Motor vehicle lighting device

Abstract

The subject matter of the invention is a lighting device (1) configured to project a light beam, the lighting device (1) comprising a light emitting module (2) configured to generate the light beam primarily along a longitudinal optical axis (L) and a screen (4) having a main area (6) through which the light beam is projected, the lighting device (1) comprising a system (26) for rotating the light emitting module (2), the invention relates to a system capable of moving a lighting module (2) from a first position to a second position about an axis of rotation (R), characterized in that the axis of rotation (R) of the lighting module (2) is at a distance from the lighting module (2) in a space (18) longitudinally delimited by a screen (4) and the lighting module (2).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to the field of lighting and / or light-based signaling in the automotive field and more particularly to a system for adjusting the position of a light module for a lighting device of a motor vehicle.

[0002] The field of lighting and / or light-based signalling in motor vehicles is subject to regulations which stipulate that each motor vehicle must be equipped with lighting modules adapted to generate an illumination beam that performs specific safety functions, including in particular a low-beam function. The low-beam allows the motor vehicle to be seen by other road users and allows its driver to see the road correctly at a distance of 30 metres without dazzling other road users. To this end, the lighting module generating the low-beam, and in particular the assembly formed by at least one light source, a reflective surface and a projection lens, is arranged in a precise theoretical position so that the illumination beam generated when the light source is switched on remains below a predetermined horizontal line.

[0003] The light-emitting module is housed in a headlamp enclosed by a protective outer lens, through which an illuminating light beam passes to illuminate the road environment, and the protective outer lens may have a shape specifically associated with the automobile manufacturer providing the lighting device, and this specific shape forms a logo of the manufacturer that is recognizable to road users.

[0004] When the motor vehicle is heavily loaded and the rear of the vehicle is lower than usual, the inclination of the lighting module is modified with the overall inclination of the vehicle and the illumination beam may be directed differently than intended, in particular above a predetermined horizontal line, which may dazzle other road users.

[0005] It is known practice to associate a light module with a device for adjusting the inclination of the light module in order to lower the low beam of the motor vehicle when the motor vehicle is transporting a heavy load or, conversely, to raise the low beam once the motor vehicle has been unloaded. The adjustment device is arranged in the housing of the headlamp and acts on the position of the light module in the housing, in particular pivoting the light module about a rotation axis, the effect of which is to change the inclination of the light module relative to the housing of the headlamp.

[0006] In this context, automobile manufacturers or equipment suppliers are forced to provide a protective outer lens that is wider than necessary so that, regardless of the inclination of the light module, the illumination light beam generated by the light module passes through the protective outer lens and is not projected onto the walls that define the opening into which the protective outer lens is inserted.

[0007] Therefore, even if this solution makes it possible to meet the regulatory requirements, it leads to the situation that in one or the other of the positions of the lighting modules, gaps locally appear between the wall delimiting the opening and the edge of the illuminating beam, which is detrimental to the marking of the illuminating beam.

[0008] Therefore, the present invention proposes an alternative to existing solutions, which alternative has as a main subject a lighting device configured to project a light beam, the lighting device comprising a light emitting module and a screen, the light emitting module being configured to generate the light beam mainly along a longitudinal optical axis, the screen having a main area through which the light beam is projected when the light emitting module is in a first position, the lighting device comprising a system for rotational movement of the light emitting module, the system being adapted to move the light emitting module from the first position to a second position by means of a movement involving at least one rotation about an axis of rotation, it being noteworthy that the axis of rotation of the light emitting module is at a distance from the light emitting module and passes through a space longitudinally delimited by the main area of ​​the screen and the light emitting module.

[0009] For example, such a lighting device may be mounted on a vehicle for low beam lighting. The lighting device generates a light beam capable of illuminating a road of the vehicle in which the lighting device is mounted.

[0010] More specifically, it is the light module that generates the light beam and the light beam is projected through the screen towards the road so that the driver can see the road and be seen by other users without dazzling them. The system for the rotational movement of the light module makes it possible to ensure that road users are not dazzled, regardless of the load of the vehicle and therefore its inclination relative to the road.

[0011] The movement of the light module by this rotational movement system is a movement involving at least one rotation around an axis of rotation, so that this movement can consist of a rotation around an axis of rotation alone, a combination of a translation and a rotation around a given axis of rotation, or a combination of several rotations to form a complex movement, at least one of the rotations being around an axis of rotation passing through the space longitudinally delimited by the main area of ​​the screen and the light module. More generally, the movement of the light module is performed by a rotation around an instantaneous axis of rotation, said instantaneous axis of rotation moving according to any possible type of movement, the instantaneous axis of rotation passing through the space longitudinally delimited by the main area of ​​the screen and the light module in all phases of the movement. Such an instantaneous axis of rotation can be created, for example, by a combination of simultaneous small translational movements of two different parts of the light module, each of which moves in a given direction different from the direction of the other of the two parts.

[0012] According to the invention, the light module is made movable with at least one rotational movement about an axis of rotation which passes through the space delimited longitudinally by the screen and the light module, in other words, this means that the axis of rotation of the at least one rotational movement extends between the light module and the main area of ​​the screen and it is offset in particular at a distance from the light module towards the screen. Depending on the possible curves of the screen and in particular of the main area of ​​the screen, and depending on the position of the axis of rotation in the space delimited by the main area of ​​the screen and the light module, and in particular the proximity of this axis of rotation to the main area of ​​the screen, the axis of rotation can be made to intersect the screen.

[0013] The light module is mounted in the headlight housing at a distance from a screen which at least partially, in particular completely, closes the opening in the housing, and the offset of the rotation axis of the light module in the direction of the screen at a distance from said light module makes it possible to ensure that the projection of the light beam is always essentially centered on the main area of ​​the screen and thus respects both the regulatory aspects of the projected illumination light beam and the aesthetic appearance or logo of the vehicle equipped with the lighting device.

[0014] The lighting device may also include one or more of the following features, alone or in combination.

[0015] According to another optional feature of the invention, the lighting module includes a light source and an optical element, the light source is configured to emit light toward the optical element, and the optical element is configured to generate a light beam toward the screen.

[0016] As a non-limiting example of the present invention, the optical element can be composed of a lens, a reflector, or a combination of these two elements with at least one reflective element and a lens, wherein the light leaving the light source is directly directed onto the lens, the reflector is configured to recover and direct the light into a light beam directed to the screen, the light source is configured to emit light toward the reflective element so that the light is reflected toward the lens, and the lens is configured to produce a light beam directed toward the screen.

[0017] According to another optional feature of the invention, the screen is arranged at a distance from the lens.

[0018] According to another optional feature of the invention, the rotation axis is perpendicular to the optical axis and intersects the screen. In other words, the rotation axis is transverse and extends in the space defined by the screen and the light module, passing through at least one point on the screen.

[0019] According to another optional feature of the invention, the axis of rotation intersects the screen in a primary area of ​​the screen.

[0020] According to another optional feature of the invention, the screen has at least one curvature around a direction perpendicular to the optical axis, the space being bounded by vertical and transverse planes passing through the edges defining the screen. In other words, the screen is configured so that it has a curved profile in at least one plane including the optical axis and in particular in at least one vertical or transverse plane. The curved profile means that the screen has a shape that is not contained in one plane. More generally, the curved means that at least one of the inner and outer faces as defined below is not contained in one plane. The vertical and transverse planes should be considered as planes that are respectively perpendicular to the longitudinal optical axis and perpendicular to each other. Note that the naming of these plans is arbitrary and may be independent of the vertical orientation or transverse orientation of the vehicle on which the lighting device is intended to be mounted.

[0021] More specifically, the screen may be configured such that it has a curved profile in a vertical plane including the optical axis and has a curved profile in a transverse plane including the optical axis.

[0022] According to the invention, the space through which the axis of rotation of the lighting module passes is delimited by a vertical plane and a transverse plane passing through an edge delimiting the screen or more particularly an edge delimiting the main area of ​​the screen.

[0023] According to another optional feature of the invention, the screen is fixed relative to the headlamp housing attached to the motor vehicle so that the screen is held in place when the lighting module is moved from one position to another.

[0024] According to another optional feature of the invention, the screen includes a peripheral area, which is peripheral to the main area and is configured to at least partially diffuse additional light. It will be understood that the additional light is different from the light constituting the light beam. In this case, the additional light is used, for example, for signal transmission.

[0025] According to another optional feature of the invention, the lighting device comprises at least one additional source configured to generate additional light.

[0026] According to another optional feature of the invention, the screen has an inner face oriented towards the light module, an outer face oriented towards the outside of the lighting device, and two opposite lateral side edges between which the inner face and the outer face extend transversely.

[0027] According to another optional feature of the invention, the lighting device comprises a controllable liquid crystal screen, constituting at least the main area of ​​the screen, the controllable liquid crystal screen being adapted to assume different transparency states, these different transparency states comprising at least a projecting state and a diffuse state. The projecting state corresponds more particularly to a state in which the controllable liquid crystal screen is transparent, i.e. a state in which the screen passes a light beam without significant interruption.

[0028] The controllable liquid crystal screen comprises two transparent walls between which extends a controllable liquid crystal polymer which, when stimulated by an electric current, assumes an optical state different from its initial state.

[0029] According to another optional feature of the invention, the lighting device comprises control means for controlling the controllable liquid crystal screen, for changing the controllable liquid crystal screen from a projecting state to a diffuse state and vice versa.

[0030] When the controllable liquid crystal is in the projecting state, the light beam extends along the optical axis, while when the controllable liquid crystal is in the diffusing state, the light beam bounces off the controllable liquid crystal in the screen and gives the lighting device a diffuse appearance. As mentioned, the projecting state corresponds to a state in which the controllable liquid crystal screen is transparent and does not significantly affect the propagation of the light beam passing through it, while the diffusing state corresponds to a state in which it is desired that the screen has a diffusing effect on the light beam.

[0031] According to another optional feature of the invention, the controllable liquid crystal screen comprises at least two parts, the control member being adapted to change the state of one and / or another of these parts of the controllable liquid crystal screen. One part of the controllable liquid crystal screen forms the main area and the other part forms the peripheral area.

[0032] According to another optional feature of the invention, the lighting device comprises a housing to which the screen on the one hand and the system for moving the light modules on the other hand are attached.

[0033] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle equipped with at least one lighting device as set out above.

[0034] Further characteristics, details and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from reading the following description, as well as from a number of examples of embodiments provided as non-limiting illustrations, with reference to the attached schematic drawings, in which:

[0035] [ Figure 1 ] schematically depicts a lighting device according to the invention, in particular showing a light module which can be rotated inside a headlamp housing by means of a schematically shown rotational movement device;

[0036] [ Figure 2 ] schematically depicts the light emitting module in Figure 1 Two different positions within the lighting device of FIG. 1 , showing an example of a rotational movement device in more detail;

[0037] [ Figure 3 ] is a simplified view of a headlamp housing showing the boundaries defining the space through which the axis of rotation of the light module must pass;

[0038] [ Figure 4 ] is the headlamp housing Figure 3 Simplified views in different cutting planes, showing other boundaries defining this space.

[0039] The features, variations and various embodiments of the present invention can be combined with each other in various combinations, as long as they are not mutually incompatible or mutually exclusive. In particular, it is conceivable that the variations of the present invention include only a portion of the features described below, independent of the other features described, if the features of this portion are sufficient to provide technical advantages and / or distinguish the present invention from the prior art.

[0040] In the figures, elements common to several figures retain the same reference numerals.

[0041] In the following detailed description, the terms "longitudinal", "transverse" and "vertical" refer to the orientation of the lighting device according to the invention. The longitudinal direction corresponds to the direction parallel to the optical axis of the light beam generated by the lighting device, which is parallel to the longitudinal axis L in the reference system L, V, T shown in the figures. The transverse direction corresponds to the direction parallel to the rotation axis of the light module of the lighting device, which is parallel to the transverse axis T in the reference system L, V, T and which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L. Finally, the vertical direction corresponds to the direction parallel to the vertical axis V of the reference system L, V, T, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L and the transverse axis T.

[0042] Figure 1 A lighting device 1 is depicted which is configured to be mounted on a motor vehicle and which projects a light beam, and in particular an illumination beam of the low-beam type intended to illuminate the road in front of the motor vehicle on which the lighting device is mounted.

[0043] More specifically, the lighting device 1 comprises a light module 2 configured to generate a light beam mainly along a longitudinal optical axis L, and a screen 4 having a main area 6 through which the light beam is projected and a peripheral area 7 adjoining the main area 6. In this case, the light module 2 generates a light beam directed towards the main area 6 of the screen 4 so as to be projected onto the road in front of the motor vehicle so as to illuminate the road in front of the motor vehicle while being visible to other road users.

[0044] The vertical transition edge 67 and the lateral transition edge 76 are arbitrarily defined as the joining area between the main area 6 and the peripheral area 7 on the screen, arranged on either side of the main area in the vertical direction V and the lateral direction T, respectively.

[0045] Advantageously, the main area 6 is centred in the vertical direction V between the vertical edges of the screen and in the transverse direction T between the transverse edges of this screen.

[0046] like Figure 1As shown, the lighting device 1 comprises a housing 8 with an opening, to which a screen 4 is attached and in which the light module 2 is housed. The screen 4 at least partially closes the opening in the housing 8, the screen having an external face 10 oriented toward the outside of the lighting device 1 and an internal face 12 participating in at least partially defining a housing for the light module 2.

[0047] The screen 4 has a complex contour with Figures 1 to 3 and arranged about a first direction perpendicular to the optical axis L (in this case the transverse direction T) and at least in Figure 4 , and arranged about a second direction, in this case the vertical direction, perpendicular to the first direction and to the optical axis L. Such a complex profile allows in particular the screen and the headlight (of which the screen forms part) to be inscribed in the continuation of the curve of the vehicle at the junction of the wing with the front face.

[0048] The screen 4 is delimited by two vertical end edges 16 and two transverse end edges 17, and the above-mentioned complex contour of the screen means that, as in Figures 1 to 3 As can be seen in FIG. 1 , the two vertical end edges 16 can be longitudinally offset relative to each other and as shown in FIG. Figure 4 As can be seen in FIG. 1 , the two transverse end edges 17 can also be longitudinally offset relative to each other.

[0049] Similarly, the main region 6 may have such a double curvature both laterally and vertically, so that the vertical transition edge 67 and the lateral transition edge 76 are likewise longitudinally offset relative to each other.

[0050] This longitudinal offset of the vertical transition edge 67 and the transverse transition edge 76 contributes to defining a space 18 arranged backward from the screen (in other words, between the screen and the lighting module), wherein the plane passing through the vertical transition edge and the transverse transition edge forms the boundary of the space 18. More specifically, the space 18 is longitudinally defined between the screen 4 and the plane passing through the vertical transition edge 67 closest to the lighting module (i.e. conventionally, for example Figures 1 to 3 The invention relates to a screen 4 and a transverse plane 180 extending from the upper transition edge shown in the figure; a longitudinal plane 181 and a transverse plane 182 passing through one of the vertical transition edges 67 respectively; and a transverse plane 180 extending from the upper transition edge shown in the figure; a longitudinal plane 181 and a transverse plane 182 passing through one of the vertical transition edges 67 respectively; and a transverse plane 180 passing through the transverse transition edge 76 farthest from the light module (i.e., the transverse transition edge facing the interior of the vehicle, such as the transverse transition edge 76 of the light module). Figure 4In some cases, the vertical transition edge 67 closest to the light module may also be the upper transition edge. In some cases, the lateral transition edge 76 farthest from the light module may also be the lateral transition edge facing the outside of the vehicle. When the lighting device is in a position mounted on a vehicle, "facing the inside of the vehicle" means that the element having this feature is located on the side oriented toward the middle axis of the vehicle, and "facing the outside of the vehicle" means that the element having this feature is located on the side oriented toward the side of the vehicle, where applicable compared to another element.

[0051] According to the present invention, and as will be specifically referred to below Figure 3 and Figure 4 Explained more specifically, the lighting module is made rotationally movable so that the axis of rotation is arranged near the screen 4 and more particularly in the space 18 so as to intersect the screen 4 at at least one point. Note that in this case, the space 18 is vertically delimited by the vertical transition edge 67 and the lateral transition edge 76, since the screen 4 is divided into the main area 6 and the peripheral area 7, but if the screen 4 is produced uniformly without any discontinuity between the areas, the space will similarly be delimited by the vertical end edge 16 and the lateral end edge 17.

[0052] The light module 2 is arranged in the headlamp so that the light beam leaving the light module can be projected onto the main area 6 of the screen 4 both in the standard position and in the tilt compensation position, the standard position corresponding to the theoretical position of the light module when the light module is installed in the headlamp and the vehicle does not carry any specific load, and the tilt compensation position corresponds to the following position: this position is pivoted relative to the standard position to compensate for the inclination of the vehicle when the vehicle is overloaded, and is obtained by the rotational movement system to be described below.

[0053] The lighting module 2 preferably includes a light source 20, at least one reflective element 22, and a lens 24. The light source 20 is configured to emit light toward the reflective element 22 so that the light is reflected to form a light beam directed toward the lens 24, which is configured to project the light beam and generate a corresponding illumination beam toward the screen 4. In other words, the reflective element 22 groups the light emitted by the light source 20 together to direct a maximum amount thereof toward the lens 24. The lens 24 is more particularly configured to project the illumination beam toward the main area 6 of the screen 4.

[0054] In another embodiment, the lighting module comprises at least one reflective element 22 configured to reflect light from the light source 20 towards the screen 4, in particular towards the main area 6. In this case, the presence of a lens is not necessary.

[0055] In yet another embodiment, the lighting module comprises a lens 24 configured to receive light rays directly from the light source 20 and to project these light rays towards the screen 4 , in particular towards the main area 6 .

[0056] In other embodiments, several of the embodiments described above with respect to the light source 20, at least one reflective element 22 and / or the lens 24 are combined. For example, the light emitting module includes at least one reflective element 22 and a lens 24, some of the light emitted by the light source 20 is reflected by the reflective element 22 toward the screen 4, in particular, toward the main area 6, while other light emitted by the light source 20 is reflected by the reflective element 22 toward the lens 24, and the lens 24 is configured to project these light toward the screen 4, in particular, toward the main area 6.

[0057] The lighting device 1 comprises a system 26 for rotational movement of the light module 2 adapted to enable the light module 2 to be moved about the rotation axis R from a first position, ie the above-mentioned standard position, to a second position, ie the tilt-compensated position.

[0058] The movement system 26 is controlled by a suitable control unit configured to receive data relating to the inclination of the vehicle chassis (for example due to overloading) and to determine accordingly the inclination to be imparted to the lighting module 2 so that it occupies the above-mentioned position and in the Figure 2 The tilt compensation position or the second position is shown by the solid line as an example.

[0059] For ease of understanding, Figure 2 , a first position or standard position of the light module 2 is shown in dashed lines. The movement of the light module 2 from one position to another is independent of the housing 8 of the lighting device 1 and of the screen 4 at least partially closing the opening in the housing 8, so that the rotation of the light module 2 around the rotation axis R can be considered as a relative rotation relative to the housing and the screen.

[0060] According to the invention, the rotational movement system 26 is configured so that the rotation axis R of the light module 2 extends transversely towards the screen 4 at a distance from the light module 2. More specifically, the rotation axis R extends substantially transversely in the previously defined space 18 set back from the screen 4 so as to intersect the screen 4 at at least one point or to pass through the screen 4 over the entire transverse dimension of the headlamp. This particularly clever arrangement of the rotation axis R makes it possible to ensure that the projection of the illumination beam by the light module 2 is always in the main area 6 of the screen 4, regardless of whether the light module 2 is in the first position or in the second position.

[0061] The rotary movement system 26 may in particular consist of a combination of a telescopic thrust device 261, the base 262 of which is rigidly fixed to the housing 8 and the free end of the piston 263 of which abuts against the light module 2; and at least one guide device 264, which comprises a pin 265 and a groove 266, the curvature of which is centered on a point C, which is arranged at the intersection of a vertical longitudinal plane passing through the main area of ​​the screen and the desired rotation axis of the light module. Schematically and without limiting the invention, Figure 2 Depicting a movement system having a groove formed on the lighting module and a fixing pin rigidly fixed to the housing, it is understood that several of these guide means may be formed on the same face and / or on opposite faces of the lighting module.

[0062] In another example, the guide means comprises two pins and two grooves, in particular each having a rectilinear shape, superposed in the vertical direction and each oriented in a direction different from one another, each of the grooves being associated with one of the two pins. When the piston of the telescopic thrust device pushes the light module, each pin moves translationally in its associated groove in the direction of the groove. The combination of each substantial translation of each of the pins in different directions produces a rotation about an instantaneous axis of rotation. This instantaneous axis of rotation is slightly displaced if the entire range of movement between two possible extreme positions is taken into account.

[0063] According to the invention, as described above, the rotation axis R about which the lighting module rotates when the rotational movement system 26 is activated is a transverse axis offset from the lighting module, which extends across the screen or at least intersects the main area 6 of the screen at at least one point. In other words, the rotation axis passes through the space 18 between the screen and the lighting module defined by the position of the two vertical end edges 16 and the two lateral end edges 17 or, where applicable, by the position of the vertical transition edge 67 and the lateral transition edge 76 between the main area 6 and the peripheral area 7. Figure 3 and Figure 4 It is particularly shown that the space 18 is defined by the position of the vertical transition edge 67 and the transverse transition edge 76 between the main area 6 and the peripheral area 7 .

[0064] More specifically, Figure 3 The longitudinal and vertical boundaries of the space 18 are shown, and Figure 4 The longitudinal and lateral boundaries of this same space 18 are shown, wherein four examples of axes of rotation R1 , R2, R3, R4 according to the invention intersect the screen at at least one point, and more particularly in this case the main area 6 of the screen.

[0065] In this case, the longitudinal boundaries of the space 18 are formed on the one hand by the part of the main area of ​​the screen 4 that is located furthest forward on the vehicle (in other words, furthest from the light module) and on the other hand by a vertical and transverse plane 180 passing through the upper transition edge between the main area 6 and the peripheral area 7. In this case, the vertical boundaries of the space 18 are formed on the one hand by a first longitudinal and transverse plane 181 passing through the upper vertical transition edge and on the other hand by a second longitudinal and transverse plane 182 passing through the lower vertical transition edge.

[0066] In this case, the lateral boundaries of the space 18 (at Figure 4 ) is formed on the one hand by the portion of the main area of ​​the screen 4 situated furthest from the exterior of the vehicle and on the other hand by a longitudinal and vertical plane 184 passing through the lateral transition edge 76 furthest from the light module (i.e. the lateral transition edge conventionally facing the interior of the vehicle), for example, as Figure 4 shown.

[0067] like Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, each of the rotation axes that allow the light module to be movable according to the invention is included in the space 18, advantageously over the entire lateral dimension of the light module. Without departing from the context of the invention, the rotation axes may alternatively have an inclination relative to the lateral direction, provided that this axis intersects the screen 4 and more specifically in this case the main area 6 of the screen at least once. Figure 4 Two examples of this alternative are shown in FIG. 1 with thick chain lines.

[0068] The peripheral area 7 can in particular be configured to have a light diffusion coefficient that is greater than the light diffusion coefficient of the main area of ​​the screen (substantially zero). Where applicable, this peripheral area can be intended to have additional light passing through it from a source separate from the light module 2. It should be understood that the additional light rays are different from the light rays that make up the light beam generated by the light module and that they can be used, for example, for signaling. In this particular embodiment, the light beam that passes through the main area 6 of the screen 4 is used for lighting purposes, while the additional light rays projected onto the peripheral area 7 are used for signaling purposes.

[0069] To this end, the lighting device 1 comprises at least one additional source configured to generate additional light. The additional source may, for example, comprise a number of light emitting diodes (commonly referred to as LEDs).

[0070] By way of example, the lighting device 1 comprises a controllable liquid crystal screen 32 constituting at least the main area 6 of the screen 4, the controllable liquid crystal screen 32 being adapted to assume different transparency states, including at least a projected state and a diffuse state. The controllable liquid crystal screen 32 comprises two transparent walls between which extends a controllable liquid crystal polymer which, when excited by an electric current, assumes an optical state different from its initial state. Note that the transparent walls are optically neutral and it is the controllable liquid crystal polymer that affects the state of the controllable liquid crystal screen 32 by allowing or preventing light from diffusing through the main area 6 of the screen 4.

[0071] The liquid crystals suspended in the controllable liquid crystal polymer are oriented differently depending on whether they are electrically excited or not. Specifically, when they are electrically excited, the liquid crystals are organized so that the light beam passes through the screen 4 along the optical axis L. In the absence of electrical excitation, the liquid crystals are randomly arranged, thereby at least partially blocking the light beam from passing through the screen 4, and the light is deflected by the liquid crystals.

[0072] like Figure 1 As shown, the lighting device 1 includes a control member 34 for controlling the controllable liquid crystal screen 32, for changing the controllable liquid crystal screen 32 from a projection state to a diffuse state and vice versa. The control member 34 is electrically connected to the screen 4 and is configured to emit or not emit electrical excitation. In other words, when the control member 34 electrically excites the controllable liquid crystal screen 32, this screen is in a projection state, and the illumination beam generated by the light emitting module 2 can pass through the main area 6 of the screen 4 along the optical axis L without significant interruption. On the contrary, when the control member 34 does not electrically excite the controllable liquid crystal screen 32, the screen is in a diffuse state, and the beam generated by the light emitting module is diffused or blocked by the liquid crystal arranged in the screen 4.

[0073] In another example of an embodiment, the entire screen 4 is a controllable liquid crystal screen 32, the first portion forms the main area 6, and the second portion forms the peripheral area 7. In this example, the control member 34 is configured to transmit electrical excitation to one or the other of these portions independently of the other portion. Preferably, the control member 34 generates electrical excitation only to the first portion, the second portion of the controllable liquid crystal screen 32 remains in a diffuse state, and the first portion can be in a projected state or a diffuse state depending on whether it is electrically excited by the control member 34.

[0074] In each of these examples of embodiments, advantageously, the light module 2 is adapted to produce a light beam centered on the main area 6 of the screen and, importantly, the rotation axis R passes through at least one point in the space 18 defined by the screen 4 and the rotation axis passes through planes that pass through transition edges 67, 76 forming a junction between the main area 6 and the peripheral area 7 of the screen.

[0075] However, the invention is not limited to the means and configurations described and illustrated in this document, but also extends to all equivalent means and configurations and any technically operable combination of these means.

Claims

1. A lighting device (1) configured to project a light beam, the lighting device (1) comprising a light module (2) and a screen (4), the light module being configured to generate the light beam mainly along a longitudinal optical axis (L), the screen having a main area (6) through which the light beam is projected when the light module is in a first position, the lighting device (1) comprising a system (26) for rotational movement of the light module (2), the system being adapted to enable the light module (2) to be moved from the first position to a second position by a movement involving at least one rotation about a rotation axis (R), characterised in that The rotation axis (R) of the light emitting module (2) is at a certain distance from the light emitting module (2) and passes through a space (18) defined in the longitudinal direction by the main area (6) of the screen (4) and the light emitting module (2).

2. A lighting device (1) as claimed in the preceding claim, wherein: The light emitting module (2) comprises a light source (20) and an optical element, wherein the light source (20) is configured to emit light towards the optical element, and the optical element is configured to generate a light beam towards the screen (4).

3. The lighting device (1) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The rotation axis (R) is perpendicular to the optical axis (L) and intersects the screen (4).

4. The lighting device (1) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The screen (4) has at least one curvature about a direction perpendicular to the optical axis (L), and the space (18) is bounded by a vertical plane and a transverse plane passing through an edge defining the screen (4).

5. The lighting device (1) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The screen (4) comprises a peripheral region (7) which is peripheral to the main region (6) and is configured to at least partially diffuse the additional light.

6. A lighting device (1) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, comprising a controllable liquid crystal screen (32), the controllable liquid crystal screen constituting at least the main area (6) of the screen (4), the controllable liquid crystal screen (32) being adapted to present different transparency states, the different transparency states comprising at least a projection state and a diffuse state.

7. A lighting device (1) as claimed in the preceding claim, comprising a control member (34) for controlling the controllable liquid crystal screen (32), for changing the controllable liquid crystal screen (32) from a projection state to a diffuse state and for changing the controllable liquid crystal screen from a diffuse state to a projection state.

8. A lighting device (1) as claimed in the preceding claim, wherein: The controllable liquid crystal screen (32) comprises at least two parts, and the control member (34) is adapted to change the state of one part and / or the other part of the controllable liquid crystal screen (32).

9. A lighting device (1) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, comprising a housing (8) to which the screen (4) is attached on the one hand and to which a system (26) for moving the light modules (2) is attached on the other hand.

10. A motor vehicle equipped with at least one lighting device (1) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

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