FR3055690A1 - RETROTECTIVE STRUCTURE FOR VEHICLE - Google Patents

Abstract

The structure (1) comprises: - a part (3) delimiting a cavity (5); a mirror (13) covering at least the rear wall (11) of the cavity; - a light source (15) arranged on the side wall (9) of the cavity; a translucent cover (17) closing the front opening (7) of the cavity, a first transmitted part of the incident light radiation (I) emitted by the light source being transmitted through the translucent cover (17) and a reflected part (R) incident light radiation (I) being reflected by the translucent cover (17) to the mirror (13), the mirror (13) reflecting said reflected portion (R) to the translucent cover (17) so that a second transmitted portion (T2) of incident light radiation (I) is transmitted through the translucent cover (17), the second transmitted portion (T2) having a temporal phase shift with respect to the first transmitted portion (T1).

Description

® FRENCH REPUBLIC

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY © Publication number: 3,055,690 (to be used only for reproduction orders)

©) National registration number: 16 58 350

COURBEVOIE © Int Cl ⁸ : F21 V13 / 02 (2017.01), F21 S 41/20, 43/20

A1 PATENT APPLICATION

©) Date of filing: 08.09.16. © Applicant (s): FAURECIA INTERIEUR INDUSTRIE (© Priority: Simplified joint stock company - FR. @ Inventor (s): BENCHIKHI ZAKARIA. ©) Date of public availability of the request: 09.03.18 Bulletin 18/10. ©) List of documents cited in the report preliminary research: Refer to end of present booklet (© References to other national documents ® Holder (s): FAURECIA INTERIEUR INDUSTRIE related: Joint stock company. ©) Extension request (s): (© Agent (s): LAVOIX.

BACKLIGHT STRUCTURE FOR VEHICLE.

FR 3 055 690 - A1 (tv) The structure (1) includes:

- a part (3) delimiting a cavity (5);

- a mirror (13) covering at least the rear wall (11) of the cavity;

- a light source (15) arranged on the side wall (9) of the cavity;

- a translucent cover (17) closing the front opening (7) of the cavity, a first part transmitted from the incident light radiation (I) emitted by the light source being transmitted through the translucent cover (17) and a reflected part (R) of the incident light radiation (I) being reflected by the translucent cover (17) towards the mirror (13), the mirror (13) reflecting said reflected part (R) towards the translucent cover (17) so that a second transmitted part (T2) of the incident light radiation (I) is transmitted through the translucent cover (17), the second transmitted part (T2) having a time difference with respect to the first transmitted part (T1).

Backlit structure for vehicle

The present invention generally relates to backlit structures for vehicles.

Vehicle structures are increasingly made up of thin parts. This saves space and weight. However, for reasons of perceived quality, it is desirable that passengers have the impression that the pieces have a significant thickness.

Thus, the invention aims to propose a structure which makes it possible to give vehicle passengers an impression of depth, even if the parts forming the structure are not very thick.

To this end, the invention relates to a structure for a vehicle, the structure comprising:

- a part having a cavity having a front opening, a side wall and a rear wall located opposite the front opening;

- a mirror covering at least the rear wall;

- a light source arranged on the side wall and emitting light radiation incident in the cavity;

a translucent cover closing the front opening, a first part transmitted of the incident light radiation being transmitted through the translucent cover and a reflected part of the incident light radiation being reflected by the translucent cover towards the mirror, the mirror reflecting said part reflected towards the translucent cover such that a second transmitted part of the incident light radiation is transmitted through the translucent cover, the second transmitted part having a time difference with respect to the first transmitted part.

The structure can also have one or more of the characteristics below, considered individually or in all technically possible combinations:

- the translucent cover comprises a transparent layer having a front surface turned away from the cavity, and a tinted film covering the front surface;

- The translucent cover comprises a layer of transparent material and pigments embedded in the transparent material;

the translucent cover comprises a transparent layer having a front surface turned away from the cavity, and a semi-reflecting film covering the front surface, the semi-reflecting film being arranged to allow light rays to pass through from the inside from the cavity and for reflecting the light rays coming from outside the cavity;

- the light source surrounds the rear wall;

- the light source comprises a plurality of discrete light elements distributed around the rear wall;

- The light source comprises at least one light guide surrounding the rear wall and a member injecting light into the light guide;

- The translucent cover has a smooth rear surface towards the cavity, having a roughness of less than 0.2 µm;

- The structure comprises a decorative layer arranged in the cavity opposite the side wall, the decorative layer being backlit by the light source;

- the mirror is deformable, the structure comprising an actuator shaped to selectively deform the mirror;

- The actuator is an airbag comprising a chamber having at least one deformable wall defining the rear wall; and

- the actuator comprises a membrane made of an electro-active material defining the rear wall, and a current source configured to selectively inject a plurality of predetermined electric currents through the membrane.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the detailed description given below, by way of indication and in no way limitative, with reference to the appended figures, among which:

- Figure 1 is a simplified schematic representation, in section, of a first embodiment of the invention;

- Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the optical effect obtained using the structure of Figure 1;

- Figures 3 to 5 show different embodiments of the translucent cover of the structure of Figure 1; and

- Figures 6 to 8 are views similar to those of Figure 1, illustrating other embodiments of the invention.

The structure 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 is intended to be installed inside a vehicle, typically in the passenger compartment of the vehicle. It is for example intended to be integrated into the dashboard of the vehicle, or in the trim of an opening, or even in the center console of the vehicle, or in any other suitable location.

As a variant, the structure 1 is located outside the vehicle, in a bodywork element for example.

The vehicle is typically a motor vehicle, for example a car, a truck, a bus, or a two-wheeler. Alternatively, the vehicle is a train, a boat, or any other type of vehicle.

As visible in FIG. 1, the structure 1 comprises:

- A part 3 having a cavity 5 having a front opening 7, a side wall 9 and a rear wall 11 located opposite the front opening 7;

- A mirror 13 covering at least the rear wall 11;

- a light source 15 arranged on the side wall 9; and

- a translucent cover 17 closing the front opening 7.

Piece 3 is a rigid piece. For example, it is part of the cap of a dashboard. It is typically made of a plastic material, and is obtained by injection.

The cavity 5 is empty. Alternatively, it is filled with a transparent material such as PMMA (Methyl Polymethacrylate), or an optical gel. It can have any kind of shape: cylindrical, parallelepiped, etc.

The front opening 7 faces the passenger compartment of the vehicle. The rear wall 11 is located opposite the front opening 7 in a normal direction substantially perpendicular to the front opening 7. The front opening and the rear wall thus define two opposite sides of the cavity 5.

The side wall 9 extends all around the rear wall 11, and all around the front opening 7. In the example shown, it delimits the front opening 7 and is connected directly to the rear wall 11.

The wall 9 has a tubular shape, with a central axis substantially parallel to the normal direction. Taken perpendicular to the normal direction, the side wall 9 preferably has a substantially constant section, for example circular, rectangular, etc.

In the example shown in Figure 1, the rear wall 11 is substantially planar and perpendicular to the normal direction.

The mirror 13 covers one side of the rear wall 11 facing the interior of the cavity

5. The mirror 13 is for example obtained by depositing a coating at least on the rear wall 11, the deposit being typically carried out by the PVD (physical vapor deposition, or physical vapor deposition) process. As a variant, the mirror is produced by laminating a mirror sheet on the rear wall, or by overmolding a film on the rear wall 11.

As a variant, the mirror 13 covers not only the rear wall 11 but also all or part of the side wall 9.

The translucent cover 17 completely covers the front opening 7. As visible in FIG. 1, it typically also covers a peripheral edge of the opening 7, formed in the part 3.

The translucent cover 17 has towards the cavity 5 a smooth rear surface 19, having a roughness of less than 0.2 μm. The rear surface 19 closes the opening 7 and delimits the cavity 5.

It is substantially parallel to the mirror 13.

The translucent cover 17 is visible to the passengers of the vehicle.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, the translucent cover 17 comprises a transparent layer 21 having a front surface 23 turned away from the cavity 5, and a tinted film 25 covering the front surface 23. The tinted film has the role of letting part of the light pass and reflecting another.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, the translucent cover 17 comprises a layer 27 made of a transparent material and pigments 29 embedded in the transparent material. The role of pigments is to let part of the light pass and to reflect another.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, the translucent cover 17 comprises a transparent layer 31 having a front surface 33 turned away from the cavity 5, and a semi-reflecting film 35 covering the front surface 33. The semi-reflective film 35 is arranged to allow light rays to pass through from inside the cavity 5 and to reflect light rays coming from outside the cavity 5. The role of the semi-reflective film is to pass a part of the light and reflect another.

Advantageously, the light source 15 surrounds the rear wall 11, as can be seen in FIG. 2. Preferably, the light source 15 completely surrounds the rear wall 11.

In the example shown in FIG. 2, the light source 15 comprises a plurality of discrete light elements 37 distributed around the rear wall 11.

Each light element 37 is carried by the side wall 9. The light elements 37 are advantageously regularly distributed around the central axis of the wall 9. They are for example arranged according to a curve with a closed contour around the central axis, typically a circle or a rectangle. Alternatively, they are arranged in two closed contour curves around the central axis, parallel to each other, or more than two closed contour curves.

According to other variants, the light elements 37 are arranged on the side wall 9 so as to define all kinds of patterns, depending on the desired final appearance.

The light elements 37 are typically LEDs.

Typically, the structure 1 comprises a controller 39, configured to selectively activate or deactivate the light source 15. When the light source 15 comprises several light elements 37, the controller 39 is advantageously configured to control the ignition time of each element 37 individually according to a predetermined program, to create light animations.

When the light elements 37 are LEDs, the controller 39 is configured to also control the color of each LED.

According to a variant not shown, the light source 15 comprises at least one light guide surrounding the rear wall 11, and a member injecting light into the light guide. The light guide is arranged along a curve with a closed contour around the central axis of the side wall 9. The light guide is for example an optical fiber or a PMMA diffuser. It is thus possible to create a continuous light strip around the rear wall.

The light source 15 is arranged to selectively emit incident light radiation I into the cavity 5 (see FIG. 1).

A first transmitted part T1 of the incident light radiation I is transmitted through the translucent cover 17 and a reflected part R of the incident light radiation I is reflected by the translucent cover 17 towards the mirror 13.

The mirror 13 reflects said reflected part R towards the translucent cover 17 so that a second transmitted part T2 of the incident light radiation I is transmitted through the translucent cover 17.

The second transmitted part T2 has a time difference with respect to the first transmitted part T1, so that the passengers of the vehicle see two images of the light source 15, located at two different depths under the translucent cover 17. This situation is illustrated in figure 2.

It should be noted that the reflected part R will itself be partially reflected by the translucent cover, giving rise to a second generation reflected part, which, after reflection on the mirror 13, will give rise to a third part transmitted through the translucent cover.

The third transmitted part has a time difference with respect to the first transmitted part T1 and to the second transmitted part T2, so that the passengers of the vehicle see a third image of the light source 15, located at an even greater third depth under the translucent cover 17.

As visible in FIG. 2, the passengers thus see a certain number of images of the light source 15, staged at different depths under the translucent cover 17. The depths are a function of the time phase difference of each part transmitted through the translucent cover 17, that is to say the number of reflections of the light radiation on the mirror before transmission through the translucent cover 17. The images of the light source 15 give the structure the appearance of a light tunnel, of great depth, much deeper than the structure itself.

The number of visible images depends on the light power of the source 15 and the proportions of the light radiation which are reflected, transmitted or even absorbed by the translucent cover and the mirror.

According to a variant embodiment not shown, the rear surface 19 of the translucent cover 17 carries decorations, for example engravings or color patterns.

A second embodiment of the invention will now be described, with reference to FIG. 6. Only the points by which the second embodiment differs from the first will be detailed below. Identical elements or ensuring the same functions in the two embodiments will have the same references.

In the second embodiment, the structure takes on the appearance of a decoration tunnel and not a light tunnel.

To do this, the structure 1 includes a decor layer 41 arranged in the cavity 5 opposite the side wall 9, the decor layer 41 being backlit by the light source 15.

In other words, the decor layer 41 is interposed between the light source 15 and the interior of the cavity.

The decor layer 41 is translucent.

The decoration layer is for example made of natural or reconstituted wood, or is a layer carrying a decoration on its surface 43 opposite the light source 15.

The light radiation emitted by the light source 15 necessarily passes through the decorative layer 41 before reaching the translucent cover 17 or the mirror 13.

Thus, it is the decoration of the surface 43 of the decoration layer 41 which is reflected endlessly between the mirror 13 and the translucent cover 17.

A third embodiment of the invention will now be described, with reference to FIG. 7. Only the points by which the third embodiment differs from the first will be detailed below. Identical elements or ensuring the same functions in the two embodiments will have the same references.

In the third embodiment, in order to further improve the final rendering perceived by the passengers, it is possible to modify the shape of the mirror 13 to change the shape of the images seen by the passengers.

To do this, the mirror 13 is deformable, the structure 1 comprising an actuator 45 shaped to selectively deform the mirror 13.

In the embodiment of FIG. 7, the actuator 45 is an airbag. It comprises a chamber 47 having at least one deformable wall, and an injector 49 arranged to inject or withdraw a fluid from the chamber 47. The deformable wall defines the rear wall 11, and therefore carries the mirror 13. The injector 49 is configured to control the fluid pressure in the chamber 47 at a predetermined value, imposed for example by the controller 39 or by a control member actuated directly by the passengers.

The rear wall 11 adopts a curved shape towards the cavity 5 as illustrated in FIG. 7, or on the contrary concave towards the cavity 5, depending on the fluid pressure in the chamber 47. The curvature of the mirror, in bump or in hollow , is variable depending on the pressure.

A fourth embodiment of the invention will now be described, with reference to FIG. 8. Only the points by which the fourth embodiment differs from the third will be detailed below. Identical elements or ensuring the same functions in the two embodiments will have the same references.

As in the third embodiment, it is possible to modify the shape of the mirror 13 to change the shape of the images seen by the passengers.

Again, the mirror 13 is deformable, the structure 1 comprising an actuator 45 shaped to selectively deform the mirror 13.

In the fourth embodiment, the actuator 45 comprises a membrane 51 made of an electro-active material defining the rear wall 11, and a current source 53 configured to selectively inject a plurality of predetermined electric currents through the membrane 51.

The membrane 51 of an electro-active material adopts a shape which is a function of the intensity of the electric current injected by the current source 53. The predetermined electric currents imposed by the source 53 have respective intensities different from each other.

The current source 53 is controlled either by the controller 39 or by a control member actuated directly by the passengers, the controller or the control member determining the electric current injected into the membrane 51.

The fact of being able to vary the shape of the mirror, as well as the intensity, the timing and possibly the color of the light radiation emitted by the light source, makes it possible to selectively obtain several decorations for the structure, adapted automatically or at the choice of the passengers to the vehicle's living situation or the environment (day, night, ambient light intensity).

Claims (10)

1. - Structure for a vehicle, the structure (1) comprising: - a part (3) having a cavity (5) having a front opening (7), a side wall (9) and a rear wall (11) located opposite the front opening (7); - a mirror (13) covering at least the rear wall (11); - a light source (15) arranged on the side wall (9) and emitting incident light radiation (I) in the cavity (5); - a translucent cover (17) closing the front opening (7), a first part transmitted of the incident light radiation (I) being transmitted through the translucent cover (17) and a reflected part (R) of the incident light radiation (I ) being reflected by the translucent cover (17) towards the mirror (13), the mirror (13) reflecting said reflected part (R) towards the translucent cover (17) so that a second part transmitted (T2) of the radiation incident light (I) is transmitted through the translucent cover (17), the second transmitted part (T2) having a time difference with respect to the first transmitted part (T1). 2. - Structure according to claim 1, characterized in that the translucent cover (17) comprises a transparent layer (21) having a front surface (23) facing away from the cavity (5), and a tinted film ( 25) covering the front surface (23). 3. - Structure according to claim 1, characterized in that the translucent cover (17) comprises a layer (27) of a transparent material and pigments (29) embedded in the transparent material. 4. - Structure according to claim 1, characterized in that the translucent cover (17) comprises a transparent layer (31) having a front surface (33) facing away from the cavity (5), and a semi-film reflecting (35) covering the front surface (33), the semi-reflecting film (35) being arranged to allow light rays to pass through from inside the cavity (5) and to reflect light rays coming from outside cavity (5) 5. - Structure according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the light source (15) surrounds the rear wall (11). 6. - Structure according to claim 5, characterized in that the light source (15) comprises a plurality of discrete light elements (37) distributed around the rear wall (11). 7. - Structure according to claim 5, characterized in that the light source (15) comprises at least one light guide surrounding the rear wall (11) and a member injecting light into the light guide. 8.- Structure according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the structure (1) comprises a decorative layer (41) disposed in the cavity (5) opposite the side wall ( 9), the decor layer (41) being backlit by the light source (15). 5 9. Structure according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mirror (13) is deformable, the structure (1) comprising an actuator (45) shaped to selectively deform the mirror (13). 10.- Structure according to claim 9, characterized in that the actuator comprises a membrane (51) made of an electro-active material defining the rear wall (11), 10 and a current source (53) configured to selectively inject a plurality of predetermined electrical currents through the membrane (51). 2/3