Light guide as secondary light source

Abstract

The invention relates to a signalling device (1) for a vehicle, comprising a light source (9), a main light guide (12) and a secondary light guide (24), the light source (9) emitting a light beam and being arranged facing a first end of the main light guide (14), so that the light beam propagates in the main light guide (12), the main light guide (12) comprising an extraction zone (18) intended for deflecting a portion of the light beam out of the main light guide (12) and a guiding zone (20) passed through by a portion of the light beam not deflected out of the main light guide (12) by the extraction zone (18), a second end (16) of the main guide (12) being arranged so as to transmit the portion of the light beam not deflected within the secondary light guide (24) towards an output (32).

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] Title: Light guide as a secondary light source

[0003] The present invention relates to a lighting device, in particular for a motor vehicle, and it relates more particularly to a lighting device comprising at least one signaling device capable of generating, at least in part, a signaling beam meeting aesthetic and regulatory criteria.

[0004] Motor vehicles traveling on the road are equipped with lighting devices that implement both lighting functions, which aim to improve the visibility of the road scene for the driver of the vehicle, and signaling functions that aim to make the driver's driving actions visible and / or to make the vehicle visible to other road users. These lighting devices must comply with regulatory standards.

[0005] Lighting modules present in the lighting devices must in particular allow the realization of two different lighting functions including a dipped beam function and a main beam function.

[0006] Dipped headlights allow a motor vehicle to be seen by other road users and allow its driver to see the road properly up to 30 meters away, without dazzling other road users. High beam headlights emit light beams with a greater range so that the driver of the motor vehicle can see the road properly, at least 100 meters away in night conditions.

[0007] Signaling devices present in the lighting devices can perform a plurality of signaling functions, among which, without this list being exhaustive, we can notably cite daytime running lights also known by the English acronym DRL for "Daytime Running Light", flashing lights indicating a direction of change of trajectory of the motor vehicle, position lights making it possible to indicate to other users the position of the vehicle, or even "STOP" lights indicating to other road users the use of a braking control.

[0008] Manufacturers, for aesthetic reasons in particular, may be required to provide lighting devices in which the signaling device is split into two or more parts, at a distance from each other, in particular when the lighting device comprises a lighting module and a signaling device, arranged in the same housing for reasons of space requirement and / or visual signature. In particular, the two parts of the signaling device may be arranged on either side of the lighting module.

[0009] However, the design of the signaling device is subject to regulatory constraints, in particular imposing a distance less than or equal to 75 mm between each part of a signaling device for the performance of a given signaling function. It is understood that having two parts of a signaling device on either side of a lighting module may conflict with regulatory constraints.

[0010] In order to comply with these constraints, it may be considered to increase the number of light sources dedicated to producing the signaling beam, so that the distance between two adjacent emission zones of a part of the signaling beam is less than or at most equal to 75 mm. It is then appropriate to control them via an appropriate control means so that the light emissions are simultaneous to jointly perform the same signaling function. Such a solution is expensive insofar as it is necessary to provide and control the control means and insofar as it is necessary to provide a greater number of printed circuit boards to ensure the operation of this plurality of light sources.

[0011] The present invention is intended to achieve an economical and compact design for a lighting device in which it is desired to have a signaling function in several parts, in particular to be able to arrange each of these parts on either side of other means of the lighting device allowing the implementation of other functions, such as for example a lighting function. The main object of the present invention is therefore a signaling device for a motor vehicle comprising a light source, a main light guide and a secondary light guide to form at least in part a signaling function in at least two parts, the light source being intended to emit a light beam and being arranged opposite a first end of the main light guide,so that said light beam propagates in the main light guide from this first end to a second end of the main light guide opposite the first end, said main light guide comprising on the one hand an extraction zone extending between the first and second ends and intended to deflect a portion of said light beam out of the main light guide in order to form a first part of the signaling function and on the other hand a guide zone extending the extraction zone in the direction of the second end of the main guide and capable of being crossed by a portion of the light beam not deflected out of the main light guide by the extraction zone, the second end of the main guide being arranged opposite an entrance of a secondary optical means of the secondary light guide, preferably a dioptric part capable of deflecting or collimating the light,so as to transmit said portion of the undeflected light beam within the secondary light guide, the secondary light guide being configured to direct said portion of the light beam therein towards an output of the secondary light guide to form a second part of the signaling function.,

[0012] The main light guide is configured to guide within it the light rays emitted by the light source, in particular by successive total internal reflections, towards the second end, opposite the light source. The propagation in the material of the main light guide continues until the rays encounter the extraction zone. In this extraction zone, the direction of propagation of the light rays is modified at least for a portion of them, the deflected light rays being in particular directed opposite the deflection means to encounter the surface of the main light guide with an angle of incidence such that these light rays exit the guide to form part of the signaling function.

[0013] At the exit from this extraction zone, the portion of the light beam still present in the main light guide is brought to meet the second end. This portion of the light beam meets the second end with an angle of incidence such that the rays exit by refraction from the main light guide through the second end, for example formed by a flat surface, and which is arranged across the direction of propagation of the light rays.

[0014] The secondary light guide is separate from the main light guide, but is arranged directly opposite the second end of the main light guide so that the rays which exit the main light guide via this second end are fully collected, via the secondary optical means which may take the form of a dioptric part capable of deflecting or collimating the light, within the secondary light guide.

[0015] Such a signaling device complies with the regulatory constraints applicable to signaling devices generating a signaling function in several parts, with a second part of the signaling function, formalized here by the emission zone formed by the output face of the secondary light guide, which may be at a distance less than or equal to 75 mm from the first part of the signaling function, formalized here by the emission zone formed by the extraction zone of the main light guide.

[0016] This configuration makes it possible in particular to limit the need for light-emitting diodes and printed circuits for the purpose of economy and compactness by using the end of the main light guide as a secondary light source, capable of emitting light rays into the secondary light guide. In this way, the secondary light guide forms a light-emitting zone capable of forming part of the signaling function without it being necessary to associate a light-emitting diode and a printed circuit board specifically with this secondary light guide.

[0017] It should be noted that a difference in light intensity can be observed between the emission area formed by the extraction area of ​​the main light guide and the emission area formed by the secondary light guide. The main light guide generates part of the signaling function at higher intensity, given its arrangement directly opposite a light source, while the secondary light guide generates part of the signaling function at lower intensity, since it is positioned at a distance from the light source and is only illuminated indirectly, by the main light guide which forms a secondary light source.The arrangement of the signaling device thus makes it possible, in addition to savings on the cost price as previously mentioned, to ensure that the remote emission zone, implemented by the secondary light guide, is only distinguishable by a road user to meet regulatory constraints but without altering the aesthetics desired by the car manufacturer. Of course, without departing from the context of the invention, this remote emission zone can be sufficiently bright to be seen depending on the optical parameters used and the apparent surface to be illuminated.

[0018] According to an optional feature of the invention, the extraction zone of the main light guide comprises prisms on a first face of the main light guide, the prisms being configured to deflect the light rays towards a second face opposite the first face.

[0019] The extraction zone is provided with prisms, which are in particular arranged on a face of the main light guide extending transversely to the direction of propagation that it is desired to give to the light rays deflected out of the main light guide to form the first part of the signaling function. The extent of the extraction zone, that is to say the extent of the zone on which prisms are produced, is a function of the dimension that it is desired to give to the light emission zone forming the first part of the signaling function.It is understood that in the signaling device of the invention, the extent of the extraction zone is defined to deflect out of the main light guide a significant portion of the rays originally propagating within the material of this light guide, for example of the order of 70%, but that it is further defined so that a portion of the rays, of the order of 10 to 30% of the rays originally propagating within the material of this light guide, reaches the second end of the main light guide, to be able to supply the secondary light guide with light rays.

[0020] According to an optional characteristic of the invention, the guide zone has smooth faces without prisms.

[0021] The guide zone is thus able to cause the portion of the light beam not deflected to pass out of the light guide through the extraction zone, in order to guide it towards the secondary light guide to generate a secondary light source able to project light rays within the secondary light guide.

[0022] The absence of prisms allows the light rays remaining within the main light guide to be propagated by total internal reflections to the second end. The light beams propagating in the guide zone are thus able to penetrate into the secondary light guide, in order to illuminate its exit surface and thus establish a second part of the signaling function.

[0023] According to an optional feature of the invention, the main light guide is tubular. This shape makes it possible to give the main light guide a curved shape, particularly useful for aesthetic reasons and to allow it to fit the contour of a lighting module next to which the signaling device is arranged.

[0024] According to an optional feature of the invention, the secondary light guide is configured in the form of a sheet.

[0025] According to an optional feature of the invention, the input of the secondary light guide is arranged on a main face of the sheet forming said secondary light guide and the output is arranged on an edge perpendicular to said main face. In other words, the light rays exiting the main light guide at the second end thereof, i.e. at the guide zone, enter the secondary light guide via the input thereof, the input being arranged directly opposite the second end of the main light guide, where appropriate being in contact with it. The secondary light guide is configured to deflect the rays by total reflection and possibly by refraction on the input face in order to orient these rays substantially in the main elongation plane of the sheet, so that they can exit via an edge forming the output face of the secondary light guide.The sheet configuration of the secondary light guide provides a larger illuminated surface than that formed by the tubular section of the second end of the main light guide, and a homogeneously illuminated surface.

[0026] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle signaling unit comprising a signaling device as previously described, and further comprising at least one additional light source and one additional main light guide which form an additional functional assembly similar to a functional assembly formed by the light source and the main light guide of the signaling device, said functional assemblies being arranged at a distance from each other, so that the additional main light guide is separated from the main light guide by a distance greater than a threshold value, the secondary light guide being arranged between the main light guide and the additional main light guide.

[0027] In other words, the signaling device mentioned above helps to form a signaling unit in several assemblies within the same lighting device, for example to be able to arrange each of these assemblies in particular zones of the lighting device, around means implementing another lighting function. And the signaling device advantageously comprises the secondary light guide which makes it possible to generate a light emission zone between the two main light guides, so as to limit the distance between the remote emission zones of the same signaling function and thus comply with the regulatory constraints of maximum spacing between the emission zones of the same signaling function. For example, the threshold value may be equal to 75 mm.

[0028] According to an optional feature, the additional functional assembly further comprises an additional secondary light guide.

[0029] According to an optional feature, which contributes to forming a specific embodiment of the invention, the additional secondary light guide is powered by the light emitted by the additional main light guide. More particularly, the additional secondary light guide is arranged opposite one end of the additional main light guide so that a portion of the light propagating within the additional main light guide contributes to illuminating the additional secondary light guide.

[0030] In this context, the additional functional assembly may comprise an additional printed circuit board on which the additional light source is arranged, the printed circuit board associated with the signaling device and the additional printed circuit board being arranged on either side of the lighting module.

[0031] This ensures symmetrical operation, with light projection within the main light guide and propagation to the secondary light guide and a second signaling zone formed by the output face of the secondary light guide, in a head-to-tail arrangement. The sources are arranged on either side of the lighting module, as are the output faces of the secondary light guides. This allows good symmetry of the signaling function and therefore a good aesthetic result.

[0032] According to an optional feature, which contributes to forming another specific embodiment of the invention, the additional secondary light guide is powered directly by a second additional light source, the additional light source configured to emit light rays into the additional main light guide forming a first additional light source.

[0033] In this context, each of the additional light sources and the light source can be fixed on the same printed circuit board. This solution is more economical since it involves the presence of only one printed circuit board, and it can thus be considered even if it is necessary to adjust the light intensity of the second additional light source to avoid creating an imbalance in the intensity of the light emitted by each secondary light guide.

[0034] According to an optional feature, the signaling device and the additional functional assembly are configured to generate a daytime running light function.

[0035] The invention also covers a lighting device, comprising a lighting module configured to generate a vehicle lighting function and a signaling unit as previously mentioned, the functional assembly of the signaling device and the additional functional assembly being arranged on either side of the lighting module. It should be noted that, when it is said that the functional assembly of the signaling device and the additional functional assembly are arranged on either side of the lighting module, this implies in particular that the main light guide and the additional main light guide are arranged on either side of the lighting module and / or that the secondary light guide and the additional secondary light guide are arranged on either side of the lighting module.Where appropriate, where each functional assembly is associated with its own printed circuit board, the printed circuit boards are arranged on either side of the lighting module.

[0036] According to an optional characteristic of the invention, the secondary light guide and the additional secondary light guide are arranged on either side of the lighting module in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the main light guides are arranged on either side of this same lighting module. Other characteristics, details and advantages of the invention will emerge more clearly on reading the description of a detailed embodiment which follows, given for informational and non-limiting purposes with reference to the appended schematic drawings, in which:

[0037] [Fig.i] illustrates, in perspective, a lighting device according to a first embodiment of the invention, in which the lighting module and the signaling unit are made visible in particular;

[0038] [Fig.2] illustrates, in perspective, an assembly of the signaling unit of Figure 1;

[0039] [Fig.3] illustrates the entire signaling unit of Figure 2, from another perspective angle;

[0040] [Fig.4] illustrates, in perspective, a light device according to a second embodiment of the invention;

[0041] [Fig.5] illustrates, in perspective, a variant of the light device of figure 4-

[0042] It should be noted that, in the detailed description of the embodiments which follows as well as in the rest of the document, the characteristics, variants and the different embodiments of the invention may be associated with each other, in various combinations, to the extent that they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive. In particular, it will be possible to imagine variants of the invention comprising only a selection of characteristics described below in isolation from the other characteristics described, if this selection of characteristics is sufficient to confer a technical advantage and / or to differentiate the invention from the state of the prior art.

[0043] As a reminder, the invention relates to a signaling device 1, which may in particular equip a light device 100 further comprising a lighting module 2, and which comprises at least one main part ensuring the light emission of a first part of a signaling function, the signaling device further comprising at least one secondary part ensuring the light emission of a second part of the signaling function in order to avoid too large a space being present between two distinct zones participating in forming the signaling function. And the signaling device according to the invention is particular in that this secondary part is supplied with light rays by one of the main parts and not directly by a light-emitting diode fixed on a printed circuit board.

[0044] As illustrated in the figures, and in particular in figure i, the lighting device 100 in which the signaling device i is arranged may comprise a lighting module 2. The signaling device i is here part of a signaling unit which comprises two assemblies 4, 6 distributed on either side of this lighting module 2, one of the two assemblies being said signaling device. In this context, the secondary part of the signaling device forming an assembly 4 makes it possible to ensure that the distance between the main part of this assembly 4 and the other assembly 6 does not exceed a regulatory value of 75 mm.

[0045] The lighting module will not be described in more detail in the various embodiments illustrated, and it should be understood that any type of lighting module could be present here, whether it is a module configured to generate a main beam type lighting beam or a dipped beam type lighting beam, or whether it is a set of modules configured to generate each of these types of lights.

[0046] Figure 1 illustrates a first embodiment of the signaling unit comprising the signaling device 1 and the light device 100 which it equips.

[0047] As mentioned above, the signaling device 1 here forms an assembly 4 of the signaling unit. In other words, the assembly 4 and the signaling device 1 are identical. The term assembly 4 can therefore be used to designate the signaling device 1 in the remainder of the description.

[0048] More particularly here, the signaling unit comprises said signaling device 1, in other words the assembly 4, and an additional assembly 6, distinct from the assembly 4. The two assemblies 4, 6 are arranged within the light device so that the light emission zones that they generate are located less than 75 mm from the nearest emission zone.

[0049] Each of the assemblies 6 of the signaling unit, namely the signaling device 1 and the additional assembly 6, comprises a light source of its own, these two light sources being at a distance from each other and here arranged on either side of the lighting module 2. The light source 9 of the assembly 4 and the additional light source 19 of the additional assembly 6 are here composed of a light-emitting diode 8 and a printed circuit board 10, both shown schematically to enable the reader to better identify them.

[0050] It is notable that in this first embodiment, each assembly of the signaling unit has its own light source distinct from the light source of the other assembly. This notably involves the presence of two separate and interconnected printed circuit boards, and communication means, not visible here, connecting each of the printed circuit boards to a control unit to enable the simultaneous control of the light sources in order to jointly perform the signaling function.

[0051] Each of the assemblies 4, 6 of the signaling unit, namely the signaling device 1 and the additional assembly 6, also comprises a main light guide, which participates in forming an emission zone of a part of the signaling function. The main light guide 12 of the assembly 4 and the additional main light guide 112 of the additional assembly 6 both have a tubular cross-section shape and are formed from a material, for example polycarbonate (PC), which is transparent and capable of propagating the light rays within them.

[0052] The passages of the description which follow are centered on the main light guide 12 of the assembly 4 forming the signaling device, but it should be noted that they also apply to the additional main light guide 112 of the additional assembly 6. The main light guide 12 extends between a first end 14, arranged opposite the light source 9 and forming an entry zone for the light rays within the main light guide, and a second end 16, opposite the first end 14.

[0053] Between these two ends 14, 16, the main light guide comprises an extraction zone 18 configured to allow the exit of a portion of the light rays, by means of prisms made visible in figure 2 and which will be detailed below.

[0054] The main light guide 12 also comprises a transition zone 17 and a guide zone 20, devoid of prisms or any other reliefs intended to deflect the light rays within the main light guide by modifying its angle of incidence to exit the guide. The transition zone connects the first end 14 to the extraction zone 18. The guide zone 20 extends the extraction zone 18 to the second end 16. It is understood that the dimension of each of the zones of the main light guide is in particular a function of the extent that one wishes to give to the extraction zone 18, that is to say the extent of the emission zone of a part of the signaling function.

[0055] The light source 9 and the main light guide 12 form a functional assembly 41 of the assembly 4, and the additional light source 19 and the additional main light guide 112 form an additional functional assembly 61 of the additional assembly 6, and it is notable that these functional assemblies are identical here.

[0056] At least one of the assemblies 4, 6 of the signaling unit, here the two in Figure 1, and in particular the assembly 4 forming the signaling device 1, comprises a secondary light guide 24 which is intended to form an additional emission zone of a part of the signaling function. More particularly, the guide zone 20 of the main light guide 12 extends to the second end 16 and it is configured so that the second end 16 is opposite an input 26 of a secondary optical means, associated with this secondary light guide 24. This secondary optical means may in particular be a diopter or a collimator, configured to collect and direct the rays within the secondary light guide 24.

[0057] In this way, the light rays which have propagated to the second end of the main light guide are able to penetrate into the secondary light guide 24 via this input 26, inducing the illumination of the secondary light guide 24 and thus participating in forming a second part of the signaling function of the vehicle.

[0058] A second part of the signaling function is thus produced, offset from the first part of the signaling function. As illustrated in Figure 1 in particular, this second part of the signaling function is generated at a distance Di from the first part of the signaling function, the distance Di being measured between the two points of each of the emission zones forming one of the parts of the signaling function which are closest. This distance Di is advantageously less than 75 mm, to comply with regulatory constraints.

[0059] In the context of Figure 1 with two assemblies 4, 6 of a signaling unit arranged on either side of a lighting module 2, the remote emission zone formed by a secondary light guide 24 is at a first distance Di from the main light guide which constitutes the same assembly as this secondary light guide, and it is at a second distance D2 from the other assembly. Each of the two distances Di and D2 may be less than 75mm. In all cases, it is understood that this remote emission zone makes it possible to avoid the distance between two parts of a signaling function, within the same lighting device, being defined by the distance D, shown in dotted lines in Figure 1, between the two extraction zones of the main light guides.

[0060] This second part of the vehicle signaling function, which is offset from the first part of the signaling function, which in particular makes it possible to bring it closer to other parts of the signaling function which can be implemented by other assemblies of the signaling unit, is advantageously implemented by the illumination of a secondary light guide via a light source formed by the main light guide. In this way, it is not necessary to provide additional light sources, other than the two light sources respectively provided to generate the illumination of the main light guides of the two assemblies of the signaling unit.

[0061] Figure 1 clearly illustrates the advantageous arrangement which can be taken by such a signaling unit, with two assemblies 4, 6 which are arranged on either side of the lighting module.

[0062] The main parts of the signaling unit, namely the main light guides 12, 112, are arranged on either side of the lighting module 2 in a first direction arbitrarily designated here as a transverse direction T. The light sources 9, 19 and more particularly the printed circuit boards 10, are arranged on either side of the lighting module 2 in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and arbitrarily designated here as a vertical direction V.

[0063] In the illustrated example, the additional assembly 6 also comprises an additional secondary light guide 124, which is similar to the secondary light guide 24 of the signaling device, and which will be described below.

[0064] Figures 2 and 3 illustrate more particularly the cooperation between a main light guide 12 and a secondary light guide 24, for a given assembly of the signaling unit, namely here the signaling device 1, in other words the assembly 4.

[0065] It should be noted that if the signaling device according to the invention, with a secondary light guide forming an emission zone remote from the signaling function, is advantageous in an application with two assemblies at a distance from each other so that this remote emission zone makes it possible to reduce the gap between the two assemblies and makes it possible to meet regulatory constraints, the assembly described in figures 2 and 3 is advantageous in itself in that it makes it possible to create at lower cost, without additional printed circuit boards in particular, a device with distinct emission zones for the same signaling function.A printed circuit board 10 and a light-emitting diode 8, forming the light source, are shown schematically opposite the first end 14 of the main light guide 12, so that the light beam emanating from the light source 9 propagates within the main light guide 12 in the direction of the extraction zone 18. The rays forming this light beam propagate by total internal reflections on opposite faces delimiting the circular section of the main light guide.

[0066] The extraction zone 18 is distinguished from the rest of the main light guide 12 in that it is provided with a surface composed of prisms 22 arranged on a first face of the main light guide. The prisms 22 form means for deflecting the light rays with an angle of incidence different from that which they had until now. The light rays thus deflected encounter a second face opposite the first face of the main light guide with an angle of incidence such that they exit the main light guide. Thus in the extraction zone, the second face, opposite the first face on which the prisms are formed, is an exit face for the rays. A first part of the signaling function is formed at this exit face opposite the prisms 22 forming the deflection means.It is understood that these means of deflection could take other forms than prisms since they participate in making light rays come out and generating the first part of a signaling function.

[0067] The portions of the light beam not reflected by the extraction zone 18 propagate towards the second end 16 of the main light guide 12, via the guide zone 20. This guide zone 20 is composed of a smooth surface and it ensures the propagation of the rays not refracted outside the light guide to propagate by successive total internal reflections to the second end 16 which is arranged opposite the entrance 26 of the secondary light guide 24.

[0068] The passage of the light rays from the guide zone 20 to the secondary light guide 24 induces the illumination of the secondary light guide 24 which forms a second signaling part of the vehicle. It should be noted that this second signaling part is in the illustrated example an additional light emission, generated in order to have a light emission zone between the exit faces of the extraction zones of the two main light guides arranged on either side of a lighting module 2. In this context, the extraction zone is configured to allow the extraction of at least 70% of the light rays propagating within the main light guide.

[0069] As mentioned previously, the shape of the secondary light guide 24 differs from that of the main light guide in that it has a sheet shape 28 as notably visible in FIG. 3, with a small thickness compared to the other two dimensions. The sheet 28 is configured so as to deflect the light rays entering through the entrance 26, notably by means of a prism arranged at right angles to the entrance 26 and which tends to deflect the rays both towards the exit surface 32 and towards an opposite return surface 30, said return surface 30 having a beveled shape to allow the rays to be returned towards the exit surface 32 with an orientation parallel to the main elongation plane of the sheet 28. Such a sheet guide structure is known and is not shown here in more detail.It should however be noted that the offset emission zone formed by the exit surface 32 is homogeneous, the rays propagating in the sheet 28 being distributed over the entire exit surface 32.

[0070] The light intensity of the first part of the signaling function, exiting through the extraction zone 18 in the middle of the main light guide 12 is stronger than the light intensity of the second part of the signaling function, exiting from the secondary light guide 24. Indeed, the first end 14 of the main light guide 12 is arranged directly opposite the light source 9 and the supply of light rays is thus done directly. Conversely, the secondary light guide 24 is supplied indirectly, by the portion of light rays originally emitted by the light source 9 which has not been deflected out of the main light guide, the latter playing the role of a secondary light source.This difference in light intensity is significant since the main function of the remote light emission zone is to comply with regulatory constraints in the context of a signaling function comprising main emission zones at a distance from each other. It is not desirable for these remote zones to generate a high light intensity, in particular so as not to modify the aesthetic appearance originally desired by the spacing of the signaling unit assemblies.

[0071] A second embodiment of the invention will now be described, with reference to FIG. 4, which differs from the above in that the light sources of each of the assemblies 4, 60 are arranged on the same side of the lighting module.

[0072] The assembly 4, or signaling device 1, remains unchanged from what was described previously, with a light source 9 opposite a first end 14 of a main light guide 12, and a secondary light guide opposite the second end 16 of this main light guide.

[0073] The other assembly 60 is particular in that the second end 160 of the main light guide 120 is an end which is not opposite another light guide and which is therefore not intended to allow light rays to exit from the main light guide. This second end 160 may have opaque characteristics to block the rays or reflective characteristics to return them to the extraction zone 180. This other assembly 60 thus comprises only the main light guide 120 and a light-emitting diode 80 arranged opposite the first end 140 of the main light guide 120.

[0074] As illustrated, the two light-emitting diodes 8, 80 are fixed on the same printed circuit board 10.

[0075] In this second embodiment, the presence of at least one secondary light guide is ensured which makes it possible to generate a remote emission zone arranged between the two emission zones respectively formed by the extraction zones 18, 180 of each assembly 4, 60, and only a single printed circuit board is used, which limits costs and facilitates the synchronization of the ignition commands of the two light-emitting diodes arranged on the same printed circuit board.

[0076] In the illustrated example, the signaling unit also comprises an additional secondary light guide 36, here independent of each of the assemblies 4, 60 of the signaling assembly, and a third light-emitting diode 800. As explained above, this additional secondary light guide 36 and this third light-emitting diode 800 are optional. The third light-emitting diode 800 forms a second additional light source which is arranged on the printed circuit board 10 to emit light rays within an additional secondary light guide 36, here independent of each of the assemblies 4, 60 of the signaling assembly.

[0077] The additional secondary light guide 36 is here arranged between the first end 14 of the main light guide 12 of the assembly 4 and the first end 140 of the main light guide 120 of the other assembly 60 specific to the second embodiment, that is to say with a second end 160 which is not intended to serve as a secondary light source.

[0078] It is understood that this second embodiment can in particular be implemented to achieve savings in relation to the number of printed circuit boards 10. A variant of the second embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 5, which also aims to allow economical assembly, still with a single printed circuit board, but here only two light-emitting diodes.

[0079] The other assembly 60 comprises a branch 38 of the main light guide 120, arranged in the vicinity of the first end 140 of the main light guide 120. The branch is formed by a piece of light guide capable of guiding a minimal portion of the light rays emitted by the light-emitting diode 80 in the direction of the additional secondary light guide 36.

[0080] This variant makes it possible to avoid providing a third light-emitting diode as in the second embodiment previously described. Furthermore, this variant makes it possible to avoid having a secondary light guide which is illuminated directly by a light-emitting diode, which makes it possible to avoid having a light intensity as high at the output of the secondary light guide as at the output of the main light guide.

[0081] The above detailed description clearly illustrates that the present invention achieves the aims it set for itself, namely to propose a signaling device that makes it possible to generate remote emission zones, to meet regulatory constraints when it is desired to equip the vehicle with signaling devices that form several emission zones at a distance from one another within the same lighting device, and this without having to resort to a number of light sources equal to the desired number of emission zones in order to limit the cost of such a signaling device. The present invention cannot, however, be limited to the means and configurations described and illustrated here and it also extends to any equivalent means and configuration as well as to any technically operative combination of such means.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Signaling device (i) for a motor vehicle characterized in that it comprises a light source (9), a main light guide (12) and a secondary light guide (24) to form at least in part a signaling function in two parts at least, the light source (9) being intended to emit a light beam and being arranged opposite a first end of the main light guide (14), so that said light beam propagates in the main light guide (12) from this first end (14) to a second end (16) of the main light guide (12) opposite the first end (14),said main light guide (12) comprising on the one hand an extraction zone (18) extending between the first (14) and the second end (16) and intended to deflect a portion of said light beam out of the main light guide (12) in order to form a first part of the signaling function and on the other hand a guide zone (20) extending the extraction zone (18) in the direction of the second end (16) of the main guide (12) and capable of being crossed by a portion of the light beam not deflected out of the main light guide (12) by the extraction zone (18), the second end (16) of the main guide (12) being arranged opposite an inlet (26) of a secondary optical means of the secondary light guide (24), preferably a dioptric part capable of deflecting or collimating the light, so as to transmit said portion of the light beam not deflected within the secondary light guide (24),the secondary light guide (24) being configured to direct said portion of the light beam therein towards an output (32) of the secondary light guide to form a second part of the signaling function., 2. Signaling device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the extraction zone of the main light guide (12) comprises prisms (22) on a first face of the main light guide (12), the prisms being configured to deflect the light rays towards a second face opposite said first face.

3. Signaling device (i) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the guide zone (20) has smooth faces without prisms (22).

4. Signaling device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the main light guide (12) is tubular.

5. Signaling device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the secondary light guide (24) is configured in the form of a sheet (28).

6. Signaling device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the input (26) of the secondary light guide (24) is arranged on a main face of the sheet forming said secondary light guide and the output (32) is arranged on an edge perpendicular to said main face.

7. Motor vehicle signaling unit comprising a signaling device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises at least one additional light source (19) and an additional main light guide (112) which form an additional functional assembly (61) similar to a functional assembly (41) formed by the light source (9) and the main light guide (12) of the signaling device (1), said functional assemblies being arranged at a distance from each other, so that the additional main light guide (112) is separated from the main light guide (12) by a distance greater than a threshold value, and characterized in that the secondary light guide (24) is arranged between the main light guide (12) and the additional main light guide (112).

8. Signaling unit according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it further comprises an additional secondary light guide (124, 36).

9. Signaling unit according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the additional secondary light guide (124) is powered by the light emitted by the additional main light guide (112).

10. Signaling unit according to claim 8, characterized in that the additional secondary light guide (36) is powered directly by a second additional light source (800), the additional light source configured to emit light rays into the additional main light guide (120) forming a first additional light source (80).

11. Motor vehicle signaling unit according to one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that the signaling device (1) and the additional functional assembly (61) are configured to generate a daytime running light function.

12. Motor vehicle lighting device, characterized in that it comprises a lighting module (2) configured to generate a vehicle lighting function and a signaling unit according to one of claims 7 to 11, the functional assembly (41) of the signaling device (1) and the additional functional assembly (61) being arranged on either side of the lighting module (2).

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