Vehicle spotlight

Abstract

Vehicle (2) headlight (1), configured to generate a lighting zone (3) in front of the vehicle (2) and comprising: - a first fixed matrix lighting source (10) configured to emit a high beam (11), - a second movable lighting source (20) configured to emit a low beam (12), and - a correction mechanism (30) configured to maintain a constant vertical inclination of the low beam (12) relative to a horizontal reference line (H) when the vehicle is in motion, characterized in that it further comprises a third lighting source (40) configured to eliminate at least one shadow zone (5) that may occur, at the level of said lighting zone (3), between the high beam (11) and the low beam (12). Figure to be published with the abbreviation: Fig. 4

Description

Description Title of the invention: Vehicle projector Technical field The present invention relates generally to the field of vehicle headlights, particularly for motor vehicles, and in particular to the field of front headlights comprising two light sources, one generating a high beam and the other a low beam. Previous technique Vehicle headlights or headlamps generally include adjustment mechanisms designed to adjust the azimuth and elevation of the optical module. Elevation refers to the pitch or tilt of the optical module in the vertical plane. Such adjustment mechanisms are described, for example, in documents FR3032513A and FR3026688A, which specifically refer to lensless headlights. In such a headlight, the front face of the optical module is defined by an external lens, which has the advantage of reducing the absorption of some of the light (up to 10%) by the material that would otherwise constitute the lens. The beam height adjustment can depend, for example, on the load carried at the rear of the vehicle, which raises the front of the vehicle and typically requires compensation through this adjustment. More sophisticated systems also allow for dynamic adjustment while the vehicle is in motion, ensuring the beam is never dazzling to oncoming road users. These systems are generally configured to maintain a constant beam angle in the vertical plane relative to a horizontal reference line. Document FR3015003A describes a motor vehicle headlight without a lens and comprising two lighting modules equipped with a beam height adjustment. Document FR2745061A describes a motor vehicle projector that allows, in a simple and economical way, the generation of two light beams, one for a low beam function and the other for a high beam function, from a single source and a mirror. More recently, matrix lighting beams have emerged, consisting of an array of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) arranged on a flat surface, such as a printed circuit board. These LEDs can be arranged in vertical strips (sometimes called "matrix beams") where each strip operates independently. Alternatively, these LEDs can be arranged in pixels ("pixel lights") where each LED can be switched on or off independently. These matrix headlights are designated as adaptive headlights, known by the acronym ADB for "Adaptive Driving Beam," because they optimize road illumination without dazzling oncoming vehicles or road users. In these types of headlights, primarily designed for the high beam, independent lighting zones are created within the same beam, allowing these zones to be activated or deactivated as needed. The activation of the LEDs associated with these lighting sectors or zones is typically controlled by an electronic unit coupled with a means of detecting the location of a target that must not be dazzled within the high beam. Such a detection method could be, for example, an infrared camera. An ABD-type ("matrix" or "pixel") lighting module makes the mechanical movements required for elevation adjustment technically complex. For this reason, headlights equipped with an ABD module for the high beam and a standard module for the low beam only offer elevation adjustments on the standard module associated with the low beam. The ABD module therefore remains fixed, i.e., immobile. The main drawback of these headlights is that if only one of the two modules can be adjusted in position, a shadow zone between the high and low beams can sometimes occur and become annoying for the driver. Therefore, there is an interest in finding an efficient and more suitable solution which, while remaining economical, at least partially resolves the aforementioned drawback. Summary of the invention To this end, the present invention relates in a first aspect to a vehicle projector, configured to generate a lighting zone in front of the vehicle and comprising: - a first fixed matrix lighting source configured to emit a road beam, - a second mobile lighting source configured to emit a low-beam beam, and - a correction mechanism configured to maintain a constant vertical inclination of the low beam relative to a horizontal reference line, when the vehicle is in motion. According to the invention, the vehicle projector further comprises a third light source, configured to suppress at least one shadow area that may occur, at the level of said lighting area, between the high beam and the low beam. Advantageously, the projector of the present invention improves driver comfort and safety during nighttime driving while offering a simple and economical solution to projectors with a dual-beam architecture, one beam of which originates from a matrix lighting source. Indeed, thanks to the invention, the shadow zone, or at least a portion thereof, that can occur between the high and low beams, particularly when the latter is elevation-corrected, can be eliminated using a simple compensating optical means, while keeping the ADB module fixed. In one embodiment, the first lighting source consists of a plurality of light-emitting diodes arranged in a matrix on a flat support and in that the third lighting source consists of an additional set of light-emitting diodes arranged on said support and configured to emit an intermediate light beam intended to be projected, at the level of said lighting area, between the high beam and the low beam. Preferably, a primary optic, consisting of a matrix of converging lenses, is arranged in front of said flat support so that said set of additional light-emitting diodes is associated with at least a part of said matrix of converging lenses. In one embodiment, said set of additional light-emitting diodes is configured to generate at least one light distribution zone. Preferably, said additional set of light-emitting diodes is configured to generate three light distribution zones distributed into a central zone and two lateral zones located on either side of said central zone, and in that at least said central zone is activatable independently of the two lateral zones. In another embodiment, said additional set of light-emitting diodes constitutes an extension of the light-emitting diode matrix of the first light source. In a preferred embodiment, the third lighting source constitutes a corrective device that can be activated and / or deactivated by at least one control signal from a control device configured to prevent or detect said shadow area. Preferably, the control element is a control element for an angle of inclination of the correction mechanism and this element is configured to generate and transmit, to the correcting element, said control signal when said angle of inclination reaches a threshold value. In another embodiment, said control signal is configured to be subordinate to a matrix lighting management unit of the first source, in order to be able to deactivate at least partially the corrective unit in the presence of a target located, at the level of the lighting zone, between the high beam and the low beam. In a second aspect, the invention also relates to a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, comprising a projector according to any one of the embodiments of this projector or according to any possible combination of these embodiments. Brief description of the drawings [fig.1] is a schematic illustration of a lighting area obtained by a first matrix lighting source of a first type and by a second standard lighting source; [fig.2] is a schematic illustration, similar to that of Fig. 1, in which the first matrix lighting source is of a second type; [fig.3] is a schematic illustration of the shadow zone that can occur between the beams of the first and second lighting sources mentioned above; [fig.4] is a schematic illustration of the main elements of a projector according to the present invention; [fig.5] is a schematic illustration, in a profile view, of the first and third lighting sources according to the invention; [fig.6] is a schematic illustration of the third light source in a front view; [fig.7] is an illustration similar to that of Fig. 3 in which the shadow area has been replaced by a light distribution area according to an embodiment of the invention; [Fig. 8] is an illustration similar to that of Fig. 3 in which the shaded area has been replaced by three distribution areas according to another embodiment of the invention; and [fig.9] is an illustration similar to that of Fig. 3 in which the shadow area has been replaced by a multitude of distribution areas according to a final embodiment of the invention. Description of the implementation methods With reference to Fig. 1, this schematically represents a lighting zone 3 obtained by a first matrix lighting source 10 and a second standard lighting source 20. More precisely, the first source 10 produces a first lighting zone 31 and the second source 20 produces a second lighting zone 32. In the present case, these first and second lighting zones 31, 32 may can be described as partial lighting zones, because they only form lighting zone 3 when considered together. An orthonormal coordinate system formed by a horizontal axis H and a vertical axis V is shown superimposed on the illumination area 3. The illumination of the first source 10 is matrix-type and consists of a plurality of vertical illumination strips 10' aligned adjacently. Each vertical illumination strip 10' can typically be obtained from a column of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) forming part of the first source 10. The advantage of this type of illumination lies in the fact that each vertical illumination strip 10' can be switched on or off independently. By coupling the first lighting source 10 to a matrix lighting control unit 60 (Fig. 4), it becomes possible to control each of the vertical lighting bands 10' according to the current needs. In particular, the integration of an infrared camera or any other onboard detection system (under nighttime conditions) for a target likely to be dazzled can then select which vertical lighting bands 10' should be switched off, for example, so as not to dazzle the target, especially when it is a vehicle or a pedestrian approaching from the opposite direction. This first matrix lighting source 10 can be described as adaptive since it is capable of dynamically generating an adaptive or adjustable beam. For this reason, this type of lighting is generally known by the acronym ADB ("Adaptive Driving Beam"). While the first matrix light source (10) is typically used as the high beam, the second, more modest light source is generally dedicated to the low beam. This second source (20) is not usually a matrix type but more conventionally consists of a bulb, for example, a halogen or xenon bulb. To improve the driver's nighttime visibility and avoid dazzling oncoming road users, an additional measure is incorporated into the headlights of modern vehicles. This measure consists of dynamically correcting the elevation of the second light source 20, dedicated to the low beams. As a reminder, this adjustment involves varying the average projection angle of the low beam in the vertical plane, so as to correct the height of the partial illumination zone 32 relative to a horizontal reference line or axis H. The correction is performed dynamically, meaning at all times while the vehicle is in motion. Typically, the upper radius of the high beam will generally be adjusted so that it is at an inclination of 0.57° below the horizontal reference line H. This inclination corresponds to an angle with a downward slope of 1% from the source. Fig. 2 represents a variant of the illustration given in Fig. 1. Indeed, in Fig. 2, the matrix illumination of the first source 10 is a "pixel" type illumination in which the vertical illumination bands 10 have been further subdivided by horizontal lines to obtain a multitude of pixels 10". Each pixel 10" can consist of a single LED or a group of multiple LEDs. The advantage of such a illumination source lies in the fact that the granularity of the illumination offers finer partitioning than that provided by the first source 10 shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 schematically represents the main problem presented by headlights equipped with light sources 10, 20, such as those illustrated interchangeably in Figs. 1 or 2. Because one of the two light sources, in particular the second source 20 generating the low beam, is dynamically corrected for elevation, a shadow zone 5 can sometimes appear in the illuminated zone 3, between the partial illuminated zones 31, 32. This shadow zone 5 occurs depending on the vehicle's inclination or attitude relative to the terrain and can be a nuisance, particularly for the driver. The object of the present invention is specifically to remedy, at least partially, this inconvenience. It should be noted that, due to the complexity of the optical module required for the first matrix lighting source 10, this lighting is preferably fixed or stationary. Consequently, the first source 10 generating the high beam must be considered as not being able to be tilted in elevation, unlike the second source 20 generating the low beam. As shown schematically in Fig. 4, to solve at least part of the aforementioned problem, the object of the present invention proposes in its first aspect a projector 1, of vehicle 2, configured to generate a lighting zone 3 in front of the vehicle 2. This projector or front headlight of vehicle may be provided with a protective lens or preferably be without such a lens. The projector of the present invention comprises: - a first fixed matrix lighting source 10 configured to emit a road beam 11, - a second mobile lighting source 20 configured to emit a low-beam 12, and - a correction mechanism 30 configured to maintain a constant vertical inclination of the dipped light beam 12 relative to a horizontal reference line H, when the vehicle 2 is in motion. According to the invention, this projector 1 further comprises a third light source 40 configured to eliminate at least one shadow area 5 that may occur, at the level of said lighting zone 3, between the high beam 11 and the low beam 12. As illustrated in Fig. 4, this third lighting source 40 is configured to emit an intermediate light beam 16 intended to eliminate the shadow area by replacing the latter. It should be noted that the movable lighting of the second source 20 is not limited to providing elevation correction, i.e., correction in the vertical plane, but could also be configured to provide azimuth correction, i.e., correction in the horizontal plane. Furthermore, elevation and / or azimuth correction is a dynamic correction, meaning it is performed, preferably continuously, while the vehicle is in motion. Therefore, such a correction should not be confused with occasional headlight adjustments made by a system that provides a one-time adjustment of the headlights. Such an adjustment might, for example, be used to compensate, on a one-off or occasional basis, for the vehicle's attitude due to the load it is carrying, or it might consist of manually adjusting the headlights using adjustment screws, typically handled by a mechanic during vehicle inspections, for example.Finally, the vertical inclination (i.e., elevation) of the crossing light beam 12 relative to the horizontal reference line V is preferably not zero, as schematically illustrated in Fig. 4, but is rather directed downwards (below the horizontal line H) as illustrated in particular in Figs. 1 to 3. Thanks to the third light source 40 included in the projector 1 of the present invention, the shadow area(s) 5 illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 can advantageously be eliminated, at least partially, without modifying (at least substantially) either the first fixed matrix light source 10 or the second movable light source 20. Thus, the technology required for the first matrix light source is spared the need for any additional device to make it movable, thereby avoiding any weakening or increased complexity of this first matrix light source. Furthermore, the adaptation of existing projectors equipped with such first and second light sources is facilitated by the easy addition of a corrective element, such as the third light source 40, to overcome the inconvenience of the shadow area 5 for the vehicle driver.Therefore, adapting such projectors offers a solution that is both economical and effective. Fig. 5 is a schematic illustration, in profile view, of a first fixed matrix lighting source 10 and a third lighting source 40 according to the invention. It can be seen in this figure that the first source 10 preferably forms part of an optical module M comprising preferably a heat sink 13 associated with a printed circuit board on which is arranged a matrix of light-emitting diodes 15, of a primary optics 17 and a secondary optics 18. In a preferred embodiment, the first matrix lighting source 10 is preferably made up of a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) 15 arranged in a matrix on a flat support 14. Such a support 14 can advantageously be the printed circuit board on which the LEDs are arranged. The matrix arrangement of these LEDs can define either vertical lighting strips 10' (Fig. 1) or pixels 10" (Fig. 2). The number of LEDs, vertical lighting strips 10', or pixels 10" is irrelevant. Fig. 6 shows a front view of the third lighting source 40, while Fig. 5 shows a side view of this third source. As illustrated in Fig. 6, this third lighting source 40 preferably consists of an array of additional light-emitting diodes 45 arranged on a flat support, preferably on the support 14 that receives the first lighting source 10. The additional light-emitting diodes 45 are configured to emit the intermediate light beam 16 intended to be projected, at the level of the lighting zone 3, between the high beam 11 and the low beam 12, as illustrated in particular in Fig. 4. Preferably, a primary optic 17, consisting of a converging lens array 17", is arranged in front of the flat support 14 so that the additional LED array 45 is associated with at least part of the converging lens array 17', as shown in Fig. 6. Typically, the converging lens array 17" of the primary optic 17 is preferably arranged coincidentally with the LED array so that each LED is associated with a converging lens of the primary optic. Preferably, this primary optic is the same as the one placed in front of the first light source 10, which is why it is identified by the same reference number in Fig. 5, in particular. Advantageously, this embodiment offers a certain compactness that would allow the existing dimensions of the optical module M dedicated to the first light source 10 to be preserved. Preferably, these converging lenses 17' are all identical and therefore all have identical focal lengths, which together are thus located on the same focal plane F. According to a preferred embodiment, the focal plane F of the primary optic 17 further includes the local point of the secondary optic 18 (projection lens), so that the light beams 11' emerging from the primary optic 17 can be projected to infinity in parallel, or essentially parallel, beams at the output of the secondary optic 18, as shown in Fig. 5. The intermediate light beam 16, from the additional LEDs 45, is intended to be projected, at the level of the illumination zone 3, adjacently or partially superimposed on the high beam 11 and / or the low beam 12. The third lighting source 40 is preferably a fixed matrix lighting source comparable to the first source 10. With reference to Fig. 7, this represents the lighting zone 3 consisting of several partial lighting zones, in particular zones 31 and 32 projected respectively by the first and second sources, as well as a light distribution zone 34 projected by the third source 40, in particular by the additional light-emitting diode set 45. Preferably, this additional LED set 45 is configured to generate at least one light distribution zone 34. In an embodiment illustrated by Fig. 8, the additional LED set 45 is configured to generate three light distribution zones 34, divided into a central zone 34b and two lateral zones 34a, 34c located on either side of the central zone 34b. Each of these zones 34a, 34b, 34c can be generated by a corresponding subset 45a, 45b, 45c of LEDs from the additional LED set 45, as illustrated in Fig. 6. Thanks to such an architecture, the zones 34a, 34b and 34c can be activated independently of each other by selectively activating each corresponding subset of LEDs 45a, 45b, 45c. Preferably, at least the central zone 34b can be activated independently of the two lateral zones 34a, 34c. In one embodiment, the additional LED array 45 constitutes an extension, or prolongation, of the LED matrix 15 of the first lighting source 10. As shown in Fig. 9, the additional LED array 45 could be configured to generate as many light distribution zones 34" as there are LEDs in a row of the LED matrix or as there are vertical lighting strips 10 in the first lighting source 10. Advantageously, the third lighting source 40 can serve as an activatable and / or deactivatable corrective device. As shown in Fig. 4, the activation or deactivation of this corrective device can preferably be controlled by a control signal 51 from a control device 50. This control device 50 could be configured to prevent or detect the shadow zone 5. In one embodiment, the control element 50 could be a tilt (site) control element for the correction mechanism 30 and could be configured to generate and transmit, to the correction element (third source 40), the control signal 51 when the tilt angle (in the vertical plane) reaches a threshold value. This threshold value could be a predefined value corresponding, for example, to an angle with a downward slope of 2% or less. to this value. The aforementioned angle of inclination typically corresponds to the vehicle's attitude 2 and could be determined by the correction mechanism 30 and / or be derived from it. The control signal 51 could be a binary signal or a more complex signal carrying at least one additional piece of information or data. Such additional information could consist of an identification of the light distribution zone(s) 34 to be activated / deactivated from among all the available light distribution zones (e.g. 34a, 34b, 34c). In one embodiment, the control signal 51 consists of: - an activation signal transmitted to the corrective device (third source 40) when the aforementioned angle of inclination is greater than or equal to the threshold value, and in - a deactivation signal transmitted to the corrective device when this angle of inclination is less than this threshold value. Furthermore, the control unit 50 could be a detection unit for the shadow zone S. Such a unit could be a camera or another electro-optical type unit in particular. In another embodiment, the control signal 51 is configured to be subordinated to a control unit 60 for the matrix lighting of the first source 10. By this means, it could be possible to deactivate, at least partially, the corrective unit (third source 40) in the presence of a target located or detected within the lighting zone 3, between the high beam 1 and the low beam 12. Such a target could be a pedestrian or an oncoming vehicle that should not be dazzled so as not to impede its movement. The control unit 60 could be the same unit as that dedicated to controlling the LEDs of the first matrix lighting source. Such a control unit 60 could therefore include a microcomputer or at least a processor equipped with firmware. In a second aspect, the invention also relates to a vehicle 2, in particular a motor vehicle, comprising a projector 1 according to any one of the embodiments of this projector or according to any possible combination of these embodiments.

Claims

Demands

1. Vehicle (2) projector (1), configured to generate unc zone lighting (3) at the front of the vehicle (2) and comprising: - a first source (10) of fixed matrix lighting configured for emit a road beam of light (11), - a second mobile lighting source (20) configured to emit a dipped beam headlight (12), and - a correction mechanism (30) configured to maintain an in- constant vertical inclination of the crossing light beam (12) relative to a horizontal reference line (H), when the vehicle is rolling, characterized in that it further comprises a third source (40) lighting, configured to eliminate at least one shadow area (5) which may occur, at the level of said lighting zone (3), between the high beam (11) and low beam (12).

2. Projector (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the first light source (10) consists of a plurality of electroluminescent diodes minescent (15) arranged in a matrix pattern on a flat support (14) and in that the third source (40) of light consists of a set of additional light-emitting diodes (45) arranged on said support (14) and configured to emit a beam intermediate luminous (16) intended to be projected, at the level of the said lighting zone (3), between the high beam (11) and the dipped beam of light (12).

3. Projector (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that an optic primary (17), consisting of a matrix of converging lenses (17"), is arranged in front of said support (14) plane so that said set of additional light-emitting diodes (45) i.e. associated with at least a portion of said converging lens matrix {17").

4. Projector (1) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that said set of additional light-emitting diodes (45) is configured to generate at least one light distribution zone (34).

5. Projector (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that said set of additional light-emitting diodes (45) is configured to generate three light distribution zones (34) divided into a central zone (34b) and two lateral zones (34a, 34c) situated on either side of said central zone (34b), and in that less said central zone (34b) is activatable independently of the two lateral zones (34a, 34c).

6. Projector (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that said set of additional light-emitting diodes (45) constitutes an extension of the LED matrix (15) of the first source (10) of light.

7. Projector (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the third source (40) of light constitutes an organ corrector that can be activated and / or deactivated by a control signal (51) originating from a control unit (50) configured to prevent or detect said grey area (5).

8. Projector (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the element of control (50) is a control device for an angle of inclination of the correction mechanism (30) and in that it is configured to generate and transmit, to the correcting unit, the said control signal (51) when said angle of inclination reaches a threshold value.

9. Projector (1) according to any one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that said control signal (51) is configured to be subordinate to a management unit (60) of the matrix lighting of the first source (10), in order to be able to deactivate at least partially the corrective device in presence of a target located, at the level of the lighting zone (3), between the high beam (11) and low beam (12).

10. Vehicle (2), comprising a projector (1) according to one of the claims previous instructions.