Modular lighting system

Abstract

The invention relates to a modular lighting assembly (1) for a motor vehicle headlight, comprising at least one optical module equipped with a reflector. The modular lighting assembly (1) includes a light module (4) equipped with a diode (5) for enabling the optical module to emit a light beam. According to the invention, the modular lighting assembly (1) includes an interface element (7) for attachment to the reflector of the optical module, the light module (4) being removably attached to the interface element (7). Figure to be published with the abstract: Fig. 1

Description

Title of the invention: Modular lighting assembly

[0001] The present invention relates to a modular light assembly for a motor vehicle projector, a projector comprising at least one modular light assembly and a motor vehicle comprising at least one such projector.

[0002] Motor vehicle headlights comprise several optical modules intended to emit light beams used either in high beam or low beam.

[0003] Each optical module includes a light-emitting diode and a reflector reflecting the light produced by the diode so as to form a light beam.

[0004] The optical module may optionally include a heat sink when used to perform the route function, resulting in greater heating of the optical module.

[0005] Headlights are therefore complex because they can include several optical modules configured differently depending on whether they are used in dipped or main beam mode.

[0006] Document FR3032023 aims to simplify the assembly of the elements of the light module. It describes a light module comprising a plate on which a heat sink is mounted, connected to an optical module.

[0007] However, the solution in this document does not allow for easy evolution of the light module or projector either in code or road function, depending on the thermal constraints and photometric requirements associated with each projector.

[0008] Furthermore, there are many projector models. The manufacturing processes are complex because they must be adapted to each model. The number of product references is therefore significant.

[0009] The invention therefore aims to solve these problems by providing a modular lighting assembly for a motor vehicle's headlight, allowing the headlights to be easily changed either in code or road function, depending on the thermal constraints and photometric requirements associated with each headlight.

[0010] The invention relates to a modular lighting assembly for a motor vehicle headlight comprising at least one optical module equipped with a reflector. The modular lighting assembly includes a light module equipped with a diode for enabling the optical module to emit a light beam.

[0011] According to the invention, the modular lighting assembly comprises an interface element intended to be fixed to the reflector of the optical module. The lighting module is intended to be removably fixed to the interface element.

[0012] The invention thus provides a modular lighting assembly for a motor vehicle's headlight, allowing the headlights to be easily changed to either low beam or high beam, depending on the thermal constraints and photometric requirements associated with each headlight.

[0013] This is possible thanks to the interface element which is common to several projectors and to all the optical modules of the projectors. Since the interface element is already fixed to the optical modules, it is quick and easy to disconnect a light module (for example, in low beam mode) from one optical module and reconnect it to another light module (for high beam mode).

[0014] The interface element thus makes it possible to make the light modules removable in relation to the projectors and optical modules.

[0015] This also simplifies the manufacturing process and reduces the number of product references by providing a standard (common module) and modular solution depending on the need, reducing costs.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the light module includes a support comprising a printed circuit on which the diode is mounted and a connector for electrically connecting the printed circuit to an electrical device.

[0017] Alternatively, the support includes a removable radiator. This notably allows the use of the road function.

[0018] According to one possible embodiment, the support has an L-shape and comprises a first portion having an inner face on which the printed circuit board and the diode are positioned, and a second portion having an outer face on which the heat sink is positioned. This provides a simple solution, with a shape adapted to the rear of the projector.

[0019] Preferably, the first portion is intended to be attached to the interface element by means of a screw passing through the first portion and the printed circuit board to screw into a threaded hole provided in the interface element. This provides a simple means of attachment, allowing the light modules to be interchanged quickly and easily on a wide range of projectors comprising a common interface element.

[0020] The second portion has a U-shape with a central wall extended by two opposing lateral walls projecting outwards. The radiator is held in place by the lateral walls when positioned on the second portion.

[0021] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle projector comprising at least one optical module equipped with a reflector.

[0022] According to the invention, the projector comprises at least one modular light assembly as defined above.

[0023] According to one possible embodiment, the reflector includes at least one interface housing, positioned at an upper part and on a rear face of the reflector. The interface element includes a top portion designed to fit into the interface housing and incorporating the threaded hole.

[0024] Preferably, the interface element comprises a lower portion having a central wall and two opposing lateral tabs projecting towards the second portion of the support when the light module is attached to the interface element. Each lateral tab has an end abutting an inner face of the second portion of the support. This allows the light module to be held stably.

[0025] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising at least one projector as defined above.

[0026] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, given solely by way of example, with reference to the accompanying figures:

[0027] [Fig. 1] represents a perspective diagram of a modular lighting assembly for a motor vehicle projector, according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0028] [Fig.2] represents an exploded view diagram of this modular lighting assembly;

[0029] [Fig.3] represents a perspective diagram of a projector comprising several optical modules associated with several modular lighting assemblies;

[0030] [Fig.4] represents a perspective diagram of an interface element mounted on a reflector;

[0031] [Fig. 5] represents a perspective diagram of a reflector equipped with a housing interface;

[0032] [Fig.6] represents a perspective diagram of an optical module comprising a modular lighting system.

[0033] Figures 1 and 2 represent a modular light assembly 1 for a projector 2 (or optical block) of a motor vehicle comprising at least one optical module 20 equipped with a reflector 3. The reflector 3 can be an ECOLED® type reflector, for example.

[0034] The modular light assembly 1 includes a light module 4 having a support 6. The support 6 has a printed circuit board 8 on which the diode 5 is mounted and a connector 14 electrically connecting the printed circuit board 8 to an electrical device (not shown), allowing among other things to power the diode 5.

[0035] Diode 5 enables optical module 20 to emit a light beam when diode 5 is housed in reflector 3.

[0036] By diode 5, we mean any type of light-emitting diode, whether in non-limiting examples LEDs (“Light Emitting Diode”), OLEDs (“organic LED”), AMOLEDs (Active-Matrix-Organic LED), or FOLEDs (Flexible OLED).

[0037] The printed circuit 8 is commonly called a PCB board (“Printed Circuit Board” in English).

[0038] According to the invention, the modular light assembly 1 comprises an interface element 7 (or fixing element) intended to be fixed to a reflector 3 of the optical module 20. The light module 4 is intended to be fixed to the interface element 7 in a removable manner.

[0039] Depending on the requirements, the support 6 may include a removable heat sink 9. This may be the case when the optical module 20 is used in high beam mode, for which it is necessary to dissipate thermal energy. Conversely, the heat sink 9 is not necessary when the optical module 20 is used in low beam mode.

[0040] The radiator 9 is made of aluminum.

[0041] The light module 4 can be removed and replaced by another light module 4 in a simple and quick manner.

[0042] Thus, different configurations are possible.

[0043] Depending on the desired lighting or photometric power or the code or road function, it is enough to simply change the light module 4 which incorporates a different diode model 5.

[0044] Depending on the heat emitted by diode 5, it is possible to add a heat sink 9 to the back of the support 6 to dissipate this heat.

[0045] The radiator 9 is generally added for the road function which gives off the most heat.

[0046] The support 6 may or may not be anodized. For road use, it is preferable to anodize the support 6 due to the higher heat.

[0047] In the example of [Fig.3], the projector 2 comprises three optical modules 20, two of which are optical modules 20 intended for a low beam function (on the left side of [Fig.3]), associated with two light modules 4 without a radiator 9, and one optical module 20 intended for a high beam function (on the right side of [Fig.3]) associated with a light module 4 including a radiator 9. The position of the low beam and high beam functions can be easily and quickly changed by interchanging the light modules 4.

[0048] The reflector 3 includes a reflective surface 28 opposite the rear face 37. When the light module 4 is fixed on the interface element 7, the printed circuit board 8 is positioned in front of the reflector 3 and more precisely facing the reflective surface 28 and above it.

[0049] The surface of the printed circuit board 8 is reflected in the reflective surface 28 of the reflector 3, it is then possible, depending on the desired style rendering, to change the printed circuit board 8 and more particularly its color (white, black, green, for example) by changing the light module 4.

[0050] Preferably, the support 6 has an L-shape and comprises a first portion 10 having an inner face 15 on which the printed circuit 8 and the diode 5 are positioned and a second portion 11 having an outer face 16 on which the heat sink 9 is positioned. The diode 5 is fixed on the printed circuit 8.

[0051] The first portion 10 and the second portion 11 extend in respective planes intersecting each other and preferably substantially perpendicular.

[0052] The first portion 10 and the second portion 11 are connected by an intermediate portion 22.

[0053] The second portion 11 has a U-shape with a central wall 17 extended by two opposing lateral walls 18 projecting outwards. The radiator 9 is intended to be held by the lateral walls 18 when positioned on the second portion 11.

[0054] The printed circuit board 8 is fixed to the first portion 10 by a screw 21.

[0055] The first portion 10 comprises two opposing lateral rims 23 and a front rim 41 folded and projecting outwards.

[0056] The connector 14 is fixed on an inner face 24 of the second portion 11.

[0057] Figure 4 shows a perspective diagram of an interface element 7 mounted on a reflector 3. All reflectors 3 of a wide range of projectors can have the same interface element 7 cooperating with different light modules 4.

[0058] As illustrated in [Fig. 5], the reflector 3 includes at least one interface housing 19 (or technical interface) at its upper part 25, and on the side of a rear face 37 of the reflector 3. The interface housing 19 has a shape adapted to receive the interface element 7. The interface housing 19 is predefined and arranged so as to allow the diode 5 to be correctly positioned relative to the reflector 3 when the light module 4 is fixed to the interface element 7. This ensures perfect focusing of the diode 5 with respect to the optical or reflective surfaces 28 of the reflector 3.

[0059] The reflector 3 also includes a cavity 26 near the interface housing 19 to house the screw 21 fixing the printed circuit 8 to the first portion 10 of the support 6.

[0060] The interface element 7 includes an upper portion 27 intended to be inserted into the interface housing 19 along a direction A, extending along the direction of the light beam and substantially perpendicular to the reflective surface 28 of the reflector 3. The upper portion 27 includes the threaded hole 13 into which the screw 12 is screwed to fix the light module 4 to the interface element 7.

[0061] The upper portion 27 comprises two U-shaped ribs 29, 30 partially surrounding the threaded opening 13. A lower rib 29 is designed to slide in a groove 31 provided in the reflector 3 and defining the periphery of the interface housing 19. An upper rib 30 is designed to bear against a surface upper support 32 of reflector 3.

[0062] The groove 31 and the upper bearing surface 32 extend along the direction A, that is to say substantially perpendicular to the reflective surface 28.

[0063] The interface element 7 is inserted into the interface housing 19 through the rear face 37 of the reflector 3

[0064] The interface element 7 comprises a lower portion 33 having a flat central wall 34, and two opposing lateral tabs 35 projecting towards the second portion 11 of the support 6, perpendicular to the central wall 34, when the light module 4 is fixed to the interface element 7. The lower portion 33 runs along the second portion 11 of the support 6. Each lateral tab 35 comprises an end 36 abutting against the inner face 24 of the second portion 11 of the support 6.

[0065] The connector 14 is housed in the lower portion 33 of the interface element 7 when the light module 4 is fixed to the interface element 7, as shown in [Fig.1].

[0066] According to one possible assembly process, once the interface element 7 is fixed to the projector 3 by its rear face 37, the light module 4 is fixed to the interface element 7 by the rear face 37 of the reflector 3. The first portion 10 of the support 6 and the diode 5 are found above and substantially facing the reflective surface 28 of the projector 3.

[0067] As illustrated in [Fig.6], the reflector 3 includes two positioning ribs 38 at its upper part 25. The first portion 10 of the support 6 of the light module 4 includes two opposing recesses 39 located near its front edge 41 and on each lateral edge 23 of the first portion 10.

[0068] The two recesses 39 of the light module 4 are intended to fit into the respective positioning ribs 38 of the reflector 3 to allow the correct positioning which is predefined, of the light module 4 with respect to the reflector 3 and thus the perfect focusing of the diode 5 with respect to the reflective surfaces 28 (or optical walls) of the reflector 3.

[0069] The first portion 10 of the support 6 of the light module 4 is then fixed to the interface element 7 by screwing the screw 12 into the threaded hole 13 of the upper portion 27 of the interface element 7.

Claims

Claims

1. Modular lighting assembly (1) for a headlight (2) of a motor vehicle comprising at least one optical module (20) provided with a reflector (3), the modular lighting assembly (1) comprising a light module (4) provided with a diode (5) intended to allow the optical module (20) to emit a light beam, characterized in that it comprises an interface element (7) intended to be fixed on the reflector (3) of the optical module (20), the light module (4) being intended to be fixed on the interface element (7) in a removable manner; the light module (4) comprises a support (6) comprising a printed circuit (8) on which the diode (5) is mounted and a connector (14) intended to electrically connect the printed circuit (8) to an electrical device;the support (6) has an L shape and comprises a first portion (10) having an internal face (15) on which the printed circuit (8) and the diode (5) are positioned and a second portion (11) having an external face (16) on which the radiator (9) is positioned; the first portion (10) is intended to be fixed to the interface element (7) by means of a screw (12) passing through the first portion (10) and the printed circuit (8) to screw into a threaded hole (13) provided in the interface element (7).;

2. Modular lighting assembly (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the support (6) comprises a removable radiator (9).

3. Modular lighting assembly (1) according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the second portion (11) has a U shape with a central wall (17) extended by two opposite side walls (18) projecting outwards, the radiator (9) being held by the side walls (18) when it is positioned on the second portion (11).

4. Headlight (2) of a motor vehicle comprising at least one optical module (20) provided with a reflector (3), characterized in that it comprises at least one modular light assembly (1) as defined according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. Projector (2) according to claim 4, characterized in that the reflector (3) comprises at least one interface housing (19), positioned at an upper part (25) and on a rear face (37) of the reflector (3), the interface element (7) comprising an upper portion (27) intended to be inserted into the interface housing (19) and incorporating the threaded orifice (13).

6. Projector (2) according to any one of claims 4 or 5, characterized in that the interface element (7) comprises a lower portion (33) comprising a central wall (34) and two opposite lateral tabs (35) projecting towards the second portion (11) of the support (6) when the light module (4) is fixed on the interface element (7), each lateral tab (35) comprising an end (36) abutting against an internal face (24) of the second portion (11) of the support (6).

7. Motor vehicle characterized in that it comprises at least one headlight (2) as defined according to any one of claims 4 to 6.

Images