Motor vehicle lighting device for illuminating a roadway

Abstract

The invention relates to a motor vehicle lighting device (30) for illuminating a roadway, comprising at least one light module (30.1, 30.2), each light module comprising a light source (30.10, 30.20) and a light collector (30.11, 30.21) comprising a reflective surface configured to collect and reflect a light beam; a lens (31) associated with the at least one light module (30.1, 30.2), the lens being configured to project the light beam reflected by the light collector (30.11, 30.21) of the at least one light module (30.1, 30.2) to form an image of the reflective surface of the light collector (30.11, 30.21) of the at least one light module (30.1, 30.2) on the roadway; the lens (31) extending along a horizontal direction that is significantly tilted with respect to the light module (30.1, 30.2); the lens (31) having a horizontal focal point (31.2) and a vertical focal point (31.1), the horizontal focal point (31.2) being offset with respect to the vertical focal point (31.1).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The subject of this invention is a lighting device for motor vehicles.

[0002] This invention relates to the field of lighting devices for motor vehicles, and more particularly to lighting devices including tilting lenses. Background Technology

[0003] In the field of motor vehicle lighting, a commonly known practice is to use an illumination device comprising at least one light module, which includes a light source, a light collector with a reflective surface, and a lens-type optical projection system. A common lens images the reflective surface of the light collector to form a light beam with an upper cutoff line. The lens type used is convex in the vertical plane and neutral in the horizontal plane, meaning that in the vertical plane, the lens has a focal line whose curvature follows the arc of the lens. This focal line is typically positioned at the rear edge of the light collector such that the upper cutoff line of the light beam formed by the image of the light beam obtained from the reflective surface of the light collector through the lens is generated by this rear edge.

[0004] However, this type of lighting fixture has drawbacks when the lens is positioned at an angle relative to the optical module (which may be the case in lighting fixtures where a particular aesthetic appearance is desired). Specifically, when the lighting fixture includes multiple optical modules, some modules are closer to the common lens than others. In other words, the focal line is necessarily offset from the rear edge of the condenser of some modules. Therefore, for these modules, the image obtained by the common lens from the reflective surface of their condensers is not sharp, which makes the cut-off line of the light beam from the rear edge of this condenser blurred. This is because the farther the condenser is from the focal line, the more blurred the cut-off line of the light beam reflected by said condenser becomes, especially in the direction opposite to the tilt of the common lens relative to the optical module. Furthermore, it is impossible to overcome this drawback by repositioning the condensers to position their rear edges on the focal line, since there is usually very little space behind the lighting fixture.

[0005] Similarly, in the case of a single optical module, the angular position of the lens shifts the portion of the focal line away from the rear edge of the condenser (referred to as the distal portion). Therefore, a portion of the cutoff line between light and dark formed from this distal portion of the rear edge appears blurred, which is detrimental to the quality of the beam.

[0006] One object of the present invention is to provide an illumination device that can maintain the clarity of the cutoff line formed in a light beam (the light beam is generated by an image obtained by a lens through the reflective surface of the light collector of at least one optical module), including when the lens has a significant tilt relative to the optical module. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The subject of this invention is a motor vehicle lighting device for illuminating roads, the motor vehicle lighting device comprising at least one optical module, the optical module or each optical module comprising a light source capable of emitting a light beam, and a light collector comprising a reflective surface configured to collect and reflect the light beam emitted by the light source; a lens associated with the optical module or each optical module, the lens being configured to project the light beam reflected by the light collector of the optical module or each optical module, the lens being configured to form an image of the reflective surface of the light collector of the optical module or each optical module on the road; the lens extending in a substantially horizontal direction, the substantially horizontal direction being significantly inclined relative to the optical module(s).

[0008] Notably, the lens of this device has a horizontal focal point and a vertical focal point, with the horizontal focal point offset relative to the vertical focal point. In the remainder of the specification, the focal point (whether horizontal or vertical) will refer to the object-side focal point of the lens.

[0009] Advantageously, a motor vehicle lighting device for road illumination includes a plurality of light modules arranged adjacent to each other in a horizontal direction. Each light module includes a light source capable of emitting a light beam and a light collector including a reflective surface configured to collect and reflect the light beam emitted by the light source. A lens, shared by the plurality of light modules, is configured to project the light beam reflected by the light collector of each light module, and the shared lens is configured to form an image of the reflective surface of the light collector of each light module on the road. The shared lens extends along a substantially horizontal direction significantly inclined relative to the light modules. In other words, the light modules are arranged adjacent to each other on the same line and in a substantially horizontal direction. The term "substantially horizontal" means a direction parallel to the horizontal direction by ±10 degrees. Preferably, each light source is arranged opposite a corresponding light collector such that the reflective surface of the light collector collects and reflects the light beam emitted by the corresponding light source.

[0010] With this invention, an optical function can be performed in which the cutoff line between light and dark formed by the images of the light collector or the reflective surface of each light collector is clear. Therefore, lenses with a significant tilt relative to the optical module can be used, making it possible to adapt to the aesthetics of motor vehicles including lighting devices.

[0011] Specifically, the lens includes a first lateral end and a second lateral end opposite to the first lateral end in a substantially horizontal direction, and in the optical axis direction of the illumination device, the first lateral end is closer to one or more light collectors of one or more optical modules than the second lateral end.

[0012] Specifically, the first lateral end is intended to be located on the outside of the vehicle on which the lighting device is intended to be installed, while the second lateral end is intended to be located on the inside of the vehicle on which the lighting device is intended to be installed.

[0013] Advantageously, the optical module or the light collector of each optical module has a rear edge, and the vertical focal point of the lens is located near the rear edge of one or more light collectors, such that the image of the light collector formed by the shared lens has an upper light-dark cutoff line formed by the rear edge of the light collector.

[0014] The focal point located near the rear edge of the light collector specifically refers to the focal point located at a distance of less than 10 mm from the rear edge.

[0015] Advantageously, the lighting device includes multiple optical modules. The multiple optical modules include two optical modules referred to as end optical modules, each located at one end of the multiple optical modules in the substantially horizontal direction, the distance between the rear edges of the light collectors of the end optical modules being less than a predetermined threshold. The predetermined threshold specifically refers to a distance of less than 50 mm. In fact, it is advantageous that the optical modules are close enough to each other to ensure that the image formed by the shared lens on the reflective surface of each light collector is sharp, including for optical modules whose rear edges are far from the vertical focal point.

[0016] In one embodiment, the device includes at least one optical module, particularly a single optical module, extending between the end optical modules. In another embodiment, the plurality of optical modules are formed by two end optical modules.

[0017] In a variant embodiment of the invention, the device includes a single optical module.

[0018] In one embodiment, the lighting device described herein may be an integrated lighting module that includes at least one light module and is intended to be installed in a motor vehicle headlight.

[0019] Advantageously, the horizontal focal point of the lens is located upstream of the lens. In this example, the horizontal focal point of the lens is therefore located upstream of the lens relative to the light beam reflected by the condenser or the reflective surface of each condenser, or the light path of each light beam in the direction toward the lens.

[0020] Advantageously, the lens has a biconvex profile in the horizontal section. Where appropriate, the lens also has a biconvex profile in the vertical section.

[0021] In a particular embodiment of the invention, the horizontal focal point of the common lens is located behind one or more light collectors. The location behind the one or more light collectors is defined relative to the overall projection direction of the one or more light beams. The overall projection direction corresponds to the optical path direction of the one or more light beams.

[0022] Advantageously, the common lens is configured to project the beam reflected by the condenser or each condenser or each beam in the overall projection direction, and the horizontal focal point of the lens is aligned with the vertical focal point in this overall projection direction. The alignment of the vertical focal point with the horizontal focal point, and in particular with the optical axis of the device, ensures that the beam spreads horizontally below the cutoff line of the beam while maintaining a clear cutoff line.

[0023] Advantageously, the horizontal focal point of the lens is located behind one or more condensers and the vertical focal point. The location behind the one or more condensers and the vertical focal point is defined relative to the overall projection direction of the one or more beams. Based on this feature, the projected beam can be horizontally diffused, thus obtaining a sharp cutoff line between light and dark, even in directions opposite to the lens's tilt, and even when the lens is significantly tilted.

[0024] In another embodiment of the invention, the horizontal focal point of the lens is located downstream of the lens. Downstream of the lens is defined relative to the optical path of one or more beams traveling between the light collector or each light collector and the lens.

[0025] Advantageously, the lens has a biconcave profile in the horizontal section. Where appropriate, the lens has a biconvex profile in the vertical section.

[0026] Advantageously, the lens forms a beam of legally defined low beam type from the overall beam projected from one or more beams reflected by the light collector of the optical module or each optical module. Attached Figure Description

[0027] Other advantages and features of the invention will now be described using examples that are purely illustrative and in no way limit the scope of the invention, and based on the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0028] [ Figure 1 A schematic and partial top view of a lighting device according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0029] [ Figure 2 A schematic and partial top view of a lighting device according to another embodiment of the invention is shown;

[0030] [ Figure 3 A cross-sectional view of a lighting device according to an embodiment of the present invention is schematically and partially depicted.

[0031] [ Figure 4 A cross-sectional view of a lighting device according to another embodiment of the invention is schematically and partially depicted.

[0032] In the following description, unless otherwise stated, elements that are identical in structure or function and appear in multiple different figures retain the same reference numerals. Detailed Implementation

[0033] [ Figure 1 A motor vehicle lighting device 30 according to an embodiment of the present invention is depicted. This will be illustrated in conjunction with a cross-sectional view showing the embodiment. Figure 3 To describe this lighting device 30.

[0034] The lighting device 30 includes, for example, two light modules 30.1 and 30.2 and an optical projection lens 31 located on its front surface. The lens 31 is formed as a single component shared by the multiple light modules 30.1 and 30.2, thereby allowing light beams emitted by multiple light sources 30.10 and 30.20 to be projected onto the road. The lens 31 is also referred to as the shared lens 31.

[0035] exist[ Figure 1 In this configuration, optical modules 30.1 and 30.2 are arranged adjacent to each other on the same line and in a substantially horizontal direction, forming a row of optical modules. Each of these optical modules 30.1 and 30.2 includes at least one light source 30.10, 30.20 and a light collector 30.11, 30.21, which includes a reflective surface configured to collect and reflect light emitted by the at least one light source 30.10, 30.20.

[0036] Note that lens 31 extends in a substantially horizontal direction that is significantly inclined relative to optical modules 30.1 and 30.2, and especially relative to the lines on which these optical modules are arranged. Therefore, it can be seen that optical module 30.1 is closer to lens 31 than module 30.2.

[0037] Specifically, the lens 31 includes a first lateral end 31a and a second lateral end 31b opposite to the first lateral end 31a in a substantially horizontal direction, and in the optical axis direction of the illumination device 30, the first lateral end 31a is closer to the light collectors 30.11 and 30.21 of the optical modules 30.1 and 30.2 than the second lateral end 31b.

[0038] Each light collector 30.11, 30.21 is positioned such that it collects the light beam emitted by the light sources 30.10, 30.20 and reflects the light beam toward the lens 31. The light collectors 30.11, 30.21 of each optical module 30.1, 30.2 have a rear edge, such that the image formed by the common lens 31 of each light collector 30.11, 30.21 has a cutoff line formed by the rear edge of each light collector 30.11, 30.21, in this case an upper cutoff line. The common lens 31 is configured to project the light beam emitted by each light source 30.10, 30.20 and reflected by the light collectors 30.11, 30.21 along the overall projection direction.

[0039] In this embodiment, lens 31 has a biconvex profile in both the horizontal and vertical sections. Lens 31 has a vertical focal point 31.1 and a horizontal focal point 31.2. The vertical focal point 31.1 of the common lens 31 is located near the rear edge of the light collector 30.11, and specifically at a distance of less than 10 mm from the rear edge of this light collector 30.11. The horizontal focal point 31.2 of the common lens 31 is located behind the light collectors 30.11 and 30.21, and specifically behind the vertical focal point 31.1. The horizontal focal point 31.2 is aligned with the vertical focal point 31.1 and with the optical axis of the device 30. Due to this arrangement, the upper cutoff line of the image formed by lens 31 on the reflective surface of the light collector 30.11 is sharp.

[0040] Furthermore, two optical modules 30.1 and 30.2 are arranged in the illumination device 30 in a substantially horizontal direction such that the distance between their rear edges is less than a predetermined threshold (e.g., 50 mm). All the rear edges of the light collectors 30.11 and 30.21 together define the light and dark cutoff line of the light beam formed by the device 30, and the lens 31 horizontally diffuses each light beam from these light collectors, so that these light beams together uniformly form the light beam.

[0041] [ Figure 2 [A motor vehicle lighting device 30 according to another embodiment of the present invention is depicted. This will be illustrated in conjunction with a cross-sectional view showing the other embodiment.] Figure 4 To describe this lighting device 30.

[0042] exist[ Figure 2 In this embodiment, the lighting device 30, the light source 30.1, 30.2, and the light collectors 30.11, 30.21 have the same features and the same arrangement as in the previous embodiment.

[0043] In this embodiment, lens 31 has a biconcave profile in a horizontal section and a biconvex profile in a vertical section. Lens 31 has a vertical focal point 31.1 and a horizontal focal point 31.2. The vertical focal point 31.1 of the common lens 31 is located near the rear edge of one of the light collectors 30.1 and 30.2.

[0044] Due to the horizontal biconcave shape of the common lens 31, the horizontal focal point 31.2 is located downstream of the common lens 31 relative to the path of the light beam traveling between the light collectors 30.11, 30.21 and the common lens 31. The horizontal focal point 31.2 is aligned with the vertical focal point 31.1.

[0045] The foregoing description clearly explains how the present invention can achieve its objective of providing an illumination device that maintains the sharpness of the cutoff line formed in a light beam (generated by an image obtained by a lens through the reflective surface of a light collector of at least one optical module), including when the lens has a significant tilt relative to the optical module. To this end, the present invention provides a motor vehicle illumination device comprising a shared lens having a horizontal focal point and a vertical focal point offset relative to each other.

[0046] In no event should the invention be considered limited to the embodiments specifically described herein, but should be extended in particular to any equivalent means and any technically feasible combination of such means.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle lighting device (30) for illuminating roads, comprising: a. At least one optical module (30.1, 30.2), said optical module or each optical module (30.1, 30.2) including a light source (30.10, 30.20) capable of emitting a light beam, and a light collector (30.11, 30.21), said light collector including a reflective surface configured to collect and reflect the light beam emitted by said light source (30.10, 30.20); b. A lens (31) associated with the optical module or each optical module (30.1, 30.2), the lens being configured to project a light beam reflected by a light collector (30.11, 30.21) of the optical module or each optical module (30.1, 30.2), the lens (31) being configured to form an image of the reflective surface of the light collector (30.11, 30.21) of the optical module or each optical module (30.1, 30.2) on the road; the lens (31) extending in a substantially horizontal direction, the substantially horizontal direction being significantly inclined relative to the optical module (30.1, 30.2); The lens (31) is characterized in that it has a horizontal focal point (31.2) and a vertical focal point (31.1), wherein the horizontal focal point (31.2) is offset relative to the vertical focal point (31.1).

2. The motor vehicle lighting device (30) for road lighting according to claim 1, wherein, The optical module or the light collector (30.11, 30.21) of each optical module (30.1, 30.2) has a rear edge, and wherein the vertical focal point (31.1) of the lens (31) is located near the rear edge of one of the light collectors (30.11, 30.21) or a plurality of light collectors, such that the image of the one light collector (30.11, 30.21) formed by the common lens (31) has an upper light-dark cutoff line formed by the rear edge of the one light collector (30.11, 30.21).

3. The motor vehicle lighting device (30) for road lighting according to claim 2, comprising a plurality of optical modules, wherein, The plurality of optical modules (30.1, 30.2) includes two optical modules (30.1, 30.2) referred to as end optical modules, each optical module being located at one end of the plurality of optical modules (30.1, 30.2) in the basic horizontal direction, and wherein the distance between the rear edges of the light collectors (30.11, 30.21) of the end optical modules (30.1, 30.2) is less than a predetermined threshold.

4. The motor vehicle lighting device (30) for road lighting according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein, The horizontal focal point (31.2) of the lens (31) is located upstream of the lens (31).

5. The motor vehicle lighting device (30) for road lighting according to claim 4, wherein, The lens (31) has a biconvex profile in the horizontal section.

6. A motor vehicle lighting device (30) for road lighting according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein, The horizontal focal point (31.2) of the lens (31) is located behind one or more light collectors (30.11, 30.21).

7. A motor vehicle lighting device (30) for road lighting according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein, The lens (31) is configured to project the light beam reflected by the light collector or each light collector (30.11, 30.21) in the overall projection direction, and wherein the horizontal focal point (31.2) of the lens (31) is aligned with the vertical focal point (31.1) in the overall emission direction.

8. A motor vehicle lighting device (30) for road lighting according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein, The horizontal focal point (31.2) of the lens (31) is located behind one or more light collectors (30.11, 30.21) and the vertical focal point (31.1).

9. A motor vehicle lighting device (30) for road lighting according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The horizontal focal point (31.2) of the lens (31) is located downstream of the lens (31).

10. The lighting device (30) according to claim 9, wherein, The lens (31) has a biconcave profile in the horizontal section.

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