FR3127275A1 - Optical unit for a motor vehicle headlight. - Google Patents

Abstract

Optical unit for motor vehicle headlamp, comprising a housing closed by an optical lens (3), said housing comprising a first row of parabolic reflectors (40) and a second row of parabolic reflectors (50); said optical unit further comprising an additional parabolic reflector (60) located near the junction between the first (40) and the second (50) rows of parabolic reflectors and shaped to be capable of reflecting light rays (R3) emitted by at least one additional light source to realize an additional lighting function SBL of the Flat and Spot lighting functions of dipped beam, in bends; the installation of the additional parabolic reflector (60) to make the non-activation of the SBL additional lighting function invisible, seen from outside the vehicle, when the Flat and Spot dipped beam lighting functions are activated. (Figure 3)

Description

Optical unit for a motor vehicle headlight.

The invention generally relates to headlamps for motor vehicles and is more particularly concerned with optical units for headlamps integrating several lighting functions in the same box.

In a headlamp, it is common practice to integrate several lighting functions such as dipped beam and main beam functions as well as so-called static cornering lighting functions, known by the acronym "EVS" or under the Anglo-Saxon acronym “SBL”, for “Static Bending Light”.

The SBL function supplements the lighting provided by the dipped beam and main beam functions, on the sides of the road, depending on the speed of the vehicle and the steering angle of the steering wheel. The advantage of this function is to improve the driver's visibility, at night, on bends and in particular on the inside of bends.

In some vehicles, an optical module, dedicated to the SBL function, hereinafter referred to as SBL module, is arranged alongside other optical modules dedicated respectively to the dipped beam and main beam functions, in each of the vehicle's headlamps. . The SBL module is generally placed, in the headlamp, closest to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. The SBL module is then oriented towards the outside of the vehicle with an orientation making it possible to point the light beam generated by the SBL module towards the sides of the road.

An optical unit generally consists of a box closed by a lens or glass transparent to light. The box contains and supports at least one light source such as a light-emitting diode, designated by the Anglo-Saxon acronym LED (Light-Emitting Diode), located on an electronic card, and a parabolic or other reflector, making it possible to direct the beam light generated by the LED towards the lens or the glass closing the case. Such an optical block can be equipped with or be associated with a mask having the function of hiding the technical areas vis-à-vis an observer located in front of the vehicle. The technical areas include in particular the electronic cards and other components or mechanical elements involved in the formation of the light beams and their orientation.

It is also known to integrate the dipped beam and main beam functions in the same box by sharing the same electronic card supporting the LEDs.

The integration of lighting LEDs in the headlamps of motor vehicles and the new associated lighting technologies make it possible to cooperate in the same headlamp housing with different lighting functions and in particular an additional lighting function such as the SBL function. .

However, the addition of the SBL function in addition to the lighting functions already installed in a headlamp which has been the subject of an initial development, may require costly adjustments (addition of a reflector, an electronic card supporting one or more LEDs, a mask, etc. and/or require space which is not always available in the box.

The aim of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive solution making it possible to add the SBL function to an already existing optical unit in a motor vehicle headlamp, without impacting the volume of the optical unit or the perceived quality of the optical unit, seen from outside the vehicle, when the SBL function is not activated.

To this end, the present invention has as its first object, an optical unit for a motor vehicle headlamp, comprising a housing closed by an optical lens, said housing comprising a first row of parabolic reflectors and a second row of parabolic reflectors, adjacent to the first row and extending said first row in the same transverse direction of the box; said parabolic reflectors of the first and second rows being shaped to be able to respectively reflect light rays, emitted by a plurality of light sources, outside the case through the lens in first and second determined directions to respectively form a light beam from the “Flat” lighting function and a light beam from the “Spot” lighting function; said optical unit further comprising an additional parabolic reflector located near the junction between the first and second rows of parabolic reflectors, being shaped to be able to reflect light rays, emitted by at least one additional light source, through the lens following a direction transverse to that of the rays of the Flat beam to form a light beam of the SBL lighting function.

According to one characteristic, the plurality of light sources and the additional light source are installed on the same electronic card supported in the box; the light sources being located facing their respective parabolic reflectors.

According to another characteristic, the parabolic reflectors of the first and second rows as well as the additional parabolic reflector all belong to the same transverse wall of the box, obtained at the same time as the molding of the box.

According to another characteristic, the rays emitted by the additional light source pass through the lens in a part of the lens located in the vicinity of the side edge of the case.

According to another characteristic, the second row of parabolic reflectors is set back from the first row of parabolic reflectors with respect to the lens.

According to another characteristic, the additional parabolic reflector comprises a concave rear face oriented towards the second row of parabolic reflectors.

According to another characteristic, the first row of parabolic reflectors comprises five adjacent parabolic reflectors and in which the second row of parabolic reflectors comprises two adjacent parabolic reflectors.

According to another characteristic, the light sources are LEDs.

A second object of the invention is a motor vehicle headlamp comprising at least one optical unit as described above.

The last subject of the invention is a motor vehicle comprising at least one headlamp as described above.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on examination of the detailed description below, and of the appended drawing, in which:

illustrates a side view of a motor vehicle headlight optical unit, according to the invention;

illustrates a top view of the optical block according to the invention;

illustrates the optical block according to the invention, according to a top view in section along the III-III section axis of the ;

illustrates the optical block according to the invention, according to a side view in section along the section axis IV-IV of the ; And

illustrates a regulatory diagram of illumination of dipped and cornering lights to which the optical unit according to the invention is subject.

In what follows, it is considered that the optical unit, shown in the figures, is oriented as mounted inside a vehicle headlamp itself mounted in a motor vehicle. The optical unit therefore adopts the same orthonormal XYZ reference frame as that of the vehicle. Identical elements of the optical block are designated by the same alphanumeric references.

For this and unless otherwise specified, reference is made to the orthonormal reference XYZ to identify the directions of extension of the vehicle and the associated relative concepts, including a longitudinal direction (along X), a transverse direction (along Y) and a vertical direction (according to Z). The longitudinal direction X extends between the front and the rear of the vehicle, the transverse direction Y extends between the right and left lateral sides of the vehicle identified with respect to the driver in the driving position of the vehicle, and the vertical direction Z defines the extension of the vehicle in elevation from its rolling plane on the ground. As a result, the front and rear relative notions are identified longitudinally, the lateral notion and the right and left relative notions are identified transversely, the notions like upper and lower or other related relative notions like bottom and top, etc. are defined vertically with respect to the taxiing plan of the vehicle on the ground.

There illustrates a side view of an optical block 1 and the the same optical unit 1 according to a top view. The optical block 1 considered in Figures 1 and 2, is located in the left headlight of the vehicle. The projector and the vehicle are not shown. The optical block of the right headlamp, also not shown, is identical and symmetrical with respect to the vertical median plane of the vehicle.

The optical unit 1 comprises a box 2 closed in its front part by a lens 3.

The box 2 of the optical unit 1 incorporates a plurality of mechanical, optical, electronic and heat dissipation components.

The case 2 comprises in its front part 20 an upper compartment 21, a central compartment 22 and a lower compartment 23.

The central compartment 22 and the lower compartment 23 house the components dedicated to “cut/pixel” type dipped beam lighting functions and a “matrix” type main beam lighting function. We will be particularly interested in the upper compartment 21 which houses the components used for the formation of the light beams respectively "Spot" and "Flat" forming part of the basic lighting function of the dipped headlights.

With reference to the , the “Flat” beam, Fflat, is obtained from a first row 40 of five parabolic reflectors 41-45 of substantially identical shape and size, hereinafter referred to as “parabolas”. The five parabolas 41-45 are arranged adjacently and are aligned, along their width, in a direction transverse to the vertical median plane PM of the box 2 (along X). They extend between the left side edge of the compartment 21 and the vertical median plane PM of the box 2.

The “Spot” beam, Fspot, is obtained from a second row 50 of two parabolas 51-52 of substantially identical size and shape. The two parabolas 51-52 are arranged adjacently and are aligned, along their width, in a direction transverse to the vertical median plane PM of the box 2 (along X). They extend from the vertical median plane PM of the upper compartment 21 of the box 2 of the optical unit 1 (along X) to the right side edge of the compartment 21.

The first and second rows 40 and 50 of parabolas (seven parabolas 41-45 and 51-52) are obtained by molding with the box 2 and define a single and same wall 6 extending substantially perpendicularly (along Y) to the side walls of the upper compartment 21 of the box 2. The wall 6 is thus shaped to define the seven parabolas 41-45 and 51-52.

With reference to the , an electronic card 70 is arranged in the upper compartment 21. It is common to the two rows of parabolas 40 and 50 and supports the five light sources, five LEDs 71-75, arranged opposite the parabolas of the first row 40 and the two light sources, two LEDs 76-77 arranged facing the parabolas of the second row of parabolas 50. The LEDs 71-75 and 76-77 dedicated respectively to the parabolas 41-45 and 51-52 of the first and second rows 40 and 50, emit light rays towards their respective parabolas 41-45 and 51-52.

In order not to overload the drawing, the LEDs, although numbered in the description, have not been represented or referenced in the figures with the exception of LED 73 on the which is dedicated to parable 43.

The parabolas 41-45 of the first row of parabolas 40 are positioned, dimensioned and oriented so as to respectively reflect the rays R1 emitted by each of the five LEDs 71-75, along their main optical axes, through a first lateral part 31 of the lens 3 located opposite the first row of parabolas 40, at a first determined distance from the first row of parabolas 40.

The parabolas 51-52 of the second row of parabolas 50 are dimensioned and oriented so as to respectively reflect the rays R2 emitted by each of the two LEDs 76-77, along their main optical axes, through a second lateral part 32 of the lens 3 located opposite the second row, at a second determined distance from the second row of parabolas 50.

In the layout described, the parabolas of the first row 40 have a smaller size than the second row 50 and the second row of parabolas 50 is offset, substantially set back from the first row 40, with respect to the lens 3. The second distance is therefore greater than the first distance. The first row of parabolas 40 comprises five parabolas 41-45 and the second row of parabolas 50 comprises two parabolas 51-52.

All of the beams R1 and R2 must comply with a regulatory illumination diagram for the "Flat", Fflat, and "Spot", Fspot type dipped headlight beams, as illustrated in .

The projection of the Fspot beam is concentrated in the center of the diagram while the projection of the Fflat beam extends widely on either side of the vertical axis of the diagram passing through the center of the projector. The horizontal axis corresponds to the horizon line in relation to the projector. Flat and Spot beam projections are located below the horizontal axis.

The width of the beams Fflat and Fspot, is determined (along the horizontal axis of the diagram) respectively by the first and second rows of parabolas 40 and 50. The contribution of the SBL function appears on the left of the diagram by widening the projection width of the Fflat beam on the left (lower left side).

The installation of an SBL module fulfilling the SBL function, in the optical block 1 which has just been described, must therefore comply with the regulatory illumination diagram without modifying the dimensions of the box 2 and in particular the width of the box 2 (according to Y).

Advantageously, the solution according to the invention consists in installing an additional dish 60 ( and 3) in the extension of the first row of parabolas 40, after the parabola 45 which is adjacent to the parabola 51 of the second row of parabolas 50, without modifying the layout of the first and second rows 40 and 50. The parabola additional 60 is obtained by molding at the same time as the molding of the wall 6, shaped to define the parabolas of the first and second rows 40 and 50.

The additional parabola 60 extends in the vicinity of the junction between the first 40 and the second 50 rows of parabolic reflectors 40 and 50 advancing towards the lens 3. Its main optical axis is oriented towards the part 31 of the lens 3 which joins the left side edge of the lens 3. The rear face of the additional parabola 60 is curved towards the parabola 51 which is adjacent to the parabola 45, without impacting the radiation diagram of the rays R2 and therefore without impacting the diagram of illumination corresponding to the beam Fspot.

The additional parabola 60 is presented globally, with reference to the , like an inverted “cedilla”, hung between the parabola 45 and the parabola 51 being substantially centered on the vertical median plane PM.

An additional LED 78, not shown, is attached to the common electronic card 70 supporting the previous seven LEDs 71-77, being arranged facing the additional parabola 60 The additional LED 78 emits light rays R3 which are reflected by the parabola additional 60 in directions determined along the main optical axis of the additional parabola 60. It is considered for simplicity that the SBL module mainly comprises the additional reflector 60 and the additional diode 78.

The rays R3 emitted by the additional LED 78 are reflected in a direction transverse to that of the rays R1 (Fflat beam) to pass through the lens 3 in a part 31 of the lens 3 located in the vicinity of the left side edge of the box 2.

Thanks to this installation of the SBL 60, 78 module, when the Flat and Spot lighting functions are activated, the visual rendering of the lighted projector seen from the outside is not affected when the SBL function is deactivated. The outer surface of the optical module 1 always appears fully lit.

Claims (10)

Optical unit (1) for motor vehicle headlamp, comprising a housing (2) closed by an optical lens (3), said housing (2) comprising a first row of parabolic reflectors (40) and a second row of parabolic reflectors (50 ) adjacent to the first row (40) and extending said first row in the same transverse direction of the housing (2); said parabolic reflectors of the first and second rows (40 and 50) being shaped to be capable of reflecting light rays (R1 and R2) respectively, emitted by a plurality of light sources, outside the case (2) through the lens (3) along first and second determined directions to respectively form a light beam (Fflat) of the Flat lighting function and a light beam (Fspot) of the Spot lighting function; said optical unit (1) further comprising an additional parabolic reflector (60) located near the junction between the first (40) and the second (50) rows of parabolic reflectors (40 and 50) being shaped to be able to reflect light rays (R3), emitted by at least one additional light source, through the lens (3) in a direction transverse to that of the rays (R1) of the Flat beam to form a light beam (Fsbl) of the function SBL lighting. Optical unit (1) according to the preceding claim, in which the plurality of light sources and the additional light source are installed on the same electronic card (70) supported in the box (2); the light sources being located facing their respective parabolic reflectors. Optical unit (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the parabolic reflectors of the first and second rows (40 and 50) as well as the additional parabolic reflector (60) all belong to the same transverse wall (6) of the case ( 2), obtained at the same time as the molding of the case (1). Optical unit (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the rays (R3) emitted by the additional light source pass through the lens (3) in a part (31) of the lens (3) located in the vicinity of the edge side of the box (2). Optical unit (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the second row of parabolic reflectors (50) is set back from the first row of parabolic reflectors (50) with respect to the lens (3). Optical unit (1) according to the preceding claim, in which the additional parabolic reflector (60) has a concave rear face oriented towards the second row of parabolic reflectors (50). Optical unit (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the first row of parabolic reflectors comprises five adjacent parabolic reflectors and in which the second row of parabolic reflectors comprises two adjacent parabolic reflectors. Optical unit (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the light sources are LEDs. Motor vehicle headlamp comprising at least one optical unit (1) according to one of the preceding claims. Motor vehicle comprising at least one headlamp according to the preceding claim.