Vehicle lamp with multiple light guide

Abstract

An optical vehicle unit comprising a casing (2) and an outer lens. Light guides (40) and a carrier (5) on which the light guides (40) are arranged are housed in the casing (2). The light guides (40) are joined to one another though a junction sheet (400). The junction sheet (400) and the light guides (40) form a single object (4). This single object (4) is arranged on a carrier (5). The carrier (5) comprises a first relief pattern (51) visible through the outer lens. The junction sheet (400) comprises a second relief pattern (41) visible through the outer lens. A gap (6), left between the junction sheet (400) and the carrier (5), is placed between the first and second patterns (51, 41).

Description

technical field

[0001] The invention relates to the technical field of light-guided optical blocks for vehicles.

[0002] The invention finds particular application in optical units comprising at least one of the following lights: daytime running lights (“DRL” or “ Daylight Running Lamp (in English), position lights (also called "parking lights"), dipped headlights (also called "low beams"), main beam headlights (also called "headlights"), fog lights, rear lights, turn signals. State of the art

[0003] We already know of a vehicle headlight assembly comprising a housing and a lens with at least two transparent or translucent areas. The housing and the lens essentially define a space containing at least two light guides and a support on which the two light guides are mounted. Each of the two light guides is visible through one of the two transparent areas. The two light guides are connected by a ribbon cable. The ribbon cable and the two light guides form a single unit.

[0004] The connecting ribbon cable has the advantage of eliminating the need for separate light guides (a solution that notably increases assembly time). However, good mechanical strength of the single-piece component comprising the connecting ribbon cable and light guides is essential, particularly during ejection after molding, as well as during handling, storage, and assembly. The connecting ribbon cable must therefore have a mechanical function, in addition to transmitting light as efficiently as possible. However, connecting ribbon cables designed to perform these functions are not aesthetically pleasing, and it has been considered to place them within a technical space of the optical unit that is concealed by a vehicle component such as a bumper.

[0005] However, the larger the technical volume of the optical unit, the more other constraints and drawbacks must be addressed. For example, a large optical unit may not be compatible with the clearance required for pedestrian impacts, or with the presence of other vehicle components when their environment is already highly constrained.

[0006] Furthermore, the state of the art is known from document EP3643965A1. Description of the invention

[0007] The invention aims to remedy, in whole or in part, the aforementioned drawbacks. To this end, the invention relates to a vehicle optical unit comprising a housing and a lens including at least two transparent zones, the housing and the lens essentially delimiting a space in which at least two light guides are housed, and a support on which the two light guides are arranged, the two light guides each being visible through one of the two transparent zones, the two light guides being connected to each other by a connecting ribbon cable, the connecting ribbon cable and the two light guides forming a single unit. the support comprising a first raised pattern visible through the transparent areas of the ice, the joining layer comprising a second raised pattern visible through the transparent areas of the ice, and a gap, provided between the joining layer and the support, being arranged between the first and second patterns,

[0008] In addition, the support has a step defining a step between two planes and the tablecloth is housed in the step so that the first and second motifs have an external surface substantially in the same plane.

[0009] Thus, in the optical unit according to the invention, the presence of visible patterns on the ribbon cable and on the support contributes to the vehicle's stylistic signature and allows the gap to be concealed among these patterns. It then becomes possible to avoid hiding the connecting strip, and the technical volume of the optical unit can be reduced.

[0010] The optical block according to the invention may also include one or more of the following characteristics, each considered independently of the other or in combination with one or more others: at least one of the first and second patterns has recessed areas extending parallel to the gap; each of the two light guides extends along a longitudinal direction, and the recessed areas repeat periodically along the longitudinal direction along which each of the two light guides extends; the first and second patterns each have recessed areas, the recessed areas of the first and second patterns repeat with the same periodicity; the minimum distance, perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of each of the two light guides, between each of the two light guides and the glass, is identical;It includes a mask with openings, each of these openings revealing, through the glass, one of the two light guides respectively, and defining an angle of projection of the light emitted by each of the two light guides through the glass, which is the same for each of the two light guides; it includes an opaque band positioned near, on, or in the glass so as to at least partially mask the gap, according to a direction of observation.

[0011] In another aspect, a vehicle is proposed, comprising an optical unit according to the invention. This vehicle includes a bumper, and the connecting cable is not obscured by the bumper.

[0012] Optionally, in this vehicle, the optical unit includes an opaque strip positioned near, on, or in the glass so as to at least partially mask the gap, according to a direction of observation, and the opaque strip is aligned with a visible pattern of the vehicle. Definitions

[0013] The adjective "transparent" describes a material or area of ​​ice that allows light to pass through, revealing objects behind it; it also describes an area sufficiently translucent to allow objects behind it to be seen. An object located behind a transparent area is therefore "visible" through it.

[0014] The adjective "opaque," as opposed to the adjective "transparent" as defined above, describes a material or area of ​​ice that does not allow objects behind it to be seen. An object located behind an opaque strip is therefore not "visible" through it. Brief description of the drawings

[0015] Other features and advantages will become apparent in the detailed description of different embodiments of the invention, the description being accompanied by examples and references to the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 schematically represents in perspective, an example of an embodiment of an optical block according to the invention. Figure 2 schematically represents, in perspective, the example of a method of embodiment of the optical block shown on the figure 1 , without her ice cream and her mask. Figure 3 schematically represents in perspective the monobloc multi-guide element of the optical block shown on the figure 1 . Figure 4 schematically represents in perspective a portion of the monobloc multi-guide element and its support, housed in the optical block shown on the figure 1 . Figure 5 schematically represents in cross-section, in a longitudinal plane, a portion of an example embodiment of an optical block according to the invention. Figure 6 schematically represents in cross-section, in a transverse plane, a portion of an example embodiment of an optical block according to the invention. Figure 7 schematically represents, viewed from above, a vehicle component under which is arranged an example of an embodiment of an optical block according to the invention.

[0016] It should be noted that the drawings described above are schematic, and are not necessarily to scale for the sake of readability and to simplify their understanding. Detailed description of the implementation methods

[0017] Identical elements or elements performing the same function will bear the same references for the different embodiments, for the sake of simplification.

[0018] An example of a vehicle optical unit 1, according to an embodiment of the present invention, is schematically represented on the figure 1The optical unit 1 comprises a housing 2 and a lens 3. The lens 3 and the housing 2 form a largely enclosed space. The housing 2 is made of a rigid, opaque material (e.g., metal). The lens 3 is made of a rigid, transparent material. Optionally, the lens 3 is bicolor, for example, black and clear. The lens 3 has three protruding regions 31. These protruding regions 31 are transparent. The optical unit 1 is intended to be placed behind one or more vehicle components 100 (e.g., grille, bumper, bodywork, etc.) that include slots 110 through which the protruding regions 31 are visible (see Figure 7 ).

[0019] As depicted on the figure 2A monobloc multi-guide light element 4 and a support 5 are housed in the casing 2. The monobloc multi-guide element 4 is mounted on the support 5. The support 5 is made of a molded, opaque, and optionally colored plastic material. The monobloc multi-guide element 4 is made of a molded, transparent plastic material. The color of the support 5 is therefore visible through the monobloc multi-guide element 4. The support 5 has a first raised pattern 51 visible through the glass 3. This first pattern 51 forms a band comprising, for example, recessed areas 52 and raised areas 53. The recessed areas 52 and the raised areas 53 are arranged periodically along the longitudinal direction of the band.

[0020] As depicted on the figure 3The multi-guide monoblock element 4 comprises three light guides 40 connected by a connecting ribbon 400. Each of the light guides 40 extends essentially along a longitudinal direction L. The light guides 40 are not necessarily straight. The light guides 40 have essentially cylindrical portions. The light guides 40 are arranged on the support 5 and in the housing 2 so as to be visible, at least in some portions, through the protruding regions 31 of the glass 3.

[0021] The junction layer 400 comprises four thin layers 401, 402, 403, 404 resting on the support 5: a first veil 401 linked to a first light guide 40 near one of its ends, a second veil 402 linked to the first and second light guides 40, near one of their ends, a third veil 403 linked to the second and third light guides 40, near one of their ends, and a fourth veil 404 linked to the third light guide near one of its ends.

[0022] The first 401, second 402, and third 403 sails each have a second raised motif 41 visible through the ice 3. This second motif 41 forms a band comprising, for example, recessed areas 42 and raised areas 43. The recessed areas 42 and the raised areas 43 are arranged periodically along the longitudinal direction of the bands. For example, the bands of the first 51 and second 41 motifs are arranged longitudinally and parallel to the light guides 40, along them. For example, the periodicity of the recessed areas 42, 52 and raised areas 43, 53 of the first 51 and second 41 motifs is the same.

[0023] As depicted on the figures 4 And 5, an interstice 6 is arranged between the respective bands of the first 51 and second 41 motifs. The recessed areas 42, 52 and raised areas 43, 53 of the first 51 and second 41 motifs extend lengthwise parallel to the length of the interstice 6 (the length of the interstice 6 corresponding in the example described here to a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the bands, itself parallel to the longitudinal direction L of the light guides 40).

[0024] As depicted on the figure 5 , the junction sheet 400 is not masked by a bumper 120. The support 5 has a step 54 defining a step between two planes and the junction sheet 400 is housed in the step 54 so that the first 51 and second 41 motifs have an external surface visible substantially in the same plane.

[0025] As illustrated on the figure 6The optical block 1 includes a mask 7 housed in the space formed by the housing 2 and the lens 3. The mask 7 has openings 70. Each of the openings 70 is essentially coincident with the protruding regions 31 of the lens 3. The openings 70 thus each reveal one of the light guides 40. The openings 70 also reveal shallow areas 410, 510 of the connecting layer 400 and the support 5. The bands of the first 51 and second 41 patterns are located at the level of these shallow areas 410, 510. The openings 70 define a projection angle α of the light emitted by each of the light guides 40 through the lens 3. The minimum distance δ, perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L of each of the light guides 40, between each light guide and the lens 3, is identical, and the angle The projection α is the same for each of the 40 light guides.These arrangements allow for a homogeneous lighting appearance through the 40 light guides regardless of the viewing angle.

[0026] Optionally, as shown on the Figures 5 And 7 , to further reduce the risk of perceiving gap 6, an opaque band 32 is positioned near, on, or in, the ice 3 so as to at least partially mask gap 6, according to a direction of observation.

[0027] Optionally, the opaque stripe 32 is aligned with a visible pattern 130 on a visible element 140 (e.g. grille, bumper, bodywork, etc.) of the vehicle 100, this visible element 140 having the slots 110 through which the light guides 40 appear.

[0028] The invention is defined by the claims below and is not limited to the embodiments described.

Claims

1. The invention concerns a vehicle optical unit (1) comprising a housing (2) and a crystal (3) comprising at least two transparent regions (31), the housing (2) and the crystal (3) essentially delimiting a space in which are housed at least two light guides (40) and a support (5) on which are arranged the two light guides 40, the two light guides (40) each being visible through one of the two transparent regions (31), the two light guides (40) being connected to each other by a junction sheet (400), and the junction sheet (400) and the two light guides (40) forming a one-piece item (4), - the support (5) comprising a first reason (51) in relief visible through the transparent regions (31) of the crystal (3), - the junction layer (400) comprising a second reason (41) in relief visible through the transparent regions (31) of the crystal (3), and - an interstice (6), formed between the junction ply (400) and the support (5), being arranged between the first (51) and second (41) reasons, wherein the support (5) comprises a recess (54) defining a step between two drawings and the junction ply (400) is housed in the recess (54) so that the first (51) and second (41) reasons have an outer surface substantially in the same drawing.

2. Optical unit (1) according to claim 1, in which at least one of the first (51) and second (41) reasons comprises recessed zones (42 or 52) extending parallel to the gap (6).

3. Optical unit (1) according to claim 2, in which each of the two light guides (40) extends along a longitudinal management (L), and the recessed zones (42 or 52) are repeated periodically along the longitudinal management (L) along which each of the two light guides (40) extends.

4. Optical unit (1) according to one of the previous claims, in which the first (51) and second (41) reasons each comprise recessed zones (42 or 52) and the recessed zones (42 or 52) of the first (51) and second (41) reasons are repeated with the same periodicity.

5. Optical unit (1) according to one of the previous claims, wherein the minimum distance (δ), perpendicular to the longitudinal management (L) of each of the two light guides 40, between each of the two light guides (40) and the crystal (3), is identical.

6. Optical unit (1) according to one of the previous claims, comprising a mask (7) comprising openings (70), each of these openings (70) allowing one of the two light guides (40) to appear, respectively, through the lens (3) and defining an angle of projection (α) of the light emitted by each of the two light guides (40) through the lens (3), which is the same for each of the two light guides (40).

7. Optical unit (1) according to one of the previous claims, comprising an opaque strip (32) positioned in local, on, or in, the lens (3) so as to at least partially mask the gap (6), according to an observation management.

8. Vehicle (100) comprising an optical unit (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, and a bumper (120), and in which the junction ply (400) is not masked by the bumper (120).

9. A vehicle (100) according to claim 8, in which the optical unit (1) comprises an opaque strip (32) positioned local to, on, or in the lens (3) so as to at least partially mask the gap (6), according to an observation management, and in which the opaque strip (32) is aligned with a visible reason (130) of the vehicle (100).

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