LIGHTING SYSTEM FOR LIGHTING DEVICE AND OPTIONAL FOR SIGNAL DEVICE FOR MOTOR VEHICLE

Description

[0001] The invention relates to the field of lighting and, optionally, signaling, in particular for motor vehicles. More particularly, the invention relates to a lighting and, optionally, signaling system for a motor vehicle.

[0002] A motor vehicle is generally equipped with headlights intended to illuminate the road in front of the vehicle, at night or when the light is reduced. These headlights generally provide two distinct types of lighting: a first dipped-beam type lighting and a second main-beam type lighting. The dipped-beam type lighting provides sufficient lighting of the road in front of the vehicle to enable safe driving without dazzling other road users. The main-beam type lighting provides lighting for a large portion of the road far in front of the vehicle. These types of lighting are generally subject to regulations defining, for example, geographical areas in which the light beam providing this type of lighting must comply with minimum and / or maximum light intensities. DE 10 2007 008 994 A1 shows such a headlight.

[0003] Light modules are known which make it possible to form both regulatory dipped beam lighting and road lighting consisting of several light segments. Each light segment of the road lighting can be selectively switched off when it is likely to dazzle a road user, whose presence is detected by a detection system. These light modules therefore make it possible to achieve a selective road lighting function, also called "Glare Free High Beam", or in French "Anti-glare Road", offering the driver better visibility of the road, while not disturbing other users.

[0004] We also know of light modules which allow segmented lighting to be formed, which allows, for example, a dynamic lighting function for bends to be achieved, by switching on and / or off certain segments depending on the curvature of the bend, and therefore giving the driver a better view of the road.

[0005] These selective road lighting and dynamic cornering lighting functions belong to a family of functions called adaptive lighting and / or signaling functions aimed at providing road lighting or vehicle signaling services which adapt to traffic conditions, the vehicle's environment and the behavior of road users.

[0006] However, it is complicated to obtain a single light module performing a regulatory lighting function, while proposing the realization of an adaptive lighting and / or signaling function. Indeed, such a light module poses both space and cost problems because it requires the use of many high-power light emitting sources which are particularly expensive in order to obtain sufficient emitted light power to comply with the regulations and offer an adaptive function. In addition, such a single light module has a specific aesthetic appearance which does not allow it to meet all the styling requirements of motor vehicles.

[0007] An aim of the invention is therefore to provide a lighting system which makes it possible to achieve both regulatory lighting and an adaptive function, and which is simple to produce and inexpensive.

[0008] For this purpose, the invention provides a lighting system for a lighting and, optionally, signaling device of a motor vehicle according to claim 1.

[0009] Thus, thanks to the present invention, the light power that the lighting system must provide is shared between two light modules, which makes it possible to reduce the number of high-power light emitting sources in each of the light modules, while allowing the system to perform both regulatory lighting and an adaptive function. The light modules used are therefore simpler to design and less expensive.

[0010] Advantageously, each light segment has at least 3 edges, including a lower edge and two lateral edges extending on either side of the lower edge. Preferably, each light segment has a quadrilateral shape, in particular a rectangle or a trapezoid or a diamond. Alternatively, each light segment has a triangular shape. Optionally, the edges may be sharp and the lower edge may be blurred. If desired, each light segment may have a light distribution such that the light intensity of the segment is maximum at the lower edge and decreases as one moves away from the lower edge. According to a variant of the invention, each light segment may have three edges, including a straight lower edge, a straight lateral edge and a curved edge joining the lower and lateral edges.

[0011] In a first embodiment of the invention, each light module of the light system is arranged to form a first beam participating in the creation of regulatory road-type lighting.

[0012] According to the invention, each light module is arranged to form a first beam, called the lower beam, participating in the production of dipped beam type lighting and a second beam, called the upper beam, participating in the production of road type lighting; the first and second beams formed by each light module being selectively activatable. In addition, at least one of the light modules comprises light emission means arranged to form at least two light segments selectively activatable in one of the first and second beams formed by this light module. And at least the first light module is arranged so that the second beam formed by this first light module forms only a portion of regulatory road type lighting, and the light modules are arranged so that the second beams, when activated together, form regulatory road type lighting.

[0013] In a second embodiment which falls outside the scope of the invention, each light module of the light system is arranged to form a first beam participating in the creation of regulatory lighting of the dipped beam type.

[0014] According to the invention, each light module is arranged to form a first beam, called the lower beam, participating in the production of dipped-beam type lighting and a second beam, called the upper beam, participating in the production of road type lighting; the first and second beams formed by each light module being selectively activatable. In addition, at least one of the light modules comprises light emission means arranged to form at least two light segments selectively activatable in one of the first and second beams formed by this light module. And at least the first light module is arranged so that the first beam formed by this first light module forms only a portion of regulatory dipped-beam type lighting, and the light modules are arranged so that the first beams, when activated together, form regulatory dipped-beam type lighting.

[0015] According to the invention, the first and second light modules comprise light emission means arranged to form at least two light segments that can be selectively activated in the second beam formed by this light module.

[0016] Advantageously, the first and / or the second light module comprises light emission means arranged to form at least two light segments which can be selectively activated in the first beam formed by this light module.

[0017] Advantageously, the first and / or the second light module comprise light emission means arranged to form at least two light segments that can be selectively activated in the first beam formed by this light module and light emission means arranged to form at least two light segments that can be selectively activated in the second beam formed by this light module.

[0018] Advantageously, the two light modules comprise light emission means arranged to form at least two light segments which can be selectively activated in one and / or the other of the first and second beams formed by these light modules.

[0019] According to the invention, each of the two light modules comprises light emission means arranged to form at least two light segments that can be selectively activated in each of the second beams formed by these light modules.

[0020] According to another example, each of the two light modules comprises light emission means arranged to form at least two light segments that can be selectively activated in each of the first beams formed by these light modules.

[0021] According to another example, at least one of the light modules comprises light emission means arranged to form at least two light segments that can be selectively activated in one of the first and second beams formed by this light module and at least the other of the light modules comprises light emission means arranged to form at least two light segments that can be selectively activated in the other of the first and second beams formed by this light module.

[0022] According to another example, each of the two light modules comprises light emission means arranged to form at least two light segments that can be selectively activated in the first beam and in the second beam formed by these light modules.

[0023] According to the invention, there are at least two selectively activatable light segments in at least each of the second beams of each of the light modules, the light emitting means of each of the light modules are arranged so that the light segments formed by the emitting means of the first light module are interlaced with the light segments formed by the emitting means of the second light module when they are activated simultaneously. "Interlaced light segments" means segments arranged so that at least one light segment formed by the emitting means of the first light module, called the first light segment, is arranged between two light segments formed by the emitting means of the second light module, called the second segments.

[0024] For example, the light emitting means of each of the light modules are arranged so that the light segments formed by the emitting means of the first light module are juxtaposed and / or superimposed with the light segments formed by the emitting means of the second light module. The term "juxtaposed light segments" means light segments arranged adjacently, in particular so that, for two neighboring segments, only one of the edges of one light segment is in contact with one of the edges of the other light segment. These two light segments may be formed by a single light module or, one of the segments is a first segment formed by the first light module and the other of the segments is a second segment formed by the second light module."Superimposed light segments" means light segments arranged so that, for two adjacent segments, a portion of one light segment is at least partially covered by a portion of the other light segment. These two light segments may be formed by a single light module or, one of the segments is a first segment formed by the first light module and the other of the segments is a second segment formed by the second light module. In particular, a fraction, in particular half, of the surface of a first light segment may be covered by an identical fraction, in particular half of the surface of a second light segment.

[0025] In the arrangement of the different segments according to the invention, the light segments are interlaced according to an alternation of at least a first segment formed by the first light module and at least a second segment formed by the second light module. It is thus possible to provide an alternation between a segment coming from one of the light modules and a segment coming from the other light module, or an alternation between two segments coming from one of the light modules and a segment coming from the other light module, or an alternation between two segments coming from one of the light modules and two segments coming from the other light module.

[0026] In one embodiment, the light emitting means of a light module are arranged such that at least two consecutive selectively activatable light segments are juxtaposed. In one embodiment, the light emitting means of said light module are arranged such that all consecutive selectively activatable light segments are juxtaposed.

[0027] In another variant, the light emitting means of said light module are arranged so that said selectively activatable light segments are distant from each other. "Light segments distant from each other" means light segments arranged so that between two consecutive light segments there is a space not illuminated by said consecutive segments.

[0028] Advantageously, the light emitting means of a light module are arranged so that said selectively activatable light segments are located on a single line. For example, these light segments may be arranged so that the centers of these light segments are aligned on a straight line. According to another example, these light segments may be arranged so that at least one edge, in particular a lower edge, of each light segment is aligned with the edges, in particular the lower edges, of the other segments.

[0029] Alternatively, the light emitting means of a light module are arranged such that said selectively activatable light segments are located on several lines. Where appropriate, said light segments are located on several lines superimposed on each other.

[0030] Advantageously, the light module comprising said light emission means is arranged so that the first and / or the second beam is exclusively formed by said at least two selectively activatable light segments formed by these light emission means.

[0031] Advantageously, the light module comprising said light emission means is arranged so that its first and second beams are exclusively formed by said at least two selectively activatable light segments formed by these light emission means.

[0032] Advantageously, the second light module is arranged so that the first beam formed by this second light module forms only a portion of regulatory dipped beam type lighting, and in that the light modules are arranged so that the first beams, when activated together, form regulatory dipped beam type lighting.

[0033] According to the invention, each light module comprises: at least first and second light emitting sources; at least one optical system associated with these first and second light emitting sources; said first and second light emitting sources of each light module being arranged to cooperate with the associated optical system to respectively form said first and second beams formed by this light module.

[0034] Each light module comprises a single projection means, forming said optical system, associated with at least the first and second light emitting sources of this light module to project the beams from these light emitting sources outside the light module.

[0035] Where appropriate, the projection means may comprise a focal zone, and in particular a focal plane. For example, the projection means may in particular comprise one or more lenses and / or one or more reflectors.

[0036] Preferably, at least one, in particular each, of the first and second light emitting sources of at least one, in particular each, of the light modules comprises a semiconductor light emitting source, in particular a chip of a light emitting diode.

[0037] Preferably, the light module comprising said light emitting means arranged to form at least two selectively activatable light segments comprises at least two semiconductor light emitting sources, said emission means comprising said at least two semiconductor light emitting sources.

[0038] Preferably, each of the at least two semiconductor light-emitting sources forms one of the at least two selectively activatable light segments. Where appropriate, each light-emitting source is arranged at the focal zone of the projection means of the light module, the light-emitting surface of this light-emitting source being intended to be projected by the projection means to form one of said light segments.

[0039] Alternatively, said light emitting means comprise at least one primary optical element associated with each semiconductor light emitting source of these light emitting means to form one of the at least two selectively activatable light segments. Where appropriate, each primary optical element is arranged to cooperate with the light emitting source associated with it so as to form images of this light emitting source at the focal zone of the projection means of the light module, this image being intended to be projected by the projection means to form one of said light segments.

[0040] The primary optical element may, for example, be a light guide, a collimator, a reflector or a lens.

[0041] Advantageously, the second light module comprises a cut-off member arranged to intercept a portion of the light rays emitted by the first light-emitting source of this second light module to form a cut-off in the first beam formed by this second light module. Where appropriate, the second light module is arranged so that the second beam is juxtaposed or covers the cut-off of the first beam, when they are activated simultaneously.

[0042] The cut-off member may comprise a reflective surface called a bending surface. A portion of the light beam emitted by the first light-emitting source encounters the reflective surface and is reflected in accordance with its angle of incidence on the surface. Another portion of the light beam passes beyond the edge of the reflective surface, called the cut-off edge, and is not deflected by the reflective surface. The cut-off edge thus defines a boundary between the reflected and therefore deflected portion of the beam and the non-reflected portion. The reflective surface with its cut-off edge is called a bending surface insofar as it deflects or "bends" a portion of the first beam in order to form a cut-off at the level of the first beam emitted by the light module.

[0043] The cut-off member is arranged so that the cut-off formed in the first beam formed by the second light module has at least one substantially flat portion. Preferably, the cut-off member of the second light module has a cut-off edge comprising at least one flat portion.

[0044] In one variant, the cut-off member is arranged so that the cut-off formed in the first beam formed by the second light module is substantially flat over the entire length of said first beam.

[0045] In another variant, the cut-off member of the second light module is arranged so that the cut-off formed in the first beam formed by the second light module has a cut-off at the level of the substantially flat portion. Preferably, the cut-off member of the second light module has a cut-off edge with a cut-off at the level of the substantially flat portion.

[0046] In another variant, the cut-off member of the second light module is arranged so that the cut-off formed in the first beam formed by the second light module has an oblique portion in line with the substantially flat portion. Preferably, the cut-off member of the second light module has a cut-off edge with an oblique portion in line with the substantially flat portion.

[0047] Advantageously, the first light module comprises a cut-off member arranged to intercept a portion of the light rays emitted by the first light-emitting source of this first light module to form a cut-off in the first beam formed by this first light module. Where appropriate, the second beam is juxtaposed with / covers the cut-off of the first beam, when they are activated simultaneously.

[0048] Preferably, the cut-off member of the first light module is arranged so that the cut-off formed in the first beam formed by the first light module has at least one substantially flat portion. Preferably, the cut-off member of the first light module has a cut-off edge with at least one substantially flat portion.

[0049] In one variant, the cut-off member is arranged so that the cut-off formed in the first beam formed by the first light module is substantially flat over its entire length.

[0050] In another variant, the cut-off member of the first light module is arranged so that the cut-off formed in the first beam formed by the first light module has a cut-off at the level of the substantially flat portion. Preferably, the cut-off member of the first light module has a cut-off edge with a cut-off at the level of the substantially flat portion.

[0051] In another variant, the cut-off member of the first light module is arranged so that the cut-off formed in the first beam formed by the first light module has an oblique portion in line with the substantially flat portion. Preferably, the cut-off member of the first light module has a cut-off edge with an oblique portion in line with the substantially flat portion.

[0052] Advantageously, the second light module comprises a cut-off member arranged to intercept a portion of the light rays emitted by the first light-emitting source of this second light module to form a cut-off in the first beam formed by this second light module.

[0053] Where appropriate, the cut-off edge of the cut-off member of the first and / or second light module is arranged at the focal zone of the projection means of this light module. Optionally, this light module comprises an optical element capable of concentrating rays emitted by the first light-emitting source of this light module at the focal zone of the projection means. For example, this optical element may comprise at least one concave reflector portion of generally ellipsoidal type having at least a first focus and a focusing point, the first light-emitting source of the light module being arranged at the first focus so that a majority of light rays emitted by this first light-emitting source are reflected by the reflector portion in the vicinity of the focusing point, the focusing point being located at the focal zone of the projection means.

[0054] Preferably, the first and second light modules are arranged so that the horizontal portions of the cutoffs of the first beams formed by these light modules are aligned.

[0055] Advantageously, the first light module comprises said emission means, said emission means comprising a matrix of light emitting sources to form at least two light segments that can be selectively activated in each of the first and second beams formed by this first light module. Where appropriate, said matrix of light emitting sources extends in at least two directions. In other words, this matrix of light emitting sources comprises several columns and several rows of light emitting sources.

[0056] If desired, the first light module comprises a primary optical element associated with each semiconductor light emitting source of these light emitting means to form one of the at least two selectively activatable light segments. If necessary, each primary optical element is arranged to cooperate with the light emitting source associated with it so as to form images of this light emitting source at the focal zone of the projection means of the first light module, this image being intended to be projected by the projection means to form one of said light segments.

[0057] The primary optical element may, for example, be a light guide, a collimator, a reflector or a lens, or even a microlens. Advantageously, the primary optical elements may together form a matrix of primary optical elements of the same dimensions as the matrix of light-emitting sources, and therefore comprising as many primary optical elements as light-emitting sources.

[0058] Advantageously, the lighting system comprises a control unit arranged to selectively activate the light emitting means so as to be able to selectively activate said two selectively activatable light segments. If desired, the control unit may be arranged to be able to selectively activate the first and / or the second light emitting source of the first and / or the second light module.

[0059] Advantageously, the lighting system may also comprise a detection unit arranged to detect a characteristic relating to the traffic conditions and / or the environment of the vehicle and / or the behavior of road users, in particular relating to the presence of a vehicle passing or being followed on the road and likely to be dazzled by one of the light beams emitted by the lighting system. Where appropriate, the control unit is arranged to selectively activate and / or deactivate one or more of the light emitting means and / or the first and / or second light emitting sources of the first and / or second light module as a function of said detection by the detection unit.

[0060] Advantageously, the first and second light modules can be arranged in the same headlight of the motor vehicle.

[0061] Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly with the aid of the description and the drawings among which: there figure 1a is a schematic representation of the projection of a first and a second light beams coming from a first light module according to a first embodiment of the invention; the figure 1b is a schematic representation of the projection of a first and a second light beam from a second light module according to the first embodiment of the invention; the figure 1c is a schematic representation of the projection of the first and second light beams as shown in the figure 1a , with the first and second light beams as shown in the figure 1b ; there figure 2 is a side view of the first light module according to a first embodiment of the invention; the figure 3a is a schematic representation of the projection of a first light beam from a first light module according to an embodiment which falls outside the scope of the invention; the figure 3b is a schematic representation of the projection of a second light beam from a second light module according to the second embodiment of the invention; the figure 3c is a schematic representation of the projection of the first light beam as shown in the figure 3a , with the second light beam as shown in the figure 3b , this embodiment is outside the scope of the invention; the figure 4 is a side view of the second light module according to the second embodiment of the invention.

[0062] It has been illustrated on the figure 1a the projection of a light beam from a first light module according to the invention onto a screen placed in a plane HV, and in which the line H is a horizontal line and the line V a vertical line. This light beam comprises a first beam 11, called the lower beam, participating in the production of dipped beam type lighting and a second beam 12, called the upper beam, participating in the production of road type lighting. The first 11 and second 12 beams formed by the first light module are selectively activatable.

[0063] The second beam 12 comprises three selectively activatable light segments 13, located on a single line. Each segment 13 has a rectangular shape delimited by lateral edges 13a, a lower edge 13b and an upper edge 13c. The segments 13 all have the same width, measured between the lateral edges 13a of a segment 13. The segments 13 are distant from each other. The distance separating two consecutive light segments 13, measured between the neighboring lateral edges 13a of these segments, is equal to the width of a light segment 13. The lateral edges 13a of the light segments are sharp while each lower edge 13b is blurred. Each light segment has a light distribution such that the light intensity of the segment is maximum at the lower edge 13b and decreases as one moves away from the lower edge 13b towards the upper edge 13c.

[0064] In this example, the first beam 11 forms only a portion of regulatory dipped beam lighting. In other words, the first beam 11 is not, in itself, regulatory. The first beam 11 has an upper cut-off 14 that is substantially flat across the entire width of the first beam 11 and parallel to the line H.

[0065] The segments 13 of the second beam 12 are juxtaposed with the cut-off 14 of the first beam 11, that is to say that the lower edges 13b of these segments 13 are aligned with the cut-off 14 of the first beam 11. It could be envisaged without departing from the scope of the invention that the segments 13 partially overlap with the first beam 11, so that the lower edges 13b are arranged below the cut-off 14. Finally, a central light segment 13 is arranged so as to be centered on the vertical line V and the other light segments 13 are distributed on either side of this central light segment 13.

[0066] It has been illustrated on the figure 1b the projection of a light beam from a second light module according to the invention onto a screen placed in the HV plane, as in figure 1a This light beam comprises a first beam 21, called the lower beam, participating in the creation of dipped beam type lighting and a second beam 22, called the upper beam, participating in the creation of road type lighting. The first 21 and second 22 beams formed by the second light module are selectively activatable.

[0067] The second beam comprises two selectively activatable light segments 23. Each of the light segments 23 is substantially identical, in particular in its shape, its dimensions and its light distribution, to the light segments 13 shown in figure 1a . In particular, each segment 23 has a rectangular shape delimited by lateral edges 23a, a lower edge 23b and an upper edge 23c and the segments 23 all have the same width, measured between the lateral edges 23a of the same segment 13, identical to that of the segments 13 of the figure 1a . Furthermore, the distance separating two consecutive light segments 23, measured between the neighboring lateral edges 23a of these segments, is equal to the width of a light segment 23 and therefore of a light segment 13 of the figure 1a .

[0068] In this example, the first beam 21 forms only a portion of regulatory dipped beam type lighting. In other words, the first beam 21 is not, in itself, regulatory. The first beam 21 has an upper cut-off across the entire width of the beam with a substantially flat lower portion 24 parallel to the line H, a substantially flat upper portion 26 which is parallel to the lower portion 24 and an oblique portion 25 connecting the flat portions 24 and 26. The oblique portion 25 in particular makes an angle of 45° with the lower portion 24, it being understood that those skilled in the art could envisage other angles without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0069] The segments 23 of the second beam 22 are juxtaposed with the cut-off of the first beam 21, that is to say that the lower edges 23b of these segments 23 are aligned with the cut-off of the first beam 21. It could be envisaged without departing from the scope of the invention that the segments 23 partially overlap with the first beam 21, so that the lower edges 23b are arranged below the cut-off 14. Finally, the light segments 23 are distributed on either side of the vertical line V.

[0070] There figure 1c schematically represents the projection of the light beam emitted by the first module, as shown in the figure 1a , with the light beam emitted by the second module, as shown in the figure 1b , on the same screen placed in the HV plane of the figures 1a et 1b .

[0071] We note on this figure 1c on the one hand that the light segments 13 of the first beam are interlaced with the light segments 23 by being juxtaposed with these light segments 23, so that each of the light segments 23 is arranged between two consecutive light segments 13 and that only the lateral edges 23a of this light segment 23 are in contact with one of the lateral edges 13a of the consecutive segments 13. In other words, no overlap is observed other than at the lateral edges between a segment 23 and a consecutive segment 13. In the arrangement of the different segments, the light segments 13, 23 are interlaced according to an alternation of a first segment 13 formed by the first light module and a second segment 23 formed by the second light module.However, a person skilled in the art could perfectly well provide an overlap between a part of a light segment 23 and a part of a consecutive light segment 13 going beyond the lateral edges of these segments without departing from the scope of the present invention. Similarly, other alternating schemes of the light segments 13 and 23 are conceivable without departing from this scope. Finally, it can be seen in this . figure 1c that the lower edges 13b, 23b of the light segments 13 and 23 are aligned with each other and with the flat cut-off 14 of the first beam 11.

[0072] The arrangement of the beams is such that the substantially flat upper cut-off 14 of the first beam 11 is aligned with the substantially flat lower portion 24 of the upper cut-off of the first beam 21.

[0073] The first beams 11, 21, when activated together, thus form regulatory dipped-beam type lighting, that is to say whose photometric characteristics, and in particular the cut-off formed by the combination of the upper cut-off 14 of the first beam 11 and the cut-off 24, 25, 26 of the second beam, comply with the requirements of ECE regulation No. R112, it being understood that those skilled in the art will be able to adapt the invention so that the first beams 11 and 21 together satisfy the requirements of any other national or regional regulation.

[0074] Furthermore, the set of light segments 13 and 23 of the second beams 12 and 22 thus forms selective road type lighting, each light segment of which can be selectively switched off when it is likely to dazzle a road user, whose presence is detected by a detection system.

[0075] There figure 2 is a side view of a light module 42 according to the invention making it possible to produce the beam shown in the figure 1a .

[0076] The light module 42 comprises a first light emitting source 30 and three second light emitting sources 34 arranged on the same heat sink 43. Each of the first 30 and second light emitting sources of the light module comprises a chip of a light emitting diode.

[0077] This light module 42 comprises a single projection means 36 associated with the first 30 and second light emitting sources of this light module to project the beams from these light emitting sources 30, 34 outside the light module. The projection means 36 comprises a lens 35 having a focal zone 37, and in particular a focal plane P, supporting the focal zone 37.

[0078] Each of the second semiconductor light emitting sources 34 is associated with a primary optical means in the form of a light guide 32 to form one of the three selectively activatable light segments 13 of the second beam 12. Each light guide 32 comprises an input face 34a intended to receive light emitted by the associated light emitting source 34, a light output face 34c, of substantially rectangular shape, arranged at the focal zone 37 of the projection means 36, and a lower reflection face 34b, of substantially ellipsoidal profile, arranged to reflect by total internal reflection the light entering the light guide 32 through the input face towards the entire output face.Each light guide 32 is arranged to cooperate with the light emitting source 34 associated with it so as to form images of this light emitting source on its output face 34c at the focal zone 37 of the projection means 36 of the light module, this image being intended to be projected by the projection means 36 to form one of said light segments 13. Each association of a second light emitting source 34 and a light guide 32 thus forms a light emission means within the meaning of the invention.

[0079] The first light-emitting source 30 is associated with a concave reflector portion 31 of ellipsoidal type having a first focus f and a focal point F. The first light-emitting source 30 of the light module is arranged at the first focus f in such a way that a majority of the light rays emitted by this first light-emitting source 30 are reflected by the reflector portion 31 in the vicinity of the focal point. F, le focal point being located at the focal zone 37 of the projection means 36. These light rays are then projected by the projection means 36 to form the first beam 11 of the module.

[0080] The light module 42 also comprises a cut-off member 39, one edge 40 of which is arranged at the focal zone 37 of the projection means of this light module. This cut-off member 39 is arranged so as to intercept a portion of the light rays emitted by the first light-emitting source 30 of this light module to form a cut-off 14 in the first beam 11 formed by this light module. The cut-off member further comprises a reflective surface 41 called a folding surface, extending on an upper face of the cut-off member, from the edge 40 towards the reflector portion 31. The portion of the light beam emitted by the first light-emitting source 30 which is intercepted by the cut-off member 39 therefore encounters this reflective surface 41 and is reflected in accordance with its angle of incidence on the surface towards the projection means 36 to be projected below the cut-off line 14 of the first beam 11.Another part of the light beam emitted by the first light emitting source 30, which is not intercepted by the cut-off member, therefore passes beyond the edge of the reflecting surface 40, called the cut-off edge towards the projection means 36 to be projected below the cut-off line 14 of the first beam 11. It is understood that the shape of the cut-off edge 40 thus defines the shape of the cut-off 14 formed in the first beam 11.

[0081] This cut-off edge 40 comprises a substantially flat portion over a substantial part of its width intended to intercept the light beam emitted by the source in order to form the upper cut-off 14 which is substantially flat over the entire length of the first beam 11.

[0082] Furthermore, the rectangular output faces 34c of the light guides 32 are juxtaposed with the cut-off edge 40 of the cut-off member 39, so that an upper edge of each output face 34c of the light guides 32 is contiguous with the cut-off edge 40. In this way, the image of the first 30 and second 34 light sources are juxtaposed at the focal zone 37, which allows the cut-off 14 of the first beam 11 to be juxtaposed with the lower edges 13b of the light segments 13 of the second beam 12, when they are activated simultaneously.

[0083] Furthermore, the light module 42 comprises a detection unit 44 arranged to detect a characteristic relating to the traffic conditions and / or the environment of the vehicle and / or the behavior of road users, and in particular to detect the presence of a vehicle passing or being followed on the road and likely to be dazzled by one of the light beams emitted by the light system.

[0084] The light module 42 also comprises a control unit 45 arranged to selectively activate and / or deactivate one or more of the first 30 and second light emitting sources 34, in particular as a function of said detection by the detection unit so as to be able to selectively activate the three selectively activatable light segments 13. It is thus understood that each light segment 13 can be selectively switched off when it is likely to dazzle a road user, whose presence is detected by the detection unit. The light module is therefore thus capable of producing part of a selective road type lighting.

[0085] It will be noted that a person skilled in the art will easily be able to adapt this light module so that it forms the beams shown in the figure 1b , for example by using only two second light emitting sources 34 and two light guides 32 to form the two selectively activatable light segments 23 and by modifying the cut-off edge 40 of the cut-off member 39 so that this cut-off edge has a lower substantially flat portion and an upper substantially flat portion, parallel to the lower substantially flat cut-off, connected by an oblique portion.

[0086] There figure 3a illustrates the projection of a light beam from a first light module which is outside the scope of the invention onto a screen placed in a plane HV, and in which the line H is a horizontal line and the line V is a vertical line. This light beam comprises a first beam 50, called the lower beam, participating in the production of dipped beam type lighting and a second beam 51, called the upper beam, participating in the production of road type lighting. The first 50 and second 51 beams formed by the first light module are selectively activatable.

[0087] In this example, the first beam 50 forms regulatory crossing type lighting on its own and the second beam 51 forms complementary road type lighting on its own.

[0088] The first beam 50 comprises an upper cut-off 52, 53, 54 over the entire width of the beam with a substantially flat lower portion 52 parallel to the line H, a substantially flat upper portion 54 which is parallel to the lower portion 52 and an oblique portion 53 connecting the flat portions 52 and 54. The oblique portion 53 in particular makes an angle of 45° with the lower portion 52, it being understood that those skilled in the art could envisage other angles without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0089] The second beam 51 is juxtaposed with the cut-off of the first beam 50, that is to say that a lower edge 51a of the second beam 51 is aligned with the cut-off of the first beam 52, 53, 54. It could be envisaged, outside the scope of the invention, that the second beam 51 partially overlaps with the first beam 50 so that the lower edge 51a of the second beam 51 is arranged below the cut-off.

[0090] There figure 3b illustrates the projection of a light beam from a second light module according to the invention onto a screen placed in the HV plane, as in figure 3a This light beam comprises a first beam 60, called the lower beam, and a second beam 61, called the upper beam.

[0091] The first beam 60 is exclusively formed by eighteen selectively activatable light segments 62 and the second beam 61 is exclusively formed by eighteen selectively activatable light segments 63.

[0092] Each light segment 62 of the lower beam 60 has a substantially rectangular shape delimited by lateral edges 62a, a lower edge 62b and an upper edge 62c, it being understood that these segments could have other shapes, in particular trapezoids, diamonds, etc. without departing from the scope of the invention. The segments all have the same width, measured between the lateral edges 62a of a segment 62. The segments 62 are located on three lines parallel to the line H. Each line comprises six light segments 62 that can be selectively activated. These six light segments 62 that can be selectively activated are juxtaposed, that is to say that the lateral edge 62a of a first light segment 62 is aligned with the lateral edge 62a of another light segment 62.Furthermore, the lines are superimposed on each other, i.e. the upper edges 62c of the light segments 62 located on one line are aligned with the lower edges 62b of the light segments 62 located on a lower neighboring line.

[0093] The upper edges 62c of the light segments 62 located on the upper line of the first beam 60 form a substantially flat cut-off 64 over the entire width of the first beam 60.

[0094] The light segments 63 of the second beam 61 have a shape and arrangement identical to the light segments 62 of the first beam 60.

[0095] The first 60 and second 61 beams are juxtaposed, that is to say that the cut-off 64 of the first beam is aligned with the lower edges 63b of the light segments 63 located on the lower line of the second beam 61. It is therefore understood that all of the light segments 62 and 63 of the first and second light beams 60 and 61 form a matrix of segments, each segment of which can be selectively activated.

[0096] There figure 3c schematically represents an example which falls outside the scope of the invention; the projection of the light beam emitted by the first module, as represented in the figure 3a , with the light beam emitted by the second module, as shown in the figure 3b , on the same screen placed in the HV plane of the figure 3a et 3b .

[0097] The arrangement of the beams is such that the substantially flat lower part 52 of the cut-off of the first beam 50 is aligned with the substantially flat upper cut-off 64 of the first beam 60. It could be envisaged, outside the scope of the invention, that the upper edge 65 of the second beam 61, formed by the upper edges 63c of the light segments 63 located on the upper line of the second beam 61, is aligned with the substantially flat upper part 54 of the cut-off of the first beam 50. It is thus understood that the first beam 60 is associated with the first beam 50 so as to be able to provide both regulatory dipped-beam type lighting and a dynamic cornering lighting function, as will be seen later.

[0098] There figure 4 is a side view of a light module 77 according to the invention making it possible to produce the beam shown in the figure 3b .

[0099] This light module 77 comprises eighteen first light-emitting sources 70 and eighteen second light-emitting sources 71 arranged in a matrix of light-emitting sources of dimensions 6x6 arranged on the same support 78. Each of the first 70 and second 71 light-emitting sources of the light module comprises a chip of a light-emitting diode.

[0100] This light module 77 comprises a single projection means 73 associated with the first 70 and second light emitting sources 71 of this light module to project the beams from these light emitting sources outside the light module. The projection means 73 comprises a lens 75 with a focal zone 74, and in particular a focal plane P.

[0101] Each of the first 70 and second 71 light emitting sources is associated with a primary optical element 76, in the form of a microlens 76. Each microlens 76 is arranged to cooperate with the light emitting source 70, 71 associated with it so as to form an image of this light emitting source at the focal zone 74 of the projection means 73 of the light module 77, this image being intended to be projected by the projection means 73 to form one of said light segments 62, 63. In the present case, the focal zone 74 of the projection means 73 is arranged behind the light emitting sources 70 and 71, and each microlens 76 is arranged to form a virtual image of the associated light emitting source at this focal zone 74.

[0102] In this example, the microlenses are arranged in the form of a microlens matrix 72, of dimensions identical to those of the matrix of light-emitting sources. This microlens matrix 72 has a light entry surface 72a, segmented into as many light entry facets as there are light-emitting sources, and a light exit surface 72b, of substantially spherical shape, intended to correct optical aberrations generated by the projection means 74.

[0103] The light module 77 comprises a detection unit 80 arranged to detect a characteristic relating to the traffic conditions and / or the environment of the vehicle and / or the behavior of road users, in particular to detect the presence of a bend upstream of the road taken by the vehicle.

[0104] The light module 77 also comprises a control unit 81 arranged to selectively activate and / or deactivate one or more of the first 70 and / or second 71 light emitting sources as a function of said detection by the detection unit so as to be able to selectively activate one or more of the thirty-six selectively activatable light segments 62, 63, so as to progressively illuminate the bend taken by the vehicle. The light module thus performs a dynamic bend lighting function.

[0105] To make the beam shown on the figure 3a which is outside the scope of the invention, the person skilled in the art will be able to easily adapt the module presented on the figure 2, for example by using only a second light emitting source, by replacing the optical guides with a portion of reflector substantially identical to the portion of reflector associated with the first source and by arranging this portion of reflector to reflect the light beam emitted by the second source at the cut-off edge of the cut-off member of the module, a part of this light beam therefore being intercepted by the cut-off member and another part being reflected towards the projection means to be projected above the cut-off line formed by the cut-off edge of the cut-off member.

Claims

1. Luminous system for a lighting and, optionally, signalling device of an automotive vehicle, comprising a first luminous module (42) and a second luminous module (77); at least the first luminous module (42) being arranged so that the first beam formed by this first luminous module forms only a portion of a statutory low beam-type lighting function, the luminous modules being arranged so that the first beams, when they are activated together, form the totality of a statutory low beam-type lighting function and each luminous module (42; 77) being arranged to form a first beam (11, 21, 60), termed lower beam, participating in the production of a low beam-type lighting function and a second beam (12, 22, 61), termed upper beam, participating in the production of a high beam-type lighting function: the first and second beams formed by each luminous module being selectively activatable; at least one of the luminous modules comprising light-emitting means (34, 32; 70, 71, 76) arranged to form at least two selectively activatable luminous segments (13, 23; 62, 63) in one of the first and second beams formed by this luminous module; each luminous module (42; 77) comprising: - at least first light-emitting sources (30; 70) and second light-emitting sources (34; 71); - at least one optical system (36; 73) formed by a single projection means associated with these first and second light-emitting sources to project the beams from these light-emitting sources outside of the luminous module; said first and second light-emitting sources of each luminous module being arranged to cooperate with the associated optical system respectively to form said first beams (11, 21, 60) and second beams (12, 22, 61) formed by this luminous module, the first and second luminous modules being arranged in one and the same headlight of the automotive vehicle, and characterized in that each of the two luminous modules (42, 77) comprises light-emitting means (34, 32; 71, 76) arranged to form at least two selectively activatable luminous segments (13, 23; 63) in each of the second beams (12, 22; 61) formed by these luminous modules, said at least two selectively activatable luminous segments being disposed so that, between two consecutive segments, there is a gap not lit by said consecutive segments, and in that the light-emitting means (34, 32) of each of the luminous modules (42) are arranged so that the luminous segments (13) formed by the emitting means of the first luminous module are interleaved with the luminous segments (23) formed by the emitting means of the second luminous module when they are activated simultaneously, so that at least one luminous segment formed by the emitting means of the first luminous module, termed first luminous segment, is disposed between two luminous segments formed by the emitting means of the second luminous module, termed second segments.

2. Luminous system according to Claim 1, characterized in that at least one of the luminous modules (77) comprises light-emitting means (70, 76) arranged to form at least two selectively activatable luminous segments (62) in the first beam (60) formed by this luminous module and light-emitting means (71, 76) arranged to form at least two selectively activatable luminous segments (63) in the second beam (61) formed by this luminous module.

3. Luminous system according to either one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the light-emitting means (34, 32) of said luminous module (42) are arranged so that said selectively activatable luminous segments (13, 23) are situated on a single line.

4. Luminous system according to either one of Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the light-emitting means (70, 71, 76) of said luminous module are arranged so that said selectively activatable luminous segments (62, 63) are situated on a plurality of lines.

5. Luminous system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second luminous module (42) is arranged so that the first beam (11, 21) formed by this second luminous module forms only a portion of a statutory low beam-type lighting function, and in that the luminous modules are arranged so that the first beams, when they are activated together, form a statutory low beam-type lighting function.

6. Luminous system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the luminous module (42, 77) comprising said light-emitting means (34, 32; 70, 71, 76) arranged to form at least two selectively activatable luminous segments (13, 23; 62, 63) comprises at least two semiconductor light-emitting sources (34; 70, 71), said emitting means comprising said at least two semiconductor light-emitting sources.

7. Luminous system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second luminous module comprises a cut-off member arranged to intercept some of the light rays emitted by the first light-emitting source of this second luminous module to form a cut-off (24, 25, 26) in the first beam (21) formed by this second luminous module.

8. Luminous system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first luminous module (42) comprises a cut-off member (39) arranged to intercept some of the light rays emitted by the first light-emitting source (30) of this first luminous module to form a cut-off (14) in the first beam (11) formed by this first luminous module.

9. Luminous system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first luminous module (77) comprises said emitting means (70, 71, 76), said emitting means comprising a matrix of light-emitting sources (70, 71) for forming at least two selectively activatable luminous segments (62, 63) in each of the first beam (60) and second beam (61) formed by this first luminous module.