Light modules for vehicle passenger compartment lighting

Abstract

A lighting module (4) for lighting a passenger compartment of a vehicle comprises at least one light source (22, 24) configured to emit light and a decorative element (12), the at least one light source being configured to emit light, the decorative element being arranged in a path of light emitted by the at least one light source (22, 24), the lighting module (4) comprising at least one first light source (22) and at least one second light source (24), the first light source being configured to emit light on a first face (42) of the decorative element (12), the second light source being configured to emit light on a second face (14) of the decorative element (12) opposite to the first face (42). The light emitted on the second face (14) generates indirect lighting, and the light emitted on the first face (42) intended to pass through the decorative element (12) from the first face to the second face generates direct lighting or backlighting.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of interior lighting in the automotive field, in particular to lighting in a passenger compartment of a vehicle.

[0002] The various walls that define the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, whether they consist of door panels, a dashboard console, or a roof, for example, can be provided with different materials depending on the style of the vehicle and how the passenger compartment is expected to appear to the passengers. This particularly relates to the interior trim of the vehicle, and various materials (such as wood, plastic, or fabric) can be used to produce this interior trim.

[0003] It is known to combine these interior finishing materials with a light source that illuminates all or part of a panel made of the interior finishing material in order to highlight this material.

[0004] For vehicles using "premium" materials, it is particularly desirable that these materials be well illuminated regardless of the light level within the passenger compartment in order to achieve the desired aesthetic effect both during the day and at night.

[0005] However, the interior trim materials should not always be illuminated too strongly to avoid inconveniencing or distracting the occupants (whether they are drivers or passengers) at night.

[0006] It is within this context that the present invention proposes a lighting module for enhancing a decorative element of a passenger compartment of a vehicle without the risk of excessive lighting that could interfere with driving the vehicle.

[0007] More particularly, the present invention proposes a lighting module for vehicle interior lighting, the lighting module including at least one light source and a decorative element, the at least one light source being configured to emit light, the decorative element being arranged on a path of the light emitted by the at least one light source, characterized in that the lighting module includes at least one first light source and at least one second light source, the at least one first light source being configured to emit light on a first surface of the decorative element, and the at least one second light source being configured to emit light on a second surface of the decorative element opposite to the first surface.

[0008] The lighting module thus comprises two light sources, each arranged to illuminate a different side of the decorative element. More specifically, the decorative element and the first light source are configured such that the first light source emits light through the decorative element from the first side to the second side, thereby generating backlighting. The decorative element and the second light source are configured such that the light emitted by the second light source is reflected off the second side of the decorative element. Thus, each of the light sources of the lighting module contributes to generating a different illumination: one of the light sources generates direct illumination through the decorative element, or backlighting, while the other generates indirect illumination by light reflection off the decorative element.

[0009] Backlighting produces direct illumination, wherein the original light intensity of the light rays that are not reflected and that pass directly through the trim element remains intact or nearly intact, making such backlighting particularly useful in daytime conditions, with the light rays producing sufficient light intensity to make the patterns and textures of the materials selected for the trim element visible during the day. Illumination by reflection on the diffusing surface also produces indirect illumination, wherein the light beams are of lower intensity than the direct illumination, making such indirect illumination particularly useful at night or in situations where the occupants desire dimmed lighting.

[0010] The lighting module according to the invention can therefore allow adaptive interior lighting, since switching on one or the other of the light sources makes it possible to illuminate the decorative element with a high or low light intensity.

[0011] Depending on the light conditions in the passenger compartment, backlighting or direct lighting may be preferred, and they may be implemented simultaneously in order to make the decorative portion formed by the trim element particularly visible.

[0012] According to an optional feature of the invention, the at least one first light source and the at least one second source each comprise an array of light emitting diodes.

[0013] According to another optional feature of the invention, the second side of the decorative element is configured to allow light reflection, the light emitted by the second source being reflected by this second side. In other words, the second side of the diffusing surface can have at least partially reflective properties, whereby the light emitted by the second light source is reflected by an additional coating applied to this second side, if appropriate.

[0014] According to another optional feature of the invention, the decorative element is configured to allow light to pass through the decorative element, and the first light source emits light through the decorative element to produce backlighting. In other words, the decorative element of the passenger compartment comprising the lighting module according to the invention has areas, where appropriate local areas, through which light is diffused. The decorative element of the passenger compartment is in particular a panel intended to cover or modify a structural element of the passenger compartment, and the material, texture and / or pattern of this panel is highlighted by the illumination generated by the light source. This decorative element can be made of a material that allows light to pass through this surface, such as a transparent element, or even of a material such as fabric, the thickness of which is of such a size that it allows light to pass through. This decorative element can also be made of a material that is completely opaque but has locally a means of allowing light to pass through the surface, such as a wooden wall having at least one opening through which light is diffused. The thickness of the opaque material can also be set to be locally thin enough to allow light to pass through these thin areas.

[0015] According to an optional feature of the present invention, the first light source, the second light source, and the decorative element are configured so that the emitted light propagates from the second surface of the decorative element toward the outside of the light-emitting module. In other words, all light emitted by the first and second light sources is emitted from the same side of the diffuser element, some of which is reflected by the surface of the diffuser element, and the rest of which passes through the diffuser element, thereby generating both indirect lighting and backlighting.

[0016] According to an optional feature of the invention, the lighting module comprises a light guiding sheet between the first light source and the first face of the decorative element.

[0017] The first light source emits light through a light guiding sheet configured to direct the light toward the first side of the decorative element. More specifically, the light guiding sheet comprises an output surface disposed facing the first side of the decorative element and an end edge disposed facing the first light source. Thus, light from the first light source is projected through the light guiding sheet at the end edge of the light guiding sheet. The light guiding sheet directs the light toward regions of the output surface, which are disposed facing regions of the diffusing surface through which light is permitted to pass, through sequential total internal reflection.

[0018] According to another optional feature of the invention, the lighting module comprises at least one reflector interposed between one of the light sources and one of the faces of the decorative element.

[0019] In other words, the first light source and / or the second light source emits light onto the reflector, which redirects the light onto one of the faces of the decorative element.

[0020] The lighting module may comprise at least one reflector which directs light onto one of the faces of the diffusing surface when the first light source is not directly opposite the end of the light guiding sheet, but instead directs light towards the end edge of the light guiding sheet as described above.

[0021] Furthermore, a reflector or a reflective wall can be placed at the rear of the decorative element and the light guide sheet to return any light coming out of the light guide sheet in the wrong direction, i.e. onto the opposite side of the decorative element in the passenger compartment, and, if necessary, to return light emitted by a second light source which has passed through the decorative element for the first time.

[0022] According to another optional feature of the invention, the first light source and the second light source are arranged on a flexible electronic strip.

[0023] In particular, the flexible electronic tape consists of a flexible printed circuit board, i.e., it has flexibility so that the electronic tape can be shaped so that it extends in a curved manner or along directions intersecting at curved edges, so as to adapt to the shape of the light-emitting module and so that the light source carried by the electronic tape can emit light along different main directions.

[0024] As mentioned above, each light source may be composed of a series of light emitting sources. In this case, the light emitting sources advantageously extend regularly on the flexible electronic strip.

[0025] According to another optional feature, the first and second light sources are arranged on the same flexible electronic strip. Preferably, the first light source extends near one of the ends of the flexible electronic strip, and the second light source extends near the other end of the strip. However, a lighting module including a first flexible electronic strip having the first light source and a second flexible electronic strip having the second light source does not depart from the scope of the present invention.

[0026] According to another optional feature of the invention, the flexible electronic strip has a bending region between the first light source and the second light source.

[0027] The first light source and the second light source are each disposed on portions extending from opposite ends of the flexible electronic strip, the portions being located on sides of a bent region of the flexible electronic strip.

[0028] Therefore, the bending area is an area without a light source, and at least one bent edge is formed in this area to give the flexible electronic ribbon an appropriate shape. Therefore, the flexible electronic ribbon can be bent one or more times according to one or more bending angles, so that it can adapt both the orientation of the light emitted by the light source and the position of the flexible electronic ribbon on the light-emitting module.

[0029] According to another optional feature of the invention, the lighting module comprises a first end region and a second end region on both sides of the diffusing surface, the flexible electronic strip being arranged in at least one of the end regions of the lighting module.

[0030] Flexible electronic strips carrying two light sources can be arranged alternately in each of the end areas of the light-emitting module, but the light-emitting module can also include two flexible electronic strips, one of which is placed in each of the end areas of the light-emitting module, which makes it possible to make the lighting uniform across the entire light-emitting module.

[0031] According to another optional feature of the present invention, the first light source and the second light source are arranged to emit light in different main emission directions.

[0032] In other words, the light emitted by the first light source can be emitted toward the first surface of the diffuse surface along an emission direction that is different from the emission direction of the light emitted by the second light source along the direction of the second surface of the diffuse surface, or these light rays emitted by the first light source and the second light source can have the same main emission direction but opposite orientations.

[0033] According to another optional feature of the invention, the lighting module includes a control module configured to control power supply to the first light source and power supply to the second light source.

[0034] In other words, the control module can issue control commands to both the first and second light sources. These control commands can be sent alternately or simultaneously. As a non-limiting example, during daytime conditions, powering one of the light sources can be advantageously used to enhance interior lighting through backlighting, while during nighttime conditions, powering the other light source can be advantageously used to enhance interior lighting through direct lighting. If desired, powering these two light sources can be combined when maximum light intensity is desired, for example, to highlight the "high-quality" materials used to manufacture the decorative element.

[0035] According to another optional feature of the invention, the control module is configured to adapt power to the first light source and / or the second light source.

[0036] As a non-limiting example, the control module is configured to receive data related to the external light level and / or the internal light level inside the passenger compartment via appropriate light level sensors, analyze the data, and then send a power supply instruction to the lighting module, indicating whether the power supply can be turned on.

[0037] Further characteristics, details and advantages of the invention will become more apparent on reading the following description, and also on a number of exemplary embodiments given as non-limiting illustrations, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, in which:

[0038] [ Figure 1 ] is a view of a vehicle equipped with a light emitting module according to the present invention;

[0039] [ Figure 2 ] is a perspective view of a light emitting module according to a first embodiment, wherein a first light source and a second light source are arranged in an end region of the light emitting module;

[0040] [ Figure 3 ]yes Figure 2 A cross section of the light emitting module shown in ;

[0041] [ Figure 4 ] is a perspective view of a flexible electronic strip equipped with a light-emitting module according to the present invention;

[0042] [ Figure 5] is a schematic cross-section of a light emitting module according to a second embodiment, the light emitting module including a first light source and an island, the first light source directly illuminating a first side of a diffusing surface, a second light source configured to illuminate a second side of the diffusing surface being formed in the island;

[0043] [ Figure 6 ] is a schematic cross-section of a light emitting module according to a third embodiment;

[0044] [ Figure 7 ] is a schematic cross-section of a light emitting module according to a fourth embodiment;

[0045] [ Figure 8 ] is a schematic cross-section of a light emitting module according to a fifth embodiment;

[0046] [ Figure 9 ] is a schematic cross-section of a light emitting module according to a sixth embodiment;

[0047] [ Figure 10 ] is a schematic cross-section of a light emitting module according to a seventh embodiment;

[0048] [ Figure 11 ] is a schematic cross-section of a light emitting module according to an eighth embodiment;

[0049] [ Figure 12 ] is a schematic cross-section of a light emitting module according to a ninth embodiment.

[0050] The features, variants and different embodiments of the present invention can be combined with each other in various combinations, as long as these combinations are not mutually incompatible or mutually exclusive. In particular, if a feature selection described below is sufficient to provide a technical advantage and / or distinguish the present invention from the prior art independently of the other described features, it is conceivable that the variant of the present invention only includes this feature selection.

[0051] First, refer to Figure 1 Vehicle 1 includes a passenger cabin 2. Passenger cabin 2 represents the interior space of vehicle 1, in which the driver sits and uses vehicle 1. Passenger cabin 2 includes at least one lighting module 4 according to the present invention. Although lighting module 4 is disposed on the ceiling 6 of passenger cabin 2 in this case, it is noted that this arrangement is shown as an example, and without departing from the context of the present invention, one or more lighting modules 4 may be disposed in other areas of passenger cabin 2, such as on a vehicle door 8 or the dashboard.

[0052] In particular, the lighting module 4 has the function of illuminating a cover or decorative panel of a portion of the passenger compartment, and according to the present invention, the lighting module is particularly suitable for providing adaptive lighting for the driver and / or detecting the light level outside or inside the passenger compartment in order to more particularly highlight the cover or decorative panel. To this end, the lighting module 4 includes a plurality of light sources (such as light-emitting diodes) and a decorative element. The light sources can emit their light onto the decorative element to provide direct illumination or backlighting of the decorative element, and / or provide indirect illumination of the decorative element by reflection of light on the surface of the decorative element.

[0053] Advantageously, the lighting module 4 is connected to a control module (not shown in any of the figures). The control module is configured to issue control commands to the lighting module 4 to power or de-power the lighting module 4 and generate backlighting and / or indirect lighting. The control module issues these commands in response to a user actuating a control button and / or based on information received regarding light levels, such as information received from sensors (also not shown in any of the figures). These sensors may, for example, measure the external light level and / or the light level inside the passenger compartment 2 and transmit a set of information generated by these measurements to the control module, which then transmits control commands to the lighting module 4 accordingly.

[0054] Therefore, the lighting module 4 includes at least two light sources, one light source for generating backlighting and another light source for generating indirect lighting, and the lighting module 4 can be produced according to different embodiments. Figure 2 and Figure 3 , following the following detailed description of the first embodiment, several of these embodiments will be described below.

[0055] In this first embodiment, the lighting module 4 extends mainly along the longitudinal axis A between the first longitudinal end 7 and the second longitudinal end 9. The lighting module 4 also extends in a curved manner along the vertical axis B between the first vertical end region 15 and the second vertical end region 17. Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown in , the longitudinal axis A and the vertical axis B, which are perpendicular to each other, contribute to defining a main extension plane of the lighting module 4 .

[0056] Lighting module 4 includes a first support member 10 at first longitudinal end 7 and a second support member 11 at second longitudinal end 9. First support member 10 and second support member 11 are secured to one of the elements of passenger compartment 2 of vehicle 1 by various securing means (e.g., screws), which support members have a plurality of screw holes 13. When light module 4 is installed in passenger compartment 2, screws (not shown in any of the figures) are inserted through the plurality of screw holes 13 to secure each support member 10, 11 to a component of passenger compartment 2.

[0057] The light module 4 further comprises a diffusing surface 12. The diffusing surface 12 is an optical element from which all light initially emitted by the above-mentioned light source is emitted in the direction of the passenger compartment 2. The diffusing surface 12 is at least partially composed of a structure configured to diffuse light from the interior of the light module 4 ( Figure 2 The diffusing surface 12 is composed of a material that filters the light outside the light emitting module 4 (not visible in the figure), and this diffusing surface 12 further includes a first surface 42 and an opposite second surface 14, the first surface being arbitrarily referred to as the back surface 42 below, and the second surface being arbitrarily referred to as the front surface 14 below.

[0058] The diffusing surface 12 can be a substantially transparent optical element, such as a lens, perforated at various locations to allow the first light to pass through and including a reflective coating that reflects the second light, or an opaque element, such as a wooden wall with a few holes, or a relatively thick or less thick fabric. It will be understood that the choice of one or more materials for the diffusing surface 12 (which may be determined, in particular, by aesthetic choices related to the design of the passenger compartment 2 of the vehicle 1) has the effect of influencing the brightness level produced by the light module 4, thereby producing a high-intensity or more diffuse lighting.

[0059] The diffusing surface 12 extends mainly along the longitudinal axis A between the first support 10 and the second support 11, to which the diffusing surface 12 is rigidly fixed. The first support 10 and the second support 11 are in this case symmetrical to each other with respect to the diffusing surface 12. Figure 2 As can be seen in FIG, the diffusing surface 12 , the first support 10 and the second support 11 extend along a vertical axis B between a first vertical end region 15 and a second vertical end region 17 .

[0060] The lighting module 4 comprises a first light unit 16 in the first vertical end region 15 and a second light unit 18 in the second vertical end region 17. The first light unit 16 and the second light unit 18 extend along the longitudinal axis A between the first support 10 and the second support 11. Figure 2 , the second light unit 18 has been shown to have visible light sources that are not hidden by the reflector unit shown for the first light unit 16. It should be understood that in the case shown, the first light unit 16 is symmetrical to the second light unit 18 with respect to the diffusing surface 12, so that elements described for one of the light units 16, 18 are also present on the other light unit 16, 18. It should also be noted that the lighting module 4 can have only one of the light units 16, 18, which will now be described, without departing from the context of the present invention.

[0061] like Figure 3As shown in FIG, the first light unit 16 has a light base 20 on which a first light source 22 and at least one second light source 24 are arranged. The first light source 22 is capable of emitting light, in this case via a light guide in the form of a sheet, for directly illuminating the passenger compartment 2 by backlighting the diffusing surface 12, and the second light source 24 is capable of emitting light in the direction of the face of the diffusing surface 12 facing the passenger compartment 2, in order to produce indirect illumination for this passenger compartment 2. The indirect illumination produced by the second light source 24 will be described below after the description of the light base 20 and the backlighting produced by the first light source 22.

[0062] The light base 20 advantageously comprises a first vertical wall 26 and a second vertical wall 28 extending substantially along a vertical axis B, and a first transverse wall 30 and a second transverse wall 32 extending along a transverse axis C perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A and the vertical axis B. The first transverse wall 30 is positioned parallel to and facing the second transverse wall 32 and, along the vertical axis B, is closer to the first vertical end zone 15 than the second transverse wall 32.

[0063] The first vertical wall 26 is parallel to the second vertical wall 28, with the two vertical walls 26, 28 each extending in opposite vertical directions from the lateral end edges of the second transverse wall 32. Thus, the first vertical wall 26 is arranged between the first transverse wall 30 and the second transverse wall 32, while the second vertical wall 28 extends between the second transverse wall 32 and the diffusing surface 12. More specifically, as shown, the second vertical wall 28 includes an area at its free end for receiving the diffusing surface 12, which is secured to the first light unit 16 via this receiving area, for example, by adhesive bonding. Similarly, the diffusing surface 12 thus extends vertically between one of the ends of the second vertical wall 28 of the first light unit 16 and one of the ends of the second vertical wall 28 of the second light unit 18.

[0064] The second transverse wall 32 has a first inner face 34 oriented towards the diffusing surface 12 and a first outer face 36 oriented towards the first vertical end zone 15 of the lighting module 4. The second transverse wall 32 comprises at least a first light source 22, which in the example shown takes the form of a first plurality of light-emitting diodes 38 arranged adjacent to one another. This first light source 22 advantageously extends on the first inner face 34 of the second transverse wall 32 along the longitudinal axis A on a flexible electronic strip 35 between the first support 10 and the second support 11.

[0065] In this case, the flexible electronic strip 35 is a flexible printed circuit board comprising metal tracks for supplying power to and controlling electronic components fixed to this flexible printed circuit board, in particular the first plurality of light emitting diodes 38 .

[0066] The first plurality of light emitting diodes 38 emits light primarily along the vertical axis B, perpendicular to the first inner face 34 and away from the second transverse wall 32. Note that, similarly, since the two light units 16, 18 are symmetrical about the diffusing surface 12 in this case, the second light unit 18 also comprises a first plurality of light emitting diodes 38 that emit light primarily along the vertical axis B, perpendicular to the first inner face 34 and away from the second transverse wall 32 of the second light unit 18.

[0067] The lighting module 4 includes a light guiding sheet 40 that faces the diffusing surface 12 and is at a constant distance from the diffusing surface 12. The light guiding sheet 40 extends so that one of its end edges faces the first light source 22. In the example shown here, the light guiding sheet 40 extends between the first plurality of light-emitting diodes 38 of the first light unit 16 and the first plurality of light-emitting diodes of the second light unit 18.

[0068] The light guiding sheet 40 also extends along the longitudinal axis A between the first support 10 and the second support 11 , and thus between the first light unit 16 and the second light unit 18 and between the first support 10 and the second support 11 .

[0069] Alternatively, the diffusing surface 12 may extend to form a curve. The light guiding sheet 40 follows the curvature of the diffusing surface 12 so that the light guiding sheet 40 is at a constant distance from the diffusing surface 12.

[0070] It is arbitrarily defined that the light guiding sheet 40 is positioned at the rear of the diffusing surface 12 along the transverse axis C, and conversely, the diffusing surface 12 is positioned in front of the light guiding sheet 40 along the transverse axis C.

[0071] Each light-emitting diode of the first light source 22 emits its light in the direction of a light-guiding sheet 40, which is placed sufficiently close to these diodes so that all the light emitted by these diodes penetrates the light-guiding sheet 40. The light rays propagate in the light-guiding sheet 40 by successive internal reflections until they encounter a prism capable of directing them towards the diffusing surface 12.

[0072] More specifically, the light guiding sheet 40 has a reflective surface 39 and an output surface 41. The output surface 41 faces the diffusing surface 12, while the reflective surface 39 is located on the opposite side of the diffusing surface 12 relative to the output surface 41. The reflective surface 39 includes prismatic elements that are used to deflect light rays and reflect them at a certain angle of incidence in the direction of the output surface 41, so that the light rays are refracted out of the light guiding sheet 40 in the direction of the diffusing surface 12, rather than continuing in the light guiding sheet 40 by successive total internal reflections. The position of the prismatic elements on the reflective surface 39 makes it possible to precisely locate the refractive area in the output surface 41.

[0073] In this way, the light emitted by the first plurality of light-emitting diodes 38 toward the light-guiding sheet 40 is reflected by the prismatic elements of the reflective surface 39 toward the output surface 41 and then projected onto the second face 42 of the diffusing surface 12, which, according to an arbitrarily chosen frame of reference, will also be referred to below as the back face 42. The light output by the light-guiding sheet 40 is directed toward the back face 42 of the diffusing surface 12, and this diffusing surface is configured so that the first light can pass through the diffusing surface from the back face to the front face, so that the light output by the light-guiding sheet then passes through the diffusing surface 12 from the second face 42 to the first face 14, i.e., from the back face 42 to the front face 14, and then is subsequently diffused through the passenger compartment 2.

[0074] The light guiding sheet 40 may have prismatic elements on all or part of the reflective surface 39. Specifically, the distribution of the prismatic elements on the reflective surface 39 is influenced by the design of the diffusing surface 12. Therefore, the diffusing surface 12 can be made of a material that allows light to pass through it, and the light guiding sheet 40 can diffuse the light evenly across the entire output surface 41. The reflective surface 39 then has prismatic elements across its entire surface so as to guide the light toward the entire back surface 42 of the diffusing surface 12.

[0075] Alternatively, the diffusing surface 12 may be made of a material that prevents light from passing through it but has at least one opening allowing light to pass through the opening, the light guiding sheet 40 more particularly diffusing the light at the opening in the diffusing surface 12. The prismatic element will be positioned on the reflective surface 39 so as to guide the light towards the opening in the diffusing surface 12.

[0076] The illumination generated by the first plurality of light-emitting diodes 38 on the diffusing surface 12 and the light-directing sheet 40 forms backlighting, also referred to as direct illumination. Specifically, the light-directing sheet 40 illuminates the back surface 42 of the diffusing surface 12 and causes the light to pass through the diffusing surface without being deflected and then propagate within the passenger compartment 2.

[0077] In addition to the backlighting, the first light unit 16 and the second light unit 18 generate indirect lighting alternately. Figure 2 and Figure 3 In the example shown in , since the first light unit 16 and the second light unit 18 are symmetrical to each other with respect to the diffusing surface 12 , the description of the features of one of the light units also applies to the other light unit.

[0078] According to an arbitrarily chosen frame of reference, the first vertical wall 26 has a front surface 44 and a rear surface 46. The first vertical wall 26 comprises a second light source 24 on the front surface 44, and according to the example shown, the second light source 24 is a second plurality of light-emitting diodes 48. This second plurality of light-emitting diodes 48 advantageously extends on the flexible electronic strip 35 along the longitudinal axis A on the front surface 44 of the first vertical wall 26, between the first support 10 and the second support 11. The second plurality of light-emitting diodes 48 emits light primarily along the transverse axis C.

[0079] According to the present invention and Figure 4 , the flexible electronic strip 35 having the second plurality of light emitting diodes 48 arranged thereon is also the same flexible electronic strip 35 having the first plurality of light emitting diodes 38 arranged thereon. Thus, the first plurality of light emitting diodes 38 extend over a first portion 37 of the flexible electronic strip 35 and the second plurality of light emitting diodes 48 extend over a second portion 47 of the flexible electronic strip 35.

[0080] In order to make the first plurality of light emitting diodes 38 emit the first light F1 mainly along the vertical axis B and to make the second plurality of light emitting diodes 48 emit the second light F2 mainly along the transverse axis C, that is, along two different main emission directions, the flexible electronic strip 35 has a bending area 45 between the first part 37 and the second part 47 of the flexible electronic strip 35.

[0081] As a non-limiting example, the flexible electronic strip 35 is in this case bent according to three different angles and directions along three bending edges defining Figure 4 4 . The flexible electronic ribbon 35 is initially straight before being mounted on the lighting module 4, with the first light source 22 and the second light source 24 arranged on the same side of the flexible electronic ribbon 35. The flexible electronic ribbon 35 is first bent along a first edge 450, then along a second edge 451, and finally along a third edge 452. Due to this successive bending, the first light source 22, and more specifically the first plurality of light emitting diodes 38, emits first light F1 in a direction that is different from the emission direction of second light F2 emitted by the second light source 24, and more specifically the second plurality of light emitting diodes 48.

[0082] The first light unit 16 includes a reflector 50 onto which the light emitted by the second light source 24 is projected. The reflector 50 is configured to reflect the light emitted by the second light source 24 toward the front surface 14 of the diffusing surface 12 by the shape of its reflective surface or by its orientation.

[0083] Like all components of the first light unit 16, the reflector 50 extends longitudinally between the first support 10 and the second support 11. The reflector 50 comprises a support wall 52, via which it is rigidly fixed to the first transverse wall 30 of the light base 20, more precisely, to the front end edge 300 of the first transverse wall 30, according to an arbitrarily chosen frame of reference. The support wall 52 comprises, in particular, a first portion 54 extending along a transverse axis C, which forms, according to an arbitrarily chosen frame of reference, a forward extension of the first transverse wall 30, and a substantially perpendicular second portion 56 extending along a vertical axis B, which is therefore substantially parallel to the first vertical wall 26 of the light base 20. The reflector 50 also comprises a reflective surface 58, on which light is directed to the output of the second light source 24 so as to be reflected toward the front face 14 of the diffusing surface 12. This reflective surface 58 also extends along the longitudinal axis A between the first support 10 and the second support 11, and between the first portion 54 and the second portion 56 of the support wall 52.

[0084] It will be appreciated that the orientation of the reflective surface 58 affects the redirection of light emitted by the second plurality of light emitting diodes 48. Specifically, the selected orientation of the reflective surface 58 affects the angle of incidence of the light emitted by the second light source 24 and, therefore, the direction of the light after being reflected by the reflective surface 58. The position of the reflective surface 58 can be adjusted during assembly and remain fixed for the life of the vehicle, or at least until the next manual adjustment. Alternatively, an automatic or controlled adjustment system for adjusting the position of the reflective surface 58 can be provided, the adjustment system having an actuator that allows the reflective surface to pivot about an axis perpendicular to the emission direction of the light emitted by the second light source to allow adjustment of the orientation of the light incident on the diffusing surface after assembly.

[0085] After being reflected by the reflector 50, the redirected light rays thus illuminate the front side 14 of the diffusing surface 12. The front side 14 of the diffusing surface 12 is illuminated and reflects some of the light rays from the reflector 50 toward the passenger compartment 2. In this way, the second light source 24 at the source of these light rays produces what is described as indirect lighting, because it is the lighting of the front side 14 of the diffusing surface 12 that produces the lighting for the passenger compartment 2.

[0086] The light intensity of this indirect lighting of the passenger compartment 2 is lower than the light intensity of the backlighting produced by the first plurality of light emitting diodes 38 and the light directing sheet 40. Therefore, when a lower level of lighting is required, such as at night, indirect lighting may be selected.

[0087] Now, further embodiments will be described based on what has just been described, in which the lighting module 4 generates direct lighting or backlighting by means of the first light source 22 and generates indirect lighting by means of the second light source 24. Figures 5 to 12 In each of the embodiments that will be described, the diffusing surface 12 is divided into two parts by the presence of a strip forming a central island 60 through which the light is emitted from the second light source 24 .

[0088] The island 60 is formed between the first support 10 and the second support 11, approximately centered between the end regions 15, 17 along the vertical axis B. The island 60 may also be circular and not extend between the first support 10 and the second support 11. The island 60 defines an upper portion 59 and a lower portion 61 on the diffusing surface 12.

[0089] Especially in Figure 5 In the second embodiment shown in , according to an arbitrarily chosen reference frame, the first light source 22 and the second light source 24 are arranged on the same front-facing face of a flat electronic strip 62 extending mainly along a vertical axis B. It will be understood that the flat electronic strip 62 does not have a bending zone and therefore does not need to be flexible as previously described.

[0090] Furthermore, in this configuration, depending on the chosen reference frame, the first light source 22 and the second light source 24 emit light in the same direction, i.e. mainly in the transverse direction, along the transverse axis C, towards the front of the light module 4. The various light sources are arranged in a specific vertical arrangement on the flat electronic strip 62. The second light source 24 is positioned vertically opposite the island 60 and is flanked vertically by the first light source 22 and the third light source 23. Figure 5 In the example shown in FIG, each light source 22, 23, 24 is formed by two rows of light emitting diodes, which does not impose any limitation on the present invention.

[0091] First light source 22 emits light directly toward back surface 42 of diffusing surface 12 in upper portion 59. Diffusing surface 12 then transmits the light to passenger compartment 2 of vehicle 1, thereby providing backlighting for passenger compartment 2. Flat electronic strip 62 also includes third light source 23, which is located opposite back surface 42 of diffusing surface 12 in lower portion 61. Third light source 23 therefore emits light toward back surface 42 of lower portion 61 of diffusing surface 12. Here, too, in this lower portion 61, diffusing surface 12 transmits light to passenger compartment 2 of vehicle 1, thereby providing backlighting identical to that provided by first light source 22.

[0092] As described above, the second light source participates in generating indirect lighting by projecting light onto the front face 14 of the diffusing surface at the island 60. The light emitted by the second light source 24 is reflected in the island 60 by the reflector 50 along the vertical axis B, passes through the upper diffusing wall 66 formed in the island 60 in the direction of the upper portion 59, and passes through the lower diffusing wall 68 also formed in the island 60 in the direction of the lower portion 61.

[0093] To this end, reflector 50 has a first reflective surface 69 and a second reflective surface 71, on which light is reflected. More specifically, at least one row of LEDs of second light source 24 emits light toward first reflective surface 69, and this light is reflected toward upper diffusion wall 66, thereby illuminating front surface 14 of diffusion surface 12 in upper portion 59. Another row of LEDs of second light source 24 emits light toward second reflective surface 71, and this light is reflected toward lower diffusion wall 68, thereby illuminating front surface 14 of diffusion surface 12 in lower portion 61 of diffusion surface 12.

[0094] The light emitted by the second light source 24 is reflected by the reflector 50 and diffused by the diffusing walls 66 , 68 so as to illuminate the front side 14 of the diffusing surface 12 , thus generating indirect lighting for the passenger compartment 2 via the diffusing surface 12 .

[0095] exist Figure 6 In the third embodiment shown in , the lighting module 4 does not include a reflector, and the second light source 24 is configured to project its light directly onto the upper diffusion wall 66 and the lower diffusion wall 68 .

[0096] Therefore, second light source 24 is arranged so that the light emitted by second light source 24 is directed toward upper diffusing wall 66 and lower diffusing wall 68. To this end, lighting module 4 includes an upper flexible electronic strip 70 and a lower flexible electronic strip 72. The upper flexible electronic strip has a first row of LEDs 73 extending over one portion of the strip and first light source 22 extending over another portion of the strip. The lower flexible electronic strip has a second row of LEDs 75 extending over one portion of lower flexible electronic strip 72 and third light source 23 extending over another portion of lower flexible electronic strip 72. These rows of LEDs 73 and 75 form second light source 24. Upper flexible electronic strip 70 bends between the portion with first row of LEDs 73 and the portion with first light source 22. Therefore, light emitted by first light source 22 is projected toward back surface 42 of diffusing surface 12, particularly the back surface of diffusing surface in upper portion 59, while light emitted by first row of LEDs 73 is projected toward upper diffusing wall 66, thereby illuminating front surface 14 of diffusing surface 12 in upper portion 59. Similarly, the lower flexible electronic strip 72 is bent between the portion having the second row of light-emitting diodes 75 and the portion having the third light source 23. Thus, light emitted by the third light source 23 is projected toward the back surface 42 of the diffusing surface 12 in the lower portion 61, and light emitted by the second row of light-emitting diodes 75 is projected toward the lower diffusing wall 68, thereby illuminating the front surface 14 of the diffusing surface 12, in particular the front surface of the diffusing surface in the lower portion 61.

[0097] In this way, the first light source 22 and the third light source 23 participate in the backlighting or direct illumination of the lighting module 4 , and the first row of light-emitting diodes 73 and the second row of light-emitting diodes 75 produce indirect illumination of the lighting module 4 , thereby illuminating the diffusing walls 66 , 68 and the front side 14 of the diffusing surface 12 .

[0098] exist Figure 7 In the fourth embodiment shown in FIG, the lighting module 4 differs from the above in that the light sources are arranged on the same flat electronic strip 62, forming a printed circuit board, which is this time arranged substantially perpendicular to the diffusing surface 12. The first light source 22 and the second light source 24 are oriented so as to emit light mainly in a vertical direction along the vertical axis B.

[0099] The flat electronic strip 62 is arranged substantially in the center of the island 60 in the vertical dimension of the light-emitting module 4. According to an arbitrarily chosen frame of reference, the front portion of the flat electronic strip 62 extends laterally in front of the diffusing surface 12 within the island 60, and the rear portion of the flat electronic strip 62 extends laterally behind the diffusing surface 12. Furthermore, the flat electronic strip 62 has a lower face facing the lower portion 61 and an upper face facing the upper portion 59.

[0100] The first light source 22 is formed on the upper surface of the flat electronic strip 62, in its rear portion. The third light source 23 is formed on the lower surface of the flat electronic strip 62, in its rear portion. Thus, the first and third light sources 22, 23 primarily emit light along the vertical axis B, each emitting light in opposite directions. Like the light from the third light source 23, the light from the first light source 22 is emitted into the light guiding sheet 40. As described in the preferred embodiment, the light guiding sheet 40 thus projects light toward the back surface 42 of the diffusing surface 12, where it is then diffused into the passenger compartment 2 of the vehicle 1, thereby providing backlighting for the passenger compartment 2.

[0101] The second light source 24 is formed on the upper and lower sides of the flat electronic strip 62, in the front portion of the flat electronic strip. The second light source 24 emits light primarily along the vertical axis B in the island 60 toward the diffusing walls 66, 68. The diffusing walls 66, 68 then project the light onto the front side 14 of the diffusing surface 12, thereby emitting indirect lighting.

[0102] like Figure 7 As can be seen in FIG, the module further comprises a reflective wall 77 which, depending on the chosen frame of reference, is arranged at the rear of the trim element 12, in this case facing the guide sheet. Thus, the reflective wall also makes it possible to recover, on the opposite side of the passenger compartment trim element 12, the light emitted by the rear face of the guide sheet 40, in order to return it to this trim element, and to recover the small amount of light emitted by the second light source 24 that has passed through the trim element 12, in order to return it to this trim element.

[0103] According to the fifth embodiment and as Figure 8 As shown in FIG, a flat electronic strip 62 is positioned at the rear of an island 60 extending primarily along a vertical axis B. Thus, the flat electronic strip 62 has a rear face facing the light-guiding sheet 40 and a front face facing the interior of the island 60. A first light source 22 is located on the rear face of the flat electronic strip 62, emitting light into a reflective rear cavity 74. A second light source 24 is located on the front face of the flat electronic strip 62, emitting light into a reflective front cavity 76 formed in the island 60. According to an arbitrarily chosen frame of reference, the first and second light sources 22, 24 emit light along a transverse axis C, with the first light source 22 emitting light toward the rear of the light-emitting module 4 and the second light source 24 emitting light toward the front of the light-emitting module 4.

[0104] The first light source 22 emits light into the reflective rear cavity 74, which thus becomes a light cavity. Specifically, the inward-facing surface of the reflective rear cavity 74 reflects the light emitted by the first light source 22 into the interior of the reflective rear cavity 74. As a result, the reflective rear cavity 74 projects some of the light toward the light guiding sheet 40. As described above, the light guiding sheet 40 directs the light toward the back surface 42 of the diffusing surface 12, which in turn projects the light into the passenger compartment 2 of the vehicle 1, thereby providing backlighting for the passenger compartment 2.

[0105] Second light source 24 emits light into reflective front cavity 76, which thus becomes a light cavity. Similar to reflective rear cavity 74, the inward-facing surface of reflective front cavity 76 reflects light emitted by second light source 24 into the interior of reflective front cavity 76. Reflective front cavity 76 represents the interior of island 60, and thus projects some of the light toward diffusing walls 66, 68 of island 60, thereby spreading the light on front surface 14 of diffusing surface 12, resulting in indirect illumination of diffusing surface 12.

[0106] according to Figure 9 In the sixth embodiment shown as an example in FIG, the light guide sheet 40 and the diffusion wall can also be configured to be composed of lighting elements (not shown in any figure), and no light source is required to emit light. As described above, this type of light emission also produces indirect lighting and backlighting.

[0107] Alternatively, the lighting module 4 may have a backlighting member comprising a first light source 22, a reflective rear cavity 74 and a light guide sheet 40; and an indirect light source, such as the one according to the seventh embodiment. Figure 10 . Thus, the island 60 has a first indirect light source 80 that illuminates the front side 14 of the diffuse surface 12. Alternatively, the first support 10 and the second support 11 include a second indirect light source 82 that also illuminates the front side 14 of the diffuse surface 12. These indirect light sources 80, 82 generate indirect lighting for the passenger compartment 2 of the vehicle 1.

[0108] Alternatively, according to the eighth embodiment and as Figure 11 As shown in FIG, the first light source 22 emits light onto a reflector 84 placed in the reflective rear cavity 74. The light emitted by the first light source 22 is emitted primarily along the transverse axis C. Thus, the reflector 84 has two reflective surfaces that redirect the light emitted by the first light source 22 along the vertical axis B in two opposite directions, toward the light directing sheet 40, illuminating the upper portion 59 and the lower portion 61 of the diffusing surface 12. The light directing sheet 40 projects light toward the back of the diffusing surface 12, thereby creating backlighting for the passenger compartment 2 of the vehicle 1.

[0109] According to the ninth embodiment and as Figure 12 As shown in FIG, the lighting module 4 includes at least four light sources, each of which is arranged on an independent flexible electronic strip.

[0110] A first rear light source 86 is formed in the first support member 10, and a second rear light source 88 is formed in the second support member 11. The rear light sources 86, 88 illuminate the reflective rear cavity 74, which extends between the first support member 10 and the second support member 11 at the rear of the diffusing surface 12. The illumination of the reflective rear cavity 74 by light emitted by the rear light sources 86, 88 illuminates the back surface 42 of the diffusing surface 12, thereby producing backlighting for the passenger compartment 2 of the vehicle 1.

[0111] The island 60 of the lighting module 4 includes a first indirect light source 80 and a second indirect light source 82. The first indirect light source 80 emits light along a vertical axis B directly onto the upper diffusing wall 66 of the island 60. The second indirect light source 82 also emits light along the vertical axis B, but in a direction opposite to the light emitted directly onto the lower diffusing wall 68 by the first indirect light source 80. The first indirect light source 80 is isolated within a first insulating box 94, and the second indirect light source 82 is isolated within a second insulating box 96. The diffusing walls 66, 68 of the island 60 project these lights toward the front surface 14 of the diffusing surface 12, thereby providing indirect illumination for the passenger compartment 2 of the vehicle 1.

[0112] The lighting module 4 thus makes it possible to provide, alternatively or simultaneously, indirect lighting and backlighting for the passenger compartment 2 of the vehicle 1. According to the invention, the lighting module 4 can adapt the light level inside the passenger compartment 2 to the light level outside the vehicle 1 and / or to the wishes of the driver and / or one or more passengers of the vehicle 1.

Claims

1. A lighting module (4) for lighting a passenger compartment of a vehicle (1), the lighting module (4) comprising at least one light source (22, 23, 24) and a decorative element for the passenger compartment, the at least one light source being configured to emit light, the decorative element being arranged in a path of light emitted by the at least one light source (22, 23, 24), characterized in that: The light emitting module (4) comprises at least one first light source (22, 23) and at least one second light source (24), wherein the at least one first light source is configured to emit light onto a first surface (42) of the decorative element (12), and the at least one second light source is configured to emit light onto a second surface (14) of the decorative element (12) opposite to the first surface (42); The first light source (22, 23) and the second light source (24) are arranged on a flexible electronic strip (35); The flexible electronic strip (35) has a bending region (45) between the first light source (22, 23) and the second light source (24).

2. The lighting module (4) according to claim 1, wherein The at least one first light source (22, 23) and the at least one second light source (24) are each composed of a series of light emitting diodes.

3. The lighting module (4) according to claim 1, wherein: The second surface (14) of the decorative element (12) is configured to allow reflection of light, and the light emitted by the second light source (24) is reflected by the second surface (14).

4. The lighting module (4) according to claim 3, wherein: The decorative element (12) is configured to allow light to pass through the decorative element (12), and the first light source emits light through the decorative element (12) to generate backlighting.

5. The lighting module (4) according to claim 4, wherein: The first light source (22), the second light source (24) and the decorative element (12) are configured such that emitted light propagates from the second surface (14) of the decorative element (12) toward the outside of the light emitting module (4).

6. The lighting module (4) according to claim 1, wherein: The lighting module (4) comprises a light guiding sheet (40) interposed between the first light source (22, 23) and the first face (42) of the decorative element (12).

7. The lighting module (4) according to claim 1, wherein: The lighting module (4) comprises at least one reflector (50, 84) interposed between one of the light sources (22, 23, 24) and one of the faces (14, 42) of the decorative element (12).

8. The lighting module (4) according to claim 1, wherein: The lighting module (4) comprises a first end region (15) and a second end region (17) on both sides of the decorative element (12), characterized in that the flexible electronic strip (35) is arranged in at least one of the first end region (15) and the second end region (17) of the lighting module (4).

9. The light emitting module (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein: The first light source (22, 23) and the second light source (24) are arranged to emit light in different main emission directions.

10. The lighting module (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein: The lighting module (4) comprises a control module configured to control power supply to the first light source (22, 23) and power supply to the second light source (24).

11. The lighting module (4) according to claim 10, wherein: The control module is configured to adapt power supply to the first light source (22, 23) and / or the second light source (24).

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