Lighting device for a motor vehicle
By introducing a combination of optical modules and output optical elements into the vehicle light emitting device, the overall beam is generated, and the problem of uneven beams is solved, uniform light distribution is achieved at night and during the day, and the visual experience of the observer is improved.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202380082726.1
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2022-11-30
- Filing Date
- 2023-11-16
- Publication Date
- 2025-07-11
AI Technical Summary
The light beam of the existing vehicle light emitting device appears uneven when viewed from the outside.
Using a combination of an optical module and an output optical element, an integral beam is generated to uniformize the light distribution, and a first and second beams are generated to form a uniform appearance through the primary and secondary light sources.
A uniform light distribution of the light emitting device at night and during the day is achieved, improving the visual experience of the observer without increasing the volume and cost of the device.
Smart Images
Figure CN120303152A_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a lighting device for a vehicle. The present invention is particularly but not exclusively applicable to motor vehicles.
[0002] In the field of motor vehicles, a lighting device for a vehicle known to those skilled in the art comprises:
[0003] - a housing having an open front face,
[0004] - at least one light source configured to emit light rays that are reflected from at least one light concentrator,
[0005] - said at least one light concentrator configured to generate a light beam towards an output optical element from said light rays,
[0006] - said at least one output optical element comprising a plurality of optical sub-elements and configured to transmit said light beam towards the exterior of the vehicle.
[0007] One drawback of the above prior art is that the light beams transmitted by the respective output optical sub-elements result in an uneven appearance of the light seen by an observer viewing from outside the vehicle.
[0008] Against this background, the present invention aims to propose a lighting device for a vehicle that provides a solution to the above drawback.
[0009] To this end, the present invention proposes a lighting device for a vehicle, said lighting device comprising:
[0010] - a housing having an open front face,
[0011] - at least one primary light source configured to emit primary light rays that are reflected from at least one light concentrator,
[0012] - said at least one light concentrator configured to generate a first light beam from said primary light rays and direct the first light beam towards at least one output optical element,
[0013] - said at least one output optical element arranged on said front face of said housing,
[0014] characterized in that:
[0015] - the lighting device further comprises an optical module configured to generate a second light beam towards said at least one output optical element, said optical module being arranged inside said housing,
[0016] and characterized in that:
[0017] - The at least one output optical element is configured to generate an overall light beam formed by the first light beam and the second light beam, and transmit the overall light beam towards the exterior of the vehicle.
[0018] Thus, as will be seen in detail below, making the second light beam complementary to the first light beam will allow the light transmitted by the light-emitting device to present a uniform appearance.
[0019] According to a non-limiting embodiment, the light-emitting device may further include one or more of the following additional features implemented individually or in any technically possible combination.
[0020] According to a non-limiting embodiment, the optical module is a cylindrical light guide or a planar light guide.
[0021] According to a non-limiting embodiment, the at least one output optical element is a lens.
[0022] According to a non-limiting embodiment, the housing includes a lower part and an upper part, and the optical module is arranged on the lower part.
[0023] According to a non-limiting embodiment, the light-emitting device further includes at least one secondary light source configured to generate secondary light rays that cooperate with the optical module to generate the second light beam.
[0024] According to a non-limiting embodiment, the at least one output optical element includes optical sub-elements.
[0025] According to a non-limiting embodiment, the housing includes a lower part and an upper part, and at least one of the lower surface or the upper surface includes a partition for separating the optical sub-elements of the output optical element.
[0026] According to a non-limiting embodiment, the light-emitting device includes a plurality of primary light sources associated with each of the optical sub-elements of the output optical element.
[0027] According to a non-limiting embodiment, the at least one secondary light source is configured to be enabled during the day when the at least one primary light source is disabled, such that the optical module generates the second light beam.
[0028] According to a non-limiting embodiment, the at least one secondary light source is configured to be enabled at night when the at least one primary light source is enabled, such that the optical module generates the second light beam.
[0029] According to a non-limiting embodiment, the light-emitting device is an illumination and / or signaling device.
[0030] According to a non - limiting embodiment, the primary light source is a semiconductor light source. According to a non - limiting embodiment, the secondary light source is a semiconductor light source. According to a non - limiting embodiment, the semiconductor light source forms part of a light - emitting diode or a laser diode.
[0031] The present invention and its various applications will be better understood by reading the following description and studying the accompanying drawings:
[0032] Figure 1 is a schematic top - down side view of a lighting device according to a non - limiting embodiment of the present invention, the lighting device comprising a primary light source, at least one light - collector associated with the primary light source, an optical module associated with a secondary light source, and an output optical element;
[0033] Figure 2 is a rear view of the output optical element of the lighting device according to a non - limiting embodiment of Figure 1 , the output element comprising an optical sub - element;
[0034] Figure 3 is a perspective view of the lighting device according to a first non - limiting embodiment variant of Figure 1 ;
[0035] Figure 4 is a perspective view of the lighting device according to a second non - limiting embodiment variant of Figure 1 ;
[0036] Figure 5 is a front view of a vehicle having a headlamp, the headlamp comprising a night - time light signature obtained by means of the lighting device of Figure 1 ;
[0037] Figure 6 is a front view of a vehicle having a headlamp, the headlamp comprising a daytime light signature obtained by means of the lighting device of Figure 1 .
[0038] Unless otherwise indicated, elements that are the same in structure or function and appear in different figures are denoted by the same reference numerals.
[0039] Reference will now be made to Figures 1 to 6 Describe the lighting device 1 for a vehicle 2 according to the present invention. In one non-limiting embodiment, the vehicle 2 is a motor vehicle. A "motor vehicle" means any type of motorized vehicle. This embodiment is given as a non-limiting example in the remainder of this specification. In the remainder of the specification, the vehicle 2 is thus also referred to as the motor vehicle 2. The motor vehicle 2 has a longitudinal axis Ox referred to as the vehicle axis Ox. In one non-limiting embodiment, the lighting device 1 is a lighting device, and signaling can be added to this lighting device to form a lighting and signaling device. In a non-limiting embodiment variant, the lighting device 1 is a headlamp.
[0040] As Figure 1 shown, the lighting device 1 comprises:
[0041] - a housing 10,
[0042] - at least one primary light source 11,
[0043] - at least one collector 12 associated with said at least one light source 11,
[0044] - at least one output optical element 13,
[0045] - an optical module 14.
[0046] In one non-limiting embodiment, the lighting device 1 further comprises at least one secondary light source 15 associated with said optical module 14.
[0047] In one non-limiting embodiment, the lighting device 1 comprises:
[0048] - a single primary light source 11,
[0049] - a single collector 12 associated with said at least one light source 11,
[0050] - a single output optical element 13.
[0051] This non-limiting embodiment is given as a non-limiting example in the remainder of this specification.
[0052] The elements of the lighting device 1 are described in detail below.
[0053] As Figure 1 shown, the housing 10 comprises:
[0054] - an open front face 10.1,
[0055] - a closed rear face 10.2,
[0056] - a lower part 10.3,
[0057] - Upper part 10.4.
[0058] The housing 10 is configured to receive the primary light source 11, the optical module 14, and the at least one associated secondary light source 15.
[0059] In Figure 3 the first non - limiting exemplary variant shown, the housing 10 does not have a separator 100.
[0060] In a second non - limiting exemplary variant, at least one of the lower part 10.3 or the upper part 10.4 of the housing 10 includes a separator 100 for separating the optical sub - elements 130 of the output optical element 13 (shown in Figure 2 ). In one non - limiting embodiment, the separators 100 are equally spaced. As shown by the non - limiting example of Figure 4 , the lower part 10.3 and the upper part 10.4 include such separators 100. In this case, it should be noted that the output optical element 13 and the optical module 14 are placed in front of these separators 100. Specifically, the separator 100 prevents the light from the primary light source 11 associated with the optical sub - element 130 from passing through the adjacent optical sub - element. Thus, the separator 100 prevents light from escaping from one optical sub - element 130 into another optical sub - element 130. Therefore, the separator 100 allows the light originating from the optical module 14 to be locally diffused.
[0061] In one non - limiting embodiment, the primary light source 11 is a semiconductor light source. In one non - limiting embodiment, the semiconductor light source forms part of a light - emitting diode or a laser diode. "Light - emitting diode" refers to any type of light - emitting diode, by way of non - limiting examples, these light - emitting diodes include LED (light - emitting diode), OLED (organic LED), AMOLED (active - matrix organic LED), or FOLED (flexible OLED). The same applies to the (plural) secondary light sources 15.
[0062] As shown in Figure 1 , the primary light source 11 is configured to emit primary rays r1 (also referred to as rays r1), which will reach the collector 12 and be reflected from the collector. In one non - limiting embodiment, the primary light source 11 is arranged on an electronic support 16, for example, in one non - limiting example, the electronic support is a PCBA ("printed circuit board assembly") board.
[0063] The collector 12 includes a shell - shaped or cap - shaped support, and a reflective surface (not shown) located on the inner face of the support, the reflective surface having an elliptical or parabolic profile.
[0064] The concentrator 12 is configured to collect the primary light rays r1 and generate a first light beam Fx1 from the light rays r1 and direct the first light beam towards the output optical element 13. The primary light rays r1 are reflected from the reflective surface of the concentrator 12. When there are multiple concentrators 12, the concentrators 12 together form a reflector called a multi-cavity reflector. The first light beam Fx1 and the second light beam Fx2 (described below) will together form the overall light beam F1 of the lighting device 1. The first light beam Fx1 can produce a photometric illumination function f1, and the second light beam Fx2 can produce a certain proportion of the photometric signal function f2 (if any) at night and a certain proportion of the daytime photometric function f3 (daytime illumination) during the day; also known as DRL "daytime running light".
[0065] In a non-limiting embodiment, the overall light beam F1 is a segmented light beam. Thus, certain segments can be turned off so as not to dazzle, for example, a vehicle approaching the motor vehicle 2 head-on. In this case, the reflective surface of the concentrator 12 has a number of vertical sectors.
[0066] In a first non-limiting embodiment, the first light beam Fx1 is a high beam, i.e., a light beam without a cut-off line.
[0067] In a second non-limiting embodiment, the first light beam Fx1 is a low beam, i.e., a light beam with an inclined cut-off line and a flat cut-off line. The flat cut-off line and the inclined cut-off line define the upper part of the corresponding part of the first light beam Fx1. Thus, it has two parts, which are: a first part (not shown), which represents the inclined cut-off line and is called the "kink", and in particular has an inclined part; and a second part (not shown), which has a flat cut-off line and is called the "flat". In a non-limiting embodiment, the inclined cut-off line includes an inclined part and a flat part, and the inclined part and the flat part form an angle or a kink between them.
[0068] In a non-limiting variant embodiment of the first non-limiting embodiment and the second non-limiting embodiment, the lighting device 1 is a very low lamp, with a height between 5 mm and 7 mm. In this case, in Figure 2 a non-limiting embodiment shown, the output optical element 13 includes optical sub-elements 130, which are adjacent to each other and each produce a part of the first light beam Fx1. The first light beam is composed of Figure 2 the wide sub-light beams produced by the multiple optical sub-elements 130.1 shown in Figure 2The multiple longer-distance sub-beams generated by the optical sub-element 130.2 as shown herein. The optical sub-elements 130.1 and 130.2 are referred to as "spots". Such an output optical element 13 is referred to as a "line lens". Therefore, not all of the individual optical sub-elements 130 project light in the same way at the same position. Therefore, the intensity of the emitted light is more or less.
[0069] In a non-limiting embodiment, the output optical element 13 is a projection lens, also known as a lens. It is a converging projection lens that projects the image of the reflective surface to infinity. In a non-limiting embodiment, the projection lens is plano-convex or biconvex or meniscus-shaped.
[0070] As Figure 1 shown, the output optical element 13 is arranged on the front face 10.1 of the housing 10. The output optical element 13 is configured to generate an overall beam F1 and transmit it relatively along the vehicle axis Ox to the outside of the motor vehicle 2, and the overall beam F1 is formed by a first beam Fx1 and a second beam Fx2.
[0071] In a non-limiting embodiment, the output optical element 13 includes a plurality of optical sub-elements 130, which allow various sub-functions to be achieved, such as wide sub-beams and longer-distance sub-beams. In this case, in a non-limiting embodiment, the light-emitting device 1 includes a plurality of primary light sources 11 associated with each of the optical sub-elements 130 of the output optical element 13.
[0072] It should be noted that when the overall beam F1 has a first beam Fx1 composed of two parts, in a non-limiting embodiment, the light-emitting device 1 includes two output optical elements 13, one of the output optical elements being associated with the first part of the first beam Fx1 and the other output optical element being associated with the second part of the first beam Fx1. It should be noted that in this case, in a non-limiting embodiment, the two output optical elements 13 have the same common longitudinal axis perpendicular to the vehicle axis Ox. This makes it possible to generate dipped beam. The first part represents an inclined cut-off line of light and dark, called a "kink". It is also called an inclined cut-off line of light and dark or a kink. The second part represents a flat cut-off line of light and dark, called a "flat". It is also called a flat cut-off line of light and dark or a cut-off line of light and dark. In this case, in a non-limiting embodiment, one condenser 12 is used to generate the first (kink) part of the first beam Fx1, and three condensers 12 are used to generate the second (flat) part of the first beam Fx1.
[0073] As Figure 1As shown, the optical module 14 is configured to generate a second light beam Fx2 directed towards the output optical element 13. Thus, the second light beam Fx2 and the first light beam Fx1 together form the overall light beam F1 of the lighting device 1.
[0074] To generate the second light beam Fx2, the optical module 14 is associated with at least one secondary light source 15. In Figure 3 the first non - limiting embodiment shown, the optical module is associated with a single secondary light source 15. In a second non - limiting embodiment, the optical module is associated with two secondary light sources 15. The optical module 14 includes at least one end, and at least one of the secondary light sources 15 is arranged facing it. Thus, in Figure 3 a non - limiting example, a single secondary light source 15 is arranged facing one of the ends of the optical module 14. Thus, in Figure 4 a non - limiting example, two secondary light sources 15 are arranged facing each of the ends of the optical module 14. Thus, the two secondary light sources are respectively arranged on both sides of the optical module 14. One or more secondary light sources 15 are configured to emit secondary light rays r2 (shown in Figure 3 and Figure 4 ), and these secondary light rays cooperate with the optical module 14 to generate the second light beam Fx2. The secondary light rays r2 enter the optical module through one of the ends of the optical module 14 and pass through the optical module 14 to generate the second light beam Fx2.
[0075] The optical module 14 is arranged inside the housing 10. In one non - limiting embodiment, the optical module is arranged on the lower part 10.3 of the housing 10. This avoids placing the optical module in front of the primary light source 11. Thus, the optical module does not interfere with the first light beam generated by the light collector 12. In addition, since there is space in the lower part 10.3 for placing the optical module 14, there is no need to increase the volume of the housing 10.
[0076] In a non - limiting embodiment, the optical module 14 is a cylindrical light guide or a planar light guide. Thus, the optical module is also referred to as the light guide 14. In Figure 1 a non - limiting example, the optical module is cylindrical. As Figure 1 shown, when the light guide 14 is arranged on the lower part 10.3 of the housing 10, the light guide is arranged at a lower level compared to the output optical element 13 and compared to the primary light source 11. As Figure 3 and Figure 4As shown, the light guide 14 extends along the entire length of the output optical element 13 such that its second light beam Fx2 can be distributed along the entire length of the output optical element 13. Thus, the light guide 14 is configured to illuminate the output optical element 13. It should be noted that the light guide 14 is visible through the output optical element 13.
[0077] It should be noted that the light guide 14 illuminates towards the output optical element 13 and not towards the light collector 12, and the second light beam Fx2 is directed towards the output optical element 13 and not towards the light collector 12.
[0078] In some non - limiting embodiments, the optical module 14 is fastened to the housing 10 by riveting, sintering or screwing.
[0079] In one non - limiting embodiment, the at least one secondary light source 15 is configured to be enabled during the day when the primary light source 11 is deactivated, such that the optical module 14 generates the second light beam Fx2. Thus, when the primary light source 11 is off, the optical module 14 illuminates the output optical element 13 during the day. Thus, the optical module is visible through the output optical element 13 and illuminates the output optical element.
[0080] In one non - limiting embodiment, the at least one secondary light source 15 is configured to be enabled at night when the at least one primary light source 11 is enabled, such that the optical module 14 generates the second light beam.
[0081] Thus, the optical module 14 also illuminates the output optical element 13 at night. The optical module is visible through the output optical element 13 and illuminates the output optical element. Thus, when the primary light source 11 is turned on when the motor vehicle 2 is traveling at night, an appearance of the same light signature as when the motor vehicle 2 is traveling during the day, i.e., when the primary light source 11 is off and the daytime running lights (referred to as DRL) are on, is obtained. It should be noted that the light signature is a characteristic of the manufacturer or model.
[0082] Figure 5 shows the night - time light signature (in the form of an oblique V) of the motor vehicle 2. It can be seen that the first light beam Fx1 allows the performance of the photometric lighting function f1, and the second light beam Fx2 allows the performance of a part of the photometric signal function f2, while in one non - limiting embodiment, another part of the photometric signal function f2 is performed by a third light beam Fx3 generated by a complementary optical module (not shown) to supplement the night - time light signature. Figure 6 shows the daytime light signature (in the form of an oblique V) of the motor vehicle 2. It can be seen that in the absence of the first light beam Fx1, the second light beam Fx2 allows a part of the daytime lighting function f3 to be produced, while in a non-limiting embodiment, another part of the daytime lighting function f3 is produced by a third light beam Fx3 generated by a complementary lighting module (not shown) to supplement the daytime light signature.
[0083] Furthermore, this makes it possible to improve the uniformity of the light emitted by the light-emitting device 1 (i.e., the overall light beam F1). Thus, regardless of the viewing point at which the observer (represented by the eyes in Figure 1 is located to observe the light-emitting device 1 from outside the motor vehicle 2, an equivalent brightness level is obtained. This equivalent brightness level corresponds to the uniformity of the emitted light, which is required by motor vehicle manufacturers. Thus, especially in the case of "line" light, regardless of whether the observer is positioned facing the light beam Fx or to its side, and regardless of the viewing point, whether viewing at a vertical angle or a horizontal angle, the light emitted by the light-emitting device 1 is no longer uneven but uniform. Thus, no longer are seen more or less intense light points due to the above-mentioned sub-beam "spots".
[0084] Of course, the description of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and the above fields. Thus, in another non-limiting embodiment, one or more output optical elements 12 are mirrors instead of projection lenses. Thus, when there are multiple light collectors 12 and multiple primary light sources 11, each light collector 12 is associated with a primary light source 11 and is configured to collect and direct its corresponding primary light rays r1 in order to generate the first light beam Fx1 and direct it towards one or more output optical elements 13 or towards the optical sub-elements 130 of the output optical element 13.
[0085] Thus, the present invention as described particularly provides the following advantages:
[0086] - At night, from the perspective of an external observer, the light-emitting device 1 can be given a uniform appearance, and
[0087] - During the day, the light-emitting device 1 is allowed to provide a daytime light signature that is very close to the night-time light signature,
[0088] - Allows the optical module 14 to be integrated into a pre-existing light-emitting device 1 at low cost and thus makes it possible not to increase the resulting volume of the light-emitting device 1,
[0089] - By means of the optical module 14 that is directly visible from outside the vehicle 2, allows the appearance of the light-emitting device 1 to become uniform both during the day and at night,
[0090] - A single light signature that is the same both during the day and at night can be obtained.
Claims
1. A lighting device (1) for a vehicle (2), the lighting device (1) comprising: - A housing (10), the housing having an open front face (10.1), - At least one primary light source (11), the at least one primary light source being configured to emit primary light rays (r1), the primary light rays being reflected from at least one light collector (12), - The at least one light collector (12), the at least one light collector being configured to generate a first light beam (Fx1) from the primary light rays (r1) and direct the first light beam towards at least one output optical element (13), - The at least one output optical element (13), the at least one output optical element being arranged on the front face (10.1) of the housing (10), Characterized in that: - The lighting device (1) further comprises an optical module (14), the optical module being configured to generate a second light beam (Fx2) towards the at least one output optical element (13), the optical module (14) being arranged inside the housing (10), And characterized in that: - The at least one output optical element (13) is configured to generate an overall light beam (F1) formed by the first light beam (Fx1) and the second light beam (Fx2), and transmit the overall light beam towards the outside of the vehicle (2).
2. The light-emitting device (1) according to claim 1, wherein, The optical module (14) is a cylindrical light guide or a planar light guide.
3. The light-emitting device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The at least one output optical element (13) is a lens.
4. The light-emitting device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The housing (10) comprises a lower part (10.3) and an upper part (10.4), and the optical module (14) is arranged on the lower part (10.3).
5. The light-emitting device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The lighting device (1) further comprises at least one secondary light source (15), the at least one secondary light source being configured to generate secondary light rays (r2), the secondary light rays cooperating with the optical module (14) to generate the second light beam (Fx2).
6. The light-emitting device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The at least one output optical element (13) comprises optical sub-elements (130).
7. The light-emitting device (1) according to claim 6, wherein, The housing (10) comprises a lower part (10.3) and an upper part (10.4), and at least one of the lower part (10.3) or the upper part (10.4) comprises a partition (100) for separating the optical sub-elements (130) of the output optical element (13).
8. The light-emitting device (1) according to claim 6 or claim 7, wherein The lighting device (1) comprises a plurality of primary light sources (11) associated with each of the optical sub-elements (130) of the output optical element (13).
9. The light-emitting device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The at least one secondary light source (15) is configured to be enabled during the day when the at least one primary light source (11) is disabled, such that the optical module (14) generates the second light beam (Fx2).
10. The light-emitting device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The at least one secondary light source (15) is configured to be enabled at night when the at least one primary light source (11) is enabled, such that the optical module (14) generates the second light beam (Fx2).
11. The light-emitting device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The lighting device (1) is a lighting device or a lighting and signaling device.