminating surfaces are defined by law, according to different conditions depending on the country. It may therefore be required that a minimum percentage of the surface of the headlamp be illuminated, and it may be required that the distance between two adjacent modules (distance represented by the arrow "h" in Figure 1) does not exceed a regulatory distance . It should be noted that from one country to another, this regulatory distance may vary: for a projector of a given size, that a manufacturer / automotive supplier does not modify according to the country of marketing of the vehicle, it is then necessary to modify at least one characteristic among the size of the modules, their number or their arrangement. The present invention is in this context by proposing a light device for carrying out a signaling and / or lighting function of a motor vehicle, in which at least two light modules are arranged and have a shape suitable for create a luminous device that meets the regulatory requirements.

The light device according to the invention comprises at least two neighboring modules capable of emitting light rays in a longitudinal transmission direction at the output of the device, each module comprising on the one hand an optical surface for deflecting said light rays emitted by a source luminous and on the other hand a mask disposed in the vicinity of the optical surface and at least one wall of which is capable of delimiting a plane of occultation of the rays reflected by the optical surface. The modules are arranged in series so as to form each separate illuminating areas of the same signaling function and / or lighting of the light device. According to essential features of the invention, said at least one wall of the mask of at least one of said modules is perforated to allow passage to an extension of the optical surface beyond said occultation plane. Thus, it increases the effective area optically, by decreasing the unlit area between two neighboring modules. This also allows for a distance between the lenses more important than the regulatory distance between the illuminating surfaces imposed by a given legislation.

According to various features of the invention taken alone or in combination: the extension is in the direction of the other module; the extension is made in the continuity of the optical surface; the modules are arranged in series in a first direction distinct from the emission direction, the extension of the optical surface beyond the occultation plane extending along said first direction; the optical surface is formed by a metallized portion of the inner surface of a reflector, the extension being formed by a metallized portion of the inner surface of a tab integral with the reflector, projecting therefrom; the light source is a light emitting diode (LED). In the light device according to the invention, the optical surface may have a parabolic type shape, said light source being disposed at the focus of this parabolic type. Parabolic type of dish means a portion of paraboloid, a surface formed of several paraboloid portions or a surface constructed from different parabolas. According to an exemplary embodiment, the optical surface may be formed by a series, arranged substantially in the first direction, of parabolic-type surface strips. Each band has a smooth surface and the bands between them form an angle. In this case, it can be envisaged that the bands disposed at the ends of the series are wider than the other bands of the optical surface, at least one of the said bands arranged at the ends carrying the at least one extension of the optical surface. .

According to another series of characteristics specific to the mask that the modules of the luminous device carry, the mask has two lateral walls of delimitation of the occultation plane, which each has a rear face turned towards the reflector, at least one of said rear faces. having an opening for the passage of rays emitted by the light source through the corresponding side wall, in the direction of said at least one extension of the optical surface. The passage opening consists of a perforated zone, formed by cutting into the thickness of the side wall from its rear face, the dimension in the longitudinal emission direction of this passage opening being such that the inner edge of the passage opening is substantially aligned between the light source and the free lateral end of the at least one extension of the optical surface. The rear face of the side wall may furthermore have fixing and / or indexing means with respect to the optical surface. The fixing and / or indexing means may consist of a finger projecting towards the rear of the wall and which is adapted to rest on the upper edge of a tab extending laterally of the reflector and bearing said minus an optical surface extension, the opening then extending directly under the fixing and / or indexing means to allow passage to said tab and to said at least one lateral extension of the optical surface. According to one characteristic of the invention, the distance between an edge of one of said two neighboring modules and an edge of the other of said two neighboring modules is less than the maximum regulatory distance, at least one of said edges being formed by the at least one extension of the optical surface. For example, the resulting distance is substantially equal to 15 millimeters, that is to say less than the distance between two adjacent modules according to the state of the art, without lateral extension of the optical surface.

According to different arrangements of the luminous devices corresponding to the characteristics of the invention, it may comprise more than two modules with external modules surrounding a central module, said external modules carrying an extension of the optical surface on the side opposite said module central, carrying for its part an extension of the optical surface on each of its sides. It can thus be provided that three modules equip the device according to the invention, at least the middle module having extensions on each side of its optical surface. Furthermore, in the light device according to the invention, the mask may have means for fixing an optical device disposed in each module on the path of the rays reflected by the optical surface. It can be provided that the optical device evoked is an optical lens. According to an exemplary embodiment, the mask comprises two lateral walls of delimitation of the occultation plane, which each has a rear face turned towards the optical surface, at least one of said rear faces having said opening for the passage of the rays emitted by the light source through the corresponding side wall, towards said at least one extension of the optical surface, each side wall further having a front face facing the lens and away from it, said front face thus having a second aperture facing the lens.

The front face may have a U-shape, the mask thus having the shape of a lens holder perforated on the sides, carrying the lens from above and below. This reduces the contact between the lens and the mask. The contours and the lens are thus highlighted on the aesthetic level. The invention aims to also protect a motor vehicle headlight in which at least one light device as just presented above is housed in a housing closed by a closing glass. In this projector, the signaling and / or lighting function of the light device may in particular be a signaling function of the city lamp type and / or daylight type. The projector, according to the architectural constraints of the vehicle or the aesthetic desiderata of the designers, may be equipped with a device in which the modules are arranged in series horizontally next to each other, or vertically one above the other. It is understood that in either case, the extensions of the optical surface will be oriented to allow the approximation of the optical surfaces of two directly adjacent modules. It can further be provided that two directly adjacent modules have a vertical offset when the series alignment of the modules is horizontal, or that they have a horizontal offset when the series alignment of the modules is vertical, and then it will be paid attention to the size of the extensions of the optical surface so that the distance between the edge of the optical surface extension of a module closest to the optical surface, whether there is an extension or not, is not greater at the regulatory distance. Other features and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the detailed description of an embodiment which follows and for the understanding of which reference will be made to the appended drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a partial view front view of a motor vehicle headlight according to the state of the art, in which two neighboring light modules are fully visible, spaced apart by a given interval; - Figure 2 is a partial front view of a motor vehicle headlight according to the invention, wherein three successive light modules are shown, with longitudinal extensions that reduce the gap between two neighboring projectors; FIG. 3 is a front view of a light module fitted to the projector illustrated in FIG. 2; FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the module of FIG. 3; and FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a mask and a reflector composing the module of FIGS. 3 and 4. In the following description, a longitudinal, vertical and transverse orientation will be adopted in a nonlimiting manner. the orientation traditionally used in the automobile and indicated by the trihedron L, V, T shown in Figures 2 and 4. As shown in Figure 2, a projector 1 according to the invention comprises three light modules 2 arranged in series, in a first direction D, in a housing 3 closed by a closure glass 5. The modules are oriented to achieve a light emission at the output of the projector. We will first describe the structure of a light module 2 before describing further the arrangement of the modules together so that at least one of them forms a light device according to the invention, suitable in particular to be housed in a projector. A module comprises on the one hand a reflector 4, at least a part of the inner surface 6 of which forms an optical surface 8 on which the light rays, emitted by a light source carried by this module, are able to be deflected and reflected towards a optical device 10 disposed at the output of the module, and secondly a mask 12 disposed around the reflector and in particular the optical surface to at least partially contain the scattering of the reflected rays.

The light source is advantageously a light-emitting diode carried by a printed circuit board 14 indexed with respect to the optical surface, so that the source is oriented to emit towards the optical surface 8. The reflector 4 is a piece of complex shape, advantageously made of plastic material, and mainly comprising a first planar support portion 16 of the printed circuit board, and a second concave portion 18 whose inner face is worked, at least over a portion thereof, to form the optical surface 8. In order to achieve the deviation of the incoming light rays in the concave part of the reflector, a metallized treatment is performed on the portion of the concave portion of the reflector forming the optical surface, while the rest of the reflector is not metallized and present only a plastic material. Furthermore, the optical surface is shaped to have a substantially parabolic shape, formed by surface strips 20, among which can be distinguished central surface strips 22 of a first width, which are laterally surrounded by outer surface strips 24 of a second width, larger. The optical surface 8 is oriented so that the rays emitted by the light source, disposed at the focus of the essentially parabolic optical surface, are reflected by the optical surface in the same direction, substantially horizontally and longitudinally forwardly, respectively towards the surface. rear, the vehicle in the case of an application in a headlight, respectively a rear light, vehicle, the optical device 10 disposed at the module outlet being positioned in the path of these reflected rays.

As is particularly visible in FIGS. 3 to 5, the outer surface strips 24 of the optical surface have a lateral extension 26 which extends in the plane of the optical surface and which extends laterally, projecting in the first direction. , a portion of the corresponding outer surface strip, the first direction defining the series alignment of the modules as previously specified. It will be understood that depending on the location of the module concerned, the two outer bands 24, or only one of them, may be provided with this lateral extension 26 of the optical surface. In the case where a neighboring module is disposed next to, this extension allows the approximation of the optical surface of the module concerned to the neighboring module. The lateral extension has a substantially parabolic shape, of focal point equivalent to the common focus of the surface bands defining the optical surface, so that the rays emitted by the light source disposed at this focus also move longitudinally, parallel to the other reflected rays .

The lateral extension 26 of the optical surface is carried by a tab 28 which laterally extends the reflector 4, and as illustrated, only a portion of the tab may be metallized to form the lateral extension of the optical surface. The lateral extension 26 is defined by a height, which determines in the plane of the surface band what is the portion of the outer surface band that is extended, and by a width, in the lateral dimension in the first direction, which determines the degree of approximation of the optical surface of two directly adjacent modules. As may have been specified elsewhere, the module comprises an optical device 10, which here consists of a lens disposed in the path of the longitudinal emission of the rays reflected by the optical surface. The lens is here, as can be seen in FIG. 4 in particular, carried by the mask 12. The mask illustrated in an exploded view FIG. 5 and in a assembled position FIG. 4 in particular, has a dual function, namely a first function delimiting the light rays reflected by the optical surface 8, to give a sharp edge to the image returned to the output face of the module and the projector, and a second function of holding the lens, to ensure the stiffening of the together. The mask 12 extends longitudinally and it comprises two lateral walls 30 which are arranged in the longitudinal extension respectively of one of the lateral edges of the optical surface, so as to perform the first function of delimiting the net edge, and two walls. link 32 connecting the side walls to each other and whose free end 34 carries means for fixing the lens. Each side wall 30 has a front face 36 facing the lens and a rear face 38 disposed substantially facing one of the lateral edges of the reflector, at the junction line of the optical surface and its lateral extension. The rear face (visible in Figures 4 and 5) has fixing means and / or indexing 39 relative to the optical surface, and an opening 40 for the passage of rays through the side wall.

The fixing and / or indexing means 39 here consist of a finger which protrudes towards the rear of the wall, and which is able to rest on the upper edge 42 of the tab 28 laterally extending the reflector. The mask can then be made integral with the reflector, at this contact, or in another area, this contact then serving only to position the mask so that the passage opening is properly disposed to the extension side of the optical surface. The passage opening 40 consists of a perforated zone, formed by cutting into the thickness of the side wall 30 from its rear face 38. It is understood that, in the case described above, where the fastening means and / or indexing cooperate with the upper edge of the lateral tab extending the reflector, the passage opening 40 extends directly under the fixing and / or indexing means 39. This passage opening has a substantially equal height, and advantageously slightly higher, at the height of the tab 28 which carries the lateral extension 26 of the optical surface. The depth of this passage opening is calculated so that rays emitted by the light source can be reflected on the lateral end 44 of the extension 26 of the optical surface. This will calculate the depth of the opening as a function of the dimension of the extension in the first direction and the position of the diode so that the inner edge 46 of the passage opening is substantially aligned between the light source. and the lateral end 44 of the extension. The fact of predicting this depth as accurately as possible to respect this condition, and not to size this depth, makes it possible to prevent the rays emitted by the diode from passing through the lateral wall of the mask without being reflected by the optical surface and circulating not parallel to the longitudinal direction.

As has been previously stated, the embodiment shown here discloses an optical device 10, here a lens, which is held by the mask 12 only in two attachment points on walls 32 separate from the side walls 30 In this case, it can be observed that the mask has on each side wall two distinct openings among which a first opening 40, arranged on the rear face of the side wall and disposed in the vicinity of the optical surface, is functional for the passage of light rays emitted by the diode, and a second opening 48, arranged on the front opposite face, facing the lens, is essentially aesthetic. It is understood that in a variant not shown here, the side walls could be solid to completely surround the lens, with the connecting walls.

The second aesthetic opening would then be no longer formed in the side walls and the mask would then open only at the first passage openings for the lateral extensions of the optical surface. As illustrated in FIG. 2, a motor vehicle headlamp 1 comprises a series alignment of three light modules 2 as just described, in a horizontal arrangement, that is to say that the first one direction D corresponds to the transverse direction of the trihedron L, V, T. The lateral extensions of the optical surface of each module thus extend transversely each module, in approximation of the neighboring module. In a variant not illustrated, it is possible to provide a projector in which the light modules are arranged in series in a vertical arrangement, that is to say that the first direction corresponds to the vertical direction of the trihedron L, V, T. The structure of the modules remain the same as that described above, but each module is rotated at 90 ° so that the side walls carrying the passage openings are arranged one above the other.

In one or the other of these orientations, it can be seen that the tabs 28 extending the reflector and carrying the lateral extensions 26 of the optical surface protrude in a direction substantially parallel to the alignment direction of the successive modules. Furthermore, depending on the shape of the projector, it can be provided that the modules of the light device are arranged to be aligned in series strictly in the first direction, vertical or transverse as just specified, or they are arranged so that there is further a complementary offset in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction, namely a vertical complementary offset from one module to the other when they are in transverse series, or a transverse complementary offset of one module to another when they are in vertical series. As can be seen in FIG. 2, each module of the transverse series is thus vertically offset with respect to the neighboring module. It adapts to the complementary offset in the second direction by sizing the legs 28 and the optical surface extensions they carry, so that for two immediately adjacent modules and carrying lateral extensions of optical surface opposite, the lower edge 50 of the carrier leg of the lateral extension of a first module is facing at least the upper edge 42 of the carrier leg of the lateral extension of the neighboring module, so that the ends of the lateral extensions opposite are distant from a dimension less than the maximum regulatory distance. It is thus sought to reduce the shortest distance between two illuminating areas projected on a plane normal to the optical axis, which is the measurement used to establish said regulatory distance. The foregoing description clearly explains how the invention makes it possible to achieve the objectives it has set itself and in particular to propose a light device adapted to meet the regulatory requirements of both a sufficient lighting surface, the extensions side to increase the lighting surface, and both a maximum gap to respect between two neighboring modules. These advantages are obtained by the use of an easy way to achieve, namely the realization of a lateral extension of the optical surface, and by the combination of this extension with the realization of a passage opening in a mask provided in addition to contain the rays reflected by the original optical surface. It is thus easy to replace in an existing projector at least one standard module with a module carrying a lateral extension of optical surface and a perforated mask, as just described, to form with the neighboring module a light device according to the invention. Thus, it will for example be possible to have light devices with modules positioned identically in countries of different regulations, but where the extensions will be present or not, or even different, according to the regulations of the country in question. This makes it possible to keep an extinct style very close regardless of the country. This also makes it possible to have a certain standardization of the parts of the luminous device, in particular of the housing of the luminous device. For example in a housing, the means for fixing and positioning of the modules may be identical.

However, the invention is not limited to only devices and projectors according to the embodiment explicitly described with reference to Figures 2 to 5, or only to a specific application. As a non-limiting example, the number of light modules may change from one projector to another. It is understood that the notion of light device according to the invention is understood by using at least two modules in which one of the two comprises at least one extension of its optical surface passing through a perforated mask to reduce the distance between these two modules. , and that this structure can be declined regardless of the number of modules, and as the extension of the optical surface is formed on one side or both sides of said module.

Claims (17)

REVENDICATIONS1. Luminous device for carrying out a signaling and / or lighting function of a motor vehicle comprising at least two neighboring modules (2) capable of emitting light rays in a longitudinal transmission direction at the output of the device, each module comprising on the one hand an optical surface (8) for deflecting said light rays emitted by a light source and, on the other hand, a mask (12) disposed in the vicinity of the optical surface and of which at least one wall (30) is suitable to delimit a plane of occultation of the rays reflected by the optical surface, said modules being arranged in series so as to form each of the distinct illuminating areas of the same signaling and / or lighting function of the luminous device, characterized in that said at least one wall (30) of the mask of at least one of said modules has an opening (40) for passing through an extension (26) of the optical surface beyond said plane of oc cultation. 2. Light device according to claim 1, characterized in that the extension (26) is in the direction of the other module. 3. Light device according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the extension (26) is formed in the continuity of the optical surface (8). 4. Light device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said modules are arranged in series in a first direction (D) distinct from the direction of emission, said extension (26) of the optical surface beyond said occultation plane extending in said first direction (D). 5. Lighting device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the optical surface (8) is formed by a metallized portion of the inner surface (6) of a reflector (4) of the module (2), the extension (26) being formed by a metallized portion of the inner surface of a lug (28) integral with the reflector, projecting therefrom. 6. Light device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the optical surface (8) has a parabolic-type shape, said light source being disposed at the focus of this parabolic type. 7. Lighting device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mask (12) has two side walls (30) for delimiting the concealment plane, each having a rear face (38) facing the optical surface. (8), at least one of said rear faces having said opening (40) for the passage of rays emitted by the light source through the corresponding side wall, towards said at least one extension (26) of the optical surface . 8. Lighting device according to claim 7, characterized in that the passage opening (40) consists of a perforated zone, formed by cutting in the thickness of the side wall (30) from its rear face (38), the dimension in the longitudinal emission direction of said passage opening being such that the inner edge (46) of the passage opening is substantially aligned between the light source and the free lateral end (44) of the at least one extension (26) of the optical surface. 9. Lighting device according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the rear face (38) of the side wall (30) further has fixing means and / or indexing (39) relative to the optical surface (8). 10. Light device according to claim 9, characterized in that the fixing means and / or indexing (39) consist of a finger which protrudes rearwardly of the side wall (30) and which is adapted to rest on the upper edge (42) of a tab (28) extending laterally of the reflector and carrying said at least one extension (26) of optical surface, the opening (40) extending directly under the fixing means and / or indexing to allow passage to said tab and said at least one extension of the optical surface. 11. Lighting device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises more than two modules (2) with outer modules surrounding a central module, said outer modules carrying an extension (26) of the surface optics on the side opposite said central module, carrying for its part an extension of the optical surface on each of its sides. 12. Light device according to claim 11, characterized in that it comprises three modules, at least the middle module having extensions (26) on each side of its optical surface (8). 13. Light device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mask (12) has means for fixing an optical device (10) disposed in each module (2) in the path of the rays reflected by the surface optical (8). 14. Light device according to claim 13, characterized in that said optical device (10) is an optical lens. 15. Lighting device according to claim 14, characterized in that the mask (12) has two lateral walls (30) for delimiting the occultation plane, each having a rear face (38) facing the optical surface (8). at least one of said rear faces having said opening (40) for the passage of rays emitted by the light source through the corresponding side wall, towards said at least one extension (26) of the optical surface, each wall lateral member further comprising a front face (36) facing the lens and away from said lens, said front face thus having a second opening (48) facing the lens. 16. Motor vehicle headlight in which at least one light device according to one of claims 1 to 15 is housed in a housing closed by a closing glass. 17. Projector according to claim 16, wherein the signaling function and / or lighting of the light device is a signaling function of city lamp type and / or daylight type.