Automotive lighting and / or signaling device

Abstract

Illumination and / or signalling device (4), in particular for the automotive sector, comprising a container body (8) delimiting a housing seat (12) closed by a lens body (20), said housing seat (12) housing a first light source (18) adapted to emit a first light beam and a second light source (19) adapted to emit a second light beam, said housing seat (12) being closed by a lens body (20) adapted to be at least partially crossed by the light beams generated by said light sources (18, 19) so as to transmit said light beams outside the housing seat (12). Advantageously, the housing seat (12) is divided into a first compartment (24) housing the first light source (18) and a second compartment (28) housing the second light source (19), said first compartment (24) and second compartment (28) being separated by at least one partition wall (32). The lens body (20) comprises a first transmission portion (40) facing the first compartment (24) and configured to transmit the first light beam at least partially towards the outside, a second transmission portion (44) facing the second compartment (28) and configured to transmit the second light beam at least partially towards the outside, and an opaque portion (48) interposed between said first transmission portion (40) and second transmission portion (44) so as to hide the image of said first light source (18) and second light source (19) from the outside.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to lighting and / or signaling devices for vehicles. background

[0002] The term “automotive lighting and / or signaling devices” is used in a very broad sense in this document to include both rear lights and front lights, the latter also referred to as headlights or headlamps.

[0003] Therefore, it includes position lights, turn signals, parking lights, rear fog lights, reversing lights, low beam headlights, and high beam headlights.

[0004] Furthermore, the term also means including map lights, lights used on or part of the dashboard. Therefore, automotive lighting and / or signaling devices can be located both inside and outside the vehicle.

[0005] As is known, the automotive lighting and / or signaling devices can be used for illumination and sending visual signals.

[0006] Therefore, the device includes multiple lighting components with different colors, different brightness levels (also in accordance with regulations to be followed), etc.

[0007] In particular, in recent years, lighting and / or signaling devices have increasingly gained aesthetic value as well as optical functionality. In other words, in addition to the lighting and / or signaling functions they must perform, these devices are increasingly being used as design elements within the scope of the vehicles in which they are embedded.

[0008] Therefore, it is known to provide lighting and / or signaling devices with illuminated portions, as required by vehicle manufacturers, the illuminated portions having specific pictures and / or geometric shapes and / or words or symbols.

[0009] To obtain automotive lighting and / or signaling devices that meet this need, it is known to provide devices having multiple light sources and multiple lens bodies equipped with masks and tinted portions. The tinted portions have both optical and aesthetic functions; the masks are used to conceal the presence of internal components of the lamp from the outside and to delineate different lighting areas to be obtained.

[0010] Such a solution implies the implementation of many components of the lamp, which must be properly assembled together: the result is a lighting and / or signaling device that is expensive and complex to manufacture, and relatively heavy and bulky. Summary of the Invention

[0011] Therefore, in the background art, there is a need to provide automotive lighting and / or signaling devices that allow for the aforementioned technical effects, with excellent aesthetic results in terms of the precision of the lighting components and the uniformity of illumination, without implying excessive construction and assembly costs, or limitations on weight and size.

[0012] Such a need is met by the vehicle's lighting and / or signaling devices according to claim 1.

[0013] Other embodiments of the invention are described in the dependent claims. Attached Figure Description

[0014] Further features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following description of its preferred and non-limiting embodiments, wherein:

[0015] Figure 1 A perspective view of a lighting and / or signaling device according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown, having individual parts.

[0016] Figure 2 It shows Figure 1 A cross-sectional perspective view of the lighting and / or signaling device with individual parts.

[0017] Figure 3 A perspective view of a lighting and / or signaling device with individual parts according to another embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0018] Figure 4 It shows Figure 3 A cross-sectional view of the lighting and / or signaling devices in the assembly configuration.

[0019] Common elements or parts of elements in the embodiments described below will be indicated by the same reference numerals. Detailed Implementation

[0020] With respect to the foregoing figures, reference numeral 4 generally indicates lighting and / or signaling devices, such as automotive lights, and the following description will refer to such lighting and / or signaling devices without implying any general loss.

[0021] As stated above, the term "lighting and / or signaling device" generally means automotive taillights or automotive headlights, the latter also known as headlights or headlamps, which include external vehicle lights with lighting and / or signaling functions, such as, for example, position lights, which can be front, rear, and side position lights, turn signals, parking lights, rear fog lights, high beam headlights, low beam headlights, etc.

[0022] In addition, the term "lighting and / or signaling apparatus" also means interior map lights, lights for the dashboard or a part thereof, displays, etc.

[0023] Therefore, as better described below, in its signaling function, the device may include sending luminous signals, logos, but it may also be able to send luminous messages and any kind of text.

[0024] The lighting and / or signaling device 4 includes a container or housing 8 typically made of polymeric material, which conventionally allows the lighting and / or signaling device 4 to be attached to the associated vehicle or any type of support.

[0025] For the purposes of this invention, the container body or housing 8 may have any shape, size and positioning: for example, the container body 8 may not be directly associated with the body of an associated vehicle or other external fasteners.

[0026] Obviously, container 8 can also be associated with the vehicle internally, for example, on the instrument panel, on the dashboard, on the parcel shelf, etc.

[0027] The container body 8 is divided into a receiving seat 12, which accommodates multiple components of the lighting and / or signaling device.

[0028] Specifically, the receiving seat 12 accommodates and supports a plurality of light sources 16, preferably LED light sources or laser light sources, arranged within the receiving seat 12.

[0029] For example, the lens body 20 may be associated with the container body 8 as at least a partial closure to close the receiving seat 12 that houses at least one light source 16.

[0030] For the purposes of this invention, the lens body 20 may be located outside the lighting and / or signaling device 4 to define at least one outer wall of the lighting and / or signaling device that is directly exposed to the atmosphere.

[0031] According to possible embodiments, the lens body 20 is made of resins such as PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate), PC (polycarbonate), etc.

[0032] As better described below, the lens body 20 encloses the receiving seat 12 and is adapted to allow a light beam generated at least partially by the light source 16 to pass through, which is then transmitted outside the receiving seat 12.

[0033] In this respect, the lens body 20 is made of a material that is at least partially transparent, semitransparent, or translucent, and the lens body 20 may also include one or more opaque portions so as to allow at least a portion of the light beam generated by the light source to pass through in any case.

[0034] More specifically, the housing 12 houses a first light source 18 adapted to emit a first light beam and a second light source 19 adapted to emit a second light beam.

[0035] Advantageously, the housing 12 is divided into a first compartment 24 for accommodating the first light source 18 and a second compartment 28 for accommodating the second light source 19.

[0036] The first compartment 24 and the second compartment 28 are separated by at least one partition wall 32; the partition wall is preferably opaque to light beams generated by light sources 16, 18, 19.

[0037] Advantageously, the lens body 20 includes a first transmission portion 40 facing the first compartment 24 and configured to transmit the first beam at least partially toward the outside.

[0038] The lens body 20 includes a second transmission portion 44 facing the second compartment 28 and configured to transmit the second beam at least partially toward the outside.

[0039] The lens body 20 also includes an opaque portion 48, which is inserted between the first transmission portion 40 and the second transmission portion 44 to hide the images of the first and second light sources 16, 18, 19 from the outside.

[0040] According to one embodiment, the first transfer portion 40 and / or the second transfer portion 44 are transparent portions, semi-transparent portions, translucent portions, or milky white portions.

[0041] Preferably, the first light source 18 and the second light source 19 are associated with opposite sides of the same printed circuit 52.

[0042] It should be noted that the distinction between the first and second light sources, and therefore between the first and second compartments, is purely indicative: the first light source 18 can be positioned above and below the second light source. Of course, the same applies to the first and second compartments.

[0043] According to one embodiment, the printed circuit 52 is located near the partition wall 32 between the first compartment 24 and the second compartment 28.

[0044] According to one embodiment, the printed circuit 52 itself at least partially forms the partition wall 32.

[0045] The opaque portion 48 faces the printed circuit 52 and / or the partition wall so as to hide the image of the printed circuit 52, the partition wall 32 and / or the light source 16, 18, 19 from the outside.

[0046] According to a possible embodiment, a light guide 56 that transmits the first light beam toward the first transmission portion 40 is associated with a first light source 18.

[0047] More specifically, in one embodiment, the light guide 56 includes a light incident wall 60 that is generally perpendicular to a first prevalent emission direction X'-X' of the first beam. Furthermore, the light guide 56 includes a reflective wall 64 that deflects the first beam in a direction perpendicular to both the first prevalent emission direction X'-X' and a first prevalent propagation direction Y'-Y' of the first transmission portion 40.

[0048] Preferably, in the embodiment, the first transfer portion 40 is made of a transparent material.

[0049] According to one possible embodiment, at least one reflector 68 that reflects the second light beam toward the second transmission portion 44 faces the second light source 19.

[0050] The reflector 68 receives the second beam in the second main emission direction X”-X” and deflects it in the second main propagation direction Y”-Y”, which is generally perpendicular to the second transmission section 44.

[0051] Preferably, in the embodiment, the second transfer portion 44 is made of a milky white material, which may, for example, be co-molded with the first transfer portion 40.

[0052] Preferably, the reflector 68 at least partially forms the partition wall 32.

[0053] According to one embodiment ( Figure 3-4 The lens body 20 includes a first transfer portion 40 extending to enclose a first compartment 24 and a second compartment 28, wherein the second transfer portion 44 is milky white; furthermore, the milky white second transfer portion 44 and the opaque portion 48 are associated with the first transfer portion 40 on the inner side 72 of the lens body 20 facing the first compartment 24 and the second compartment 28 (e.g., co-molded). In other words, the milky white second transfer portion 44 and the opaque portion 48 are positioned to face the container body 8.

[0054] As can be understood from the foregoing, the present invention allows for overcoming the shortcomings shown in the background art.

[0055] Known solutions provide the use of multiple devices for diffusing and / or masking lamps and light sources. In particular, the automotive lighting and / or signaling device according to the invention allows the use of a single lens or an external lens body to diffuse / homogenize / mask the lamps and / or light sources contained within the housing of the lighting device.

[0056] This results in advantages in terms of assembly, cost, and size of the lighting device. In fact, it is possible to implement and assemble a single lens body that immediately performs the aforementioned function.

[0057] Reducing the overall number of components not only means reducing assembly time and cost, but also reducing the weight and size of the final assembly.

[0058] To meet occasional and specific needs, those skilled in the art may introduce several changes and variations to the above-described lighting and / or signaling devices without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. A lighting and / or signaling device (4), comprising: - Container body (8), which demarcates a receiving seat (12) enclosed by a lens body (20). - The housing (12) houses a first light source (18) adapted to emit a first light beam and a second light source (19) adapted to emit a second light beam. - The receiving seat (12) is enclosed by a lens body (20), the lens body being adapted to be at least partially penetrated by a light beam generated by the light source (18, 19) to transmit the light beam to the outside of the receiving seat (12). Its features - The housing (12) is divided into a first compartment (24) for accommodating the first light source (18) and a second compartment (28) for accommodating the second light source (19). - The first compartment (24) and the second compartment (28) are separated by at least one partition wall (32). - Wherein, the lens body (20) includes: - A first transmission portion (40) facing the first compartment (24) and configured to transmit the first beam at least partially toward the outside. - A second transmission section (44), which faces the second compartment (28) and is configured to transmit the second beam at least partially toward the outside. - An opaque portion (48) is inserted between the first transmission portion (40) and the second transmission portion (44) to hide the images of the first light source (18) and the second light source (19) from the outside. The first transfer portion extends to enclose the first compartment (24) and the second compartment (28), wherein the second transfer portion (44) is milky white, and wherein the milky white second transfer portion (44) and the opaque portion (48) are associated with the first transfer portion (40) on the inner side (72) of the lens body (20) facing the first compartment (24) and the second compartment (28); wherein the second transfer portion (44) and / or the opaque portion (48) are co-molded with the first transfer portion (40).

2. The lighting and / or signaling device (4) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first transmission part (40) is the transparent part.

3. The lighting and / or signaling device (4) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The first light source (18) and the second light source (19) are associated with opposite surfaces of the same printed circuit (52).

4. The lighting and / or signaling device (4) according to claim 3, characterized in that, The printed circuit (52) is located near the partition wall (32) between the first compartment (24) and the second compartment (28).

5. The lighting and / or signaling device (4) according to claim 3, characterized in that, The printed circuit (52) itself at least partially forms the partition wall (32).

6. The lighting and / or signaling device (4) according to claim 3, characterized in that, The opaque portion (48) faces the printed circuit (52) and / or the partition wall (32) so as to hide the image of the printed circuit (52), the partition wall (32) and / or the light source (18, 19) from the outside.

7. The lighting and / or signaling device (4) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The optical guide (56) that transmits the first beam to the first transmission section (40) is associated with the first light source (18).

8. The lighting and / or signaling device (4) according to claim 7, characterized in that, The light guide (56) includes a light incident wall (60) that is generally perpendicular to a first principal emission direction (X'-X') of the first beam and a reflective wall (64) that deflects the first beam in a first principal propagation direction (Y'-Y') that is perpendicular to the first principal emission direction (X'-X') and perpendicular to the first transmission portion (40).

9. The lighting and / or signaling device (4) according to claim 8, characterized in that, The first transmission portion (40) is transparent.

10. The lighting and / or signaling device (4) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, At least one reflector (68) faces the second light source (19) and reflects the second light beam toward the second transmission portion (44).

11. The lighting and / or signaling device (4) according to claim 10, characterized in that, The reflector (68) receives the second beam in the second principal propagation direction (X''-X'') and deflects the second beam in the second principal propagation direction (Y''-Y'') which is generally perpendicular to the second transmission section (44).

12. The lighting and / or signaling device (4) according to claim 10, characterized in that, The reflector (68) forms at least partially the partition wall (32) between the first compartment (24) and the second compartment (28).

13. The lighting and / or signaling device (4) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The first light source (18) and / or the second light source (19) are LEDs or laser light sources.

14. The lighting and / or signaling device (4) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The lighting and / or signaling device (4) is a lighting and / or signaling device (4) used in the automotive industry.

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