The invention relates to the technical field of lighting, notably for motor vehicles.
It is generally known practice to produce a cutoff lighting beam by using one or more light-emitting modules with a bender. Such a light-emitting module conventionally comprises a collector with a reflective surface of revolution having an elliptical profile, in the form of a cap in a half-space delimited by a horizontal plane. An essentially point light source, of light-emitting diode type, is located at a first focal point of the reflective surface and shines into the half-space in the direction of said surface. The rays are thus reflected in a convergent manner toward a second focal point of the reflective surface. Another, generally planar, reflective surface with a cutoff edge at the second focal point ensures an upward reflection of the rays which do not pass precisely through the second focal point, these rays then being refracted by a thick lens toward the bottom of the lighting beam. This reflective surface is commonly referred to as a “bender” in that it “bends” toward the top of the projecting lens those rays which would otherwise form an upper portion of the lighting beam. Such a light-emitting module has the drawback of requiring the bender and the cutoff edge to be positioned with a high degree of precision. Also, the projecting lens must be a thick lens because of its small focal length, this increasing its weight and complicating its production, notably as regards sink marks. In addition, the collector has a certain height and, thus, a certain heightwise bulk.
The published patent document WO 2020/025171 A1 discloses a light-emitting module, in particular for a motor vehicle, comprising a collector with a reflective surface collecting and reflecting the light rays emitted by a light source in a light beam, similar to a light-emitting module with a bender. The light-emitting module also comprises a projection optical system, such as a lens, specifically configured to project the light beam in question by forming an image of the reflective surface of the collector. To that end, the optical projection system has a focal point located on the reflective surface, for example at a rear edge thereof, so as to correctly image said edge and form a clear cutoff in the projected light beam. This type of light-emitting module has advantages of compactness, notably in height terms, and production simplicity. In this teaching, this module with a cutoff is combined with other modules to form a headlamp which, in addition to a lighting function with a cutoff that is commonly referred to as low beam, notably performs a lighting function without a cutoff, commonly referred to as high beam. The optical systems may furthermore each comprise one or more mirrors.
It is generally advantageous to combine as many lighting functions as possible in one and the same lighting device, notably for reasons of style. The shape of the body of the vehicle, however, imposes shape constraints, possibly necessitating an offset of the modules in relation to one another. Such an offset, however, is not without difficulties in terms of bulk and/or assembly.
The object of the invention is to overcome at least one of the drawbacks of the aforementioned prior art. More particularly, the aim of the invention is to propose a lighting device for a motor vehicle that comprises multiple lighting modules and makes it possible to conform to particular body shapes, compactly and economically.
The object of the invention is a lighting device for a motor vehicle, comprising a first lighting module comprising a first light-emitting engine comprising one or more first light sources and a first collector with at least one reflective surface able to reflect light rays emitted by the one or more first light sources in a first light beam with a cutoff, and a first optical device able to project the first light beam along an optical axis of the lighting device; a second lighting module comprising a second light-emitting engine comprising one or more second light sources, a second collector with at least one reflective surface able to reflect light rays emitted by the one or more second light sources in a second light beam, and a second optical device able to project the second light beam along the optical axis of the lighting device; said lighting device being notable in that it comprises a plate having an inclination γ in relation to a horizontal plane, about an axis of inclination which is horizontal and perpendicular to the optical axis; the first and second light-emitting engines being disposed on the plate, with an offset along a vertical projection of the optical axis onto the plate, and the first and second optical devices have an offset along a vertical direction, when the lighting device is in the mounting position.
A light-emitting engine is able to generate a light beam. Such a device is also referred to as light engine or light generator.
The offset of the light-emitting engines can be considered in relation to a rear end of their collectors or of their reflective surfaces.
The following features are optional and are disclosed in all technically possible combinations.
According to one advantageous embodiment of the invention, the lighting device moreover comprises a third lighting module comprising a third light-emitting engine comprising one or more third light sources, a third collector with at least one reflective surface able to reflect light rays emitted by the one or more third light sources in a third light beam, and a third optical device able to project the third light beam along the optical axis of the lighting device; the third light-emitting engine being disposed on the plate with an offset along the vertical projection of the optical axis onto the plate so as to form, on said plate, with the first and second lighting modules, a profile with an overall inclination β in relation to the axis of inclination.
According to one advantageous embodiment of the invention, the overall inclination β of the profile of the first, second and third light-emitting engines lies between 1° and 80°.
According to one advantageous embodiment of the invention, the third optical device has an offset along a vertical direction so as to form, with the first and second optical devices, in a vertical plane, a profile with an overall inclination α in relation to a horizontal direction, when the lighting device is in the mounting position.
According to one advantageous embodiment of the invention, the overall inclination α of the profile of the first, second and third optical devices lies between 1° and 80°.
According to one advantageous embodiment of the invention, the third beam is a lighting beam without a cutoff that forms a lighting function of the high-beam type with the first beam.
According to one advantageous embodiment of the invention, the inclination γ of the plate lies between 5° and 90°. Advantageously, the inclination γ of the plate lies between 5° and 25°, in particular when the first, second and third optical devices are lenses.
According to one advantageous embodiment of the invention, each of the first, second and, where appropriate, third light-emitting engines is disposed at an edge of the plate, each of the first, second and, where appropriate, third collectors projecting beyond said edge, said edge having a stepped profile with a step corresponding to each of said first, second and, where appropriate, third light-emitting engines.
According to one advantageous embodiment of the invention, the profile of the light-emitting engines is parallel to the main axis.
According to one advantageous embodiment of the invention, the profile of the optical devices is parallel to the main axis.
According to one advantageous embodiment of the invention, the second light beam is a beam with a cutoff having a kink that forms a lighting function of the low-beam type with the first beam.
According to one advantageous embodiment of the invention, the first optical device is configured to image a portion of the at least one reflective surface of the first collector that is illuminated by the one or more first light sources, said portion being located behind said one or more first light sources along a main direction of propagation of the light along the optical axis.
According to one advantageous embodiment of the invention, the first collector comprises multiple reflective surfaces which are disposed next to one another and each of which is associated with one of the multiple first light sources, said multiple reflective surfaces having rear edges, along a main direction of propagation of the light, which are adjacent to a straight line on the plate, the first optical device exhibiting a focal line which coincides with said straight line or is located between said straight line and the multiple first light sources, or else is located behind said straight line at a distance less than or equal to 10 mm.
According to one advantageous embodiment of the invention, the first optical device is a mirror having a constant parabolic profile along a horizontal direction, when the lighting device is in the mounting position, so as to exhibit a rectilinear focal line.
According to one advantageous embodiment of the invention, each of the first, second and, where appropriate, third optical devices is configured to vertically deflect, by reflection and/or refraction, the first, second and, where appropriate, third light beams respectively from a direction corresponding to the inclination γ of the plate to a direction parallel to the optical axis.
The measures of the invention are advantageous in that they make it possible to implement multiple regulation lighting functions by incorporating multiple lighting modules that form a profile having an overall inclination in front view and/or an overall inclination in top view, on considering the lighting device mounted on the vehicle, with a compact and simple structure. The use of a shared plate specifically substantially simplifies the construction and the assembly of the lighting device.
The axis x corresponds to a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the axis y to a transverse direction, in the present case horizontal and perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and the axis z to a vertical direction.
As can be seen, the lighting device 4 is disposed at the front of the vehicle 2, on the left-hand side (in the direction of forward travel of the vehicle), it being understood that a symmetrical lighting device is disposed on the right-hand side of the vehicle. A main axis 6 of the lighting device 4 is shown; it can be seen that this main axis 6 forms a non-zero angle α with a horizontal axis 8 located in a vertical plane containing the main axis 6 in question. The lighting device thus has an inclination α in front view, this inclination in the present case being upward along the lighting device 4 toward the corresponding lateral flank of the vehicle.
Similarly, the main axis 6 forms a non-zero angle β with a transverse axis 10 which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and horizontal. The lighting device thus has an inclination β in top view, this inclination in the present case being toward the rear of the vehicle along the lighting device 4 toward the corresponding lateral flank of the vehicle.
The one or more inclinations at the angle α and/or the angle β, which are essentially dictated by the shape of the body of the vehicle, force a particular disposition of the lighting modules that will be described below.
Each of the light-emitting engines 12.1, 14.1, 16.1 and 18.1 comprises one or more light sources 12.1.1, 14.1.1, 16.1.1 and 18.1.1, and a collector 12.1.2, 14.1.2, 16.1.2 and 18.1.2 provided with one or more reflective surfaces which are advantageously in the form of a cap and are configured to reflect the light rays emitted by the one or more corresponding light sources in a light beam which is then projected by the corresponding optical device 12.2, 14.2, 16.2 and 18.2. Advantageously, a specific light source is associated with each reflective surface. In the present case, each of the first, third and fourth light-emitting engines 12.1, 16.1 and 18.1 comprises three light sources 12.1.1, 16.1.1 and 18.1.1 and three directly adjacent, corresponding reflective surfaces on the collector 12.1.2, 16.1.2 and 18.1.2. The second light-emitting engine 14.1 comprises a single light source 14.1.1 and a single reflective surface on the collector 14.1.2. However, it will be understood that the number of light sources and/or associated reflective surfaces can vary from the example illustrated in
It can be seen that each of the light-emitting engines 12.1, 14.1, 16.1 and 18.1 is disposed on a plate 20. The latter is then shared by the light-emitting engines in question. It is generally flat and inclined by an angle γ in relation to a horizontal plane 22. This inclination is about an axis of inclination 24 corresponding to the y axis, specifically a transverse direction which is horizontal and perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The effect of this inclination, in the present case upward from the axis of inclination 24, is that the light beams produced by the light-emitting engines 12.1, 14.1, 16.1 and 18.1 are oriented with a vertical component upward, forcing the optical devices 12.2, 14.2, 16.2 and 18.2 to be offset upward.
The angle of inclination γ of the plate 20 may be greater than or equal to 5°, preferably greater than or equal to 10°, preferably greater than or equal to 15° and/or less than or equal to 90°, preferably less than or equal to 50°, more preferably less than or equal to 40°. The angle of inclination γ may be higher, notably when the optical devices 12.2, 14.2, 16.2 and 18.2 are mirrors. This angle of inclination γ may be smaller, for example less than or equal to 25°, notably when the optical devices 12.2, 14.2, 16.2 and 18.2 are lenses.
Still in
It should be noted that the inclination β of the profile 6.2 of the light-emitting engines also applies to the profile 6.1 of the optical devices 12.2, 14.2, 16.2 and 18.2.
The angle of inclination β of the profile 6.2 in relation to the axis of inclination 24 may be greater than or equal to 1°, preferably greater than or equal to 5°, more preferably greater than or equal to 10° and/or less than or equal to 80°, preferably less than or equal to 30°, more preferably less than or equal to 20°.
The optical devices 12.2, 14.2, 16.2 and 18.2 of the lighting modules 12, 14, 16 and 18 in the present case are mirrors with a parabolic profile that have a focal point or a focal line located on a rear part of the one or more reflective surfaces. This rear part is located between a rear edge of the one or more reflective surfaces and the one or more corresponding light sources. If the various lighting modules 12, 14, 16 and 18 are considered to have a more or less identical focal length, the offset of the light-emitting engines 12.1, 14.1, 16.1 and 18.1 on the plate 20, combined with the pivoting of the plate 20 about the pivot axis 24, as described above, then causes a vertical offset of the optical devices 12.2, 14.2, 16.2 and 18.2. Specifically, it will be seen that the first optical device 12.2 is more upwardly offset than the second optical device 14.2 is, the second optical device 14.2 is more upwardly offset than the third optical device 16.2 is, and the third optical device 16.2 is more upwardly offset than the fourth optical device 18.2 is. The optical devices then have the profile 6.1 that forms an overall inclination in relation to a horizontal direction 8. This overall inclination corresponds to the angle α illustrated in
The angle of inclination α of the profile 6.1 in relation to the horizontal direction 8 may be greater than or equal to 1° and/or less than or equal to 80°, preferably less than or equal to 15°, more preferably less than or equal to 10°.
It should be noted that the inclination a of the profile 6.1 of the optical devices also applies to the profile 6.2 of the light-emitting engines.
As can be seen, the profiles 6.1 and 6.2 are parallel to the main axis 6.
The light source 12.1.1 is disposed at a focal point of the reflective surface such that its rays are collected and reflected along the optical axis 26.1 of the light-emitting engine 12.1. At least some of these reflected rays have angles of inclination in a vertical plane in relation to said axis that are less than or equal to 25°, and preferably less than or equal to 10°, so as to be under what are referred to as Gaussian conditions, making it possible to obtain a stigmatism, that is to say a clearness of the projected image. Advantageously, the rays are those reflected by the rear part of the reflective surface.
The optical device 12.2 is configured to project, along the optical axis 28 of the lighting module 12, the light beam produced by the light-emitting engine 12.1. It comprises a single mirror with a parabolic profile having a focal point 12.2.1 located on a rear part of the reflective surface, this rear part being located between the rear edge of said surface and the light source 12.1.1. In the present case, the focal point 12.2.1 is located on the rear edge of the reflective surface. Such positioning of the focal point makes it possible to image the reflective surface illuminated by the light source 12.1.1, in particular to clearly image the rear edge of the reflective surface and thus to project a light beam with a clear horizontal cutoff.
In the case of the other lighting modules, in particular the third and fourth lighting modules 16 and 18, the focal point could be at the front of the rear edge, on the basis that a horizontal cutoff is not formed.
The lighting module 12 in
The lighting module 12 in
The first lighting module 12 produces a wide light beam with a horizontal cutoff. To that end, the light-emitting engine 12.1 comprises multiple light sources 12.1.1, in the present case three, and the collector 12.1.2 comprises multiple adjacent reflective surfaces, in the present case three. The optical device 12.2 has the particular feature of having a rectilinear focal line 12.1.2 passing through or close to the rear ends of the reflective surfaces, at their rear edges, then forming the focal points 12.1.1. To that end, the optical device 12.2, which in the present case is a parabolic mirror but could notably be a lens, has a section transverse to the y axis which is constant along said axis. This particular feature is advantageous when the projected light beam must have a particularly clear horizontal cutoff. Specifically, if the focal line is slightly curved, in which case the reflective surfaces of the collector 12.2.2 are arranged in relation to one another such that the focal line passes through their rear ends (at their rear edge), the optical device will have a corresponding curvature in an inclined plane corresponding to that of the plate 20, which will then vertically offset the reflected and projected rays, then degrading the horizontal cutoff. In other words, the effect of a curvature of the optical surfaces of the optical device in the inclined plane of the plate 20 is to offset the projected light rays along the axis z, this possibly being undesirable for a lighting function with a horizontal cutoff. Such a curvature, however, makes it possible to spread the projected light beam horizontally, that is to say in the xy plane. For a lighting function with a spread horizontal cutoff, a compromise between a constant section along the y axis and a profile that is curved in the xy plane may be advantageous.
The optical device 14.2 of the second lighting module 14 has a focal point 14.2.1 located at the rear end of the reflective surface of the light-emitting engine 14.1.
The first lighting module 12 produces a horizontally spread luminous image 30 having a clear horizontal cutoff close to the horizontal axis H, so as to form a lighting function of the low-beam type.
The second lighting module 14 produces a luminous image 32 which is horizontally narrow (in relation to the luminous image 30) with a horizontal cutoff forming a kink at the optical axis of the lighting device, supplementing the luminous image 30 of the first lighting module 12 so as to form the lighting function of the low-beam type.
The third lighting module 16 produces a luminous image 34 without a horizontal cutoff, upwardly supplementing the luminous image 30 of the first lighting module 12 so as to form a lighting function of the high-beam type.
The fourth lighting module 18 produces a luminous image 36 without a horizontal cutoff that is segmented, supplementing the luminous image 30 of the first lighting module 12 so as to form a lighting function of the high-beam type in a matrix arrangement with a darker region corresponding to the one or more unilluminated segments.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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FR2013720 | Dec 2020 | FR | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/EP2021/086671 | 12/17/2021 | WO |