MULTIFUNCTIONAL INTERNAL LIGHTING DEVICE FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE

Abstract

The present invention relates to a multifunctional internal lighting device for a motor vehicle. A single internal lighting device comprises various LED-type light sources which are capable of performing at least one first internal lighting function and a second internal lighting function. The various LEDs are distributed into at least two separate sets, a first set being dedicated to the performance of the first internal lighting function and a second set being dedicated to the performance of a second internal lighting function. In particular, it is proposed to use axial emission LEDs or through-emission LEDs and lateral emission LEDs to perform the first function and the second function respectively.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a first cross section of a first embodiment of an internal lighting device according to the invention;

FIG. 1B is a second cross section of an element of the first embodiment of the internal lighting device;

FIG. 2A is first cross section of a second embodiment of an internal lighting device according to the invention;

FIG. 2B is a second cross section of an element of the second embodiment of the internal lighting device;

FIG. 3 is a cross section of a motor vehicle passenger compartment, equipped with the first embodiment of the internal lighting device according to the invention, positioned laterally either side of the roof of passenger compartment;

FIG. 4 is cross section of the motor vehicle, equipped with the second embodiment of the internal lighting device according to the invention, positioned in immediate proximity to the center of the roof of the passenger compartment of vehicle;

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of a third embodiment of the internal lighting device according to the invention; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of a fourth embodiment of the lighting device according to the invention, adapted to a cigarette lighter illuminating ring and an ashtray.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The various elements appearing in several figures will, unless otherwise indicated, retain the same reference numeral.

FIGS. 1A and 1B show, in cross section and from the side, a first embodiment of an internal lighting device 100-A according to the invention. The device 100-A comprises, in particular, a first LED 102 and a second LED 103 placed on a single printed circuit board 101, also referred to as the support or as the surface of the PCB. A diffusion screen 104 is shown; on the one hand, it protects the LEDs 102 and 103 and also their single support 101; on the other hand, it also diffuses the light beams outside of the internal lighting device 100-A.

In the illustrated example, the LED 103 is an axial emission LED: the maximum intensity of a light beam 105-A which it produces is observed in a first direction 107, substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by the surface of the PCB 101; the first direction 107 corresponds to the main direction of emission of the LED 103 through the diffusion screen 104. The LED 102 is a lateral emission LED: the maximum intensity of a light beam 106-A which it produces is observed in a second direction 108-A, directed toward the right, having a relatively low angle, about twenty degrees, relative to the plane defined by the surface of the PCB 101. The second direction 108-A corresponds to the main direction of emission of the LED 102 through the diffusion screen 104. In practice, use is made of a plurality of LEDs 103 and a plurality of LEDs 102, forming a first set of LEDs and a second set of LEDs respectively, to produce the light beam 105-A and 106-A respectively. For example, eight LEDs 102 and eight LEDs 103 are arranged on a single printed circuit board. The fact that all of the LEDs are arranged on a single printed circuit board allows space to be saved and the costs for manufacturing the lighting device in question to be reduced.

FIG. 3 is a cross section of a motor vehicle passenger compartment 300—the section plane being perpendicular to the plane defined by doors 304 of vehicle and to the roof 306 of the passenger compartment—equipped with the lighting device 100-A and with a second lighting device 100-B according to the invention, symmetrical to the first lighting device 100-A. The first device 100-A and the second device 100-B are arranged laterally in the passenger compartment 300 by being placed in the region of the roof 306 in the region of a junction zone between the doors present on a single side of the passenger compartment. The sole difference between the lighting device 100-A and the lighting device 100-B is that the first lighting device 100-A is characterized by a second lighting direction oriented, looking at the vehicle front on, toward the right, the direction in which a light beam 106-A is emitted, whereas the second lighting device 100-B is characterized by a second lighting direction oriented toward the left, the direction in which a light beam 106-B is emitted. The device 105-B also produces a light beam 105-B in the direction 107.

The lighting devices 100-A and 100-B are thus capable of performing two internal lighting functions: the first function is performed by the axial emission LEDs 103; it consists in this case in a reception lighting, of considerable intensity, intended for example for reception when the driver enters his vehicle or when he stops the engine. White-colored diodes are used in this case. The second function is performed by the lateral emission LEDs 102; it consists in this case in a lighting of the roof, of low intensity, intended for example to be used when the driver is driving and passengers wish to have low ambient lighting. Red-colored diodes are used in this case.

In one embodiment according to the invention, the axial emission LEDs 103 can be divided into two separate sub-sets. When a first sub-set is activated, it performs an ambient lighting function, or passenger compartment lighting function during driving, which is white in color and of low intensity; the second sub-set can then be activated, in addition to the activation of the first sub-set, to perform the reception lighting function, which is still white in color but of greater intensity.

In a particular example of the invention, the printed circuit board is connected to a microcontroller by at least three wires; a first wire consists of an earth wire. A second wire, allowing a voltage of 13 volts to be applied, controls the activation of the first set of LEDs, whereas a third wire, also allowing a voltage of 13 volts to be applied, controls the activation of the second set of LEDs. The various functions can thus be controlled independently. They can be activated simultaneously or separately.

FIGS. 2A and 2B show a second embodiment 200 of the internal lighting device according to the invention. The difference between the second example and the first example 100-A described with reference to FIGS. 1A and 1B resides in the fact that the number of lateral emission LEDs is doubled: now, a PCB 201 supports not only the LEDs 102 and 103 but also a second set of lateral emission LEDs 102′, the main direction of emission of which opposes the main direction of emission of the first set of lateral emission LEDs 102. The lighting device 200 is thus capable of producing, on its own, the first beam 106-A, a second beam 105 and the third beam 106-B. In a particular embodiment, the first beam and the third beam are illuminated simultaneously, performing a single lighting function corresponding to a low-intensity lighting of the roof.

The lighting device 200 is advantageously placed at the center 305 of the roof 306 of the passenger compartment 300, as shown in FIG. 4. The axial emission LEDs 103 then produce a beam 105 performing, on its own, the high-intensity reception light function.

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of a third embodiment 500 of the internal lighting device having, in particular, a first “upper stop” or “raised stop light”-type function also referred to as a CHMSL (central high mounted stop lamp) function, which is placed on the upper portion of the rear windscreen of the vehicle. The first function is performed through a first diffusing zone 502 of the device 500. It is performed by means of lateral emission LEDs emitting in the red range, the main direction of emission of which is oriented toward the outside of the vehicle. However, as the lighting device 500 is arranged inside the passenger compartment, it therefore belongs to the category of internal lighting devices.

The device 500 is capable of performing a second lighting function, for example of the reception lighting type. Axial emission LEDs are used for this function. For this purpose, it comprises a second diffusion zone 501, the main direction of emission of which is oriented downward when the device 500 is placed in the passenger compartment. In this example, the beam is of high intensity and white in color.

The first diffusion zone 502 and the second diffusion zone are held by the structure of the device 500 made, for example, of a metallic or plastics material. The structure can, in particular, comprise a blocking-off part 504 separating the two diffusion zones. Although they are physically separated, the two diffusion zones 501 and 502 can be produced from a single diffusion screen placed within the structure 503 of the device 500.

FIG. 6 shows a further embodiment of the lighting device 600 according to the invention. This example shows the device 600 placed in the use condition. The device 600 consists of a first set of axial emission diodes producing a first light beam 601, intended to illuminate an ashtray, and a second set of lateral emission diodes producing a second light beam 602, intended to illuminate a ring 603 of a cigarette lighter 604. All of the LEDs are arranged on a single PCB 605. In certain embodiments of this example, the first beam 601 is transmitted toward the ashtray by means of at least one light guide allowing any accessory located facing light guide to be illuminated.

In the illustrated example, the PCB comprises a first contact tab 606 in contact with the body of the cigarette lighter, body of the cigarette lighter corresponding to a reference potential of the vehicle, typically 0 volt. The PCB further comprises a second contact tab 607 which enters into contact with a connector tab of the cigarette lighter; there is thus obtained, by this means, a voltage having a value of 12 volts allowing the various sets of LEDs to be illuminated. In the illustrated embodiment, the connector tab is a three-point connector tab.

Generally, the invention extends to all internal lighting devices using LEDs and performing at least two separate lighting functions. In this regard, it also relates to devices for illuminating cigarette lighter rings which also perform the illuminating of the ashtray placed in proximity thereto.

While the form of apparatus herein described constitutes a preferred embodiment of this invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this precise form of apparatus, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A lighting device for a motor vehicle, comprising in particular a plurality of light-emitting diode-type light sources, with at least one first set of light-emitting diodes and a second set of light-emitting diodes, wherein the plurality of light sources is arranged within a single internal lighting module, the first set of light-emitting diodes performing a first lighting function, the second set of light-emitting diodes performing a second lighting function.

2. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the first set of light-emitting diodes consists of axial emission diodes or through-emission diodes, and in that the second set of light-emitting diodes consists of lateral emission diodes.

3. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein each light-emitting diode of said first set of light-emitting diode emits directly in the direction of the light beam of said first lighting function, and wherein each light-emitting diode of said second set of light-emitting diode emits directly in the direction of the light beam of said second lighting function.

4. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the internal lighting module comprises a single printed circuit board on which the first set of light-emitting diodes and the second set of light-emitting diodes are arranged.

5. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the first set of light-emitting diodes emits an overall light beam in a first favored direction, and in that the second set of light-emitting diodes emits an overall light beam in a second favored direction differing from the first favored direction.

6. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the light-emitting diodes of the first set of light-emitting diodes emit a light beam of a first intensity, and in that the light-emitting diodes of the second set of light-emitting diodes emit a light beam of a second intensity lower than the first intensity.

7. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the light-emitting diodes of the first set of light-emitting diodes emit a light beam of a first color, and in that the light-emitting diodes of the second set of light-emitting diodes emit a light beam of a second color differing from the first color.

8. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the internal lighting module comprises a single diffusion screen through which the light beams from the plurality of light sources are diffused.

9. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the lighting module comprises a diffusion surface split by a blocking-off part into at least one first part and a second part, the first part diffusing light beams performing the first function, the second part diffusing light beams performing the second function.

10. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the first function corresponds to a passenger compartment lighting function on stopping, and in that the second function corresponds to a roof lighting function.

11. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the first function corresponds to a passenger compartment lighting function during driving, and in that the second function corresponds to a roof lighting function.

12. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the first function corresponds to a lighting function of a cigarette lighter illuminating ring, and in that the second function corresponds to an ashtray lighting function.

13. The lighting device according to claim 12, wherein the plurality of light sources of said lighting device is arranged on a single printed circuit board comprising a first and a second contact tab, the first contact tab being intended to be in contact with the body of a cigarette lighter, said body of said cigarette lighter thus corresponding to a reference potential, and the second tab being intended to be in contact with the connector of said cigarette lighter, thus allowing an electrical voltage to be applied to illuminate said plurality of light sources.

14. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the first function corresponds to a passenger compartment lighting function during driving, and in that the second function corresponds to a raised internal stop light function.

15. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the first function and the second function are activated simultaneously.

16. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the first function and the second function are activated in alternation.

17. A motor vehicle equipped with at least one lighting device according to claim 1, the lighting device being arranged in a central portion of the roof of the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

18. A motor vehicle equipped with at least one lighting device according to claim 1, the lighting device being arranged at least on one side of the passenger compartment of the vehicle.