High beam module for a motor vehicle, having an upwardly directed light source
Patent Information
- Application Number
- EP2023767879
- Authority / Receiving Office
- EP · EP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2022-09-06
- Filing Date
- 2023-09-06
- Publication Date
- 2025-07-16
AI Technical Summary
Existing automotive lighting modules for motor vehicles are vertically bulky due to the superposition of opposing lighting modules for low-beam and high-beam functions, which compromises their compactness and seamless lighting performance.
A lighting module design featuring a reflective surface with a hyperbolic or elliptical profile that redirects light rays to illuminate the entrance face of projection optics up to its edges, with a focal point located at the rear of the collector, allowing for a vertically compact and seamless road-type lighting beam without upper horizontal cutoff, achieved by redistributing light rays to converge horizontally and diverge vertically.
The solution enables the production of a vertically compact lighting module capable of producing a road-type lighting beam with reduced vertical size, effectively combining low-beam and high-beam functions while maintaining a seamless lighting performance.
Smart Images
Figure 1.1
Abstract
Description
[0001] DESCRIPTION
[0002] ROAD LIGHTING MODULE FOR MOTOR VEHICLE WITH UPWARD-DIRECTED LIGHT SOURCE
[0003] Technical field
[0004] The invention relates to the technical field of lighting, more particularly automotive lighting.
[0005] Prior art
[0006] The published patent document WO 2020 / 025171 A1 discloses an automotive lighting module comprising, essentially, a light source of the light-emitting diode type illuminating upwards, a collector with a reflective surface of elliptical profile configured to collect and reflect the light rays emitted by the light source towards a projection lens configured to image the reflective surface illuminated by the light source. For this purpose, the projection lens comprises a focus located on or near the reflective surface, preferably near a rear edge of the reflective surface, so as to sharply image the rear edge thus forming an upper cut-off. The lighting beam thus produced makes it possible to perform a lighting function of the "code" or "low-beam" type in English.
[0007] The published patent document FR 3 093 789 A1 discloses a double lighting module comprising a first lighting module according to the principle of the aforementioned document WO 2020 / 025171 A1 and a second lighting module also according to the same principle but opposite to the first lighting module. The light source of the second lighting module then illuminates downwards, the projection lens then imaging an illuminated reflective surface inverted with respect to the first lighting module and thus producing a lighting beam with a lower horizontal cut-off, complementing the lighting beam with an upper horizontal cut-off of the first lighting module to achieve a lighting function of the "high-beam" type.This combination of lighting modules is advantageous for achieving both low beam and high beam lighting functions but may have a disadvantage of vertical bulk due to the superposition, in this case in opposite directions, of the two lighting modules.
[0008] Disclosure of the invention The invention aims to overcome at least one drawback of the aforementioned state of the art. More particularly, the invention aims to propose a lighting module capable of producing a compatible lighting beam to achieve a superior seamless lighting function, which is vertically compact.
[0009] The subject of the invention is a lighting module comprising
[0010] - an optical axis;
[0011] - at least one light source capable of emitting light rays along a main lighting axis directed upwards when the lighting module is in operational position;
[0012] - a collector with at least one reflective surface configured to collect and reflect the light rays emitted by the at least one light source into a reflected light beam along the optical axis;
[0013] - an optic for projecting the reflected light beam into a projected light beam; remarkable in that the at least one reflective surface is configured so that the reflected light beam illuminates an entry face of said projection optic up to an upper edge and / or a lower edge of said entry face; and the projection optic comprises a focus located, along the optical axis, at the rear of the at least one reflective surface.
[0014] These measurements are configured to horizontally image the at least one reflective surface illuminated by the light rays, to a lesser extent than vertically. The invention thus exploits this feature by illuminating the entrance face of the projection optics up to the upper edge and / or up to the lower edge of the entrance face of the projection optics. Also, the presence of the focus of the projection lens at the rear of the collector makes it possible to image the at least one illuminated reflective surface less clearly and, therefore, to redistribute the light rays vertically by vertically bringing the light rays coming from the front and rear zones of the at least one reflective surface closer together.
[0015] Advantageously, the projection optics is a projection lens. Alternatively, the projection optics may be formed by at least one mirror. According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the light rays reflected by a front part of the at least one reflecting surface, along the optical axis, reach an area of the entry face adjacent to the upper edge and / or the light rays reflected by a rear part of the at least one reflecting surface, along the optical axis, reach an area of the entry face adjacent to the lower edge.
[0016] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the at least one reflective surface has a hyperbolic profile in a vertical plane defined by the optical axis and the main lighting axis, with a first focus located at the level of the at least one light source and a second, virtual focus located at the rear of the collector. The reflective surface can then have a hyperbolic profile in a horizontal plane extending perpendicular to the main lighting axis. Alternatively, the reflective surface can have an elliptical profile in a horizontal plane extending perpendicular to the main lighting axis, making it possible to converge the reflected light beam in the horizontal plane, while the reflected light beam diverges in the vertical plane.
[0017] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the second focus of the at least one reflecting surface is located at a distance, along the optical axis, from the first focus of the at least one reflecting surface, which is greater than or equal to a distance, along said optical axis, between said first focus and the entry face of the projection optics.
[0018] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the at least one reflective surface has an elliptical profile with a first focus located at the level of the at least one light source and a second focus located in front of the entry face of the projection optics.
[0019] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the second focus of the at least one reflective surface located at the front of the projection optics forms a vertically oriented curve when the lighting module is in the operational position.
[0020] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the projection optics comprises a vertical optical power and a horizontal optical power which is zero or less than said vertical optical power. Advantageously, the horizontal optical power is less than 50% of the vertical optical power. Advantageously, the projected light beam forms, in particular in part, an automotive lighting beam of the road type.
[0021] The invention also relates to a lighting device for a motor vehicle, comprising a first lighting module configured to project a first light beam with a higher horizontal cut-off, for example according to a function of the dipped beam type; and a second lighting module configured to project a second light beam forming with the first light beam, at least in part, a lighting function of the road type; remarkable in that the second module is according to the invention.
[0022] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the first lighting module comprises at least one light source arranged on a plate and a collector with at least one reflective surface configured to collect and reflect light rays emitted by said at least one light source into a first reflected light beam; the at least one light source of the second lighting module being arranged on the plate and directed in the same direction as the at least one source of the first lighting module.
[0023] The measures of the invention are advantageous in that they make it possible to produce a lighting module capable of producing a light beam forming, with one or more light beams with a higher horizontal cut-off, a lighting function without a higher horizontal cut-off, in particular a regulatory automotive lighting function of the "road" type, which is vertically compact, in particular in combination with other lighting modules forming the light beam(s) with a higher horizontal cut-off.
[0024] Brief description of the drawings
[0025] [Fig 1] is a schematic representation, in section, of a lighting module according to the state of the art;
[0026] [Fig 2] represents the image of the light beam produced by the lighting module of figure 1;
[0027] [Fig 3] is a schematic representation, in section, of a lighting module according to a first embodiment of the invention; [Fig 4] represents the image of the light beam produced by the lighting module of figure 3;
[0028] [Fig 5] is a schematic representation, in section, of a lighting module according to a second embodiment of the invention;
[0029] [Fig 6] represents the image of the light beam produced by the lighting module of figure 5;
[0030] [Fig 7] is a schematic representation, in perspective, of a lighting device according to the invention.
[0031] Detailed description
[0032] In the following description, the concepts of relative position and orientation, as expressed by the terms “top”, “bottom”, “front”, “rear”, “upper”, “lower”, are to be understood when the lighting module or device is in the operational position as illustrated in the figures.
[0033] Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a lighting module according to the state of the art.
[0034] Figure 1 is a schematic sectional view of a lighting module according to the state of the art. The lighting module 2 comprises a light source 4, of the light-emitting diode type, illuminating in a space delimited by a plane corresponding to the extent of the light source, in this case horizontal, and directed upwards in a main lighting direction 4.1 perpendicular to said plane. The lighting module 2 also comprises a collector 6 provided with a reflective surface 6.1 forming a cavity capable of collecting and reflecting the light rays emitted directly by the light source 4. The lighting module 2 also comprises a projection lens 8 perpendicular to the optical axis 10 of said lighting module. The light source 4 is aligned with the optical axis 10, for the sake of simplification, it being understood, however, that it may be at a distance from said optical axis 10. The reflective surface 6.1 has a rotationally symmetrical elliptical profile, over 180° or less, around the optical axis 10, with a first focus 6.1.1 located at the light source 4 and a second focus 6.1.2 located on the entrance face 8.1, opposite the exit face 8.2, of the projection lens 8. The latter comprises a focus 8.3 located at the intersection of the optical axis 10 with the reflecting surface 6.1. The projection lens 8 has a vergence or optical power, corresponding to the inverse of the focal length, i.e. the distance between the projection lens 8 and the focus 8.3, in all directions perpendicular to the optical axis 10, so as to completely image the part of the reflecting surface 6.1 located at the focus 8.3. The remainder of the reflecting surface 6.1 is also imaged but with less sharpness depending on the distance from the focus 8.3. For this purpose, the projection lens 8 has entrance faces 8.1 and 8.2 showing curvatures in horizontal and vertical planes.
[0035] Figure 2 graphically illustrates the image of the light beam projected by the lighting module of Figure 1, by a contour of the same luminous illumination, commonly referred to as the iso-lux curve, in an orthonormal reference frame HV where H corresponds to a horizontal axis and V to a vertical axis. The intersection of the axes H and V corresponds to the optical axis 10. The luminous image has an appearance which actually corresponds to the reflective surface 6.1 illuminated by the light source 4 (Figure 1), however inverted. The upper central part of the luminous image corresponds to the part of the reflective surface 6.1 located at the focus 8.3 (Figure 1) and thus forms a horizontal cut-off, while the lower part of the luminous image corresponds to the part of the reflective surface 6.1 located at a front edge of said reflective surface, and generally does not form a sharp cut-off.
[0036] The light image illustrated in Figure 2, due to its shape and its differences in sharpness, is not suitable for completing a light image with a higher horizontal cut-off corresponding to a lighting function of the “code” or “low-beam” type in English, with a view to forming a lighting function of the “road” or “high-beam” type in English.
[0037] Figures 3 and 4 illustrate a lighting module according to a first embodiment of the invention.
[0038] Figure 3 is a schematic sectional view of the lighting module according to the first embodiment of the invention. The reference numbers of the lighting module of Figure 1 are used to designate identical or corresponding elements, these numbers being increased by 100. Reference is also made to the description of these elements in relation to Figures 1 and 2.
[0039] The lighting module 102 of Figure 3 differs from the lighting module 2 of Figure 1 essentially in that the reflecting surface 106.1 of the collector 106 has a hyperbolic profile in a vertical plane defined by the optical axis 110 and the main lighting axis 104. The reflecting surface 106.1 then has a first focus 106.1.1 located at the level of the light source 104 and a second virtual focus 106.1.2, located at the rear of the reflecting surface 106.1 in question and therefore also behind the collector 106. This configuration of the reflecting surface 106.1 has the effect of producing a diverging reflected light beam, in particular in the vertical plane, capable of illuminating the entrance face 108.1 of the projection lens 8 up to the upper edge 108.3 and / or up to the lower edge 108.4 of said projection lens 8. projection 108. In other words, the rays reflected by the front part of the reflecting surface 106.1 reach an area of the entrance face 108.1 adjacent to the upper edge 108.3 and, similarly, the rays reflected by the rear portion of the reflecting surface 106.1 reach an area of the entrance face 108.1 adjacent to the lower edge 108.4. The area of the entrance face 108.1 adjacent to the upper edge 108.3 advantageously comprises said upper edge 108.3. Similarly, the area of the entrance face 108.1 adjacent to the lower edge 108.4 advantageously comprises said lower edge 108.4.
[0040] An upper portion of the reflected light beam may be lost and thus cut off by the upper edge 108.3 of said projection lens 108. This cut off of the upper portion of the reflected light beam results in a lower cut off of the projected light beam, taking into account the inversion due to the projection lens 108.
[0041] It will be noted that the reflective surface 106.1 may advantageously have an elliptical profile in a horizontal plane, extending perpendicular to the main lighting axis. Alternatively, the reflective surface 106.1 may have a hyperbolic profile in the horizontal plane.
[0042] The distance, along the optical axis 110, between the first focus 106.1.1 and the second, virtual focus 106.1.2 is advantageously greater than or equal to a distance, along the optical axis 110, between the first focus 106.1.1 in question and the entrance face 108.1 of the projection lens 108. This makes it possible to limit the divergence of the reflected light beam and thus to limit the size, in particular vertically, of the projection lens 108. The lighting module 102 of FIG. 3 also differs from the lighting module 2 of FIG. 1 in that the focus 108.5 of the projection lens 108 is located at the rear of the collector 106 and the reflective surface 106.1. This configuration has the effect of defocusing the reflective surface 106.1 illuminated by the light source 104, the rear and front edges of said reflective surface 106.1 being then imaged so that they are brought closer to each other, leading to an essentially vertical light redistribution consisting of vertically bringing together the light rays coming from the front and rear zones of the reflecting surface 106.1.
[0043] The lighting module 102 of Figure 3 differs from the lighting module 2 of Figure 1 also in that the projection lens 108 comprises a planar input face 108.1 and an output face 108.2 with vertical curvature only, i.e., without horizontal curvature. The illustrated projection lens 108 thus has zero horizontal optical power. This is a simplified configuration for the purpose of clarity of disclosure of the invention. It is understood that the projection lens 108 may have other geometric characteristics while having a vertical optical power associated with its focus 108.5 located behind the reflecting surface 106.1 and a horizontal optical power that is zero or lower than the vertical optical power in question.In the case of non-zero horizontal optical power, the projection lens 108 then has a second focus, called the horizontal focus, located further back along the optical axis 110 relative to the focus 108.5, meaning that the reflecting surface 106.1 illuminated by the light source 104 will only be partially imaged horizontally or imperfectly imaged horizontally, also leading to a horizontal spread of the projected light beam produced by the lighting module 102. The horizontal optical power, since it is non-zero, is advantageously less than 50% of the vertical optical power.
[0044] Figure 4 graphically illustrates the image of the light beam projected by the lighting module of Figure 3, by a contour of the same luminous illumination, commonly referred to as an iso-lux curve, similarly to Figure 2. The luminous image in question is illustrated by a continuous line while the luminous image of the light beam projected by the lighting module of Figure 1 and illustrated in Figure 2, is illustrated by a broken line. It can be observed that the luminous image of the light beam produced by the lighting module 102 of Figure 3 is significantly more spread horizontally than the luminous image of the light beam produced by the lighting module of Figure 1, making it suitable for completing a light beam with a higher horizontal cutoff in order to form a light beam without a horizontal cutoff, such as for example a lighting function of the “road” type.
[0045] Figures 5 and 6 illustrate a lighting module according to a second embodiment of the invention.
[0046] Figure 5 is a schematic sectional view of the lighting module according to the second embodiment of the invention. The reference numbers of the lighting module of Figure 3 are used to designate identical or corresponding elements, these numbers being increased by 100. Reference is also made to the description of these elements in relation to Figures 3 and 4 as well as to the description of these elements in relation to Figures 1 and 2.
[0047] The lighting module 202 of Figure 5 differs from the lighting module 102 of Figure 3 essentially in that the reflecting surface 206.1 of the collector 206 has an elliptical profile. The reflecting surface 206.1 then has a first focus 206.1.1 located at the level of the light source 204 and a second focus which is no longer virtual at the rear of the collector, but formed by a vertical focus curve 206.1.2 located at the front of the projection lens 208, so as to illuminate with the light beam reflected by the reflecting surface 206.1, the entry face 208.1 upwards to its upper edge 208.3 and downwards to its lower edge 208.4, an upper part of said reflected light beam then being able to be lost and therefore cut off by the upper edge 208.3 in question.This cutoff of the upper portion of the reflected light beam results in a lower cutoff of the projected light beam, taking into account the inversion due to the projection lens 208. Also, the vertical focus curve 206.1.2 in front of the projection lens 208 causes a decrease in the vertical spread of the projected light beam and causes illumination of a vertically extended portion of the entrance face 208.1 of the projection lens 208, favorable to a horizontal spread of the projected light beam, as in the first and second embodiments.
[0048] Similar to the lighting module 102 of Figure 3, the focal point 208.5 of the projection lens 208 is located behind the collector 206 and the reflective surface 206.1, and the projection lens 208 includes a planar input face 208.1 and an output face 208.2 with vertical curvature only, i.e., no horizontal curvature. The illustrated projection lens 208 thus has zero horizontal optical power. These differences are similar to the differences between the lighting module 102 of Figure 3 and the lighting module 2 of Figure 1.
[0049] Figure 6 graphically illustrates the image of the light beam projected by the lighting module of Figure 5, by a contour of the same luminous illumination, commonly referred to as the iso-lux curve, similarly to Figures 2 and 4.
[0050] The light image in question is illustrated by a solid line while the light image of the light beam projected by the lighting module of Figure 1 and illustrated in Figure 2, is illustrated by a broken line. It can be observed that the light image of the light beam projected by the lighting module of Figure 5 has the same vertical spread as the light image of the light beam projected by the lighting module of Figure 1. Alternatively, the light image of the light beam projected by the lighting module of Figure 5 could be less vertically spread than the light image of the light beam projected by the lighting module of Figure 1 due to the lower cutoff.It can also be observed that the light image of the light beam projected by the lighting module of Figure 5 is slightly more horizontally spread than the light image of the light beam projected by the lighting module of Figure 1 due to the horizontal optical power being zero or lower than the vertical optical power.
[0051] It should be noted that cutting off the upper part of the reflected light beam is optional.
[0052] Figure 7 illustrates in perspective and schematically a lighting device comprising several lighting modules, at least one of which is in accordance with the invention. The lighting device 112 comprises a first lighting module 114, similar or identical to the lighting module 2 illustrated in Figure 1. Such a lighting module is then configured to produce a projected light beam with a preferably flat upper horizontal cutoff and commonly referred to by the English term "fiat". The light image of such a light beam is illustrated graphically and schematically on an orthonormal HV reference frame, similarly to Figures 2, 4, 6 and 8.
[0053] The lighting device 112 comprises at least one second lighting module according to the invention, in this case such as one of the modules 102 and 202 described previously. This or these second lighting modules are then configured to produce, each, a projected light beam without upper horizontal cutoff, capable of supplementing the light beam of the first lighting module 114 in order to form a lighting light beam without upper horizontal cutoff, in this case a regulatory automotive lighting beam of the “road” type.
[0054] The lighting device 112 may also comprise a third lighting module 116, similar to the first lighting module 114, but different in that it is configured to project a narrow lighting beam with a horizontal cutoff with a kink. This light beam, combined with that of the first lighting module 114, makes it possible to produce a regulatory automotive lighting beam of the “low beam” type for European territories. Certain regulations, in particular that of the United States of America, do not require a kink in the horizontal cutoff, in which case the third lighting module may be omitted.It should be noted, however, that the third lighting module may be configured to produce a light beam with a flat upper horizontal cutoff, similarly to the first lighting module 114, in addition to the light beam of said first lighting module, in order to produce the regulatory automotive lighting beam of the "low beam" type for territories not requiring a step.
[0055] It is interesting to note that the light sources of each of the first, second and third lighting modules are arranged on a common plate 118, and all directed upwards. The collectors of the lighting modules are then each oriented with their opening directed downwards and advantageously supported by the plate 118 or at least secured to the plate 118. It is also conceivable, or even preferable, that the collectors of the different lighting modules are formed integrally, in a single piece. The projection lens 120 of the lighting device can then be a juxtaposition of the projection lenses of the different lighting modules, these projection lenses then being able to advantageously be formed integrally, in a single piece.
[0056] The lighting device 112 of FIG. 7 thus has a limited vertical footprint, which is particularly advantageous for its integration into current vehicle body silhouettes.
[0057] In general, namely in particular for the first and second embodiments, each lighting module may comprise several light sources arranged side by side and several reflective surfaces also arranged side by side, advantageously formed on the collector. Also, the light source(s) are not necessarily located precisely on the optical axis; they may in fact be located below the optical axis. Also, when the focus of the projection lens is located behind the reflective surface, it does not necessarily have to be located on the optical axis; it may in fact be located at a distance from said optical axis, for example above. In other words, certain geometric simplifications have been made in the embodiments, for the sake of clarity of presentation, it being understood that deviations from these geometric simplifications are conceivable within the scope of the invention.
[0058] Also generally, the projection lens can be replaced by one or more projection mirrors. In this case, the mirror or at least one of the mirrors has a non-planar surface capable of forming and projecting the light beam.
Claims
CLAIMS [Claim 1.] Lighting module (102; 202) comprising: - an optical axis (110; 210); - at least one light source (104; 204) capable of emitting light rays along a main lighting axis (104.1; 204.1) directed upwards when the lighting module (102; 202) is in the operational position; - a collector (106; 206) with at least one reflective surface (106.1; 206.1) configured to collect and reflect the light rays emitted by the at least one light source (104; 204) into a light beam reflected along the optical axis (110; 210); - a projection optic (108; 208) of the reflected light beam into a projected light beam; characterized in that the at least one reflecting surface (106.1; 206.1) is configured so that the reflected light beam illuminates an entry face (108.1; 208.1) of said projection optic (108; 208) up to an upper edge (108.3; 208.3) and / or a lower edge (108.4; 208.4) of said entry face, and in that the projection optics (108; 208) comprise a focus (108.3; 208.3) located, along the optical axis (110; 210), at the rear of the at least one reflective surface (106.1; 206.1). [Claim 2.] Lighting module (102; 202) according to claim 1, wherein the light rays reflected by a front part of the at least one reflective surface (106.1; 206.1) along the optical axis (110; 210) reach an area of the entrance face (108.1; 208.1) adjacent to the upper edge (108.3; 208.3) and the light rays reflected by a rear part of the at least one reflective surface (106.1; 206.1) along the optical axis (110; 210) reach an area of the entrance face (108.1; 208.1) adjacent to the lower edge (108.4; 208.4). [Claim 3.] Lighting module (102) according to one of claims 1 and 2, in which the at least one reflective surface (106.1) has a hyperbolic profile in a vertical plane defined by the optical axis and the main lighting axis, with a first focus (106.1.1) located at the level of the at least one reflective surface (106.1). at least one light source (104) and a second, virtual focus (106.1.2) located at the rear of the collector (106). [Claim 4.] The lighting module (102) of claim 3, wherein the second focus (106.1.2) of the at least one reflective surface (106.1) is located at a distance, along the optical axis (110), from the first focus (106.1 .1 ) of the at least one reflecting surface (106.1 ), which is greater than or equal to a distance, along said optical axis (110), between said first focus (106.1 .1 ) and the entry face (108.1 ) of the projection optics (108). [Claim 5.] Lighting module (202) according to one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the at least one reflective surface (206. 1 ) has an elliptical profile with a first focus located at the level of the at least one light source (204) and a second focus (206. 1 . 2) located in front of the projection optics (208). [Claim 6.] The lighting module (202) of claim 5, wherein the second focus (206.1.2) of the at least one reflective surface (206.1) located in front of the projection optics (208) forms a vertically oriented curve when the lighting module is in the operational position. [Claim 7.] Lighting module (102; 202) according to one of claims 1 to 6, in which the projection optics (108; 208) comprise a vertical optical power and a horizontal optical power zero or less than said vertical optical power. [Claim 8.] Lighting device (112) for a motor vehicle, comprising: - a first lighting module (114) configured to project a first light beam with a higher horizontal cutoff, for example according to a code type function; and - a second lighting module (102; 202) configured to project a second light beam forming with the first light beam, at least in part, a road type lighting function; characterized in that the second module (102; 202) is according to one of claims 1 to 7. [Claim 9.] The lighting device (112) of claim 8, wherein the first lighting module (118) comprises at least one source light arranged on a plate (118) and a collector with at least one reflective surface configured to collect and reflect light rays emitted by said at least one light source into a first reflected beam; the at least one light source of the second lighting module (102; 202) being arranged on the plate (118) and directed in the same direction as the at least one source of the first lighting module (114).