JP6261502B2 - Light module for motor vehicle headlamp - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for automatic adjustment of a light beam generated by at least one motor vehicle headlamp, based on traffic conditions (presence of approaching vehicles, obstacles, etc.) faced by the vehicle under consideration. . The essential object of the invention is a pair of heads consisting of a front right headlamp and a front left headlamp, based on various elements on the road that are in the vicinity of or occupied by the vehicle under consideration. It is to automatically optimize the total light beam generated by the lamp or by a pair of optical modules contained in one and the same headlamp. The adjustment proposed in the present invention involves the occurrence of a change in light intensity in a very precise direction, including obstacles or approaching vehicles, passing vehicles or following vehicles, Detecting obstacles where it is desirable to attract them is shown by illuminating the obstacles to a greater degree when they are greatly considered relative to their vicinity, or when the approaching vehicle is present and dazzling the driver This can be communicated by reducing the light intensity only in the appropriate direction when not desired.

The field of the invention is, in general terms, that of motor vehicle headlamps. Various types of conventional headlamps are known in the art, and such headlamps essentially include:
-Position indicators with low intensity and range;
-A low beam headlamp that is used at night and distributes the light beam so that it can not dazzle the driver of a passing vehicle, with a high intensity and a road range close to 80 meters, Low beam headlamps that vary depending on the type of traffic they are used on, the left side or the right side;
A long-distance high beam headlamp that has a field of view close to 600 meters on the road and needs to be switched off so as not to dazzle the driver when passing other vehicles;
-Fog lights, etc.

  Also known is an improved headlamp of the type that simultaneously has the function of a low beam headlamp and the function of a long distance headlamp. This exemplary embodiment is basically implemented with an elliptical type optical module. Thus, the headlamp comprises an optical module comprising an elliptical reflector, the reflector comprising a light source disposed at the first focal point of the elliptical reflector and a shield disposed at the second focal point of the reflector. Associated. A converging lens that is focused on the second focus focuses the beam onto the road. An detachable shield, for example made of a metal plate, is arranged inside the optical module so that the optical module has two functions (having the function of a low beam headlamp and the function of a long-distance headlamp at the same time) And the shield is a first position where it does not obscure an optical signal generated by the light source of the optical module, wherein the headlamp range corresponds to the high beam headlamp range. From a position to a second position where it obscures part of the optical signal generated by the light source, in which case the headlamp range is limited to the range of the low beam headlamp. , Can change according to the command. In the second position, the optical module must form a beam having a cut that conforms to the rules corresponding to a conventional low beam type beam, the shape of the cut being the shape of a shield that blocks a portion of the optical signal. Given by.

  With the general purpose of improving driving comfort with respect to visibility, the prior art has a dual-function optical module that automatically switches from low beam function to high beam function or vice versa, said switching being in traffic conditions Depends on. In vehicles equipped with such a dual function module, a search is made for the presence of vehicles that are likely to be dazzled by the use of the high beam function. If no vehicle is detected, the high beam function is automatically activated. As soon as the presence of the vehicle is detected, the high beam function is automatically stopped and the vehicle equipped with the dual function headlamp again has a low beam type light beam.

  In fact, the threshold for allowing the absence of the detection vehicle to switch to the high beam function is about 600 meters. The low beam function is activated as soon as a vehicle is detected at least 600 meters from the equipped vehicle. At this time, this function is only over a distance close to 80 meters in the center of the road, and only over a distance of 150 meters on the shoulder of the lane in which the vehicle is traveling (the right shoulder in the case of right-hand traffic) Give enough lighting. In other words, since the generated illumination is essentially the right side of the road in the case of right-hand traffic, the left side of the road is hardly illuminated. Therefore, it is possible to optimize the lighting on the road without dazzling other vehicles even if the first vehicle that may be dazzled is located about 100 meters to less than 600 meters away from the equipped vehicle. There are many forms of traffic, such as forms.

  For this reason, various solutions have been proposed that allow the beam range to be adjusted based on the estimated distance at which the passing or following vehicle is located. The result of such adjustment is shown schematically in FIG. 1, which shows a vehicle 100 that adjusts the range of light beams to be generated based on the distance of the tracked vehicle 101. If these solutions are sufficient for optimizing the range of the light beam, this solution is not sufficient considering the proposed road side lighting. That is, as seen in FIG. 1, the road portion 102 located to the left of the tracked vehicle 101 is not illuminated, while the portion corresponding to the right of the vehicle is illuminated.

  Thus, referring to FIG. 2, the total light beam 200 emitted by the vehicle 100 is applied to various adjacent portions shown at 201-205, where each portion corresponds to an angular sector of the total beam 200. Seemed to be beneficial. Thus, when a passing vehicle or a tracked vehicle 101 is present in the portion 202, the optimized total light beam consists in preventing only the portion 202 of the total light beam 200 from being dazzled. The non-dazzling portion indicates the angular sector of the total light beam that is focused only below the horizon when the beam reaches or follows the tracked vehicle or passing vehicle.

  In order to achieve such objectives, the prior art has proposed using headlamps that require a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs), each LED or group of LEDs particularly having a full light beam. In order to form a non-glaring part, an LED associated with the part under consideration, e.g. the LED, is arranged to be used for generating a light beam in one of the parts of the It is sufficient to take measures by switching to OFF.

  However, such a solution has a certain number of drawbacks. First, such a solution is expensive due to the number of LEDs used. Second, for the same reason, the solution is large and heavy. Finally, the solution results in a flicker phenomenon when the vehicle changes from one part to the other.

  Thus, the prior art does not have a satisfactory solution for hiding the side of the light beam produced by the headlamp.

  Similarly, the prior art only reduces the generated light beam, for example by proposing that the detected obstacle is illuminated to a greater degree than the element immediately adjacent to the obstacle under consideration is illuminated. It does not include a solution to use to attract the driver's attention to obstacles on the edge of the road.

  Thus, the prior art is formed by one or more headlamp devices only in a limited direction, determined by the presence of obstacles corresponding to the sides of the total light beam, or approaching vehicle type elements. We have not proposed a satisfactory solution to change the lighting in terms of light intensity.

  The purpose of the present invention is to address the problems just mentioned. The present invention relates to a plurality of sides where the intensity radiated on one side is adjacent, in an inexpensive and non-large manner, to show obstacles or to avoid dazzling the approaching vehicle driver. It is proposed to generate a light beam different from the intensity radiated at the part.

  As an example, in order to generate a non-dazzling beam, the presence of at least one passing vehicle or a tracked vehicle is detected to determine the lateral position of the vehicle on the road, and then the headlamp of the vehicle under consideration. Proposing the use of a special shield placed in at least one of the at least one of the optical modules can generate a full light beam that does not dazzle the approaching vehicle under consideration Proposed. The special shield can be rotated about a substantially vertical axis, which has various means for making the side of the generated light beam invisible, according to an embodiment of the device according to the invention. The invisible state is caused above the line located between the horizontal line and the limit line located about 1% below the horizontal line.

  Accordingly, the present invention relates to a method for automatically adjusting the total light beam generated by a set of light modules of a first motor vehicle traveling on a road, wherein the set of light modules is at least a first. The optical module and the second optical module, and at least the first optical module is the optical module according to the present invention.

Preferably, the method according to the invention for automatically adjusting the total light beam is provided by a set of light modules of a first motor vehicle traveling on a road, the set of light modules comprising: At least one illumination function and comprising at least two light modules, at least one of which is rotationally moved about a substantially vertical axis with at least one light source disposed in the reflector A shield capable of moving, the moving shield having at least one hidden element. This method
-Detecting the presence of at least one second vehicle following or passing which should not be dazzled;
-Determining the instantaneous lateral position of the second vehicle on the road, if appropriate;
-The concealed element hides part of the light emitted by the light source and causes the set of light modules to generate a light beam comprising a shadow area illuminated on both lateral sides; Moving a moving shield of at least one optical module comprising a shield that can be rotated around, wherein the shadow area corresponds to the instantaneous lateral position of the second vehicle, and its position is determined to be higher than the horizontal line An upper step, and
Is provided.

  Such a method can have a beam with a shadow region located in a vehicle that should not be dazzled, while other lanes other than the lane in which the second vehicle is traveling and the second vehicle It can be seen that it can illuminate the shoulder of the lane in which the car is traveling.

  This method is described in particular in European Patent Application No. 2 068 071.

The method according to the invention may likewise have one or more of the following further features in addition to the main features described in the previous paragraph, and any combination of these further features: Constitute advantageous examples of the implementation of the invention, so long as they are not mutually exclusive.
One of the light modules is placed on the left headlamp and the other light module is placed on the right headlamp;
The hidden element has a height sufficient to generate a shadow area above the line located between the horizontal line and a limit line located approximately 1% below the horizontal line:
The hidden element has a limited height so as not to obscure the light beam below the line located between the horizontal line and the limit line located approximately 1% below the horizontal line :
Each of the optical modules is provided with a shield that can be rotated about a substantially vertical axis;
The moving shield is rotationally driven by a stepping motor;
The concealed element is a continuous concealed plate, which can obscure the portion of the light beam generated above the horizon in the light beam generated by the optical module to which the concealed plate belongs. ;
Each hidden plate has a side edge with at least one ramp and the method arranges the moving shield so as to form an illumination area located on the underside of the second vehicle in the total light beam The shadow region has a flare shape, and the flare shape edge separates again from the lower surface of the second vehicle, and as an example, the flare shape may be a triangular projection shape But it may also be trapezoidal with its upper end facing downwards or with a small side at the bottom;
The moving shield is actuated to rotate in the opposite direction from one optical module to the other, so that when the second vehicle approaches or leaves the first vehicle, The bottom of the flared shape of the shadow area follows the lower surface of the second vehicle;
The method implements the optical module described below;
-Two light modules are arranged in a single headlamp.

  The invention likewise relates to an optical module for generating a light beam, said optical module being provided with at least one light source arranged in a reflector, the optical module being able to rotate in particular around a substantially vertical axis The moving shield has at least one element that can change the light beam by providing a lateral discontinuity in the light intensity of the generated light beam.

  The expression “lateral discontinuity in the light intensity of the generated light beam” is moved to form a side of the light beam that is visibly brighter or less bright than the adjacent side of the light beam. Indicates the fact that a shield is used.

  Preferably, the lateral discontinuity with respect to the light intensity is the side of the light beam that is surrounded by the side that is not located at one of the ends of the generated light beam, ie the side that is itself illuminated. Applies to

The optical module according to the invention is preferably capable of implementing the method according to the invention for automatically adjusting the total light beam. In such cases, the optical module may further have some of the following additional features, and any combination of these additional features may be used as long as they are not mutually exclusive. Advantageous exemplary embodiments constitute.
-A protrusion is arranged at the first side edge of the moving shield;
The protrusion has a height greater than its width;
The element of the moving shield capable of changing the light beam is constituted by a concealed plate having an aperture, in particular a substantially rectangular shaped slot, which allows the light beam to pass only through the slot;

  Another object of the present invention is to provide at least one optical module according to the present invention, having those main features already explicitly mentioned, and optionally one or more further features just mentioned. A motor vehicle headlamp with which and / or with which the method according to the invention can be implemented.

  Another object of the invention is to carry out the method according to the invention, having those main features already explicitly mentioned, and possibly one or more further features just mentioned. A motor vehicle comprising at least one headlamp according to the invention.

  According to one variant embodiment, the vehicle according to the invention is likewise located on the left of the hidden plate of one of the optical modules and on the right of the hidden plate of the other optical module You may have a part.

  The present invention also relates to a motor vehicle headlamp having a shield that can be moved independently, or in combination with the above, in particular around a vertical axis, and which is arranged to form at least one concealment in the light beam. In particular, this concealment can follow an object on the road site, such as a passing vehicle or a tracked vehicle, and the moving shield cooperates with a spring to absorb play.

  This spring is preferably used to absorb the engagement play in the power.

  When the system is turned on, the shield looks for a position reference stop. The spring has a counteracting action during this reference phase to reduce all play on the correct side.

  This spring can also be assembled with the shield in the optical module, or it can be incorporated into an actuator that drives the shield.

  The spring is fixed to the shield directly or indirectly via, for example, a rotationally driven part that receives this shield.

  The shield preferably has a pin that acts as a pivot when the shield rotates, and the spring has a winding around the pin.

  The spring may be supported by an element fixed to the optical module. This can directly absorb all the play of the mask and thus the different engagement play in the various elements that actuate the shield, such as gears, gears and / or worm screws.

  As an example, the spring may have an end arm that is supported by a fixed element.

  The fixed element may be a fixing element of the housing, for example, the fixing element may be a hooked portion of the housing. The module preferably has a motor, in particular a stepping motor, which cooperates with the shield to drive the shield in rotation.

  In one exemplary implementation of the present invention, the shield has a gear sector and the motor is provided with a toothed drive member that cooperates with the gear sector of the shield to drive the shield in rotation.

  If desired, the shield has a vertical cut edge that is generally parallel to the axis of rotation of the shield.

Preferably, the vertical edges are reflective by being specifically metallized to form a vertical bending unit.

Where appropriate, the shield has a particularly metallized reflective back surface adapted to enhance beam performance by reflection from the collector.

  In a typical implementation of the invention, the moving mask has a decorative element on the front such as a logo that is visible when the vehicle stops when the shield is returned to its center position.

  The invention and various uses of the invention can be better understood by reading the following description and examining the figures that accompany the description.

  The figures are given by way of example only, without limiting the invention in any way.

FIG. 5 is a diagram already described and shows an exemplary implementation of a method for adjusting the light beam generated by a vehicle based on the distance at which the approaching vehicle is located. FIG. 5 is also a diagram already described, showing a schematic representation of the splitting of the total light beam into various sides to explain how to improve the total light beam generated. 1 shows a first exemplary embodiment of a moving shield provided in an optical module according to the present invention. Fig. 4 shows a schematic sectional view of the installation of the moving shield of Fig. 3 in an optical module. 5A and 5B are schematic views of the installation of the moving shield of FIG. 3 in an optical module, and a schematic diagram of a light beam generated by such an optical module. 2 shows a second exemplary embodiment of a moving shield provided in an optical module according to the present invention. 7A-7E show various diagrams illustrating an exemplary implementation of the method according to the present invention using the moving shield of FIG. 8A and 8B show a third exemplary embodiment of a moving shield provided in the optical module according to the present invention. 9A-9C show various projections of a light beam illustrating a first exemplary implementation of the method according to the present invention using the moving shield of FIGS. 8A and 8B. 10A-10C show various projections of a light beam illustrating a second exemplary implementation of the method according to the present invention using the moving shield of FIGS. 8A and 8B. FIGS. 11A-11C show various projections of a light beam illustrating a third exemplary implementation of the method according to the invention using the moving shield of FIGS. 8A and 8B. 12A-12C show various views illustrating an exemplary implementation of the method according to the present invention using a fourth exemplary embodiment of a moving shield provided in an optical module according to the present invention. Fig. 4 shows a special exemplary embodiment of a moving shield with bending unit type elements provided in an optical module according to the invention. Figure 6 schematically illustrates another exemplary implementation of the present invention. Fig. 4 partially illustrates another exemplary implementation of the present invention.

  Elements appearing in the various figures retain the same reference signs unless otherwise stated. Various position indications, such as “lower”, “upper”, “vertical” need to be considered under normal road traffic conditions, or the device according to the invention is installed to function in a motor vehicle When done, it should be considered under normal conditions of use of the device.

  The described headlamp requires a single light module according to the invention. Nevertheless, it can be expected to arrange at least two optical modules according to the invention, in particular the optical modules described later. In this case, the optical module represents an optical system comprising at least one light source, optionally disposed in a reflector and optionally associated with one or more light-refractive elements of the lens type.

  In the following description, the cut line in the light beam shown is sometimes confused with the horizontal line, but in practice this cut line is a limit line located about 1% below the horizontal line and the horizontal line. Positioned between.

  In order to be able to optimize road lighting without dazzling other vehicles that can be envisaged by the first vehicle implementing the method according to the invention, firstly the presence of this other vehicle is determined. It is also necessary to determine the instantaneous lateral position of this other vehicle, i.e. to determine which side of the total light beam produced contains this other vehicle.

  For this purpose, one or more built-in cameras, for example associated with image processing software means, are implemented in the vehicle, implementing known lateral position evaluation means.

  FIG. 3 shows a first exemplary embodiment of a moving shield 300 that takes action in a headlamp device according to the present invention. 4 and 5A show the moving shield 300 installed in the optical module 500 in a sectional view and a perspective view, respectively.

The shield 300, which can be seen in these various figures, essentially has the following elements:
A support 301 in the form of an inverted cone; The support 301 does not obscure any portion of the light beam generated by the light source disposed in the reflector 400 when the shield 300 is disposed in the optical module 500 (FIG. 5A). The support body 301 has a ring-shaped support leg 302 that forms a truncated cone, and an inclined side wall 303. The support legs are adapted to receive a drive rod (not shown) that allows the shield 300 to move about a substantially vertical axis of rotation 501 (FIG. 5A). The movement of the drive rod is triggered and controlled by a stepping motor type motor, so that a high level of accuracy can be obtained with the rotational movement of the moving shield 300.
An element capable of changing the total light beam 503 (FIG. 5B) emitted by the vehicle headlamp by introducing a lateral discontinuity in the light intensity of the light beam generated by the light module These elements are arranged in the upper part 305 of the inclined side wall 303. There are two elements of this type in the moving shield 300. That is,
The first element is constituted by a protrusion 304, shown as a tongue, as seen in FIG. 4, when the tongue 304 is placed opposite the light source, the side 502 ( FIG. 5B) can be made invisible, and therefore the driver of the vehicle 101 approaching can be prevented from being dazzled. In the illustrated example, the tongue 304 is invisible to the side 502 light beam at least above the horizon, and preferably at most above the limit line located about 1% below the horizon. It has a limited height. The wider the tongue 304, the larger the size of the non-dazzling side 502 or shadow area. Preferably, the tongue 304 is located at the side edge 308 of the upper portion 305 of the side wall 303.
The second element is constituted by a hidden plate 306 that is high and wide enough to make the generated light beam totally invisible, which is a vertical slot located approximately in its center; An opening 307 is formed. Thus, if the plate 306 hides the rays emanating from the light source, it forms a light beam in which only the rays emitted towards the slot 307 are generated. Accordingly, the second element 306 can be used to draw attention to the detected obstacle by placing a shield so that the optical signal passing through the slot 307 reaches the detected obstacle. These optical signals may in some cases overlap with the light beams generated by other optical modules, so that the side corresponding to the direction of the obstacle and the side that is brighter than the adjacent side Form.

  As can be seen in FIG. 4, the shield 300 is mounted opposite the reflector by being centered horizontally with respect to the reflector 400 of the optical module 500. The upper portion 305 of the shield 300 marks a limit, beyond which the elements of the shield 300 are likely to obscure the optical signal generated by the light source. That is, any element placed above the top 305 will obscure the side of the generated light beam when it is placed opposite the light source. Preferably, the rotational movement of the shield 300 is guided by a guide piece 402 having a curved portion 401 that matches the shape of the upper part 305 of the side wall 303 in particular. The shape of the shield 300 in particular prevents the optical module 500 from being significantly scattered. The presence of the shape does not significantly affect the size of the optical module 500 as shown in FIG. 5 which shows the optical module 500 having a projection lens 504 held by a support 505.

  The moving shield 300 may be preferably disposed at the same time on the light module of the right headlamp of the vehicle and the light module of the left headlamp of the vehicle, and when the position of the approaching vehicle 101 is detected, Each of the moving shields is positioned to obscure the side corresponding to the lateral position determined with respect to the approaching vehicle 101 using the tongue 304 in each generated light beam.

  FIG. 6 illustrates a second exemplary embodiment of a moving shield 600 that takes action with an optical module according to the present invention.

The moving shield 600 essentially has the following elements.
A support 301 identical to the support of the moving shield 300;
A continuous hidden plate 601 that constitutes an element capable of changing the light beam by introducing a lateral discontinuity in the light intensity of the light beam generated by the optical module in which the moving shield is arranged. The hidden plate 601 is preferably positioned at least above the horizontal line and at most above a limit line that is at most about 1% below the horizontal line when placed directly opposite the light source. It has a limited height so as to obscure only the light rays that make up the portion of the light beam.

7A-7E, the shield 600 is disposed on both the left headlamp 602 optical module and the right headlamp 603 optical module. When the side position of the approaching vehicle 101 is determined, the moving shield 601
The left headlamp 602 optical module is positioned to generate a left light beam 604, which extends from the left side of the approaching vehicle 101 over the entire right part of the left light beam 604; 605,
The right headlamp 603 optical module is positioned to generate a left light beam 606, which extends from the right side of the approaching vehicle 101 over the entire left part of the right light beam 604; 607.

  Therefore, by superimposing the left light beam 604 and the right light beam 606, a shadow region 609 corresponding to the position of the vehicle 101, that is, an all light beam 608 having only one side portion that is not dazzled is obtained.

  8A and 8B show a third exemplary embodiment of a moving shield 800 that takes action with an optical module according to the present invention.

The moving shield 800 essentially has the following elements.
A support 301 identical to the support of the moving shield 300;
The same unbroken hidden plate 801 as the previously described hidden plate 601 of the second example, the difference between the hidden plate 601 and the hidden plate 801 is the shape of their lower end 802, ie A hidden plate 801 in the shape of a side edge disposed from one optical module where the shield is disposed toward the other optical module. In this example, the lower end 802 of the hidden plate 801 is inclined at an angle of about 30 ° with respect to the vertical axis 804. Preferably, the hidden plates 801 are symmetric with respect to a substantially vertical plane.

As shown in FIGS. 9A-9C, such a shape of the moving shield 800 is such that when the shield is properly positioned,
-The left headlamp light module allows a left light beam 901 to be obtained, this left light beam 901 extending from the left side of the approaching vehicle 101 over the entire right part of the left light beam 901. And the transition between the hidden part 902 and the non-hidden part coincides with the inclined cut 903.
The right headlamp light module allows the right light beam 904 to be obtained, this right light beam 904 extending from the right side of the approaching vehicle 101 over the entire left part of the right light beam 904; And the transition between the hidden part 905 and the non-hidden part is aligned with the inclined cut 906.

  Therefore, by superimposing the left light beam 901 and the right light beam 904, an all light beam 907 having only one non-dazzling shadow region or non-dazzling side portion 908 corresponding to the position of the vehicle 101 can be obtained. The non-glaring side portion forms a triangular projection with the upper end directed downward. In this way, by illuminating the lower end of the approaching vehicle 101, the concealed portion of the total light beam is limited to the example described above.

  As shown in FIGS. 10A-10C, the shape of the moving shield 800 is similar to the right light beam 913 (FIG. 10B) with its hidden side slightly offset to the left relative to the center position and its hidden side. By superimposing the left light beam 912 (FIG. 10A) whose part is slightly offset to the right with respect to the center position, the total light beam 911 (FIG. 10C) having the shadow region 909 still forming a triangular projection shape is obtained. The upper end 910 directed downward is arranged higher than the total beam obtained by the left and right beams having a center position as shown in FIGS. 9A-9C. Therefore, by using the movement of the moving shield, the upper end 910 can be moved upward or downward, thereby enabling an optimum adjustment of the approaching vehicle distance. That is, the further away from the approaching vehicle, the more the distance is determined using a specific sensor, and the upper end 910 is moved further upward. Preferably, the upper end 910 moves between a limit line and a horizontal line located about 1% below the horizontal line.

  In another example shown in FIGS. 11A-11C, the superposition of the right light beam 904 (FIG. 11B) and the left light beam 914, whose hidden side is slightly offset to the left relative to the center position, is A total light beam 915 is obtained which has a trapezoidal shape as a whole and has a non-dazzling shadow region or a non-dazzling side portion 916 slightly decentered to the left. At this time, the side portion 916 that is not dazzled can have a sufficient width to include a plurality of vehicles approaching as shown in the drawing.

  FIG. 12A shows a fourth example of a moving shield that is equivalent to the moving shield 800 but has a hidden plate 917, the inner edge of the hidden plate 917 being shaped relative to the vertical axis 804 starting from the bottom of the hidden plate. The first inclined portion 918 is at an angle of about 30 °, and the first inclined portion 918 is extended by a second inclined portion 919 that forms an angle of about 15 ° with respect to the vertical axis 804. Be present.

  A moving shield with a hidden plate 917 can obtain a right projected light beam 920 with a cut line that can be seen in FIG. 12B, at the boundary marking the start of the side where the two slopes do not dazzle with the cut line. It is at height.

  The superposition of the right light beam 920 and the left light beam obtained using a shield with a hidden plate 917 results in a total light beam 921 having a shadow area 922 of reduced size relative to the previous detailed example.

  In certain embodiments, the light module according to the invention is preferably movable to give the best illumination for the road when the road has a curve. As an example, the optical module may be provided with a DBL (dynamic bending light) function. At this time, the moving shield associated with the module according to the present invention follows the movement of the optical module in order to change the light beam at the appropriate side. The moving shield and the optical module preferably have two autonomous operations whose characteristics are determined and managed by the in-vehicle computer.

  Preferably, as shown in FIG. 13, the moving shield described may have a bending unit type element 923, whatever its shape, is known to those skilled in the art. The light portion 924 generated by the light source 925 of the optical module associated with the shield is allowed to recover to reflect the light portion so that it contributes to the formation of the generated light beam. Preferably, the bending unit is arranged at the upper end of the moving shield while being positioned to be substantially horizontal. Preferably, the moving shield and its bending unit form an integrally cast part. In a case not shown, it is possible to similarly have a predetermined bending unit positioned between the rotary shield and the light source.

  Note that the triangular shapes of the shadow regions 908 and 909 in FIGS. 9A to 9C and FIGS. 10A to 10C are shown as examples. A moving shield with a downward slope such as a slope 803 having a non-linear shape can be provided. At this time, each light beam from the optical module exhibits a shadow region with an upward inclination. By orienting the moving shield, an illumination area with a shadow area having a flare shape that separates its edge so that it rises again from the lower surface of the second vehicle can be located below the second vehicle. In other words, the flare shape has edges that form the shape of slopes 803 located on both sides of the vehicle. As an example, in FIG. 12A, the shape of the bevel is constituted by two bevels 919, 918 that allow the generation of a shadow region 922 in the shape of a cup. Similarly, a curved slope can be assumed. By actuating the moving shield to rotate in the opposite direction from one optical module to the other, the slopes of the shadow areas of the light beams from each optical module are almost superimposed, thereby following in the opposite direction When the second vehicle that is reached or arrives approaches or leaves the first vehicle, the flared bottom of the shadow area of the full beam follows the lower surface of the second vehicle.

  In a preferred embodiment, at least two optical modules according to the invention are used, but a light beam from an optical module according to the invention is combined with a light beam from an optical module with a shield that does not rotate about a substantially vertical axis. It is possible as well. In this case, the lateral discontinuity is changed with respect to a predetermined lateral discontinuity of the optical module with a shield that does not rotate about a substantially vertical axis by the rotation of the moving shield of the optical module according to the present invention.

  The light source used in the present invention is not limited, and may be a discharge lamp, a light emitting diode, or an incandescent lamp.

  14 and 15 are used to illustrate an optical module 5 according to another exemplary implementation of the present invention for a motor vehicle headlamp having a shield 10 that can be rotated about a vertical axis XX. The shield 10 is designed to form at least one concealment in a light beam of the selection type or ADB (adaptive driving beam) type, in particular this concealment is a road such as a passing vehicle or a tracked vehicle. It can follow an object in the field, in which case the moving shield cooperates with a spring 11 for absorbing play.

  In the example described, this shield is placed between the lens 12 and the part 13 forming the bending unit.

  This spring 11 is preferably used to absorb the engagement play in the power.

  The shield 10 has a pin 15 that functions as a pivot when the shield rotates, and the spring 10 has a winding 16 around the pin 15.

  The spring 11 has an end arm 18 that is supported by a flange 19 on the housing B. The hook-shaped portion 19 may correspond to an element fixed to the optical module. This can directly absorb all the play of the mask and thus the different engagement play in the various elements that actuate the shield, such as gears, gears and / or worm screws.

  The module has an electric motor 20, in particular a stepping motor, adapted to cooperate with the shield 10 to drive the shield in rotation.

  In other embodiments, the electric motor and teeth can be categorized into a motor reduction subassembly that rotationally drives the shield.

  The shield 10 has a gear sector 21, and the motor is provided with a toothed drive member 22 that cooperates with the gear sector 21 of the shield to rotationally drive the sector. In this case, the spring is directly or indirectly fixed to the shield, for example via a component that is driven to rotate and receives the shield, so that the spring cooperates with the shield to engage the gear sector 21 and the teeth. The engagement play with the drive member 22 is absorbed. In one embodiment, not shown, in which one or more intermediate gears exist between the gear sector 21 and the toothed drive member 22, the spring 15 is secured to the shield 10 on one side and fixed to a predetermined point on the other side. Play between these further gears, play between the gear sector 21 and one of the intermediate or intermediate gears, and between the toothed drive member 22 and one of the intermediate or intermediate gears. Play can be absorbed as well. Therefore, the vertical cut of the shield is very stable.

  The shield 10 also has a vertical cut edge 25 that is substantially parallel to the rotational axis of the shield.

  As an example, the vertical edges 25 are reflective and in particular metallized to form a vertical bending unit.

  Where appropriate, the shield has a reflective back surface 26, in particular by metallization, adapted to enhance the beam performance by reflection by the collector C.

  In a typical implementation of the present invention, the moving shield 10 has a decorative element 29, such as a logo, on the front face 28 when the vehicle stops and the shield 10 is returned to its center position. It looks like.

Claims (9)

An optical module (5) for a motor vehicle headlamp, comprising a shield (10) adapted to form at least one hidden part in the light beam, said shield being rotatable about a rotation axis In this rotation, the hidden part can follow the object on the road site.
The optical module (5) further comprises:
A gear sector (21) that rotates with the shield (10) on the rear surface (26) of the shield (10) so as to extend along the rear surface;
A toothed drive member (22) meshing with the gear sector (21) and rotatable about a rotation axis parallel to the rotation axis of the shield (10);
A motor (20) for rotationally driving the toothed drive member (22);
A spring (11) that urges the gear sector (21) in its rotational direction to eliminate meshing play between the gear sector (21) and the toothed drive member (22);
The shield (10) has a pin (15) that functions as a pivot when the shield rotates, and the spring (11) is wound around the pin (15). (16) and an end arm (18), the pin (15) is supported by the housing (B) of the optical module (5), and the end arm (18) An optical module (5), characterized in that it is supported by B) . The optical module (5) according to claim 1, wherein an intermediate gear exists between the gear sector (21) and the toothed drive member (22 ) . The optical module (5) according to claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the end arm (18) is supported by a collar (19) of the housing (B). The optical module (5) according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the motor (20) is a stepping motor. The optical module (5) according to claim 4 , wherein the motor (20) is provided with the toothed drive member (22). The optical module (5) according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , wherein the shield has a vertical cut edge substantially parallel to a rotation axis of the shield. The optical module (5) of claim 6 , wherein the vertical cut edges are metallized and reflective. The rear surface (26) has a reflective been metallized, thereby according to any one of claims 1, characterized in that is adapted to enhance the performance of the beam by the reflection by the collector 7 Optical module (5). The shield (10) has a decorative element (29), such as a logo, on the front, which is visible when the vehicle stops and the shield is returned to its center position. the optical module according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein (5).

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