FR3115584A1 - LENS ILLUMINATED LIGHTING MODULE - Google Patents

Abstract

Vehicle headlight lighting module (100) comprising a main light source (101) illuminating a projection lens (103) arranged opposite said main light source (101), said projection lens ( 103) directing the light emitted by the light source towards the outside of the module (100) to form a main lighting beam, noteworthy in that the module (100) further comprises a secondary light source separate from the source main light source (101), and light guide means (104) guiding the light emitted from the second light source to the projection lens (103) so as to form a secondary illumination beam outward from the module (100), different from the main beam. Figure for abstract: Fig. 6

Description

LENS ILLUMINATED LIGHTING MODULE

The invention relates to the field of automobile lighting, in particular to a lighting module producing "road" type lighting, also known as "main beam", as well as a headlight and a vehicle comprising such a lighting module.

Motor vehicles have headlights at the front which diffuse light towards the front of the vehicle in order to illuminate the road in front of the vehicle. Depending on the traffic conditions, several types of lighting, or lighting functions, must be available. When the vehicle passes another vehicle, the headlight has a so-called "dipped beam" or "dipped beam" function, in which the headlight illuminates the road over a short distance, generally about thirty meters. This function avoids dazzling another road user. When no vehicle is ahead, the headlight has a so-called "road" function in which it illuminates the road over a long distance, usually over a hundred meters. The regulations impose a certain shape on the beam of light emitted by the headlights for each of these functions.

To carry out these two types of lighting functions, headlights comprising two separate modules for each function are known: each module comprises a light source illuminating a specific optical system, of the reflector or/and lens type, intended to direct the light produced by the light source to create a particular beam of light specific to the lighting function. Such a headlight thus comprises a main beam module generating a specific beam of light to perform the "main" function, and a "dip" module generating a specific beam of light to perform the "dip" function, also known as "driving lights". crossing". When the "road" module is on, the "code" module can also be on. On the other hand, when the "code" function is activated, the road module must be off, and only the "code" module is alight.

For example, patent FR2766140 describes such a headlight.

The drawback of such a headlight is that when only the “dip” function is used, the “road” module is off, presenting no light. The vehicle user may believe that there is a problem with their headlight because one of the modules is off, which generates perceived quality problems. In addition, the aesthetics of the vehicle is degraded.

The object of the invention is to remedy these drawbacks. In particular, one of the objectives is to design a road-type lighting module to provide light in such a way as to give the impression that it is on while respecting the regulations in terms of headlight lighting.

This object is achieved according to the invention thanks to a lighting module for a vehicle headlight comprising a main light source illuminating a projection lens arranged opposite said main light source, said projection lens directing the light emitted by the main light source towards the exterior of the module to form a main lighting beam, noteworthy in that the module further comprises a secondary light source separated from the main light source, and a guide means of light guiding the light emitted by the second light source towards the projection lens so as to form a secondary lighting beam towards the outside of the module, different from the main beam.

The exterior of the module is the part located on the other side of the projection lens in relation to the main light source. Thus advantageously, when the lighting module is not used, the projection lens can remain illuminated while producing a secondary beam of a shape different from that of the main beam when the main light source is on. The module seems to illuminate, but the light emitted forms a different light beam. For example, in the case of a vehicle headlight comprising such a module for generating a "highway" type lighting beam when the main light source is on, and comprising another additional lighting module for carrying out a function "dipped" type lighting, the guide means is chosen so as to direct the light produced by the secondary light source towards the projection lens so as to form a secondary beam entering exclusively in the form of a beam of “code” type lighting; thus, when the headlight is on the "dipped" function, with the additional lighting module generating a "dipped" type lighting beam, the projection lens of the lighting module remains bright because it is illuminated by the light coming from the secondary light source, while remaining legal because the secondary beam generated by this illumination of the projection lens is in the form of an illumination beam of a “code” type illumination function. Thus, the two modules are illuminated. The light guide is made of a transparent material, for example polycarbonate or polyethylene.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the guide means guides the light emitted by the secondary light source so that the secondary lighting beam produces a beam of light included in a beam of the "code" type. , the main lighting beam forming a “road” type beam when the main light source is on.

We call "dipped" type lighting lighting illuminating an area in front of the vehicle over a relatively short distance, around thirty meters, and "road" type lighting lighting over a long distance, generally greater than one hundred meters, as defined by the regulations on the lighting of motor vehicles, such as for example the French regulations of the highway code in articles R313-2 and R313-3 (Regulatory part - Book III: The vehicle - Title I: Technical provisions - Chapter III: Lighting and signals - Section 1: Lighting and signaling of vehicles)

In another embodiment of the invention, the guide means is a light guide illuminated by the secondary light source. Preferably, the secondary light source is a light emitting diode. In another embodiment of the invention, the main light source is composed of several main light-emitting diodes aligned in a straight line, and the light guide is an elongated element extending parallel to the alignment of said main diodes.

In another embodiment of the invention, the secondary light source comprises two secondary light-emitting diodes each arranged at one end of the light guide.

Thus the light guide is illuminated homogeneously, and the light perceived through the projection lens when only the second light source is on, is homogeneous.

In another embodiment of the invention, the module comprises primary lenses arranged opposite the main diodes, between said main diodes and the projection lens. Preferably, the primary lenses are at a short distance from the main diodes, for example less than ten millimeters.

In another embodiment of the invention, the light guide and the primary lenses are made in one piece, the primary lenses being arranged along one of the edges of the light guide extending over the length of said light guide.

In another embodiment of the invention, the module comprises a support plate on which are fixed the main diodes, the secondary diode(s) and the light guide.

In a variant, the light guide comprises a middle portion with an emission surface arranged opposite the support plate, extending in a plane parallel to the direction of alignment of the main diodes and forming a non-zero angle and less than 90° with the support plate, the light guide comprising a means for extracting the light which diffuses in the light guide towards the projection lens, through the emission surface. Preferably, the light guide comprises end segments curved over 90° so as to present the section of the ends of said guide facing the secondary diodes.

The invention also relates to a vehicle headlight comprising a first lighting module, called the "road" module, capable of generating "road" type lighting, as described above, and a second lighting module, called the "road" module. “code”, capable of generating “code” type lighting, the secondary light source of the “road” module being on when the main light source of said module is off and the “code” module is on.

The invention also relates to a vehicle comprising a headlight as described above, or a lighting module as described above.

The invention will be better understood on reading the following description, given solely by way of example and made with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

represents the front of a vehicle comprising a headlight with a road module according to the invention.

schematically represents the road module of the and the beams of light it produces.

represents the conventional lighting zones of a headlight according to the type of lighting implemented, and the lighting beams produced by the module.

shows a perspective view of the road module without projection lens.

shows a perspective view of the road module without projection lens, without light guide and without primary lenses.

represents a view in section AA as identified in of the road module, in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis X and vertical Z to the vehicle.

represents a view in section BB of part of the road module along a plane parallel to the horizontal axis X and transverse Y to the vehicle.

The drawings are schematic representations to facilitate understanding of the invention. Components may not be shown to scale. The same references correspond to the same components from one figure to another.

The drawings are schematic representations to facilitate understanding of the invention. Components may not be shown to scale. The same references correspond to the same components from one figure to another. The X axis represents the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the Y axis the transverse direction and the Z axis the vertical direction. The forward, backward, up, down directions are taken from the vehicle reference frame.

Vehicle 1 shown in comprises two lighting headlights 10. These headlights 10 are each provided with two lighting modules 100, 200, one of the modules called road module 100 generating “road” type lighting, and another module 200 called code module 200 generating “dipped” type lighting, also known as “dipped beam” type lighting. Road type lighting is used to illuminate a long distance in front of the vehicle, generally when no other vehicle is present in front, while "dipped" type lighting is used to illuminate short distance in front of the vehicle, when said vehicle crosses another vehicle for example. “Highway” type lighting illuminates for example more than one hundred meters in front of the vehicle, while “low beam” type lighting illuminates around thirty meters in front of the vehicle. The lighting direction is substantially in the longitudinal direction X of the vehicle.
As illustrated in , the road module 100 comprises a main light source 101 illuminating a projection lens 103 arranged opposite said main light source 101. The projection lens 103 directs the light emitted by the light source towards the exterior of the road module 100 to form a main lighting beam F1 of the “road” type when the main light source 101 is on. The road module 100 further comprises a secondary light source 102, separated from the main light source 101, and a light guide means 104 guiding the light emitted by this second light source 102 towards the projection lens 103 so to form a secondary beam F2 of illumination towards the exterior of the module 100, different from the main beam F1 (illustrated in ). That is to say that the main beam F1 and the secondary beam F2 illuminate different areas. Part of the zones illuminated by the two beams F1, F2 can be common to the two beams. The light guide 104 is made of a transparent material, in which the light diffuses, for example polycarbonate or polyethylene.

There illustrates the lighting zones on a vertical surface arranged in front of the vehicle, of the headlight 10. When the headlight 10 is in a road function, with the road module 100 on, that is to say that it produces a beam of Lighting of the “road” type illuminates a zone called the road zone Z1. When the headlight 10 is in a dipped function, that is to say it produces a “dipped” type lighting beam, it illuminates a zone called the dipped zone Z2. This Z2 code zone is superimposed at least in part on the Z1 road zone, and comprises a break line C0 above which, by placing itself in the vehicle reference mark, the Z2 code zone does not light up so as not to dazzle users located in front of the vehicle 1. In “dipped” mode, the secondary beam F2 produced by the switching on of the secondary light source 102 is included in the dipped type lighting beam of the headlight 10. that is to say that the zone illuminated by the beam F2 generated by this switching on of the secondary light source 102 is in the code zone Z2 of the . Thus, when the second lighting source 102 is only on, in order to make the road module 100 bright as seen from outside the vehicle 1, this lighting cannot dazzle another user and remains in compliance with the regulations on the use lighting of a vehicle, in particular that relating to the "dipped" function. For this, the guide means 104 guides the light emitted by the secondary light source 102 so that the secondary lighting beam F2 is included in the “low beam” type beam of the headlight. When the main light source 101 is on, the main lighting beam F1 produces a “road” type beam, that is to say illuminates the road zone Z1.

As illustrated in , the guide means 104 is a light guide 104 illuminated by the secondary light source 102. In and 5, the projection lens 102 is not shown to facilitate viewing the interior of the module 100. The secondary light source 102 is composed of two light-emitting diodes 102a and 102b, known as LEDs, referred to as LEDs secondary, which injects the light they produce into the light guide 104.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5, the main light source 101 is composed of several main light-emitting diodes 101, called main LEDs, aligned. The light guide 104 is an elongated element extending parallel to the alignment of said main diodes 101. In , primary lenses 105 are arranged in front of each of the main LEDs, between these main LEDs 101 and the projection lens 103. These primary lenses 105 are very close to the main LED 101, that is to say less than ten millimeters from example. They make it possible to precisely direct the light emitted by each main LED 101 towards the projection lens, so as for example to illuminate specific zones of the road zone Z1. Thus, by turning off some of them or turning on some, it is possible to adapt the illuminated part according to the situation, and achieve adaptive lighting.

The two secondary LEDs 102a, 102b are each arranged at one end of the light guide 104, so that the light from each of these secondary LEDs 102a and 102b is diffused in the guide 104.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 4 and 6, the primary lenses 105 and the light guide 104 are made in one piece. The primary lenses 105 are arranged along one of the edges of the light guide 104 extending along the length of said light guide 104.

As illustrated in and 5, the module 100 comprises a support plate 106 on which the main 101 and secondary 102 LEDs are fixed, all on the same face of said support plate 106 in order to diffuse the light on the same side of the support plate 106. The support plate 106 is flat. The light guide 104 is fixed to this support plate 106. In the embodiment of these figures, the primary lenses are made in one piece with the light guide 104, together forming a plate 107. The plate 107 is fixed to the plate support 105, for example by three screws 108.

The light guide 104 comprises a middle portion 104a with a flat emission surface 104b, arranged opposite the support plate 106, and extending in a plane parallel to the direction of alignment of the main LEDs 101. In FIGS. 4 and 5, this direction of alignment is substantially parallel to the transverse axis Y of the vehicle 1. This emission surface 104b forms an angle α less than 90° but not zero with the support plate 106. In the , this angle α is about 20°. The light guide 104, in particular the middle portion 104a, comprises light extraction means allowing the light diffused inside the light guide 104 to exit via the emission surface 104b towards the projection lens 103 For example, the face of the light guide 104 opposite the emission surface 104b comprises indentations or irregularities directing the light diffusing in the light guide 104 towards said emission surface 104b. In order to direct the light coming out of the light guide 104 along a given direction, the emission surface 104b comprises for example a profile with prisms extending over its entire length, giving a sawtooth profile to this surface of show 104. The shows by arrows the paths of the light produced by the secondary LEDs 102 and transmitted by the light guide 104.

The angle α is chosen as a function of the geometry of the optical module, in order to direct the light leaving the light guide 104 via the emission surface 104b towards the projection lens 103, or towards an intermediate lens placed between the projection 103 and the primary lenses 105 and the light guide 104. This intermediate lens makes it possible to redirect the light emitted by the light guide 104 towards the projection lens 103 when the geometry of the module 100 does not make it possible to obtain the beam F2 directly with the projection lens 103. This may be the case for example when the projection lens 103 is beyond a certain distance from the light guide 104. As a variant, this intermediate lens also makes it possible to direct the light emitted by the primary LEDs 101 through the primary lenses 105 appropriately towards the projection lens 102 in order to obtain a desired main beam shape F1.

The light guide 104 comprises curved end segments 104c so as to present each of the ends of the light guide 104 in front of each of the secondary LEDs 102. That is to say that the edge 104d at each of the ends of said light 104 is opposite one of the secondary LEDs 102 so that the light produced by these secondary LEDs 102 enters the light guide 104. The , which is a section in an XY plane, identified by the reference BB in , of light guide 104, shows one of the curved end segments 104c of light guide 104.

The power of the secondary LEDs 102 is chosen so that the luminous flux of the secondary flux F2 is for example less than or equal to the maximum luminous flux authorized for a “code” type function. It is chosen for example so that this luminous flux is less than 300 lumens.

The support plate 106 has a general U shape, the base of the U of which comprises the main diodes 101, aligned and extending over the distance between the two branches of the U. The secondary diodes 102 are each on a different branch of the U. , at the junction with the base of the U.

A heat sink 108 is fixed to the back of the support plate 106, that is to say on the face of said support plate 106 opposite the face comprising the diodes, called the front face. The dissipator 108 comprises an extension 108a extending from the side of the front face of the support plate 106, between the branches of the U. The extension 108a forms for example cooling fins 108a which extend perpendicularly to the front face of the support plate 106, as shown in and 5.

The plate 107 has a channel part 109 covering the extension and forming a channel guiding the air through the fins 108a. That is to say that the fins are arranged between the channel part 109 and the plane of the support plate 106.

The module 100 comprises a box in which are installed the support plate 106 fitted with the LEDs 101, 102, the primary lenses 105, the light guide 104 and possibly the channel part 109. The channel part 109 opens onto one of the walls of the so as to bring outside air into said channel, for example using a fan, the air being directed towards the fins 108a and the dissipator 108 arranged on the back of the support plate, to evacuate the calories carried by the dissipator 109, 109a. The projection lens 103 forms a wall of the case facing the front face of the support plate 106, so as to receive the light emitted by the main LEDs 101 after having passed through the primary lenses 105, as illustrated in .

As illustrated in , each headlight 10 comprises a high beam module 100 and a dipped module 200. When the user wishes "dipped" type lighting, the dipped module 200 is turned on, producing a dipped beam illuminating the dipped zone Z2 as shown in . At the same time, only the secondary LEDs 102 of the road module 100 are lit, and make the projection lens 103 illuminated. The beam F2 formed by the lighting coming from the light produced by the secondary LEDs 102 illuminates a zone included strictly in the lighting zone Z2, or at least in the legal lighting zone of "dipped-beam" type lighting. ". Thus, on the one hand the light produced by the secondary LEDs 102 does not dazzle other road users, and on the other hand this lighting remains legal when the lighting of the headlights is of the “dipped” type.

When the user activates the “road” type lighting, the main LEDs 101 are lit. The light emitted by these main LEDs 101 passes through the primary lenses 105 and the projection lens 103, and illuminates the road zone Z1. The code 200 module remains on. The secondary LEDs are kept on, or alternatively are off to save power. When the user switches back to "dipped" type lighting, the main LEDs 101 are off and the secondary LEDs 102 are kept on if they were on in road mode, or in variants are on if they were off.

The modules 100 and 200 are for example installed in the same optical unit in order to form the headlight 10. They are for example behind a headlight glass. As a variant, the headlight 10 does not include a window, the projection lens 103 of the road module 100, one outer face of which is in the open air, that is to say forms an outer surface of the headlight 10, and the module code likewise comprises a projection lens comprising an exterior face in the open air. In another variant, the two modules 100 and 200 form two separate optical boxes which are fixed separately directly to the vehicle 1.

Claims (10)

Lighting module (100) for headlight (10) of vehicle (1) comprising a main light source (101) illuminating a projection lens (103) arranged opposite said main light source (101) , said projection lens (103) directing the light emitted by the main light source (101) towards the outside of the module (100) to form a main lighting beam (F1), characterized in that the module (100 ) further comprises a secondary light source (102) separated from the main light source 101, and a light guide means (104) guiding the light emitted from the second light source (102) towards the projection lens ( 103) so as to form a secondary beam (F2) for illuminating the outside of the module (100), different from the main beam (F1). Lighting module (100) according to the preceding claim, the guiding means (104) of which guides the light emitted by the secondary light source (102) so that the secondary lighting beam (F2) produces a beam of light included in a "low beam" type beam, the main lighting beam (F1) producing a "main beam" type beam. Lighting module (100) according to one of the preceding claims, the guide means (104) of which is a light guide (104) illuminated by the secondary light source (102). Lighting module (100) according to the preceding claim, the secondary light source (102) of which is a light-emitting diode (102). Lighting module (100) according to Claim 3, in which the main light source (101) is composed of several main light-emitting diodes (101) aligned in a straight line, and the light guide (104) is a slender element extending parallel to the alignment of said main diodes (101), preferably the secondary light source (102) comprises two secondary light-emitting diodes (102a, 102b) each disposed at a different end of the light guide (104). Module (100) according to Claim 5, comprising primary lenses (105) arranged opposite the main diodes (101), between the said main diodes (101) and the projection lens (103). Module (100) according to the preceding claim, in which the light guide (104) and the primary lenses (105) are made in one piece, the primary lenses (105) being arranged along one of the edges of the light (104) extending the length of said light guide (104). Module (100) according to one of the preceding claims taken in combination with claims 4 and 5, comprising a support plate (106) on which are fixed the main diodes (101), the secondary diode (102), and the means of guidance (104). Headlight (10) of vehicle (1) comprising a first lighting module, called road module (100), according to one of the preceding claims, and a second lighting module, called dipped module (102) intended to produce a "dipped" type lighting, the secondary light source (102) of the road module (100) being on when the main light source (101) of said road module (100) is off and the dipped module is on. Vehicle (1) comprising a headlight (10) according to the preceding claim, or a lighting module (100) according to one of claims 1 to 8.