Optical unit with non-removable electrical connection, for a vehicle

Abstract

An optical unit (BO) is provided for a vehicle, and comprises a housing (BB) which receives: - an electrical device (EE) provided with a first connector (01) to which a second connector (C2) is connected, by translation in a predefined direction, and - a mask (MB) installed in front of the electrical device (EE) in order to mask the latter, and comprising a tab (PM) partially placed in front of one end of the second connector (02) and able to immobilise said end in a final position after having exerted a pressure onto it during installation of the mask (MB).

Description

DESCRIPTION TITLE: OPTICAL UNIT WITH NON-REMOVABLE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION, FOR A VEHICLE Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention claims priority from French application 2304426 filed on 03.05.2023, the content of which (text, drawings and claims) is incorporated herein by reference. The invention relates to optical units which are intended to equip vehicles and which comprise at least one electrical equipment which must be connected to a power supply and control cable. State of the art

[0002] In certain vehicles, generally of the automobile type, optical units are used which comprise a housing housing electrical equipment provided with a first connector to which a second connector is connected, by translation in a predefined direction.

[0003] For example, this electrical equipment may be an electric motor participating in the positioning of an optical module participating in at least one photometric function. Also for example, the (each) photometric function may be a lighting function chosen from a dipped beam (or code) function and a main beam function.

[0004] Currently, in order to make the connection of the second connector to the first connector of the electrical equipment, the second connector comprises a tab provided with a hole intended to house a locking pin defined on an external face of the first connector. However, it may happen that the technician making this connection interrupts the translation of the second connector just before the locking pin is housed in the corresponding hole of the tab. However, when this situation occurs the second connector can gradually disconnect from the first connector due to the vibrations generated and the shocks suffered, which causes a breakdown that cannot be repaired when the glass of the optical unit is permanently glued to the front end of the housing (which is almost always the case).

[0005] The invention therefore aims in particular to improve the situation. Presentation of the invention

[0006] For this purpose, it offers in particular an optical unit comprising a housing housing:

[0007] - electrical equipment provided with a first connector to which a second connector is connected, the first connector and the second connector being configured so that the connection of said connectors is made by translation in a predefined direction, and

[0008] - a mask installed in front of this electrical equipment in order to hide it.

[0009] This optical block is characterized by the fact that its mask comprises a tab partly placed in front of one end of the second connector, suitable for exerting pressure, during the installation of said mask, on said end in the predefined direction, and suitable for immobilizing this end in a final position. The final position is obtained after exerting pressure on the end during the installation of the mask. The second connector is said to be fully connected with the first connector.

[0010] Thanks to the invention, we now have the guarantee not only that the connection between the first and second connectors has been made correctly and therefore completely, but also that there cannot be any disconnection since the tab prevents any forward translation of the second connector, which ensures that the connection cannot be dismantled.

[0011] The optical unit according to the invention may include other characteristics which may be taken separately or in combination, and in particular:

[0012] - the tab of the mask may comprise a first sub-part having an internal face oriented towards the end of the second connector and provided with a rib capable of exerting pressure when installing the mask;

[0013] - in the presence of the first option, the rib may have a generally triangular shape and may include an edge suitable for contacting the end of the second connector to exert pressure and making a predefined angle with the internal face;

[0014] - in the presence of the last sub-option, the predefined angle can be between 10° and 30°. For example, this predefined angle can be equal to 20°;

[0015] - also in the presence of the first option, the tab of the mask may have a general L shape, and may comprise a second sub-part having a first end fixedly secured to the mask and a second end to which the first sub-part is fixedly secured at the angle of the L;

[0016] - its electrical equipment may be an electric motor which is suitable for participating in the positioning of an optical module participating in at least one photometric function;

[0017] - in the presence of the last option, the (each) photometric function can be a lighting function chosen from a dipped beam function and a main beam function.

[0018] The invention also proposes a vehicle, possibly of the automobile type, and comprising at least one optical unit of the type presented above. Brief description of the figures

[0019] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on examining the detailed description below, and the attached drawings (obtained in CAD / CAM (“Computer Aided Design / Computer Aided Drawing”)), in which:

[0020] [Fig. 1] schematically illustrates, in a perspective view from the front side, an example of an embodiment of an optical unit according to the invention without its protective glass and before it is fitted to a motor vehicle,

[0021] [Fig. 2] schematically illustrates, in a perspective view from the front side, the optical block of figure 1, before the installation of its mask,

[0022] [Fig. 3] schematically illustrates, in a perspective view from the rear side, the mask of the optical block of figure 1, before its installation, and

[0023] [Fig. 4] schematically illustrates, in a perspective view from the front side, the pressure exerted on the second connector by the rib of the mask tab of the block of figures 1 and 2, during the installation of this mask. Detailed description of the invention

[0024] The invention aims in particular to propose an optical unit BO, intended to equip a vehicle, and having at least one piece of electrical equipment EE comprising a first connector C1 which must be connected in a non-removable manner to a second connector C2.

[0025] It is considered in the following, by way of non-limiting example, that the optical unit BO is intended to equip a motor vehicle, such as for example a car. But the invention is not limited to this type of vehicle. Indeed, the optical unit BO can equip any vehicle (land, sea (or river), or air), which must provide at least one photometric function and comprising at least one electrical equipment that must be connected to a power and control cable.

[0026] Furthermore, it is considered in the following, by way of non-limiting example, that the optical unit BO constitutes a front headlight (or projector) of a vehicle. But it could constitute a, or be part of a, front or rear light of a vehicle, for example.

[0027] In the above and below, the notion of "front" is defined in relation to the place where the photons participating in a photometric function exit, and the notion of "back" is defined in relation to the place which is opposite to that where the photons participating in a photometric function exit. Consequently, the front face of an element is oriented outwards, while the back face of this element is oriented inwards and opposite to the front face.

[0028] Figure 1 schematically illustrates an example of an embodiment of an optical unit BO according to the invention (here a front headlight (or projector), without its protective glass and before it is fitted to a motor vehicle.

[0029] As illustrated, an optical block BO, according to the invention, notably comprises a housing BB, electrical equipment EE, a mask MB, as well as preferably a protective glass (or screen) (not illustrated).

[0030] The BB box delimits (possibly with the protective glass which is fixedly secured to the front end of the latter (BB)) an internal housing which houses, in particular, the electrical equipment EE and the mask MB.

[0031] For example, the electrical equipment EE may be an electric motor suitable for participating in the positioning of an optical module MO which participates (in operation) in at least one photometric function.

[0032] Also for example, the (each) photometric function may be a lighting function chosen from a fire function dipped beam (or code) and a high beam function. It could also be a fog light function.

[0033] It should be noted that the electrical equipment EE could perform other functions within the optical unit BO. Similarly, the optical module MO could participate (in operation) in at least one photometric signaling function, such as for example a position light function, a daytime running light function (or DRL ("Daytime Running Light (or Lamp)")), a parking light function, a reversing light function, or a direction indicator function (or flashing light).

[0034] As illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 4, the electrical equipment EE is provided with a first connector C1 to which a second connector C2 is (or must be) connected, by translation in a predefined direction (arrow F2 in Figure 4). For example, and as illustrated non-limitingly in Figures 1, 2 and 4, this second connector C2 may be part of a power and control cable CAC.

[0035] As illustrated in Figure 1, the MB mask is installed in front of the electrical equipment EE in order to mask at least the latter (MB). It should be noted that in the presence of a protective glass, the latter is placed in front of the (downstream of the) MB mask.

[0036] This MB mask is responsible for hiding technical parts and can possibly contribute to the style of the BO optical block.

[0037] As illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, the mask MB comprises a tab PM which is partly placed in front of an end EC of the second connector C2 and capable of immobilizing this end EC in a final position after having exerted pressure on it during the installation of the mask MB.

[0038] Thus, and as illustrated in Figure 4, when a technician pushes the mask MB towards the inside of the BB housing (arrow F1), here to frame the front part of the optical module MO, the tab PM is brings the EC end closer to the second connector C2, then contacts this EC end and exerts pressure on the latter (EC), which causes the translation (arrow F2) of the second connector C2 until its EC end has reached a final position. Consequently, we now have the guarantee not only that the connection between the first C1 and second C2 connectors has taken place correctly and therefore completely, but also that there cannot be any disconnection since the PM tab prevents any forward translation of the second connector C2. In other words, we now have a connection that cannot be dismantled.

[0039] For example, and as illustrated non-limitingly and at least partially in Figures 1 to 4, the first C1 and second C2 connectors may be of female and male types respectively. But an inverse arrangement is possible, namely first C1 and second C2 connectors of male and female types respectively.

[0040] Also for example, and as illustrated non-limitingly and at least partially in Figures 1 to 4, the tab PM may comprise a first sub-part SP1 having an internal face F1 oriented towards the end EC of the second connector C2 and provided with a rib NP which is capable of exerting pressure (arrow F2) during the installation of the mask MB. Such an arrangement advantageously makes it possible to transform the translation direction of the mask MB (here towards the optical module MO and the end EC of the second connector C2 - arrow F1) into a predefined translation direction of the second connector C2 (arrow F2). But in an alternative embodiment (not illustrated), the tab PM could be devoid of rib NP and shaped so as to push the end EC of the second connector C2 (thanks to a curvilinear shape).

[0041] Also for example, and as illustrated non-limitingly in Figures 3 and 4, the rib NP may have a generally triangular shape. In this case, the rib NP comprises an edge BN which is suitable for contacting the end EC of the second connector C2 for exert the pressure, and makes a predefined angle with the internal face Fl. Preferably, this edge BN is parallel to the end EC of the second connector C2, so that the pressure is distributed in a substantially homogeneous manner and therefore facilitates the translation of the second connector C2 along the predefined translation direction (arrow F2).

[0042] For example, this predefined angle can be between 10° and 30°. As an illustrative example, this predefined angle can be equal to 20°.

[0043] Also for example, and as illustrated non-limitingly in figures 1 to 4, the tab PM may have a general L shape. In this case, it (PM) comprises a second sub-part SP2 having a first end which is fixedly secured to the mask MB (here at its lower part), and a second end which is opposite the first end and to which the first sub-part SP1 is fixedly secured at the angle of the L. However, the tab PM could have other general shapes.

[0044] It will also be noted, as illustrated non-limitingly in Figure 4, that the second connector C2 may optionally comprise a tab LV provided with a hole intended to house a locking pin defined on an external face of the first connector C1, when its end EC is in its final position (illustrated in Figure 1). But this is not an obligation because, as indicated above, the tab PM prevents translations of the second connector C2, in particular towards the front (and therefore towards the protective glass).

[0045] It should also be noted that the MB mask can be advantageously produced by injection molding a rigid and resistant plastic material, such as polycarbonate (or PC).

Claims

CLAIMS

1. Optical unit (BO) suitable for equipping a vehicle and comprising a housing (BB) housing i) electrical equipment (EE) provided with a first connector (C1) to which a second connector (C2) is connected, the first connector (C1) and the second connector (C2) being configured so that the connection of said connectors is made by translation in a predefined direction, and ii) a mask (MB) installed in front of said electrical equipment (EE) in order to mask the latter (EE), said mask (MB) comprises a tab (PM) partly placed in front of one end (EC) of said second connector (C2), suitable for exerting pressure, during the installation of said mask (MB), on said end in the predefined direction and suitable for immobilizing this end (EC) in a final position;characterized in that said tab (PM) comprises a first sub-part (SP1) having an internal face (Fl) oriented towards said end (EC) of the second connector (C2) and provided with a rib (NP) capable of exerting said pressure during the installation of said mask (MB).;

2. Optical unit according to claim 1, characterized in that said rib (NP) has a generally triangular shape and comprises an edge (BN) suitable for contacting said end (EC) of the second connector (C2) to exert said pressure and making a predefined angle with said internal face (Fl).

3. Optical unit according to claim 2, characterized in that said predefined angle is between 10° and 30°.

4. Optical unit according to claim 3, characterized in that said predefined angle is equal to 20°.

5. Optical unit according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said tab (PM) has a general L shape, and comprises a second sub-part (SP2) having a first end fixedly secured to said mask (MB) and a second end to which said first sub-part (SP1) is fixedly secured at the angle of said L.

6. Optical unit according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said electrical equipment (EE) is an electric motor capable of participating in the positioning of an optical module participating in at least one photometric function.

7. Optical unit according to claim 6, characterized in that said photometric function is a lighting function chosen from a dipped beam function and a main beam function.

8. Vehicle, characterized in that it comprises at least one optical unit (BO) according to one of the preceding claims.

9. Vehicle according to claim 8, characterized in that it is of the automobile type.

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