Motor vehicle device for lighting the road

Description

Technical field.

[0001] The invention relates to a lighting device for a motor vehicle.

[0002] The invention relates to the technical field of lighting devices for motor vehicles and more particularly to lighting devices comprising an inclined lens. State of the art.

[0003] In the field of automotive lighting, it is generally known to use lighting devices comprising at least one light module with a light source, a collector with a reflective surface, and a lens-type optical projection system. The common lens images the reflective surface of the collector to form a light beam with a cutoff at the top. The type of lens used is convex in a vertical plane and neutral in a horizontal plane, which implies that in the vertical plane, the lens has a focal line whose curvature follows the curve of the lens itself. This focal line is usually located at the rear edge of the collector, so that the cutoff at the top of the light beam formed from the images of the collector's reflective surface by the lens is achieved at this rear edge.

[0004] However, this type of lighting system has a drawback when the lens is positioned at an angle to the light module, which can occur when a particular aesthetic is desired. Specifically, when the lighting system has multiple light modules, some modules are closer to the common lens than others. In other words, the focal line necessarily diverges from the rear edges of the collectors of some modules. For these modules, the image of their collector's reflective surface formed by the common lens is therefore not sharp, resulting in a blur in the cutoff point of the light beam originating from the rear edge of that collector.Indeed, the further the collector is from the focal line, the more blurred the cutoff line of the light beam reflected by that collector becomes, particularly in a direction opposite to the inclination of the common lens relative to the light modules. This drawback cannot be remedied by repositioning the collectors to position their rear edge on the focal line, as the space at the rear of the lighting device is generally limited.

[0005] Similarly, in the case of a single light module, the angled arrangement of the lens moves the focal line away from a portion of the rear edge of the collector, known as the far edge. Consequently, a portion of the cutoff formed from this far edge appears blurry, which degrades the beam quality.

[0006] An objective of the invention is to provide a lighting device that maintains the sharpness of the cut formed in a light beam produced by the image of the reflective surface of the collector of at least one light module from a lens, including when this lens has a high inclination relative to this light module.

[0007] A lighting device is described in document FR3084728Al. Presentation of the invention.

[0008] The invention relates to a road lighting device for a motor vehicle according to claim 1. In particular, the lighting device according to the invention comprises at least one light module, the light module or each light module comprising a light source capable of emitting a light beam and a collector comprising a reflective surface arranged to collect and reflect the light beam emitted by said light source; a lens associated with the light module or each light module, arranged to project the light beam reflected by the collector of the light module or each light module, said lens being arranged to form on the road an image of the reflective surface of the collector of the light module or each light module; the lens extending in a substantially horizontal direction, the substantially horizontal direction being substantially inclined with respect to the light module(s).

[0009] The device is remarkable in that the lens has a horizontal focal point and a vertical focal point, the horizontal focal point being offset from the vertical focal point. In the following description, the term "focal point," whether horizontal or vertical, will refer to the object focal point of the lens.

[0010] Advantageously, the road lighting system of a motor vehicle comprises a plurality of light modules arranged adjacent to each other in a horizontal direction, each light module comprising a light source capable of emitting a light beam and a collector having a reflective surface arranged to collect and reflect the light beam emitted by said light source; the lens being a common lens for the plurality of light modules, arranged to project the light beam reflected by the collector of each light module, said common lens being arranged to form on the road an image of the reflective surface of the collector of each light module; the common lens extending in a substantially horizontal direction substantially inclined with respect to the light modules.In other words, the light modules are arranged adjacently on the same line and in a substantially horizontal direction. By "substantially horizontal," we mean a direction parallel to the horizontal plus or minus 10 degrees. Preferably, each light source is positioned directly above its corresponding collector, so that the reflective surface of said collector gathers and reflects the light beam emitted by said corresponding light source.

[0011] Thanks to this invention, it is possible to create lighting functions where the image of the reflecting surface of the collector or each collector is sharp. Therefore, it is possible to use a lens with a steep angle relative to the light modules, allowing for adaptation to the aesthetics of the vehicle equipped with the lighting system.

[0012] According to the invention, the lens comprises a first transverse end and a second transverse end, opposite to the first transverse end in the substantially horizontal direction, and the first transverse end is located closer to the collector(s) of the light module(s) than the second transverse end, in the direction of the optical axis of the lighting device.

[0013] In particular, the first transverse end is intended to be located on the outside of the vehicle on which the lighting device is intended to be mounted, and the second transverse end is intended to be located on the inside of the vehicle on which the lighting device is intended to be mounted.

[0014] According to the invention, the collector of the or each light module has a rear edge and the vertical focal point of the lens is located in the vicinity of the rear edge of the or one of the collectors so that the image of this collector formed by the common lens has a top cut formed by the rear edge of this collector.

[0015] A focal point located near the rear edge of a collector is understood to be a focal point located at a distance of less than 10 mm from said rear edge.

[0016] Advantageously, the lighting device comprises a plurality of light modules. This plurality of light modules includes two light modules, called end modules, each located at one end of said plurality of light modules in said substantially horizontal direction, the distance between the rear edges of the collectors of said end light modules being less than a predetermined threshold. In particular, a predetermined threshold is understood to mean a distance of less than 50 mm. It is advantageous for the light modules to be sufficiently close to each other to ensure that the image of the reflective surface of each collector formed by the common lens is sharp, even for light modules whose rear edge of the collector is distant from the vertical focal point.

[0017] In one embodiment, the device comprises at least one light module, in particular a single light module, extending between the outermost light modules. In another embodiment, the plurality of light modules is formed by the two outermost light modules.

[0018] In one embodiment of the invention, the device comprises a single light module.

[0019] In one embodiment, the lighting device shown may be an overall lighting module which includes at least one light module and which is intended to be mounted in a motor vehicle headlight.

[0020] Advantageously, the horizontal focal point of the lens is located upstream of the lens. In this example, the horizontal focal point of the lens is therefore located upstream of the lens with respect to the optical path of the light beam(s) reflected by the reflective surface of the collector(s) towards the lens.

[0021] Advantageously, the lens has a biconvex profile in a horizontal section. If applicable, the lens also has a biconvex profile in a vertical section.

[0022] In a particular embodiment of the invention, the horizontal focal point of the common lens is located behind the collector(s). The rear of the collector(s) is defined with respect to the overall projection direction of the light beam(s). The overall projection direction corresponds to the direction of the optical path of the light beam(s).

[0023] Advantageously, the common lens is arranged to project the light beam(s) reflected by the collector(s) along an overall projection direction, and the horizontal focal point of the lens is aligned with the vertical focal point along this overall emission direction. Aligning the vertical and horizontal focal points, particularly with an optical axis of the device, ensures horizontal spreading of the light beam below the beam cutoff, while maintaining a sharp cutoff.

[0024] Advantageously, the horizontal focal point of the lens is located behind the collector(s) and the vertical focal point. The rear of the collector(s) and the rear of the vertical focal point are defined with respect to the overall direction of projection of the light beam(s). This characteristic allows the projected beam to be spread horizontally, thus achieving a sharp cutoff even in directions opposite to the lens's inclination, even when the lens is at a steep angle.

[0025] In another embodiment of the invention, the horizontal focal point of the lens is located downstream of the lens. The downstream of the lens is defined with respect to the optical path traveled by the light beam(s) between the collector(s) and the lens.

[0026] Advantageously, the lens has a biconcave profile in a horizontal section. If applicable, the lens has a biconvex profile in a vertical section.

[0027] Advantageously, the overall light beam projected by the lens from the light beam(s) reflected by the collector of the light module(s) forms a light beam of the regulatory crossing type. Brief description of the figures.

[0028] Other advantages and features of the present invention are now described by means of purely illustrative and in no way limiting examples of the scope of the invention, and from the accompanying drawings, in which the various figures represent: [ Fig. 1 [ ] schematically and partially represents a top view of the lighting device according to one embodiment of the invention. ] Fig. 2[ ] schematically and partially represents a top view of the lighting device according to another embodiment of the invention. ] Fig. 3 [ ] schematically and partially represents a cross-sectional view of the lighting device according to one embodiment of the invention. ] Fig. 4 ] schematically and partially represents a cross-sectional view of the lighting device according to another embodiment of the invention.

[0029] In the description that follows, identical elements, by structure or by function, appearing on different figures retain, unless otherwise specified, the same references. Description of the implementation methods.

[0030] We have represented in [ Fig. 1 ] a lighting device 30 for a motor vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention. This lighting device 30 will be described in relation to the [ Fig. 3 ] presenting a cross-sectional view of said embodiment.

[0031] The lighting device 30 comprises, for example, two light modules 30.1, 30.2 and, on its front face, an optical projection lens 31. The lens 31 is formed from a single piece common to the plurality of light modules 30.1, 30.2, enabling the projection onto the road of the light beams emitted by the plurality of light sources 30.10, 30.20. The lens 31 is also called the common lens 31.

[0032] On the [ Fig. 1 The light modules 30.1, 30.2 are arranged adjacently on the same line and in a substantially horizontal direction, here, so as to form a row of light modules. Each of the light modules 30.1, 30.2 comprises at least one light source 30.10, 30.20 and a collector, respectively 30.11, 30.21, having a reflective surface arranged to collect and reflect the light rays emitted by said at least one light source 30.10, 30.20.

[0033] It should be noted that lens 31 extends in a substantially horizontal direction, inclined at a significant angle to the light modules 30.1 and 30.2, and in particular to the line on which these light modules are arranged. Thus, light module 30.1 is closer to lens 31 than module 30.2.

[0034] In particular, the lens 31 comprises a first transverse end 31a and a second transverse end 31b, opposite the first transverse end 31a in the substantially horizontal direction, and the first transverse end 31a is located closer to the collectors 30.11, 30.21 of the light modules 30.1, 30.2 than the second transverse end 31b, in the direction of the optical axis of the lighting device 30.

[0035] Each collector 30.11, 30.21 is arranged so that it collects the light beam emitted by the light source 30.10, 30.20 and reflects it towards the lens 31. The collector 30.11, 30.21 of each light module 30.1, 30.2 has a rear edge so that the image of each collector 30.11, 30.21 formed by the common lens 31 has a cut, here upper, formed by the rear edge of each said collector 30.11, 30.21. The common lens 31 is arranged to project the light beams emitted by each light source 30.10, 30.20 and reflected by the collectors 30.11, 30.21 in an overall projection direction.

[0036] The lens 31 of this embodiment has a biconvex profile in both a horizontal and vertical section. The lens 31 has a vertical focal point 31.1 and a horizontal focal point 31.2. The vertical focal point 31.1 of the common lens 31 is located near the rear edge of the collector 30.11, and in particular at a distance from the rear edge of this collector 30.11 of less than 10 mm. The horizontal focal point 31.2 of the common lens 31 is located behind the collectors 30.11 and 30.21, and in particular behind the vertical focal point 31.1. The horizontal focal point 31.2 is aligned with the vertical focal point 31.1 and with an optical axis of the device 30. Thanks to this arrangement, the upper cutoff of the image of the reflective surface of the collector 30.11 formed by the lens 31 is sharp.

[0037] Furthermore, the two light modules 30.1, 30.2 are arranged in the lighting device 30 in a substantially horizontal direction, such that the distance between their rear edges is less than a predetermined threshold, for example, 50 mm. The rear edges of the collectors 30.11, 30.21 together define the cutoff of the light beam formed by the device 30, with the lens 31 spreading each of the beams from these collectors horizontally so that these beams together homogeneously form said light beam.

[0038] We have represented in [ Fig. 2 ] a lighting device 30 of a motor vehicle according to another embodiment of the invention. This lighting device 30 will be described in connection with the [ Fig. 4 ] presenting a cross-sectional view of said other embodiment.

[0039] On the [ Fig. 2], the lighting device 30, the light sources 30.1, 30.2 and the collectors 30.11, 30.21 have the same characteristics and the same arrangement as in the previous embodiment.

[0040] The lens 31 of this embodiment has a biconcave profile in a horizontal section and a biconvex profile in a vertical section. The lens 31 has a vertical focal point 31.1 and a horizontal focal point 31.2. The vertical focal point 31.1 of the common lens 31 is located near the rear edge of one of the collectors 30.1, 30.2.

[0041] Due to the horizontal biconcave shape of the common lens 31, the horizontal focal point 31.2 is located downstream of the common lens 31 with respect to the path taken by the light beams between the collector 30.11, 30.21 and the common lens 31. The horizontal focal point 31.2 is aligned with the vertical focal point 31.1.

[0042] The preceding description clearly explains how the invention achieves its objectives, namely, to provide a lighting device that maintains the sharpness of the cutoff formed in a light beam by the images of the reflective surfaces of the collector of at least one light module from a lens, even when this lens is at a steep angle to the light module. To this end, the invention provides a lighting device for a motor vehicle comprising a common lens with a horizontal focal point and a vertical focal point offset from each other. In any event, the invention is not limited to the embodiments specifically described in this document.

Claims

1. Road lighting device (30) for a motor vehicle, comprising: a. at least one light module (30.1, 30.2), the or each light module (30.1, 30.2) comprising a light source (30.10, 30.20) capable of emitting a light beam and a collector (30.11, 30.21) having a reflective surface arranged to collect and reflect the light beam emitted by said light source (30.10, 30.20); b. a lens (31) associated with the light module or with each light module (30.1, 30.2), arranged to project the light beam reflected by the collector (30.11, 30.21) of the or each light module (30.1, 30.2), said lens (31) being arranged to form on the road an image of the reflective surface of the collector (30.11, 30.21) of the or each light module (30.1, 30.2); the lens (31) extending in a substantially horizontal direction, the substantially horizontal direction being substantially inclined with respect to the light module(s) (30.1, 30.2), the lens (31) comprising a first transverse end (31a) and a second transverse end (31b), opposite to the first transverse end in the substantially horizontal direction, and the first transverse end (31a) being located closer to the collector(s) (30.11, 30.21) of the light module(s) (30.1, 30.2) than the second transverse end (31b), in the direction of the optical axis of the lighting device; characterized in that the lens (31) has a horizontal focal point (31.2) and a vertical focal point (31.1), the horizontal focal point (31.2) being offset from the vertical focal point (31.1) and in that the collector (30.11, 30.21) of the or each light module (30.1, 30.2) has a rear edge and wherein the vertical focal point (31.1) of the lens (31) is located at a distance less than 10 mm from the rear edge of the or one of the collectors (30.11, 30.21) so that the image of this collector (30.11, 30.21) formed by the common lens (31) has an upper cut-off formed by the rear edge of this collector (30.11, 30.21).

2. Road lighting device (30) for a motor vehicle according to the preceding claim, comprising a plurality of light modules, wherein said plurality of light modules (30.1, 30.2) includes two light modules (30.1, 30.2), called extreme, each located at an end of said plurality of light modules (30.1, 30.2) in said substantially horizontal direction, and wherein the distance between the rear edges of the collectors (30.11, 30.21) of said extreme light modules (30.1, 30.2) is less than 50 mm.

3. Road lighting device (30) for a motor vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the horizontal focal point (31.2) of the lens (31) is located upstream of the lens (31).

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

5. Road lighting device (30) for a motor vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the horizontal focal point (31.2) of the lens (31) is located behind the collector(s) (30.11, 30.21).

6. Road lighting device (30) for a motor vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the lens (31) is arranged to project said light beams reflected by the or each collector (30.11, 30.21) according to a global projection direction, and wherein the horizontal focal point (31.2) of the lens (31) is aligned with the vertical focal point (31.1) on this global emission direction.

7. Road lighting device (30) for a motor vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the horizontal focal point (31.2) of the lens (31) is located behind the collector(s) (30.11, 30.21) and the vertical focal point (31.1).

8. Road lighting device (30) for a motor vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 2, wherein the horizontal focal point (31.2) of the lens (31) is located downstream of the lens (31).

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

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