FR3055264A1 - LIGHTING AND / OR LIGHT-SIGNALING DEVICE FOR VEHICLE, COMPRISING A WIDE-LIGHTED GUIDE WITH EXTENDED ENLARGEMENT - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1) for lighting and / or light signaling for a vehicle, the device (1) comprising: a housing (10) open at the front; at least one light source; an ice (20) adapted to close the housing (10), said window (20) including translucent apertures adapted to allow transmission of light, said apertures extending over a predetermined width of the window (20); and a flat light guide (40) adapted to diffuse light and disposed at a predetermined distance from said mirror (20) to form a void space, said flat light guide (40) including a main body, a portion front view of the housing (10), facing the window (20), and a junction area connecting the front portion to the main body, the front portion of said flat light guide (40) including a section of widened thickness whose thickness is greater than the width of the openings of said ice (20).

Description

Holder (s): PEUGEOT CITROEN AUTOMOBILES SA Société anonyme.

Extension request (s)

Agent (s): PEUGEOT CITROEN AUTOMOBILES SA Public limited company.

LIGHTING AND / OR LIGHT SIGNALING DEVICE FOR VEHICLE, INCLUDING A LIGHT GUIDE WITH EXTENDED END.

FR 3 055 264 - A1 (5y) The invention relates to a device (1) for lighting and / or light signaling for a vehicle, the device (1) comprising: a housing (10) open at the front; at least one light source; a window (20) adapted to close the housing (10), said window (20) comprising translucent openings adapted to allow the transmission of light, said openings extending over a predetermined width of the window (20); and a flat light guide (40), adapted to diffuse the light and arranged at a predetermined distance from said glass (20) so as to form an empty space, said flat light guide (40) comprising a main body, a part front towards the front of the housing (10), facing the glass (20), and a junction zone connecting the front part to the main body, the front part of said flat light guide (40) comprising a widened thickness section whose thickness is greater than the width of the openings of said glass (20).

LIGHTING AND / OR LIGHT-SIGNALING DEVICE FOR VEHICLE, INCLUDING A LIGHT GUIDE WITH EXTENDED END automobiles. For the sake of brevity, such a lighting and / or light signaling device will hereinafter be referred to as a "lighting module".

The invention therefore relates to a lighting module of a motor vehicle, and more specifically to a lighting module comprising a light signaling function performed by diffusion of the light emitted by a light source via a guide of flat type light.

In known manner, a lighting module is disposed at the front and at the rear of a motor vehicle in order, on the one hand, to illuminate the road to improve the visibility of the driver of the vehicle, in particular in night conditions, and / or, on the other hand, to signal the position of the vehicle to other road users.

According to the state of the art, a lighting module can consist of a light signaling device whose function is to signal the positioning of the daytime vehicle. Such a device, designated DRL for Daytime Running Light (or Lamp) in English, meaning daytime running light, corresponds to a lighting module automatically switched on when the vehicle is put into operation, during the day, to improve the visibility of said vehicle. vehicle. Such a device, hereinafter referred to as a daytime running light device, is mainly positioned in a front lighting module of a motor vehicle.

Said daytime running light device comprises in known manner, with reference to Figure 1, a housing closed by a wall, designated glass, more precisely consisting of a two-color glass, having an opaque base and translucent openings, designated "Crystal openings". The housing receives at least one light source and a flat light guide capable of diffusing the light emitted by the light source. The translucent openings arranged in said glass allow the diffusion, outside of said housing, of the light coming from the light source and diffused in the flat light guide. Such openings, depending on their positioning, also make it possible to impart a light signature characteristic of the vehicle concerned.

In known manner, as described in document FR 3002895, the light function of a daytime running light device is generally carried out by the scattering of light, emitted by one or more light source (s) , via a light guide, flat type, designated flat guide or Fiat Guide, in English, said flat light guide being mounted inside the aforementioned housing behind the aforementioned glass.

In order to avoid any condensation in the daytime running light device, due to the temperature difference between the light source and the outside of the housing, a space is kept inside said housing between the flat guide and the aforementioned ice, thus allowing air circulation.

Such a flat light guide thus positioned behind the glass, has, in the prior art, a section of constant thickness. Said constant thickness, typically limited to an injection thickness of between 6 and 8 mm according to conventional techniques for manufacturing this type of polycarbonate part, does not make it possible to fill the entire width of the aforementioned ice openings. Indeed, as described in Figure 2, it results from the functional play between the flat light guide and the glass, direct visibility of the interior of the housing from the outside, which is unsightly.

The invention therefore aims to overcome these drawbacks by proposing a lighting and / or light signaling device in which the light function is produced by light scattering, emitted by a light source, via a flat light guide whose section has an enlarged end.

More specifically, to achieve this result, the present invention relates to a lighting and / or light signaling device for a vehicle, in particular for a motor vehicle, comprising:

- a box open at the front, that is to say towards the outside when the device is mounted on a vehicle,

- at least one light source placed inside the housing,

- a lens corresponding to a wall adapted to close the housing, said lens being essentially opaque and comprising translucent openings adapted to allow the transmission of light from said at least one light source outside said housing, said openings s' spanning a width of the ice, and

a flat light guide, mounted in said housing, adapted to diffuse light coming from said at least one light source and disposed at a predetermined distance from said glass so as to form an empty space suitable for allowing ventilation of said housing, said flat light guide comprising a main body, a front part facing the front of the housing, facing the lens, and a junction zone connecting the front part to the main body, the front part of said light guide dish comprising an enlarged section having a thickness greater than the width of the translucent openings of said glass.

Such a device makes it possible to fill the visual defects resulting from the presence of an empty space between the flat light guide and the glass, necessary for the ventilation of the housing. Such a device, comprising a flat light guide having an enlarged front part, makes it possible, as such, to prevent the interior of the housing from being visible from the outside.

Advantageously, the junction zone between the main body and the front part has a section comprising a radius of curvature between 1 and 2 mm, said radius of curvature being adapted to allow the diffusion of light over the entire surface of the enlarged section of said front part. Such a radius of curvature allows a better diffusion of the light in the entirety of the frontal part.

Advantageously, the main body of the flat light guide is of constant section, allowing a simpler and less expensive manufacture.

Advantageously, the diameter of the section of the main body of the flat light guide is between 6 and 8 mm, making it possible to use conventional techniques for manufacturing this type of polycarbonate part, by injection.

Advantageously, the enlarged section of the front part of the flat light guide comprises three portions: a central portion and two lateral portions extending on either side of the central portion, so as to form said front portion d widened thickness.

Advantageously, the thickness of the front part of the flat light guide is 2 to 6 mm greater than the thickness of the main body, thereby visually filling the functional clearance.

Advantageously, the front part of the flat light guide has a width between 3 and 12 mm, ie a width approximately equal to 10% to 14% of the width of the main body. Such a width, small compared to the width of the main body, makes it possible to limit the space inside the housing.

The invention also relates to a vehicle comprising a lighting and / or light signaling device according to the invention.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the detailed description of the embodiments of the invention, given by way of example only, and with reference to the drawings which show:

FIG. 1, a diagram of a lighting and / or light signaling device according to the prior art, • FIG. 2, a profile diagram of such a lighting and / or light signaling device, according to a cross section of Figure 1, • Figure 3, a diagram of a lighting and / or light signaling device according to the invention, • Figure 4, a profile diagram of such a device lighting and / or light signaling, in a cross section of Figure 3, • Figure 5, a zoom of Figure 4 corresponding to the flat light guide included in a lighting and / or light signaling device according to invention.

In what follows, the embodiments described relate more particularly to an implementation of the device according to the invention in a motor vehicle. However, any implementation in a different context, in particular in any type of vehicle, is also covered by the present invention.

FIG. 3 represents a lighting and / or light signaling device, designated as a lighting module. FIG. 3 presents more precisely, in this case, a lighting module corresponding to a device 1 for daytime running light. Such a device 1 makes it possible to signal the positioning of the daytime vehicle. The light function of the daytime running light device 1 is achieved by scattering light from light sources in a flat light guide 40. The device 1 presented in FIG. 3 comprises a flat guide 40 produced in accordance with the invention.

The embodiment presented in this document describes a device 1 for daytime running light. It goes without saying that the invention applies to any lighting and / or light signaling device whose light function is achieved by diffusion of the light emitted by a light source via a flat light guide 40.

Referring to FIG. 3, the device 1 according to the invention comprises a housing 10, open towards the front, corresponding to the outside of the device 1 mounted on a vehicle, a closure wall, designated glass 20, adapted to cooperate with said housing 10, a flat light guide 40, adapted to fit into said housing 10 and a plurality of light sources (not shown), adapted to fit into housing 10, so as to inject the light in said flat light guide 40 allowing the diffusion of light.

The housing 10 has a base typically of elongated shape, defining a length and a width of said housing 10. The housing 10 comprises, on one of its faces, towards the front, an opening extending over the entire length of said housing 10, as shown in section in FIG. 4. Said housing 10 is closed by the closure wall.

The closure wall, typically made of plastic, is conventionally designated glass 20. Said glass 20, thus positioned at the front of the housing 10 in order to allow the housing 10 to be closed, is typically a two-color wall, having a base opaque and translucent openings 21, also known as “crystal openings”. The translucent openings 21 allow the diffusion, outside of said housing 10, of the light coming from the light source. Said translucent openings 21 extend over the length of the glass 20 and can be of any desired shape and / or geometry. Said translucent openings 21 also extend along the width of the glass 20 over a width G. Said width G can vary according to the arrangement of the translucent openings 21 on the glass 20.

According to the invention, the device 1 also comprises a flat light guide 40 as well as at least one light source, suitable for injecting light into said flat light guide 40 capable of diffusing said light. According to one embodiment, the device 1 comprises a plurality of light sources of the LED type, acronym meaning light-emitting diodes. The light scattered in the flat light guide is thus transmitted outside the housing 10 through the translucent openings 21 of the aforementioned glass 20.

Said flat light guide 40 is adapted to be inserted inside the housing 10, upstream of the glass 20, so as to maintain an empty space between said flat light guide 40 and said glass 20. A such an empty space, designated functional clearance 50, is necessary for the circulation of air in order to avoid any condensation inside the housing 10.

Referring to Figure 4, which shows a cross-sectional view of a daytime running light device 1 according to the invention, the flat light guide 40 comprises a main body and a front part 42, extending towards the front of the housing 10 of the device 1. The main body 41 of the flat light guide 40 has a constant section of width L and a thickness E typically of the order of 6 to 8 mm.

In order to prevent the interior of the housing 10 from being visible from the outside due to the presence of the functional clearance 50 between the flat light guide 40 and the glass 20, said flat light guide 40 comprises a part front 42 of enlarged thickness E ′, typically of the order of 8 to 14 mm, extending at the front of the device 1. The front part has a width L ′, small in front of the width L of the main body 41. Typically the width L ′ of the front part 42 is of the order of 3 to 12 mm and the width L of the main body 41 from 30 to 90 mm along the curve of the flat light guide 40. Furthermore, the thickness increased E 'of the front part 42 is larger than the width G the translucent openings 21 arranged in the glass 20. Said translucent openings 21 typically have a width G of the order of magnitude of the thickness E of the main body 41.

Referring to Figure 5, the sectional view of the front portion 42 shows that the latter comprises three separate portions: a central portion 421 and two side portions 422, 423. The central portion 421 is of identical section to the section of the main body 41. Thus the central portion 421 alone guarantees the photometric constraints imposed, in Europe, by the regulations described in the ECE R87 and ECE R7 directives. The two lateral portions 422, 423, which may have the same or different dimensions, are adapted to prevent direct visibility, from the outside, of the interior of the housing 10 via the functional clearance 50, on either side of the central portion 421. The two lateral portions 422, 423 thus have the function of inhibiting any visibility of the interior of the housing 10 from the exterior, essentially for aesthetic purposes.

According to a preferred embodiment, still with reference to Figure 5, the junction zone between the main body 41 and the front portion 42, comprises on either side of the central portion 421 a radius of curvature 43 , 43 ′, allowing the section of the flat light guide 40 to be gradually widened. The radii of curvature 43, 43 ′, which are potentially dissimilar, are of the order of 1 to 2 mm. Such a radius of curvature 43, 43 ’makes it possible to distribute the light uniformly over the entire front part 42 of the flat light guide 40.

Advantageously, the flat light guide 40, in a daytime running light device 1 according to the invention, makes it possible to visually mask the functional clearance 50 present between the flat light guide 40 and the lens 20 while ensuring a homogeneous light distribution and in accordance with the regulations in force. The manufacture of such a flat light guide 40 also does not involve any additional cost since it is produced from a flat light guide mold of the prior art in which the part corresponding to the front part has been hollowed out in order to obtain a flat light guide 40 widened at one end.

Claims (8)

Claims: 1. A device (1) for lighting and / or light signaling for a vehicle, in particular for a motor vehicle, said device (1) comprising: - a housing (10) open at the front, that is to say towards the outside when the device (1) is mounted on a vehicle, - at least one light source disposed inside the housing (10), - a lens (20) corresponding to a wall adapted to close the housing (10), said lens (20) being essentially opaque and comprising translucent openings (21) adapted to allow the transmission of light from said at least one source luminous on the outside of said housing (10), said translucent openings (21) extending over a width (G) of the glass (20), and - a flat light guide (40), mounted in said housing (10), adapted to diffuse light coming from said at least one light source and disposed at a predetermined distance from said glass (20) so as to form a space empty, corresponding to a functional clearance (50) adapted to allow ventilation of said housing (10), said flat light guide (40) comprising a main body (41), a front part (42) towards the front of the housing ( 10), facing the glass (20), and a junction zone connecting the front part (42) to the main body (41), the front part (42) of said flat light guide (40) comprising an enlarged section having a thickness (E ') greater than the width (G) of the translucent openings (21) of said glass (20). 2. Device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the junction zone between the main body (41) and the front part (42) has a radius of curvature (43, 43 ') between 1 and 2 mm, said radius of curvature being adapted to allow the diffusion of light over the entire enlarged section of said front part (42). 3. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the main body (41) of the flat light guide (40) is of constant section. 4. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the diameter of the section of the main body (41) of the flat light guide (40) is between 6 and 8 mm. 5. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the enlarged section of the front part (42) of the flat light guide (40) comprises three portions: a central portion (421) and two lateral portions (422 , 423) extending on either side of the central portion (421), so as to form said front portion (42) of enlarged thickness (Ej. 6. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the thickness (Ej 5 of the front part (42) of the flat light guide (40) is 2 to 6 mm greater than the thickness (E ) of the main body (41). 7. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the front part (42) of the flat light guide (40) has a width (Lj between 3 and 12 mm. 8. Motor vehicle comprising at least one device (1) for lighting and / or light signaling according to one of the preceding claims. 1/3