Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F21—LIGHTING
  • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
  • F21S45/00—Arrangements within vehicle lighting devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, for purposes other than emission or distribution of light
  • F21S45/60—Heating of lighting devices, e.g. for demisting
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F21—LIGHTING
  • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
  • F21S9/00—Lighting devices with a built-in power supply; Systems employing lighting devices with a built-in power supply
  • F21S9/02—Lighting devices with a built-in power supply; Systems employing lighting devices with a built-in power supply the power supply being a battery or accumulator
  • F21S9/03—Lighting devices with a built-in power supply; Systems employing lighting devices with a built-in power supply the power supply being a battery or accumulator rechargeable by exposure to light
  • F21S9/037—Lighting devices with a built-in power supply; Systems employing lighting devices with a built-in power supply the power supply being a battery or accumulator rechargeable by exposure to light the solar unit and the lighting unit being located within or on the same housing
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F21—LIGHTING
  • F21V—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F21V14/00—Controlling the distribution of the light emitted by adjustment of elements
  • F21V14/06—Controlling the distribution of the light emitted by adjustment of elements by movement of refractors
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F21—LIGHTING
  • F21V—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F21V5/00—Refractors for light sources
  • F21V5/04—Refractors for light sources of lens shape
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F21—LIGHTING
  • F21V—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F21V7/00—Reflectors for light sources
  • F21V7/10—Construction
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F21—LIGHTING
  • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
  • F21S41/00—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps
  • F21S41/10—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by the light source
  • F21S41/14—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by the light source characterised by the type of light source
  • F21S41/141—Light emitting diodes [LED]
  • F21S41/143—Light emitting diodes [LED] the main emission direction of the LED being parallel to the optical axis of the illuminating device
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F21—LIGHTING
  • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
  • F21S41/00—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps
  • F21S41/60—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by a variable light distribution
  • F21S41/63—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by a variable light distribution by acting on refractors, filters or transparent cover plates
  • F21S41/635—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by a variable light distribution by acting on refractors, filters or transparent cover plates by moving refractors, filters or transparent cover plates

Definitions

• the invention relates to vehicle optical units which are equipped with heating means for heating their ice.
• Some vehicle optical blocks comprise at least one source capable of generating photons intended to participate in a photometric function (lighting or signaling) and at least one lens capable of deflecting the generated photons so that they are directed towards an ice-cream providing the interface with the outside.
• a photometric function lighting or signaling
• a lens capable of deflecting the generated photons so that they are directed towards an ice-cream providing the interface with the outside.
• This phenomenon can be slightly reduced when the source participating in the photometric function generates a portion of its photons in the infrared range. But some sources, such as light-emitting diodes (or LEDs), produce almost no photons in the infrared.
• the optical block heating means for heating its ice.
• These heating means are supplied with electric current by the vehicle power supply network via electric cables, which induces a consumption of the available energy in the vehicle and therefore can reduce its autonomy.
• the purpose of the invention is in particular to improve the situation.
• an optical unit intended to equip a vehicle and comprising an ice, heating means capable of producing calories for heating the ice, at least one source capable of generating photons intended to participate in a photometric function, at least one lens capable of deflecting the generated photons so that they are directed towards the ice, and at least one mask having a clean face to return incident photons not heading not towards the ice.
• This optical unit is characterized in that its mask comprises on its return face at least one photovoltaic cell which is arranged to convert incident photons received into a clean electric current to supply the heating means so that they produce clean calories to warm the ice.
• An optical unit is thus obtained provided with heating means advantageously supplied with electric current by at least one photovoltaic cell, which proves to be economical.
• optical block according to the invention may comprise other characteristics that can be taken separately or in combination, and in particular:
• Its heating means can be resistive type and flat
• its heating means can be installed on part of an inner face of the ice
• its heating means can be installed on a peripheral portion of the inner face of the ice
• its heating means may be installed on a part of a rear face of a part comprising the source, the rear face being opposed to a front face from which the photons generated by the source depart;
• it may comprise at least one lighting device, on the one hand, comprising the source and the lens, and, on the other hand, rotatably mounted around at least a first predefined direction;
• each piece may be able to be rotated around the first predefined direction.
• Each piece can be adapted to be rotated about a second predefined direction perpendicular to the first predefined direction.
• the lens can be coupled in rotation to the associated part;
• each source may comprise at least one light emitting diode.
• the invention also proposes a vehicle, possibly of automobile type, and comprising at least one optical block of the type of that presented above.
• FIG. 1 schematically and functionally illustrates, in a longitudinal sectional view, an exemplary embodiment of an optical block according to the invention
• FIG. 2 schematically illustrates, in a perspective view, an alternative embodiment of a lighting device for equipping an optical unit according to the invention.
• the object of the invention is notably to propose an optical block BO intended to equip a vehicle and provided with heating means MC.
• the optical block BO is intended to equip a motor vehicle. But the invention is not limited to this type of vehicle. It concerns any type of vehicle equipped with at least one optical unit comprising a lighting device and an ice having inner and outer faces on at least one of which may form condensation or ice.
• the term “lighting device” means a light device intended to participate in at least one photometric lighting or signaling function.
• the optical block BO is a headlight (or front projector). But the invention is not limited to this type of optical block. It also concerns the front lights and rear lights.
• FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a simplified embodiment of an optical block BO according to the invention (here a lighthouse for non-limiting example).
• an optical block BO comprises, on the one hand, an internal space El delimited in particular by an ice-cream G and in which at least one light source SL is installed, at least one lens L and at least one mask M, and, secondly, heating means MC.
• the internal space E1 of the optical block BO comprises only a light source SL associated with a lens L and a mask M.
• the optical unit BO therefore comprises only a single lighting device DE comprising in particular the light source SL and the lens L.
• the optical block BO could comprise several (at least two) lighting devices DE, possibly associated with several (at least two) masks M.
• the ice G is fixedly secured (for example by gluing) and sealed to a housing. It can be made of transparent plastic or synthetic material or glass.
• the heating means MC are arranged to produce calories which are intended to heat the ice G, when they are supplied with electric current.
• Each (the) light source SL is able to generate photons that are intended to participate in a photometric function (lighting or signaling).
• the (each) light source SL may comprise at least one light emitting diode (or LED).
• it may comprise at least one laser diode or a gas laser or a lamp (or bulb).
• Each (the) lens L is arranged to deflect the photons generated by the associated source SL so that they move towards the ice G (arrow F1).
• the lens L may optionally deflect the photons generated so that they go to the ice G after being returned by a reflector.
• the lighting device DE also comprises such a reflector.
• the reflector could be interposed between the source SL and the lens L, rather than placed downstream of the lens L.
• Each (the) mask M includes a so-called FM face of return because it is adapted to return incident photons that do not go directly to the ice G. This deflection face FM is for example aluminized.
• the mask M is placed below the level of the lighting device DE to return the photons upwards.
• the mask M may be placed above the level of the lighting device DE in order to return the photons downwards. But the mask M can also partially or completely surround the lighting device DE.
• the photometric function provided by the lighting device DE is intended for external lighting. Therefore, it may include a function of dipped beam (or code), a fog lamp function, or a high beam function. But the photometric function provided by the lighting device DE could be intended for signaling.
• the deflection face FM of the mask M comprises at least one photovoltaic cell CP arranged to convert incident photons it receives (arrow F2) into an electric current which is able to supply the heating means MC to produce calories. suitable for heating ice G.
• these incident photons can come as well from the lens L (because a part of the photons generated is not sufficiently deflected towards the ice-cream G), than from the outside of the vehicle (it is then a matter of solar photons, for example).
• the photovoltaic cell CP can produce electric power both when the source SL is in operation and when the source SL does not operate. Of course in the latter case the intensity of the electric current produced is less.
• the heating means MC are preferably (but not exclusively) of the resistive and flat type.
• it may be resistive tracks of the type that are frequently secured to the rear vehicle glasses to demist by heating.
• the heating means MC are installed on part of an internal face FI of the ice-cream G, for example by gluing or screen printing, or even by integration in microchannels or ribs. More specifically, in this example the heating means MC are installed on a peripheral portion PP of the inner face FI of the glass G, in order not to reduce the performance of each photometric function provided by the optical block BO. But when a predefined part of the lens G is not used to let the photons participating in a photometric function, the heating means MC can be installed on this predefined part.
• the heating means MC may be installed on part of a rear face FR of a part PS which comprises the source SL.
• This rear face FR is opposite a front face from which the photons that are generated by the source SL start.
• the source SL and the lens L are part of a lighting device DE which is rotatably mounted around at least a first predefined direction A1.
• the part PS (which includes the source SL) is also adapted to be rotated around the first predefined direction A1.
• This first direction is for example substantially vertical so as to allow the placement of the rear face FR of the piece PS opposite the ice G, to bring as close as possible the heating means MC of the ice G and thus optimize its heating, or facing the bottom of the housing of the optical block BO (opposite to the ice G) so that the lens L is placed opposite the glass G so that the photometric function is ensured.
• the workpiece PS is adapted to be rotated about a second predefined direction A2 which is perpendicular to the first predefined direction A1.
• the lens L is integral with an ML mount forming part of an ER crew secured to an AS frame rotatably mounted. around a first axis parallel to the first predefined direction A1 (and hereinafter assimilated to the latter).
• the lens L is made of a transparent material. It is preferably a synthetic plastic material, for example a polyacrylate, which has the advantage of offering good optical properties (including good transparency) and mechanical properties (including good rigidity).
• the lens L has a front diopter (in this case convex) which defines a primary optical axis 01, and a rear diopter (in this case concave) opposite.
• the front diopter and the rear diopter are connected by a slice which forms a lateral diopter defining a secondary optical axis O2.
• the contour of the lens L is substantially rectangular, but this shape is given for illustrative purposes only.
• the front and rear diopters are arranged so that the primary optical axis 01 and the secondary optical axis O2 are perpendicular and extend jointly in a vertical plane also containing the first axis of rotation A1.
• the mount ML is preferably metallic, and comprises two lateral branches (which, as in the example shown, can be bent), connected by a transverse bar in which is anchored the lens L.
• the mount ML is rotatably mounted relative to the armature AS about a second axis parallel to the second predefined direction A2 (and hereinafter assimilated thereto).
• This second axis A2 is for example formed by pivots (not shown) connecting the branches to the arms of the armature AS at one end thereof.
• the second axis A2 extends to one end of the branches opposite to the crossbar.
• the ER crew includes the PS part containing the source SL.
• This part PS also comprises a reflector RL defining a concave front reflective face opposite which the source SL is placed to supply it with photons of illumination, and an opposite rear face FR convex, the front and rear faces FR being connected by a slice.
• the character reflective of the front face is for example procured by a silver coating.
• the lens L is here rotatably coupled to the piece PS, in order to follow it in its movements.
• the lighting device DE illustrated in FIG. 2 may optionally be installed in an optical block BO whose ice-cream G is also provided with complementary heating means MC.
• the power supply network RE of the vehicle that is responsible for supplying the complementary electric current.
• the power supply of the heating means MC by the (the) cell (s) photovoltaic (s) can be done either directly via electrical cables that connect them, or indirectly via electrical cables and means control (preferably also connected to the RE power supply).
• control means are intended to control the power supply of the heating means MC, in particular to prevent them from supplying the heating means MC when this is not necessary.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Sustainable Development (AREA)
• Non-Portable Lighting Devices Or Systems Thereof (AREA)
• Lighting Device Outwards From Vehicle And Optical Signal (AREA)

Priority Applications (3)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

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ID=51932436

Family Applications (1)

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Citations (6)

Family Cites Families (1)

• 2014
  • 2014-08-26 FR FR1457990A patent/FR3025282B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2015
  • 2015-07-27 WO PCT/FR2015/052078 patent/WO2016030597A1/fr active Application Filing
  • 2015-07-27 CN CN201580045718.5A patent/CN106662311A/zh active Pending
  • 2015-07-27 EP EP15759865.7A patent/EP3186547B1/fr active Active
  • 2015-07-27 ES ES15759865T patent/ES2894129T3/es active Active

Patent Citations (6)

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