Vehicle light

Abstract

The light (1) comprises a housing containing a plurality of light sources mounted on an electronic circuit board and an optical plate having an opaque area with a through-hole located opposite a first set of light sources. The housing cover (10) has, opposite the opaque area, a retroreflective area (15) which comprises, distributed over substantially the entire surface of the retroreflective area: - retroreflective ridges projecting inwards towards the housing; - transparent areas (45), without retroreflective ridges, which allow the light emitted by the light sources of the first set to pass through the opening, forwards and outwards from the housing. The transparent areas are provided between at least some of the retroreflective ridges and allow the display of a luminous pattern (50).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a vehicle fire.

[0002] A vehicle light typically comprises a housing containing multiple light sources designed to perform various optical functions. Furthermore, the housing cover of such a light usually includes, and is often mandatory for, a retroreflective area, generally triangular in shape, forming a catadioptric reflector.

[0003] Vehicle manufacturers pay close attention to the aesthetics of the lights that equip their vehicles. Furthermore, most manufacturers want these lights to have a distinctive design that allows for easy identification of the vehicle model and / or manufacturer. In particular, some manufacturers want their logo to be clearly visible on the light.

[0004] However, aesthetic considerations can be difficult to reconcile with regulatory obligations, given the technical constraints and the fact that the space available in the light housing is limited.

[0005] The present invention aims to remedy the aforementioned drawbacks by providing a vehicle light that combines aesthetics, personalization, and regulatory compliance.

[0006] To this end, the invention relates to a vehicle light, the light comprising a housing having a base and a cover mounted on the base, at the front of the base, the light further comprising, housed within the housing: an electronic board and a plurality of light sources mounted on the electronic board; an optical plate located at the front of the electronic board, configured to guide and / or diffuse the light emitted by the light sources, the optical plate having an opaque area having a through-opening located opposite a first set of at least one light source from among the plurality of light sources; the hood having, opposite the opaque area and its opening, a retroreflective area which includes: a plurality of retroreflective ridges projecting from the inner face of the hood towards the inside of the housing, said retroreflective ridges being distributed over substantially the entire surface of the retroreflective area; a plurality of transparent areas, devoid of retroreflective ridges and configured to allow the light emitted by the light source(s) of the first assembly to pass through the opening, towards the front and towards the outside of the housing, the transparent areas being provided between at least some of the retroreflective ridges and being distributed at least over substantially the entire surface of the portion of the retroreflective area located opposite the opening, preferably over substantially the entire surface of the retroreflective area.

[0007] Thus, on the one hand, the light according to the invention has a retroreflective zone, in accordance with regulations. Since this zone is not entirely covered with retroreflective surfaces due to the presence of transparent areas, the overall light reflection performance may be reduced compared to a conventional reflective system in which the retroreflective zone is entirely covered with retroreflective surfaces. However, this performance remains sufficient to meet regulatory criteria and ensure the required safety of property and people. The retroreflective zone can typically be triangular in shape.

[0008] Furthermore, the light according to the invention allows for the display of a luminous pattern generated by the rays emitted by the light source(s) of the first assembly, after passing through the through-hole in the opaque area and then through the transparent areas of the hood—that is, the areas that allow light to pass through. This luminous pattern is contained within an opaque area and is defined by the through-hole in this opaque area; its outline is therefore clearly visible. As for the inner surface of the luminous pattern, it is not entirely illuminated, since the rays emitted by the light source(s) of the first assembly can exit the housing at the transparent areas of the hood, but not at the retroreflective raised areas of the hood. In other words, the inner surface of the luminous pattern has areas that are illuminated and areas that are not.However, by planning for transparent areas between at least some of the retroreflective features and distributing them at least over substantially the entire surface of the portion of the retroreflective area facing the opening, it is ensured that the inner surface of the light pattern can be clearly perceived, overall, by a person looking at the light. The light pattern is therefore clearly visible.

[0009] Thus, the opaque area and its through opening act as a kind of "optical stencil" allowing the display of a luminous pattern such as a logo forming, for example, a means of recognition of the vehicle manufacturer.

[0010] The light according to the invention thus produces two different optical results, namely retroreflection and the display of a luminous pattern, both in the same location on the light, which is very advantageous in terms of space. Furthermore, although potentially slightly less effective than if they were produced in separate locations on the light, each by a dedicated system specifically designed for its function, these two results are entirely satisfactory and, of course, comply with applicable regulations. This is due to the distribution and relative arrangement of the retroreflective surfaces and transparent areas within the retroreflective zone, which allows for an optical compromise. For example, the retroreflective surfaces and transparent areas can form two distinct grids arranged in a nested fashion.

[0011] Preferably, the free areas are distributed across virtually the entire surface of the retroreflective zone, that is, not just opposite the opening. Such an arrangement allows the structure of the light to be adapted to any luminous pattern to be displayed.

[0012] The retroreflective features can be distributed fairly evenly across the portion of the retroreflective area where they are present. Alternatively, or in addition, the transparent areas can be distributed fairly evenly across the portion of the retroreflective area where they are present.

[0013] Retroreflective features can form a repeating pattern on the portion of the retroreflective area where they are present. Alternatively, or in addition, transparent areas can form a repeating pattern on the portion of the retroreflective area where they are present. The patterns formed by retroreflective features, on the one hand, and the patterns formed by transparent areas, on the other, can be substantially identical; they can be offset from one another; they can form two nested networks.

[0014] The density of retroreflective features can be substantially constant within the portion of the retroreflective zone where they are present. Alternatively, or in addition, the density of transparent areas can also be substantially constant within the portion of the retroreflective zone where they are present. Density is defined as the number of retroreflective features, or the number of transparent areas, per unit area. In other words, for sub-zones larger than the area of ​​a single retroreflective feature or transparent area, the local densities within each sub-zone can be the same.

[0015] According to one possible realization, over the entire retroreflective area, the density of retroreflective reliefs is substantially identical to the density of transparent areas.

[0016] The retroreflective features may have identical shapes. Each retroreflective feature may be pyramidal in shape, with its base in the plane of the inner face of the cover and its apex inside the housing. Each retroreflective feature may be a tetrahedron, preferably a regular tetrahedron.

[0017] According to one possible realization, the retroreflective reliefs form a network of retroreflective reliefs joined by the vertices of their bases, and define a network of transparent areas surrounded by retroreflective reliefs.

[0018] In other words, for a given retroreflective surface, each vertex of its base is contiguous with a vertex of the base of a neighboring retroreflective surface. With this configuration, the transparent areas have a polygonal shape identical to the shape of the base of the retroreflective surfaces, and the transparent areas are contiguous at their vertices, that is, at the vertices of the polygons.

[0019] In one possible embodiment, within the retroreflective zone, the retroreflective features are arranged in parallel bands, with the vertices of the retroreflective features in a given band aligned. Furthermore, between two adjacent bands of retroreflective features, a series of transparent areas arranged in a band is provided.

[0020] With this configuration, the light pattern appears striped.

[0021] In practical terms, the vertices can be aligned along a line roughly parallel to the hood. In the case where the retroreflective surfaces are regular tetrahedra, taking the vertex of one of the tetrahedra as a reference, three virtual lines of alignment of the vertices of other tetrahedra can be drawn, intersecting at the said reference vertex and arranged angularly at 120° to each other.

[0022] The transparent areas can be identical to each other. For example, each transparent area may be in the form of a plate of transparent material having an entrance diopter located in the plane of the inner face of the hood and an exit diopter located in the plane of the outer face of the hood.

[0023] The invention also relates to a system comprising a vehicle light as previously described and a control device, wherein the vehicle light includes a first set of light sources located opposite the through-hole in the opaque area of ​​the optical plate and a second set of light sources, separate from the first set, configured to produce a position light function. Furthermore, the control device is configured so that, upon receiving an activation command for the second set of light sources, it also activates the first set of light sources, thereby causing a luminous pattern in the shape of said opening to be displayed in the retroreflective area. This luminous pattern is visible to a person through the lens housing of the light.

[0024] The invention further relates to a vehicle comprising a light or system as previously described.

[0025] We now describe, by way of non-limiting example, a possible embodiment of the invention, with reference to the attached figures: There figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a vehicle light according to one embodiment of the invention; The figure 2 is a plan view of an optical plate belonging to the fire of the figure 1 ; There figure 3 is a plan view of the inner face of the headlight cover of the figure 1 said inner face comprising a retroreflective area schematically illustrated; The figure 4 is a detailed view of the figure 3 ; THE figures 5 And 6 These are partial perspective views of the inner face of the hood; The figure 7 is a detailed, perspective view of the inner face of the hood; The figure 8 schematically illustrates the path of light rays through a retroreflective surface on the hood; The figure 9 schematically illustrates the path of light rays through a transparent area of ​​the hood; The figure 10 schematically illustrates a first type of lighting obtained with fire; The figure 11 schematically illustrates a second type of lighting obtained with fire.

[0026] There figure 1 represents a vehicle light 1, for example a light intended to be mounted on the rear of a vehicle. Light 1 may have a general parallelepiped shape.

[0027] The light 1 comprises a housing 2 which forms a closed and sealed enclosure. The housing 2 includes, on the one hand, a base 3 intended for mounting on the vehicle and provided for this purpose with assembly means such as holes 4 for receiving studs 5 or other fastening elements. The housing 2 also includes a cover 10 which is mounted on the base 3.

[0028] The hood 10 has a main wall 11 which can be generally flat, and a peripheral rim 12 which is assembled to the base 3, for example via a peripheral bead of glue 6 to ensure sealing.

[0029] The light 1 further includes an electronic board 7 which is housed in the casing 2 and preferably fixed parallel to the base 3, for example via screws 8. Several light sources 20 are mounted on the electronic board 7 so as to emit light beams towards the hood 10.

[0030] The axis A1 of the light 1 is defined as the axis orthogonal to the main wall 11 of the cover 10; this axis may correspond to the optical axis of the light sources 20. The axis A1 can typically be parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle equipped with the light 1. In the description of the light 1, the terms "front" and "rear" are used with reference to the axis A1 and the general direction of light emission from the light sources 20. Thus, the cover 10 is mounted on the base 3 at the front of the base 3. The expression "opposite" is used with reference to the axis A1 of the light 1.

[0031] The light 1 also includes an optical plate 30 which is housed in the casing 2, at the front of the electronic board 7. The optical plate 30 can be assembled to the cover 3, for example by means of snap-on tabs 39 and / or a central rod not visible in the figures. The optical plate 30 is configured to guide and / or diffuse the light emitted by the light sources 20.

[0032] As can be seen on the figures 1 et 2 Several zones are defined on the optical plate 30, each of these zones being opposite a given set of at least one light source 20 and allowing a particular optical function to be obtained on the light 1. The different sets of light sources 20 are preferably distinct.

[0033] In particular, the optical plate 30 has an opaque area 31 which has a through opening 38 and which is located opposite a first set 21 of at least one light source 20. Preferably, the opaque area 31 has a substantially triangular shape, with a point - possibly truncated - directed upwards in the position of use, and is located near a lateral edge of the optical plate 30.

[0034] Furthermore, the optical plate 30 may include all or part of the areas listed below, these areas preferably being distinct: A second zone 32, located opposite a second assembly 22 of at least one light source 20, to produce a position light function. The second zone 22 is preferably red. According to the embodiment shown by way of example, it may have an overall U-shape with two horizontal arms, each extending along a longitudinal edge of the optical plate 30, on either side of the opaque zone 31, and a base, possibly angled, joining the two arms near a transverse edge of the optical plate 30; a third zone 33, located opposite a third assembly 23 of at least one light source 20, to produce a brake light function. The third zone 33 is preferably red.According to the embodiment shown by way of example, it may be located between the arms of the U forming the second zone 32; a fourth zone 34 which is located opposite a fourth assembly 24 of at least one light source 20, to produce a reversing light function. The fourth zone 34 is preferably white. According to the embodiment shown by way of example, it may form a substantially horizontal band – in the operating position – located between the third zone 33 and the upper arm of the U forming the second zone 32; a fifth zone 35 which is located opposite a fifth assembly 25 of at least one light source 20, to produce a direction indicator function. The fifth zone 35 is preferably yellow.According to the embodiment shown by way of example, it can form an L-shaped band having a substantially horizontal portion – in the operating position – located between the third zone 33 and the lower arm of the U forming the second zone 32, and a portion running along the base of the U; a sixth zone 36 which is located opposite a sixth assembly 26 of at least one light source 20, to produce a fog light function. The sixth zone 36 is preferably red. According to the embodiment shown by way of example, it can be located between the opaque zone 31 and the lateral edge of the optical plate 30 located near the opaque zone 31.

[0035] The hood 10 has an inner face 13, visible on the figure 3 , which is turned towards the interior of fire 1, that is to say towards the base 3, and an exterior face 14, visible on the figure 1 , which is opposite the inner face 13 and turned towards the outside of fire 1.

[0036] The cover 10 has a retroreflective area 15 which is located opposite the opaque area 31 of the optical plate 30 and the aperture 38. The retroreflective area 15 preferably has a shape substantially identical to that of the opaque area 31. It should be noted that, on the figure 3 , the retroreflective area 15 is illustrated schematically.

[0037] As can be seen on the figures 4 à 7 , the retroreflective area 15 comprises on the one hand a plurality of retroreflective reliefs 40 which protrude from the inner face 13 of the cover 10 towards the interior of the housing 2 and on the other hand a plurality of transparent areas 45, devoid of retroreflective reliefs.

[0038] As can be seen on the figure 8 Each retroreflective relief 40 is configured to reflect a beam of light 16 emitted by a light source located outside and in front of the hood 10 (i.e., at the rear of the vehicle if the light 1 is a rear light), such as the high beams of another vehicle. The retroreflective reliefs 40 therefore act as reflectors.

[0039] Furthermore, as can be seen on the figure 9 , each transparent area 45 is configured to allow a light beam 17 emitted by the light source(s) 20 of the first set 21 to pass through the opening 38 of the opaque plate 30, forward and out of the housing 2.

[0040] More specifically, a transparent zone 45 can be in the form of a plate of transparent material - namely the main wall 11 of the hood 10 - having an entrance diopter 46 located in the plane of the inner face 13 of the hood 10 and an exit diopter 47 located in the plane of the outer face 14 of the hood 10.

[0041] The retroreflective features 40 are distributed over substantially the entire surface of the retroreflective area 15. In addition, the transparent areas 45 are distributed over substantially the entire surface of the retroreflective area 15, being provided between at least some of the retroreflective features 40. Alternatively, it is possible to provide transparent areas 45 only in the portion of the retroreflective area 15 that is located opposite the opening 38 of the optical plate 30.

[0042] In the embodiment shown, the retroreflective reliefs 40 are identical tetrahedra. Each tetrahedron has, on the one hand, a triangular base 41 which is located in the plane of the inner face 13 of the cover 10 and which has three vertices 42, and on the other hand, a vertex 43 located inside the housing 2. Furthermore, the retroreflective reliefs 40 are joined at the vertices 42 of their bases 41.

[0043] Thus, and as can be seen particularly on the figure 7 , the retroreflective reliefs 40 define between them transparent areas 45 which have identical shapes, triangular in plan view, each transparent area 45 being surrounded and delimited by three retroreflective reliefs 40.

[0044] The retroreflective reliefs 40 therefore form a regular network, and the transparent areas 45 also form a regular network, these two networks being distinct and nested within each other.

[0045] As is particularly apparent on the figure 6 According to this arrangement, the retroreflective features 40 are arranged in parallel bands 44, with the vertices 43 of the retroreflective features 40 in a given band 44 aligned. Furthermore, between two adjacent bands 44 of retroreflective features 40, a set of transparent areas 45 is provided, also arranged in a band 48. More precisely, the vertices 43 are arranged in a hexagonal pattern.

[0046] Light 1 allows two different types of lighting to be obtained in the retroreflective area 15.

[0047] As schematically illustrated on the figure 10 , a first type of lighting is obtained when the light sources 20 of the first set 21 are switched off.

[0048] In this case, and when the light 1 is illuminated by an external beam, for example the high beams of a vehicle located behind the vehicle equipped with the light 1, each retroreflective relief 40 reflects the light beam 16 that it receives, in the direction of this light beam 16. The retroreflective area 15 therefore acts as a catadioptric and appears illuminated as a whole.

[0049] As schematically illustrated on the figure 11 , a second type of lighting is obtained when the light sources 20 of the first set 21 are switched on.

[0050] In this case, the light beam 17 emitted by the light source(s) 20 of the first assembly 21 has a portion blocked by the opaque plate 30 and a portion that passes through the opening 38 of the opaque plate 30 and then through the transparent areas 45 of the cover 10. This generates a light pattern 50 whose shape corresponds to the shape of the opening 38. It should be noted that, since no light is emitted through the cover 10 at the retroreflective features 40 located opposite the opening 38, the inner surface of the light pattern 50 has areas that are illuminated and areas that are not. With an arrangement of the retroreflective features 40 and the transparent areas 45 in bands 44, 48 as described previously, the inner surface of the light pattern 50 can appear as an illuminated surface striped with dark bands.

[0051] It should be noted that the 50 light pattern is not visible with the configuration of the figure 10 .

[0052] Preferably, the retroreflective features 40, on the one hand, and the transparent areas 45, on the other hand, are substantially evenly distributed over the entire surface of the retroreflective area 15. Furthermore, over the entire retroreflective area 15, the density of retroreflective features 40 is substantially identical to the density of transparent areas 45. Consequently, the resulting lighting is very satisfactory in terms of intensity, uniformity, and rendering, whether it is lighting of the first or second type. In particular, in the configuration of the figure 11 The shape of the light pattern 50 is clearly discernible.

[0053] According to one possible embodiment, the light 1 is mounted on a vehicle equipped with a control device which is configured to, upon receiving an activation order for the second set 22 of light sources 20, also trigger the activation of the first set 21 of light sources 20. Specifically, when the driver of the vehicle activates the position lights, this also activates the light sources 20 located opposite the opening 38 of the optical plate 30. In other words, the light pattern 50 is displayed in the retroreflective area 15 when the position lights are activated.

[0054] It goes without saying that the invention is not limited to the embodiment described above by way of example but includes all technical equivalents and variants of the means described as well as their combinations.

Claims

1. Vehicle light (1), the light (1) comprising a housing (2) having a base (3) and a cover (10) mounted on the base (3), at the front of the base (3), the light (1) further comprising, housed in the housing (2): - an electronic board (7) and a plurality of light sources (20) mounted on the electronic board (7); - an optical plate (30) located at the front of the electronic board (7), configured to guide and / or diffuse the light emitted by the light sources (20), the optical plate (30) having an opaque area (31) having a through opening (38) located opposite a first set (21) of at least one light source (20) from among the plurality of light sources (20);the hood (10) having, opposite the opaque area (31) and its opening (38), a retroreflective area (15) which includes: - a plurality of retroreflective reliefs (40) projecting from the inner face (13) of the hood (10) towards the inside of the housing (2), said retroreflective reliefs (40) being distributed over substantially the entire surface of the retroreflective area (15);- a plurality of transparent areas (45), devoid of retroreflective features (40) and configured to allow the light emitted by the light source(s) (20) of the first assembly (21) to pass through the opening (38), forward and outward from the housing (2), the transparent areas (45) being provided between at least some of the retroreflective features (40) and being distributed at least over substantially the entire surface of the portion of the retroreflective area (15) located opposite the opening (38), preferably over substantially the entire surface of the retroreflective area (15).

2. Vehicle fire according to claim 1, characterized in that the retroreflective features (40) and / or transparent areas (45) are substantially regularly distributed over the part of the retroreflective area (15) where they are present.

3. Vehicle light according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in thatThe retroreflective reliefs (40) and / or transparent areas (45) form a repeated pattern on the part of the retroreflective area (15) where they are present.

4. Vehicle fire according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the density of retroreflective reliefs (40) and / or the density of transparent areas (45) is substantially constant in the part of the retroreflective area (15) where they are present, the density being defined as the number of retroreflective reliefs (40), respectively the number of transparent areas (45), per unit area.

5. Vehicle fire according to claim 4, characterized in that , over the entire retroreflective area (15), the density of retroreflective reliefs (40) is substantially identical to the density of transparent areas (45).

6. Vehicle fire according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in thatthe retroreflective reliefs (40) have identical shapes, each retroreflective relief (40) having the shape of a pyramid whose base (41) is located in the plane of the inner face (13) of the hood (10) and whose apex (43) is located inside the housing (2), each retroreflective relief (40) preferably being a tetrahedron.

7. Vehicle fire according to claim 6, characterized in that the retroreflective reliefs (40) form a network of retroreflective reliefs (40) joined by the vertices (42) of their bases (41), and define a network of transparent areas (45) surrounded by retroreflective reliefs (40).

8. Vehicle light according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that , in the retroreflective zone (15), the retroreflective reliefs (40) are arranged in parallel bands (44), the retroreflective reliefs (40) of a given band (44) having their vertices (43) aligned, and in thatbetween two adjacent bands (44) of retroreflective reliefs (40) is provided a set of transparent zones (45) arranged along a band (48).

9. Vehicle fire according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the transparent zones (45) are identical to each other, each transparent zone (45) being in the form of a plate of transparent material having an entrance diopter (46) located in the plane of the inner face (13) of the hood (10) and an exit diopter (47) located in the plane of the outer face (14) of the hood (10).

10. System comprising a vehicle light (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9 and a control device, in which the vehicle light (1) comprises a first set (21) of light sources (20) located opposite the opening (38) through the opaque area (31) of the optical plate (30) and a second set (22) of light sources (20) which is distinct from the first set (21) and which is configured to produce a position light function, characterized in that the control device is configured to, following the receipt of an order to activate the second set (22) of light sources (20), also cause the activation of the first set (21) of light sources (20), and thus cause the display, in the retroreflective area (15), of a light pattern (50) having the shape of said opening (38).

11. Vehicle comprising a light (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9 or a system according to claim 10.

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