FR3126359A1 - Adjustment device for transmitting a movement from an adjuster to an automotive lighting module and lighting device - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an adjustment device for transmitting movement from an adjuster (4) to a lighting module (2), the device comprising a first part (3) and a second part (5), the first part being configured to slide relative to the second part along a sliding direction. The first part (3) comprises a first end (31) intended to be connected to the adjuster (4) and a second end (32) intended to be connected to the lighting module (2). Furthermore, the first part (3) comprises first coupling means (8) and the second part (5) comprises second coupling means (7) configured to interact with the first coupling means to allow movement of rotation around a direction perpendicular to the direction of sliding. Figure for summary: figure 3

Description

Adjustment device for transmitting movement from an adjuster to a lighting module and automotive lighting device

This invention belongs to the field of mechanical solutions for adjusting the elements included in automotive lighting devices.

Lighting devices, such as headlights, just like other automotive parts, usually require some angular adjustment.

This adjustment is made by means of adjusters. These parts usually consist of a shaft that can move linearly. Thanks to this linear movement of the shaft, and to a balancing rod connected to the end of the shaft and to the part to be adjusted, the latter can be adjusted.

In some cases, the adjuster is applied directly to the light module. In these cases, there are no major kinematic or mechanical problems.

However, in some cases, there are intermediate elements between the adjuster and the lighting module. This may be due to the presence of several light modules or the need to adjust one module relative to another module.

In these cases, the intermediate elements, which are also provided with ball-and-socket connections to interact with the lighting module to be adjusted, may experience mechanical forces, due to the fact that the force applied by the adjuster, or the equivalent element, and the reaction forces caused by the light modules are not well balanced, for example due to the different distance from the axis and the different weight of the modules. This can cause torsional forces in the intermediate element which, if they cannot be absorbed, will cause a hysteresis phenomenon.

• la première partie comprend une première extrémité destinée à être reliée à l’ajusteur et une deuxième extrémité destinée à être reliée au module d'éclairage
• la première partie comprend un premier moyen d'accouplement et la deuxième partie comprend un deuxième moyen d'accouplement configuré pour interagir avec le premier moyen d'accouplement pour permettre un mouvement de rotation autour d'une direction perpendiculaire à la direction de glissement.

The present invention provides a solution to this problem by means of an adjustment device for transmitting movement from an adjuster to a lighting module, the device comprising a first part and a second part, the first part being configured to slide with respect to the second part along a sliding direction, in which

• the first part comprises a first end intended to be connected to the adjuster and a second end intended to be connected to the lighting module
• the first part comprises a first coupling means and the second part comprises a second coupling means configured to interact with the first coupling means to allow rotational movement around a direction perpendicular to the direction of sliding.

In this adjusting device, the first part is not only allowed to slide relative to the second part, which is obviously necessary for the normal functioning of the adjusting device, but it is also allowed to rotate relative to the latter, which which makes it possible to release the stress caused by a torque in the first part due to the reaction between the second end when it is connected to a lighting module and the first end when it is connected to the adjuster.

In certain particular embodiments, one of the first and second coupling means comprises a slide guide, and the other of the first and second coupling means comprises a connection with a ball joint.

A coupling between a ball joint and a slide guide is particularly advantageous, since it provides freedom of sliding in the slide guide and, at the same time, freedom of rotation in an axis different from the direction of sliding. It is thus possible to provide a way of reducing the stresses in any axis different from the direction of sliding. The adjustment device of the invention is configured to allow a rotation of at least 0.5° of the first part relative to the second part. Insofar as the rotation of the first part is not limited, for configurations where the lighting module is laterally offset with respect to the sliding direction of the first part with respect to the second part, a value of 1° minimum and more particularly 2° minimum is preferable.

In certain particular embodiments, the first coupling means comprises a ball joint and the second coupling means comprises a slide guide.

The second part generally being a part fixed to the casing, it is advantageous for the shape of the slide to be located in this part, and the ball joint in the first part.

In certain particular embodiments, the first end is configured to receive an adjustment force along a first axis and the second end is configured to transmit said force along a second axis different from the first axis.

Sometimes the direction in which the force is received from the adjuster is not the same as the direction in which this force is transmitted to the light module. This may be because the two directions are parallel, but do not coincide, or even the two directions are not parallel. In these cases, the present invention is particularly advantageous, since this misalignment will certainly cause a torque in the first part of the device, the rotation capacity thus appearing as an ideal means of preventing hysteresis phenomena in the first part, due to the rotational stresses caused by the aforementioned torque.

In certain particular embodiments, the second axis is parallel to the first axis.

Current lighting modules are small, and there is little space for each element implemented for the projection of light. In these cases, it sometimes happens that it is not possible to have a straight element between the end receiving the adjustment force and the end communicating this force to the lighting module. A Z-shaped element, which receives the force in a first direction and communicates this force in a second direction parallel to the first but different from it, is a good solution when the interior geometry of the lighting device does not allow a more direct design.

In certain particular embodiments, the first part further comprises a third end intended to be connected to an additional lighting module.

The device of the present invention is also suitable for having more than one lighting module. A projecting third end of the first part provides a connection with the additional lighting module, so that the adjustment is carried out on all the lighting modules connected to the first part.

According to another inventive aspect, the invention provides an automobile lighting device, comprising an adjuster, one or more lighting modules comprising semiconductor light sources and an adjusting device according to the first inventive aspect, in which the first end of the first part is connected to the adjuster and potentially to another module and the second end of the first part is connected to the first lighting module.

The term "solid state" refers to light emitted by solid state electroluminescence, which uses semiconductors to convert electricity into light. Compared to incandescent lighting, solid-state lighting creates visible light by generating less heat and dissipating less energy. The generally low mass of a solid-state electronic lighting device gives it greater resistance to shock and vibration compared to fragile glass tubes/bulbs and long, thin filament wires. They also eliminate filament evaporation, potentially increasing the life of the lighting device. Some examples of these types of lighting include solid state light emitting diodes (LEDs), organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) or polymer light emitting diodes (PLEDs) as lighting sources rather than electric filaments, plasma or gas.

A matrix layout is a typical example for these light modules. Rows can be grouped into ranges of projection distance, and each column in each group represents an angular interval. This angular value depends on the resolution of the matrix layout, which is usually between 0.01º per column and 0.5º per column. As a result, many light sources can be managed at the same time.

In certain particular embodiments, the automobile light device further comprises an additional lighting module and the adjustment device is firmly fixed to the additional lighting module.

In certain cases, which are particularly interesting for the present invention, an additional lighting module must be positioned relative to a main lighting module. In this case, the adjuster is located on the main lighting module, and the adjustment operation is carried out by operating the adjuster, then moving the additional lighting module relative to the main lighting module.

In certain particular embodiments, the automobile light device further comprises an additional lighting module and in which the first part further comprises a third end connected to the additional lighting module. This configuration is interesting when several modules have to be adjusted together.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used in this document should be interpreted as is customary in the trade. It is further understood that terms in common use are also to be interpreted in the manner customary in the relevant trade and not in an idealized or overly formal sense, unless expressly defined herein.

In this text, the term "includes" and its derivatives (such as "comprising", etc.) must not be understood in an excluding sense, that is to say that these terms must not be interpreted as excluding the possibility that what is described and defined may include other elements, steps, etc.

To complete the description and to allow a better understanding of the invention, a set of drawings is provided. These drawings form an integral part of the description and illustrate an embodiment of the invention, which should not be interpreted as limiting the scope of the invention, but only as an example of embodiment of the invention. The drawings include the following figures:

shows a detailed view of some of the elements of an automotive lighting device according to a first embodiment of the invention.

shows part one and part two in an exploded view.

shows how, due to the difference between the first direction and the second, the first part is forced to rotate.

shows a detailed view of some of the elements of an automotive lighting device according to a second embodiment of the invention.

In these figures, the following reference numerals are used for each of the following:

1 First lighting module

2 Second light module

3 Part One

31First end of first part

32Second end of first part

33 Third end of the first part

4 Adjuster

5 Part two

7 Slide guide

8 Ball joint

9 Axis of rotation

10 Automotive lighting device

The exemplary embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those of ordinary skill in the art to design and implement the systems and methods described herein. It is important to understand that embodiments may be provided in many other forms and should not be construed as being limited to the examples presented herein.

Accordingly, although the embodiment may be varied in various ways and take various alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown in the drawings and described in detail below by way of example. There is no intention to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, all modifications, equivalents and alternatives within the scope of the appended claims should be included.

There shows a detailed view of some of the elements of an automotive lighting device 10 according to the invention.

In this automobile lighting device 10, there is a first lighting module 1, a second lighting module 2 and a first part 3. This first part 3 has a first end 31 connected by means of a connection with ball joint to an adjuster 4 which is fixed to the housing and a second end 32 connected by means of another connection with ball joint to the second lighting module 2. The first part 3 has another third end 33 fixed to the first lighting module 1.

The adjuster 4 is configured to push the first end 31 of the first part 3 so that the second end 32 of the first part transmits this force and moves the second lighting module 2 relative to the adjuster 4. The first part being a rigid part, the force is also transmitted by the third end 33 to the first lighting module 1. The adjustment device of the invention is configured to allow a rotation of at least 0.5° of the first part compared to the second part. Insofar as rotation of the first part is not limited, for configurations where the lighting module is more laterally offset with respect to the sliding direction of the first part with respect to the second part, a value of 1 ° minimum and more particularly 2° minimum is preferable.

In this movement, the first part 3 is configured to slide along the slide guide 7 formed by a second part 5 located in the housing of the lighting device 10. This second part 5, which is represented as a separate part of the housing , can be inserted by any means into this casing: gluing, screwing, fitting or any other manufacturing process suitable for this purpose. The device of the invention can allow subsequent installation if an existing lighting module is intended to adopt this adjustment system.

The sliding action of the first part 3 relative to the second part 5 is intended to occur in a sliding direction. However, the force is applied by the adjuster 4 to the first end 31 of the first part 3 in a first direction d1, while the force is transmitted by the second end 32 of the first part 3 in a second direction d2 , different from the first direction. In this case, these two directions d1, d2 are parallel but located at different places, ie the second direction d2 is offset laterally with respect to the first direction d1. In various embodiments, not shown, these two directions may be non-parallel.

There shows the first part 3 and the second part 5 in an exploded view. The first part 3 comprises a ball joint 8, which is intended to be coupled to the slide guide 7 of the second part 5. When this ball joint 8 is coupled to the slide guide 7, it allows not only a linear sliding, in the direction of the force d1 of the , but also the rotation of the first part 3 with respect to the second part 5 around an axis of rotation 9 which is perpendicular to this direction d1.

The sliding stability is the same as in the devices with a linear element sliding along the linear channel, but the present invention adds the advantage that the first part 3 can absorb any torque due to the rotation capacity compared to the second part around this axis of rotation 9.

Thanks to this rotation, the first part 3 does not undergo any constraint when it is subjected to a torque, since it has an additional degree of freedom with the rotation around the axis of rotation 9.

There shows how, due to the difference between the first direction and the second direction, the first part 3 is constrained to rotate. As shown in , the ball joint, not visible in this figure because coupled inside the guide 7, of the first part 3 is particularly adapted to allow this rotation with respect to the slide guide 7 of the second part 5. The ball joint allows the rotation of the first part 3 with respect to the slide guide 7 of the second part 5 in an axis of rotation perpendicular to the sliding direction d1 due to its particular geometry, in which the ball joint has a symmetrical shape which allows rotation with respect to the slide guide 7, unlike any existing device (not part of the invention) where a linear element is installed instead of the ball joint. In this figure, the axis of rotation is not visible, because it is almost perpendicular to the view. Instead, the original orientation o1 of the first part 3 and the new orientation o2, after rotation, of the same part are illustrated.

As a result, the two lighting modules 1, 2 move together, since the first part 3 is a solid part, and the second end 32, connected to the second lighting module 2, and the third end 33, connected to the first lighting module 1, retain their relative positioning before and after the rotation.

There represents some of the elements of another embodiment of a lighting device according to the invention.

In this figure, there is a single lighting module 2 which is connected to the first part 3. This first part 3 has a first end 31 which is connected by means of a connection with a ball joint to an adjuster 4. In this case, the adjuster 4 is not located on another lighting module but directly on a wall of the module housing (partially shown). The second end 32 is connected to the lighting module 2 by another connection with ball joint.

The adjuster 4 is configured to push the first end 31 of the first part 3 so that the second end 32 of the first part transmits this force and moves the second lighting module 2 relative to the housing.

Despite this different configuration, the operation of the first part 3 is the same as in the previous embodiment: the first part 3 is also configured to slide along the slide guide 7 formed directly on the housing of the lighting device. In this case, this part of the housing would be the second part in the present invention. This sliding action is intended to occur in a sliding direction. However, the force is applied by the adjuster 4 to the first end 31 of the first part 3 in a first direction, while the force is transmitted by the second end 32 of the first part 3 in a second direction, different from the first direction. The original orientation of the first part 3 and its new orientation, after rotation, are illustrated by dash-and-dot lines, as in the . This difference in the axis of force causes a torque in the first part, which is forced to rotate as a result of this torque. As the coupling between the first and the second part allows this rotation, no additional stress is exerted on the parts concerned.

There is another embodiment, not shown, in which the invention is used to adjust one lighting module relative to the other. In this case, the adjuster is arranged on the first lighting module, more particularly fixed firmly thereto. As a result, when the adjuster is activated, the first end receives a force in a first direction, but the second direction, related to the force imparted to the second light module, is laterally offset from the first direction.

In this case, the sliding action of the first part is the same as in the previous embodiments, but the result is that the second lighting module moves relative to the first lighting module, whereas in the above, the two lighting modules move together.

Claims (9)

Adjustment device for transmitting movement from an adjuster (4) to a lighting module (2), the device comprising a first part (3) and a second part (5), the first part being configured to slide relative to the second part along a sliding direction, in which:

• the first part (3) comprises a first end (31) intended to be connected to the adjuster (4) and a second end (32) intended to be connected to the lighting module (2)
• the first part (3) comprises a first coupling means (8) and the second part (5) comprises a second coupling means (7) configured to interact with the first coupling means to allow rotational movement around in a direction perpendicular to the direction of slip.

An adjustment device according to claim 1, wherein one of the first and second coupling means comprises a slide guide, and the other of the first and second coupling means comprises a ball joint. Adjusting device according to Claim 2, in which the first coupling means comprises a ball joint (8) and the second coupling means comprises a slide guide (7). An adjustment device according to any preceding claim, wherein the first end (31) is configured to receive an adjustment force along a first axis and the second end (32) is configured to transmit said force along a different second axis of the first axis. Adjusting device according to Claim 4, in which the second axis is parallel to the first axis. Adjustment device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the first part further comprises a third end (33) intended to be connected to an additional lighting module (1). An automotive light device (10) comprising an adjuster (4), a lighting module (2) comprising solid state light sources and an adjuster according to any preceding claim, wherein the first end of the first part is connected to the adjustment device and the second end of the first part is connected to the lighting module. Automotive lighting device according to the preceding claim, further comprising an additional lighting module (1) and in which the adjuster (4) is firmly fixed to the additional lighting module (1). Automotive light device according to claim 7, further comprising an additional lighting module (1) and wherein the first part (3) further comprises a third end (33) connected to the additional lighting module (1).