Vehicle optical unit with single-piece support part with integrated illumination function

Abstract

The invention relates to an optical unit (BO) equipped on a vehicle, comprising a housing (BB) which houses at least two light sources (S1-S2) participating in different lighting functions, and, downstream from these light sources (S1-S2), a single-piece support part (PS) comprising a main portion (PP) made of an opaque material by molding, said main portion comprising at least two openings (O1-O2) near which are integrally connected auxiliary portions (PA1-PA2) participating in the lighting functions and made of at least one non-opaque material allowing the passage of the photons generated by the light sources (S1-S2) by overmolding.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention claims priority to French application 2013798, filed on December 21, 2020, the contents of which (text, drawings, and claims) are incorporated herein by reference. The present invention relates to a vehicle optical unit that ensures at least two illumination functions. Background Technology

[0002] Some (optionally, motor-type) vehicles include at least one optical unit comprising a housing that houses parts and equipment, some of which participate in lighting or signaling functions (e.g., parking light function, reversing light function, fog light function, turn signal indicator (or hazard lights) function, high beam function, low beam function, parking lights (or side marker lights) function, or daytime running lights (or DRLs (i.e., daytime running lights (or lamps)), i.e., luminous signals that automatically illuminate when the vehicle is in daytime operation) function). This type of optical unit is described, for example, in patent document FR3008167B1.

[0003] The aforementioned parts or equipment associated with the adjective "optics" in the following text may be, for example, light sources (e.g., electroluminescent diodes (or LEDs), shields, reflectors, collimators, lenses, mirrors, or (optionally, planar) light guides).

[0004] The smaller the size of the optical unit, the smaller the usable volume within its housing, making the integration of optical components or equipment more difficult and / or complex. In fact, this integration requires mechanical joints (for static settling and / or pre-holding and / or fastening by screws or clips), which may necessitate at least some increase in the size of the housing and / or cause style constraints and / or increased weight and / or increased assembly time and / or increased cost and / or increased risk of interference noise and / or vibration (especially due to assembly gaps) and / or increased risk of light leakage (especially due to assembly gaps and holes defined for fastening or snapping components). Summary of the Invention

[0005] The object of the present invention is therefore particularly to overcome all or part of the above-mentioned defects.

[0006] Therefore, the present invention provides an optical unit for mounting on a vehicle and including a housing that houses at least two light sources, each of which participates in a different illumination function.

[0007] The optical unit is characterized in that its housing accommodates a one-piece support component downstream of the light source. The one-piece support component includes a main part made of an opaque material by molding, the main part including at least two openings, and auxiliary parts integrally connected to each of the at least two openings. The auxiliary parts participate in the illumination function and are made of at least one non-opaque material by surmoulage, the at least one non-opaque material allowing the passage of photons generated by the light source.

[0008] Because the support component is a single piece and ensures a portion of every lighting function in which the light source participates, the number of mechanical joints of the optical unit is significantly reduced. This allows for reduced mass, assembly time, cost, risk of interference noise and / or vibration, risk of light leakage, and style constraints, as well as optional size reduction of the housing.

[0009] The optical unit according to the invention may include other features that can be used individually or in combination, in particular:

[0010] - At least one opening can be completely covered by at least a portion of the auxiliary part;

[0011] - When the above optional configuration is present, the auxiliary part involved can constitute a light guide or an optical collimating element. The light guide can guide photons generated by the associated light source and that have passed through the associated opening to the output area included by the light guide. The optical collimating element can collimate the photons generated by the associated light source toward the reflector housed in the housing.

[0012] - The main part of the support component may include a front surface opposite to the light source, on which at least one auxiliary part is integrally connected near an associated opening partially obscured by a reflector, the reflector reflecting photons generated by the associated light source toward the auxiliary part;

[0013] - The auxiliary portion of the support component may be made by overmolding from a material selected from a group including polycarbonate (or PC) and polymethyl methacrylate (or PMMA);

[0014] - The main part of the support component may be made by molding from a collection of materials including polycarbonate (or PC), polymethyl methacrylate (or PMMA), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (or ABS) and mixtures of polycarbonate and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (or ABSPC);

[0015] - The housing of the optical unit can accommodate an electronic board, which includes a front surface on one side and is connected to the support member on the other side. The front surface is oriented toward the rear surface of the main part, and the light source is mounted on the front surface.

[0016] - The main part of the supporting component may include a rear face, the light source being oriented toward the rear face, and at least one rear protrusion erected from the rear face, the at least one rear protrusion defining a partition wall between the lighting functions.

[0017] The present invention also provides a vehicle of an optional mobility type, the vehicle including at least one optical unit of the type described above. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Other features and advantages of the invention will become clearer from the following detailed description and accompanying drawings (obtained via CAD / CAD, in which some grayscale is present):

[0019] - Figure 1 A first sectional view, taken along a longitudinal vertical plane, schematically illustrates a portion of an embodiment of the optical unit according to the invention.

[0020] - Figure 2 A second sectional view, taken along another longitudinal vertical plane, schematically shows... Figure 1 Another part of the optical unit,

[0021] - Figure 3 The previous perspective view schematically showed Figure 1 and Figure 2 An embodiment of the support components for the optical unit.

[0022] - Figure 4 A sectional view taken along another longitudinal vertical plane schematically shows Figure 1 and Figure 2 The first part of the lower front section of the optical unit, and

[0023] - Figure 5 A sectional view taken along another longitudinal vertical plane schematically shows Figure 1 and Figure 2 The second part of the lower front section of the optical unit. Detailed Implementation

[0024] The present invention is particularly intended to provide an optical unit BO for mounting on a vehicle so as to ensure at least two illumination functions by means of a single-piece support component PS.

[0025] In the following text, by way of non-limiting example, the optical unit BO is considered to be part of a motorized vehicle. However, the invention is not limited to this type of vehicle. The invention actually relates to any vehicle (particularly (but not exclusively), land vehicles) that includes at least one optical unit at its front.

[0026] Furthermore, in the following text, by way of non-limiting example, the optical unit BO is considered to be a taillight. However, the present invention is not limited to this type of optical unit. The present invention also relates to optical units BO constituting a vehicle's front light or headlight (or headlamp).

[0027] Note that the optical unit BO can be installed in the right, left, or center front or rear sub-section of the vehicle. Therefore, the form of the housing BB of the optical unit BO can vary depending on its installation location within the vehicle. Similarly, the positions of the components constituting the optical unit BO can vary depending on the installation location of these optical units BO.

[0028] exist Figure 1 and Figure 2 The above schematically illustrates two regions (along the width direction) that are far apart according to an embodiment of the optical unit BO according to the present invention.

[0029] As shown in the figure, the optical unit BO according to the invention includes a housing BB, the housing including walls that help to define the internal space together with the (front) glass element G, allowing photons participating in different illumination functions (at least two in number) to be output from the (front) glass element. These walls may, for example, be components of two half-shells integrally connected to each other.

[0030] The housing BB (and therefore the internal space) accommodates at least two light sources Sj and a one-piece support component PS, the at least two light sources respectively participating in different lighting functions, and the one-piece support component is downstream of these light sources Sj.

[0031] The (single-piece) support component PS comprises a main part PP made of opaque material by molding, the main part including at least two openings Oj, and auxiliary parts PAj integrally connected to each of the at least two openings. These auxiliary parts (PAj) respectively participate in the illumination function and are made of at least one non-opaque material by overmolding, the at least one non-opaque material allowing the passage of photons generated by the light source Sj.

[0032] In other words, the process begins with molding (or injection molding) a main portion PP (with an opening Oj) of a support component PS made of an opaque material that is opaque to photons. Then, each auxiliary portion PAj is manufactured on the main portion PP near the opening Oj by overmolding (or injection molding) using at least one non-opaque material that is not opaque to photons. This results in a one-piece support component PS that ensures a portion of each illumination function participated in by the light source Sj.

[0033] This significantly reduces the number of mechanical joints (which are used for static and / or pre-holding and / or fastening by screws or clips), and thus allows for reduced mass, reduced assembly time, reduced cost, reduced risk of interference noise and / or vibration, reduced risk of light leakage, reduced style constraints, and optional reduction in the size of the housing BB.

[0034] Here, the phrase "near" means around and / or beside.

[0035] For example, the main component PP can be molded from a selection of materials including polycarbonate (or PC), polymethyl methacrylate (or PMMA), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (or ABS), and mixtures of polycarbonate and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (or ABS PC).

[0036] For example, the auxiliary part PAj can be made by overmolding from a selection of materials including polycarbonate (or PC) and polymethyl methacrylate (or PMMA).

[0037] For example, each light source Sj may include at least one electroluminescent diode (or LED), or at least one diode laser, or a gas laser, or at least one light bulb (optionally, a xenon bulb). The choice of the type of light source Sj may depend on the lighting function involved.

[0038] exist Figures 1 to 3 In the illustrated embodiment, the support component PS ensures a portion of each of the three lighting functions in which the three light sources S1 to S3 (j = 1 to 3) participate. However, the number of lighting functions in which the support component PS participates (or contributes) can be any value greater than or equal to two.

[0039] For example, when the optical unit BO is a rear light, the lighting functions involved (or contributed) by the supporting part PS and, more precisely, its auxiliary part PAj can be selected from: parking light function, reversing light function, fog light function, and turn signal indicator (or hazard lights) function. However, when the optical unit BO is a front light, the lighting functions involved (or contributed) by the supporting part PS and, more precisely, its auxiliary part PAj can be selected from: parking lights (or side marker lights), daytime running lights (or DRLs), and turn signal indicator function, as well as optionally high beam function, low beam function, and fog light function.

[0040] Note that at least one opening Oj can be completely blocked by at least a portion of the auxiliary portion PAj. This is especially true when the first auxiliary portion PA1 completely blocks the first opening O1 and participates in the first illumination function like the first light source S1, as... Figures 1 to 3 As shown above, the first auxiliary part PA1 is integrally connected to the main part PP by overmolding around its first opening O1.

[0041] This also applies when the second auxiliary part PA2 completely blocks the second opening O2 and participates in the second lighting function like the second light source S2, such as Figures 1 to 3 As shown above. The second auxiliary part PA2 is here integrally and fixedly connected to the main part PP by overmolding around its second opening O2 and onto a portion of its front surface FV (which is opposite to the second light source S2) extending in the direction of the glass-like part G.

[0042] In the case of full shielding, the auxiliary part PAj may, for example, constitute a (optionally planar) light guide or optical collimator, which is capable of guiding photons generated by the associated light source Sj and which have passed through the associated opening Oj to the output region Z2 included in the light guide, and the optical collimator is capable of collimating the photons generated by the associated light source Sj in the direction of the reflector R1 located downstream of the support part PS in the housing BB.

[0043] Therefore, in Figures 1 to 3 In the non-limiting example shown above, the first auxiliary portion PA1 constitutes an optical collimating element that collimates photons from the first light source S1 toward the reflector R1, which is positioned downstream and responsible for reflecting photons (here via screen EB) toward the glass element G. Figure 1 and Figure 3 In the example shown above (non-limiting), the second auxiliary portion PA2 constitutes a light guide, which includes an input region Z1 through which photons from the second light source S2 pass. The light guide is responsible for guiding these photons to the output region Z2 of the light guide, which faces the glass member G.

[0044] Note that, Figure 3 In the non-limiting example shown above, the optical collimating element PA1 includes six collimators CM, which are arranged to face six sub-light sources of the first light source S1, each sub-light source including, for example, at least one (possibly, multiple) electroluminescent diodes. The number of collimators CM and the number of sub-light sources can be any value greater than or equal to 1.

[0045] The first auxiliary part PA1 ensures another optical function (e.g., light guiding function). Similarly, the second auxiliary part PA2 ensures another optical function (e.g., focusing (or concentrating) function or dispersion function).

[0046] It is also noted that the main portion PP may include a front surface opposite to the light source Sj, on which at least one auxiliary portion PAj is integrally connected near an associated opening Oj partially obscured by reflector R3. This reflector is responsible for reflecting photons generated by the associated light source Sj toward the auxiliary portion PAj. This is the case when the third auxiliary portion PA3 participates in the third illumination function as well as the third light source S3, and the reflector R3 partially obscures the third opening O3. Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown above. The third auxiliary part PA3 is here integrally and fixedly connected to the main part PP by overmolding around its third opening O3 and onto a portion of its front surface FV opposite to the light source.

[0047] exist Figure 2 and Figure 3 In the non-limiting example shown above, the third auxiliary portion PA3 constitutes a light guide, which includes an input region Z3 through which photons from the third light source S3 and reflected by the reflector R3 pass. The light guide is responsible for guiding these photons to the output region Z4 of the light guide facing the glass element G. However, the third auxiliary portion PA3 can also ensure another optical function, such as a focusing (or concentrating) function or a dispersion function.

[0048] It was also noted that, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown non-limitingly, the housing BB can accommodate an electronic board CE, which includes a front face oriented toward the rear face of the main portion PP (which faces the light source Sj), and the light source Sj is mounted on the front face. In this case, the electronic board CE is preferably connected to a support member PS (to reduce focusing dispersion of the light source, especially relative to different optics, particularly when the light source involves an LED). The electronic board CE can be, for example, a printed circuit board of the PCB type.

[0049] It was also noted that, such as Figures 1 to 3 As shown in the above non-limiting illustration, at least one rear protrusion PR may be erected from the rear face of the main portion PP (oriented toward the light source Sj). In this case, each rear protrusion PR defines a partition wall between the lighting functions. Here, in particular, there is a partition wall PR that separates (and separates) the second light source S2 and the third light source S3, which respectively participate in the second lighting function and the third lighting function. It is also possible to design a partition wall PR that separates (and separates) the first light source S1 and the second light source S2 participating in the first lighting function and the second lighting function, and / or a partition wall PR that separates (and separates) the first light source S1 and the third light source S3 participating in the first lighting function and the third lighting function.

[0050] It is understood that each rear protrusion PR is advantageously able to prevent photon leakage from one illumination function to at least one other illumination function upstream of the rear face of the main part PP.

[0051] Preferably, the support component PS is integrally and securely connected to the inner surface of the housing BB by means of a snap or screw.

[0052] For example, the electronic board CE can be fixed to the support component PS, which constitutes the first assembly. The first assembly is then fixed to the reflector R1, thereby forming the second assembly, which can be fixed inside the housing BB. Next, optional shielding elements and one or more screens can be fixed to the second assembly.

[0053] The type of fixing components (clips, screws, etc.) depends on the environment (industrialization, congestion, technical feasibility, mechanical constraints, etc.).

[0054] To further reduce light leakage within the housing BB, specific configurations defining light traps may be used in the connection (or linkage) areas between some components. This is especially true in the case of the lower front part of the optical unit BO, such as... Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown in the non-limiting diagram above. Here, the first lower front edge E1 of the screen EB is folded rearward (opposite to the glass member G), and the second lower front edge E2 of the reflector R1 (involved in the first illumination function) is positioned above the first lower front edge E1 (substantially parallel over the entire width) to prevent photons of the first illumination function from passing through the glass member G located downstream in the lower front portion of the optical unit BO.

[0055] Note that, such as Figure 4As shown in the above non-limiting illustration, the reflector R1 may include at least one protrusion SP1, which is integrally and fixedly connected to the second lower front edge E2 of the reflector and protrudes rearward (opposite to the glass member G), and serves to be received in a corresponding receiving portion L during assembly, and partially defines the third lower front edge E3 of the reflector (which is integrally connected to the lower edge E4 of the glass member G) in the lower front portion of the housing BB upstream. This allows the lower front portion of the reflector R1 to be held vertically relative to the lower front portion of the housing BB.

[0056] In addition, such as Figure 5 As shown in the above non-limiting illustration, the second lower front edge E2 of the reflector R1 may include at least one hole TC for receiving a corresponding protrusion SP2 of the first lower front edge E1 of the receiving screen EB. Each protrusion SP2 thereby defines a snap-fit ​​component that enables the lower front portion of the reflector R1 to snap onto the lower front portion of the housing BB, so that the reflector R1 remains stationary in two directions perpendicular to the vertical in space.

Claims

1. An optical unit (BO), the optical unit being mounted on a vehicle and comprising a housing (BB), the housing accommodating at least two light sources (Sj), the at least two light sources respectively participating in different illumination functions, characterized in that, The housing (BB) accommodates a one-piece support component (PS) downstream of the light source (Sj). The one-piece support component includes a main portion (PP) molded from an opaque material, the main portion including at least two openings (Oj). Auxiliary portions (PAj) are integrally connected to each of the at least two openings, each auxiliary portion participating in the illumination function and made of at least one non-opaque material through overmolding. This at least one non-opaque material allows the passage of photons generated by the light source (Sj). Furthermore, the main part (PP) includes a front surface opposite to the light source (Sj), on which at least one auxiliary part (PA3) is integrally connected near an associated opening (O3) partially obscured by a reflector (R3), the reflector reflecting photons generated by the associated light source (S3) toward the auxiliary part (PA3).

2. The optical unit according to claim 1, characterized in that, At least one opening (Oj) is completely covered by at least a portion of the auxiliary part (PAj).

3. The optical unit according to claim 2, characterized in that, The auxiliary portion (PAj) constitutes a light guide or optical collimation element, which guides photons generated by the associated light source (Sj) and which have passed through the associated opening (Oj) to the output area included by the light guide, and the optical collimation element is capable of collimating the photons generated by the associated light source (Sj) toward the reflector (R1) housed in the housing (BB).

4. The optical unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The auxiliary part (PAj) is made by overmolding from a group of materials including polycarbonate and polymethyl methacrylate.

5. The optical unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The main component (PP) is made by molding from a group of materials selected from polycarbonate, polymethyl methacrylate, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, and mixtures of polycarbonate and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene.

6. The optical unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The housing (BB) houses the electronic board (CE), which includes a front face on one side and is connected to the single-piece support component (PS) on the other side. The front face is oriented toward the rear face of the main part (PP), and the light source (Sj) is mounted on the front face.

7. The optical unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The main part (PP) includes a rear face, the light source (Sj) is oriented toward the rear face, and at least one rear protrusion (PR) is erected from the rear face, the at least one rear protrusion defining a partition wall between the lighting functions.

8. A vehicle, characterized in that, The vehicle includes at least one optical unit (BO) according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. The vehicle according to claim 8, characterized in that, The vehicle in question is motorized.

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