Lighting and signalling device for a motor vehicle comprising a signalling module cowling inside the device

Abstract

The invention relates to a lighting and signalling device for a motor vehicle, comprising at least one cylindrical light guide section (411) of a signalling module (40), adjacent to a lighting module and extending under the lighting module, and at least one light source (LD1) coupled to the rear end of the section (411) which is lower than the front end of the section (411), wherein the device further comprises a protective cover (50) which is attached by the front face (FAV) of the housing of the device and covers the guide section (411) and the light source (LD1); the cover (50) being shaped so as to be mounted by the front face (FAV) of the housing, between the guide section (411) and the lighting module, in a frontal direction from top to bottom with a specific angle of inclination (θ).

Description

DESCRIPTION Title of the invention: Motor vehicle lighting and signaling device comprising a signaling module cover inside said device The present invention claims priority from French application 2302572 filed on 20.03.2023, the content of which (text, drawings and claims) is incorporated herein by reference.

[0001] The invention generally relates to lighting and signaling devices for motor vehicles and is more particularly concerned with a signaling module cover inside a lighting and signaling device, in particular a motor vehicle headlight.

[0002] A motor vehicle headlight has a housing closed on its front face by an external glass, or pane.

[0003] In a projector, it is generally necessary to use protective covers, placed inside the projector housing, to protect the most fragile lighting and signaling modules or parts of modules, particularly during the assembly of the various elements of the projector and / or in the event of work inside the projector housing (troubleshooting, replacement of parts, projector adjustments, etc.).

[0004] Among the fragile module parts that need to be protected are optical systems comprising light guides, or sections of light guides, and light sources that are coupled with the light guide inputs. The light sources are notably based on light-emitting diodes, also known as LEDs, according to the English acronym "Light Emitting Diode".

[0005] Light guides are often used in signal modules to perform photometric functions signaling such as daytime running lights commonly referred to by the English acronym DRL (Daytime Running Light) and which come on automatically when the vehicle moves forward in order to increase its visibility during the day.

[0006] In certain headlights, a signaling module comprising one or more light guides coexists inside the headlight housing in the immediate vicinity of one or more other lighting and signaling modules, in particular a lighting module called the main lighting module; the term "main" designating in this description, the lighting functions of the main beam and dipped beam type.

[0007] For stylistic reasons, some projectors have a module layout in which an adjacent signaling module and main lighting module are confined in the same part of the housing, particularly in a corner of the projector housing.

[0008] In this part of the housing, the mounting of a protective cover on an optical system as introduced above which is a fragile area, also called a technical area, can become tricky when said area is close to the main lighting module and in particular close to a means of adjusting the travel of the main lighting module.

[0009] It is therefore necessary to provide a cover adapted to such an installation to ensure the protection of the light guide and the light source coupled to the end of the guide, without impacting the movement of the main lighting module, and whose mounting in the projector housing can be done directly and easily from the front face of the projector housing.

[0010] Document EP 2731 824 B2 discloses an automobile lighting device. Document EP 2 775 197 A1, a lighting and / or signaling device for a motor vehicle, comprising a light guide.

[0011] The invention therefore aims in particular to overcome these drawbacks by proposing a cover suitable for mounting in such an installation inside the headlight of a motor vehicle.

[0012] To this end, the invention has as its first object a lighting and signaling device for a motor vehicle, comprising a housing open on its front face, supporting inside the housing a lighting module, at least one cylindrical light guide section of a signaling module, adjacent to the lighting module and extending below the lighting module, from the inside of the housing towards the front face of the housing, and at least one light source coupled to the rear end of the section, facing the inside of the housing and which is lower than the front end of the section, facing the front face of the housing and distant from the rear end, in which the device further comprises a protective cover added in the housing, by the front face of the housing, covering the guide section and the light source;said cover being shaped to be mounted by the front face of the housing, between the guide section and the lighting module, in a frontal direction from top to bottom with an angle of inclination determined relative to a horizontal direction considered when the device is mounted in the vehicle.;

[0013] According to one characteristic, the signaling module comprises a support fixed inside the housing, at least one part of which supports the section of optical guide and the light source; the cover being of a shape complementary to the part of the support supporting the section of the light guide and the light source.

[0014] According to another characteristic, the part of the support supporting the section of the light guide and the light source, comprises at least one frontal centering means cooperating with at least one complementary centering means arranged in the cover to position and guide the cover on the part of the support supporting the section of the light guide and the light source with said angle of inclination determined at the time of assembly of the cover on the part of the support supporting the section of the light guide and the light source.

[0015] According to another characteristic, the cover comprises at least one lateral centering and pre-holding means cooperating with at least complementary means arranged on the part of the support supporting the section of the light guide and the light source for the lateral centering and securing of the cover on the part of the support supporting the section of the light guide and the light source at the time of assembly of the cover on the part of the support supporting the section of the light guide and the light source.

[0016] According to another characteristic, the cover further comprises at least one positioning means defining a pad, arranged at the rear of the cover cooperating with at least one ramp arranged in the part of the support supporting the section of the light guide and the light source in the vicinity of the centering means at the time of assembly of the cover on the part of the support supporting the section of the light guide and the light source.

[0017] According to another characteristic, the cover is locked onto the part of the support supporting the section of the light guide and the light source by at least one fixing screw after assembly of the cover onto the part of the support supporting the section of the light guide and the light source.

[0018] According to another characteristic, the section of light guide covered by the cover extends another section of cylindrical light guide arranged, outside the cover, opposite an entry face of at least one planar light guide; said other section being shaped to inject the light emitted by the light source, into the entry face of the planar light guide and the light exit face of the planar light guide defining a light exit face of the signaling module.

[0019] According to another feature, the signaling module provides a daytime running light signaling function.

[0020] According to another characteristic, said device is a motor vehicle headlight.

[0021] Another subject of the present invention is a motor vehicle comprising at least one device as described above.

[0022] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on examining the detailed description below, and the attached drawing, in which:

[0023] [Fig.1] illustrates a perspective view of a lighting and signaling device according to the invention;

[0024] [Fig. 2] illustrates a front view of the main lighting and signaling modules of the device according to the invention with a cover mounted on the signaling module;

[0025] [Fig.3] illustrates, in a side view, the optical systems of the signaling module of the device according to the invention;

[0026] [Fig. 4] illustrates, by a partial perspective view, the signaling module of the device according to the invention;

[0027] [Fig. 5] illustrates a first perspective view of the assembly of the cover in the device according to the invention;

[0028] [Fig. 6] illustrates a second perspective view of the assembly of the cover in the device according to the invention; and

[0029] [Fig. 7] illustrates, in a side view, the cover assembled on the signaling module in the device according to the invention.

[0030] In the following, it is considered that the elements represented in the figures are oriented within the same orthonormal XYZ reference frame and identical elements are designated by the same alphanumeric references.

[0031] For this purpose and unless otherwise specified, reference is made to the orthonormal reference frame XYZ to identify the directions of extension of the lighting and signaling device according to the invention as mounted on the vehicle and the associated relative concepts, including a longitudinal direction (along X), a transverse direction (along Y) and a vertical direction (along Z). The longitudinal direction X extends between the front and rear of the vehicle, the transverse direction Y extends between the right and left lateral sides of the vehicle identified relative to the driver at the driving position of the vehicle, and the vertical direction Z defines the extension of the vehicle in elevation from its rolling plane on the ground.As a result, the relative notions front and rear are identified longitudinally, the lateral notion and the relative notions right and left are identified transversely, the notions such as upper and lower or other related relative notions such as low and high, ... are defined vertically in relation to the rolling plane of the vehicle on the ground.

[0032] The figures are described below considering the arrangement of the headlight as mounted in a motor vehicle.

[0033] Figure 1 illustrates a lighting and signaling device 1 for a vehicle V, according to the invention, here a projector, in perspective view from the front of the vehicle V.

[0034] The projector 1 comprises a housing 10 closed on its front face by a glass 20.

[0035] The housing 10 of the projector 1 supports a main lighting module 30, making it possible to generate a beam of the high beam and low beam type, and a signaling module 40, adjacent to the main lighting module 30, bordering the right side of the main lighting module 30 in the upper right corner of the projector 1, extending substantially vertically downwards, defining the right lateral edge of the projector 1.

[0036] The signaling module 40 comprises, in the example described, three flat or plane light guides, also called surface light guides 41, 42 and 43, extending parallel to each other and substantially vertically, on the right edge of the projector 1.

[0037] These three flat light guides 41, 42 and 43 perform the daytime running light function commonly referred to by the English acronym “DRL” (Daytime Running Light); the three flat light guides 41, 42 and 43 light up simultaneously and automatically when the vehicle V moves forward in order to increase its visibility during the day.

[0038] In the layout imposed by the style of the projector 1, the three planar light guides 41, 42 and 43 are arranged offset, in echelons, from each other according to their height. The first planar light guide 41 (the leftmost in the figure) is lower than the second 42 (central planar light guide) and the second 42 is lower than the third 43 (the rightmost in the figure).

[0039] In this layout, the upper edge of the planar light guide 41, the lowest (on the left in the figure), is in the immediate vicinity of the main lighting module 30, below the lower right corner of the main lighting module 30.

[0040] Figure 2 illustrates a front view of the main lighting 30 and signaling 40 modules with a cover 50 covering the part upper part of the support 44 of the signaling module 40, supporting a set of ZTE technical zones, shown in FIG. 2 inside a closed circular outline in broken lines. It is recalled that by ZTE technical zone, we mean an area comprising one or more cylindrical guides, or sections of cylindrical light guides and one or more LEDs coupled to the end of these guides or sections of cylindrical guides.

[0041] The size of the main lighting module 30 with its means 31 for adjusting the movement of the module 30 (in particular elevation adjustment), overlaps the space in which the upper edge of the first flat light guide 41 is located.

[0042] Figure 3 illustrates, in a side view, the optical systems associated with the planar light guides 41, 42 and 43 of the signaling module 40 and in particular the optical system of the first planar light guide 41 which is in the foreground in this figure. In this figure, the support 44 (figure 2) of the optical systems and the planar light guides 41, 42 and 43 is not shown.

[0043] Figure 4 illustrates, in a perspective view, the same optical systems associated with the three flat light guides 41, 42 and 43 of the signaling module 40, mounted on the support 44.

[0044] In the example of installation of the modules 30 and 40 of the device 1 according to the invention, LEDs LD1, LD2 and LD3 respectively powering the first, second and third flat light guides 41, 42 and 43, are arranged on one or more printed circuit boards 11, or "PCB" (for "Printing Circuit Board"), fixed to the support 44, and which all extend in the same vertical plane PLV, inside INT of the housing 10 and at the rear of the main lighting module 30 (figure 3).

[0045] Each of the flat light guides 41, 42 and 43, visible through the glass 20 of the projector 10, is made from a plate translucent comprising an entry face FE1, FE2 and FE3 (figure 3) capable of receiving light and a light exit face FS1, FS2 and FS3, distant from the entry face FE1, FE2 and FE3 and parallel to the entry face FE1, FE2 and FE3, and which is the illuminated face of the plane light guide 41, 42 and 43. The light exit face FS1, FS2 and FS3 comprises a plurality of adjacent refraction optics distributed over the entire light exit face FS1, FS2 and FS3.

[0046] The light is guided inside the plate on the principle of total reflection and exits through the opposite edge (exit face) FS1, FS2 and FS3 to the light injection edge FE1, FE2 and FE3 (entrance face).

[0047] The flat light guides 41, 42, 43 have the general shape of elongated rectangular parallelepipeds, extending vertically, and the light output faces FS1, FS2 and FS3 are rectangular and correspond to the edges of the flat light guides 41, 42, 43 which are oriented towards the outside of the vehicle V. They appear to an observer located opposite the projector 1 as blades, or even “claws” whose cutting edges are illuminated.

[0048] The injection of light into each of the input faces FE1, FE2 and FE3 of the planar light guides 41, 42, 43 is carried out from guide sections 412, 422, 432 which are cylindrical and rectilinear, arranged opposite the input faces of the planar light guides 41, 42, 43. The cylindrical faces of the sections 412, 422, 432 each comprise a diffraction grating, not shown, deflecting the light rays propagating inside the sections 412, 422, 432 in the direction of the input faces FE1, FE2 and FE3 of the planar light guides 41, 42, 43.

[0049] In the implementation described, the LEDs LD1, LD2 and LD3 are located inside INT of the box 10, at the rear of the module main lighting module 30. In order to be able to reach the upper edges of the flat light guides 41, 42, 43 which extend into the opening of the housing on the front face FAV of the housing 10, the guide sections 412, 422, 432, hereinafter referred to as “front” sections, are extended by other sections, hereinafter referred to as “rear” sections 411, 421, 431 which are shaped to have a sinuosity adapted to the distance of the LEDs LD1, LD2 and LD3 from the upper edges of the flat light guides 41, 42, 43 and to the proximity of the main lighting module 30, and in particular its adjustment means 31.

[0050] The free end of each rear section 411, 421, 431 has a light entry face, perpendicular to the cylindrical surface of the section 411, 421, 431, which is coupled to the LEDs LD1, LD2 and LD3. The rear sections 411, 421, 431 extend the front sections 412, 422, 432 substantially in a horizontal direction (along X). The rear sections 411, 421, 431 are therefore “uncovered” between their ends coupled to the LEDs LD1, LD2 and LD3 and the upper edges of the flat light guides 41, 42, 43 while the front sections 412, 422, 432 are, for their part, covered by the flat light guides 41, 42, 43.

[0051] The rear and front sections 411, 421, 431 and 412, 422, 432 and the flat light guides 41, 42, 43 are supported in the upper part of the support 44 of the signaling module 40.

[0052] In this implementation, and with reference to figure 3, the LED LD1 powering the planar light guide 41 and which is offset to the rear of the main lighting module 30, inside INT of the housing 10, is at a level LPB which is below the level LPH of the upper edge of the planar light guide 41 and therefore of the light output face FS1 of the planar light guide 41. The levels LPB and LPH of the LED LD1 and of the upper edge of the planar light guide 41 are represented respectively and symbolically in figure 3 by thin broken lines, and the light exit face FS1 is materialized by a thick broken line segment.

[0053] The rear section 411 is shaped to join the LPH level, approaching the adjustment means 31 of the movement of the main lighting module 30. The space remaining between the LPH level and the adjustment means 31 is restricted and makes access difficult for a front capping (along X) of the rear section 411, and of the PCB 11 supporting the LED LD1 (technical zone ZTE).

[0054] The constraints developed above: covering of the LEDs LD1, LD2 and LD3 which are supported in a vertical plane PLV (YZ plane), at the rear of the main lighting module 30, and of the rear section 411 extending in a substantially horizontal plane near the main lighting module 30, are taken into account thanks to a cover 50 and the upper part of the support 44, both of adapted and complementary shapes, with a kinematics of mounting the cover 50 on the upper part of the support 44 allowing optimal styling.

[0055] Figure 4 illustrates, in a perspective view, the signaling module 40 in its entirety with the rear and front guide sections 411, 421, 431 and 412, 422, 432, the flat light guides 41, 42 and 43 and the LEDs LD1, LD2 and LD3, mounted on the upper part of the support 44 which is itself fixed to the interior INT of the housing 10 of the projector 1 by screws 45.

[0056] Figures 5, 6 and 7 illustrate in detail the cover 50 and its assembly on the upper part of the support 44.

[0057] The cover 50 and the upper part of the support 44 according to the invention are advantageously arranged to allow the front covering of the rear sections and the LEDs LD1, LD2 and LD3 on the upper part of the support 44, in a direction having a inclination angle of approximately 25°, relative to a horizontal direction, angle which is considered, in the XZ plane (figure 5).

[0058] The cover 50 and the upper part of the support 44, supporting the rear sections 411, 421, 431 and the PCB plates 11 supporting the LEDs LD1, LD2, LD3, are of complementary shapes.

[0059] The cover 50 has a hollow vertical part 51 (rear part of the cover 50 facing the interior INT of the housing 10) shaped to cover the PCB 11 and the LEDs LD1, LD2 and LD3 and fixed to the upper part of the support 44 by at least one screw not shown, passing through a hole 56 made in the cover 50 and cooperating with a threaded shaft 46 made in the upper part of the support 44.

[0060] The cover 50 also has a substantially horizontal lower part 52 forming the base of the cover 50, extending substantially perpendicularly in extension of the vertical part 51 (rear part of the cover 50) and shaped to cover the rear sections 411, 421, 431. The base 52 of the cover 50 ends, at the front of the cover 50, with an edge forming a cap 53 for the flat light guides 41, 42 and 43.

[0061] First and second centering means 441 and 442 for assembling the cover 50 on the upper part of the support 44 at the angle 0 of 25° are provided on the support 44.

[0062] These first and second centering means 441 and 442, forming pins made of the same material as the support 44 and projecting from the upper part of the support 44, are shaped to be positioned respectively in holes 541 and 542 provided in the cover 50.

[0063] The first centering stud 441 is arranged on the upper part of the support 44 in the vicinity of the end of the rear section 411 coupled to the LED LD1.

[0064] The second centering stud 442 is arranged on the upper part of the support 44, between the ends of the rear sections 421 and 431 coupled respectively to the LEDs LD2 and LD3.

[0065] The first and second centering pins 441 and 442 are inclined upwards at an angle 6 of 25° relative to a horizontal plane (XY) (figure 5)

[0066] Tabs in the form of nose pliers 543, made of the same material as the cover 50, are arranged respectively on either side of the base 52 of the cover 50, at the front of the cover 50, and extend in vertical planes, projecting from the cover 50, under the base 52 of the cover 50. These two pliers 543 are clipped into clipping cylinders 443, made of the same material as the upper part of the support 44 arranged respectively on the lateral edges of the upper part of the support 44, extending horizontally projecting from the lateral edges of the upper part of the support 44, at a distance from the vertical plane PLV (along X). The free ends of the cylinders 443 terminate respectively in lateral stops 444 allowing the centering of the cover 50 on the upper part of the support 44 along Y and the pre-holding of the cover 50 on the upper part of the support 44 during the assembly of the cover 50 on the upper part of the support 44.

[0067] The fixing of the cover 50 on the upper part of the support 44 is ensured by a screw, not shown, passing through the hole 56 and screwed into the tapped barrel 46.

[0068] In order to assist in positioning the cover 50 with respect to the upper part of the support 44, at the time of assembly, the tabs 544 of a pair of guide tabs are further provided on either side of the base 52 of the cover 50. They are provided respectively on the lateral edges of the rear part of the cover 50, extending horizontally and projecting on either side of the base 52 of the cover 50. These tabs 544 defining pads, are positioned respectively in gutters 445 made of the same material as the upper part of the support 44, arranged at the rear of the upper part of the support 44 in the lateral edges of the upper part of the support 44.

[0069] The front edges of the gutters 445 receiving the pads 544 sliding in the direction symbolized by a black arrow in Figures 5 and 6: front direction (from the front face FAV of the housing 10 towards the inside INT of the housing 10), define guide ramps 446 for the pads 544, inclined at 25° of determined length. These ramps 446 participate with the centering pins 441, 442, also inclined at 25°, in the precise guiding of the cover 50 on the upper part of the support 44 at the time of assembly of the cover 50 on the upper part of the support 44.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Lighting and signaling device (1) for a motor vehicle (V), comprising a housing (10) open on its front face (FAV), supporting inside (INT) the housing (10) a lighting module (30), at least one cylindrical light guide section (411) of a signaling module (40), adjacent to the lighting module (30) and extending below the lighting module (30), from the inside (INT) of the housing (10) to the front face (FAV) of the housing (10), and at least one light source (LD1) coupled to the rear end of the section, facing the inside (INT) of the housing (10) and which is lower than the front end of the section (411), facing the front face (FAV) of the housing (10) and distant from the rear end, in which the device (1) further comprises a protective cover (50) attached to the housing (10), by the front face (FAV) of the housing (10), covering the guide section (411) and the light source (LD1);said cover (50) being shaped to be mounted by the front face (FAV) of the housing (10), between the guide section (411) and the lighting module (30), in a frontal direction from top to bottom with a determined angle of inclination (0) relative to a horizontal direction considered when the device (10) is mounted in the vehicle (V).; 2. Device (1) according to the preceding claim, in which the signaling module (40) comprises a support (44) fixed inside the housing (10) of which at least one part supports the section of optical guide (411) and the light source (LD1); the cover (50) being of complementary shape to the part of the support (44) supporting the section of the light guide (411) and the light source (LD1).

3. Device (1) according to the preceding claim, in which the part of the support (44) supporting the section of the light guide (411) and the light source (LD1), comprises at least one front centering means (441) cooperating with at least one complementary centering means (541) arranged in the cover (50) to position and guide the cover (50) on the part of the support (44) supporting the section of the light guide (411) and the light source (LD1) with said determined inclination angle (0) at the time of assembly of the cover (50) on the part of the support (44) supporting the section of the light guide (411) and the light source (LD1).

4. Device (1) according to one of claims 2 or 3, wherein the cover (50) comprises at least one lateral centering and pre-holding means (543) cooperating with at least complementary means (443, 444) arranged on the part of the support (44) supporting the section of the light guide (411) and the light source (LD1) for the lateral centering and securing of the cover (50) on the part of the support (44) supporting the section of the light guide (411) and the light source (LD1) at the time of assembly of the cover (50) on the part of the support (44) supporting the section of the light guide (411) and the light source (LD1).

5. Device (1) according to one of claims 3 to 4, wherein the cover (50) further comprises at least one positioning means (544) defining a pad, arranged at the rear of the cover (50) cooperating with at least one ramp (446) arranged in the part of the support (44) supporting the section of the light guide (411) and the light source (LD1) in the vicinity of the centering means (441) at the time of assembly of the cover (50) on the part of the support (44) supporting the section of the light guide (411) and the light source (LD1).

6. Device (1) according to one of claims 2 to 5, in which the cover (50) is locked onto the part of the support (44) supporting the section of the light guide (411) and the light source (LD1) by at least one fixing screw after assembly of the cover (50) onto the part of the support (44) supporting the section of the light guide (411) and the light source (LD1).

7. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the light guide section (411) covered by the cover (50) extends another cylindrical light guide section (412) arranged, outside the cover (50), opposite an input face (FE1) of at least one planar light guide (41); said other section (412) being shaped to inject the light emitted by the light source (LD1) into the input face (FE1) of the planar light guide (41) and the light output face (FS1) of the planar light guide (41) defining a light output face of the signaling module (40).

8. Device (1) according to the preceding claim, in which the signaling module (40) provides a daytime running light signaling function.

9. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said device (1) is a motor vehicle headlight (V).

10. Motor vehicle (V) comprising at least one device (1) according to one of the preceding claims.

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