Assembly of a housing for coupling a light guide

Abstract

The invention relates to an assembly comprising a housing (20) for coupling a light guide (23) with a light source. The assembly includes: an electronic board (21) having said light source; a light guide (23); said light guide (23) having an end facing said light source; a gap between the light source and said end of the light guide (23); a support (26) for the electronic board (21), said support (26) having a catch element configured to exert a pressure force on the electronic board (21) relative to the housing (20), the catch element having a pivot joint (27) with a housing (20), and said catch element being rotatable between an upper and a lower position. Figure for the abstract: Fig. 1

Description

Title of the invention: Assembly of a housing for coupling a light guide Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to an assembly of a housing for coupling a light guide. It applies, in particular, in the field of optical light guidance. Prior art

[0002] In the automotive world, electricity continues to be integrated into the manufacture of vehicles to the point that the use of light guides is necessary.

[0003] The light guide is used for different wavelengths in the visible, ultraviolet, near and mid-infrared ranges by using different types of optical fiber in different core or optical cladding diameters.

[0004] Certain prior art documents also propose light guiding devices. For example, publication document CA3074726 is known, which uses light guiding coupled to the grating concentrating the light and redirecting by diffraction.

[0005] In the field of electric cars, light guides are widely used and are accompanied by light sources, for example LEDs.

[0006] LED is the acronym for Light Emitting Diode, it is generally called by its English acronym LED (acronym for Light Emitting Diode in English terminology) also called "light emitting diode").

[0007] The light-emitting diode is a component increasingly used in different fields such as lighting, television screens, computer screens or decoration.

[0008] Certain prior art documents also propose devices with light-emitting diodes in a car. For example, publication document WO2019214974 is known, which comprises a trim element for a front part of a car comprising a lighting device.

[0009] This lighting device contains light-emitting diodes. Presentation of the invention

[0010] The present invention aims to remedy these drawbacks with a completely innovative approach.

[0011] More specifically, the invention aims to provide an assembly allowing good diffusion of light and resistant to vibrations between a light source and a light guide.

[0012] In particular, an objective of the invention is to provide such a technique which makes it possible, when mounting the part on a vehicle, to ensure that the mounting is successful and to avoid any other complex adjustment assembly.

[0013] Another objective of the invention is to provide such a technique which is inexpensive to implement and which does not require any particular maintenance.

[0014] An objective of the invention is to provide such a technique, which can be easily adapted to existing assemblies.

[0015] These objectives, as well as others which will appear subsequently, are achieved, according to a first aspect, using an assembly of a housing for coupling a light guide with a light source, remarkable in that the assembly comprises: - an electronic card having said light source; - a light guide; said light guide having one end facing said light source; - a clearance between the light source and said end of the light guide - a support for the electronic card, said support comprises a compensation element configured to exert a pressure force on the electronic card relative to the housing, the compensation element comprises a pivot connection with a housing and said compensation element is rotatable between a high position and a low position.

[0016] Clearance is understood to mean the distance between the elements.

[0017] Thus, the electronic card tilts to follow possible vibrations and ensure that the diffusion of light is always at its maximum while respecting a clearance between the light source and the end of the light guide.

[0018] Rotational guidance was preferred to translational guidance for its robustness and reliability: no risk of buckling, pivot connection easy to implement.

[0019] The invention is advantageously implemented according to the embodiments and variants set out below, which are to be considered individually or according to any technically effective combination.

[0020] In one embodiment, the compensation element is a spring comprising two ends, one of the ends is positioned in the housing of the case and the other end is pressed against the electronic card, the support comprises a lug positioned in the spring and configured to guide the spring during its deformations.

[0021] In one embodiment, the electronic card comprises a microcontroller configured to power the light source; the electronic card is connected to a power supply.

[0022] In one embodiment, said light guide is surrounded by a reflector configured to increase or ensure the diffusion of light.

[0023] In one embodiment, said light source is a light-emitting diode. nescent.

[0024] In one embodiment, the distance between the light-emitting diode and the light guide is between 0.2 and 2 mm, preferably around 0.4 mm.

[0025] In one embodiment, the angle of inclination of the support of the electrical card is between -3° and 3° relative to the longitudinal plane of the support card in the neutral position; -3° and 3° corresponds to the high position and a low position and allows for play to be taken up.

[0026] In one embodiment, the end of the housing where the light guide is located comprises an O-ring and a cover. Thus, the seal provides a seal.

[0027] In one embodiment, the O-ring provides a seal and the cover protects the elements of the assembly.

[0028] According to a second aspect, the present invention relates to a vehicle comprising one of the characteristics described above.

[0029] The advantages, aims and particular characteristics of the vehicle being similar to those of the assembly which is the subject of the present invention, they are not recalled here. Brief description of the figures

[0030] Other advantages, aims and characteristics of the present invention emerge from the following description given, for explanatory and in no way limiting purposes, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

[0031] [Fig.l] represents a schematic diagram of the various elements which are the subject of the present invention;

[0032] [Fig.2] represents three curves in simulation;

[0033] [Fig. 3] represents a schematic diagram of the different elements according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0034] [Fig.4] represents a schematic diagram of the different elements in a different position of the support of the electronic card of the present invention;

[0035] [Fig. 5] represents a part of the technical drawing of the different elements which are the subject of the present invention;

[0036] [Fig.6] represents the entire technical drawing of the different elements of the present invention;

[0037] [Fig.7] represents the entire housing in exploded view of the different elements which are the subject of the present invention according to an exemplary embodiment. Description of the embodiments

[0038] [Fig.l] shows a schematic diagram of the various elements; it is a two-dimensional view of the assembly.

[0039] [Fig.l] is composed of two sets.

[0040] The first assembly consists of a housing 20, an electronic card 21 and of a light source.

[0041] According to an exemplary embodiment, the housing 20 is a rectangular object with a cylindrical-shaped opening on one of its sides.

[0042] According to an exemplary embodiment, the electronic card 21 is a plate which is positioned vertically.

[0043] According to an exemplary embodiment, the light source is a square-shaped object.

[0044] According to an exemplary embodiment, the electronic card 21 and the light source are located in the housing 20.

[0045] According to an exemplary embodiment, the electronic card 21 and the light source are connected together.

[0046] According to an exemplary embodiment, the electronic card 21 is a PCB A. The acronym PCBA means “Printed Circuit Board Assembly” in English, and in French it means “assembly of printed circuits”.

[0047] According to one example, the light source is an optoelectronic component.

[0048] The optoelectronic component is a light-emitting diode 22.

[0049] The electronic card 21 and the light-emitting diode 22 are located inside the housing 20.

[0050] The second assembly consists of a light guide 23 and a reflector 24.

[0051] According to an exemplary embodiment, the light guide 23 is a solid cylinder.

[0052] Said reflector 24 is a hollow cylinder.

[0053] According to an exemplary embodiment, the reflector 24 fits into the cylindrical opening of the housing.

[0054] The light guide 23 consists of guiding the light emitted by the light-emitting diode 22.

[0055] According to an exemplary embodiment, the light guide is partially surrounded by the reflector 24.

[0056] According to an exemplary embodiment, the light guide comprises an end which faces the light-emitting diode 22.

[0057] The assembly includes a clearance between the light-emitting diode 22 and the light guide 23.

[0058] This area where the game is located is called the coupling area.

[0059] This clearance is necessary to avoid light losses at the entrance of the light guide 23. The following figure explains these losses.

[0060] The coupling zone must have a precise axial clearance to minimize the loss of efficiency of the assembly.

[0061] The light losses at the entrance of the light guide 23 increase significantly with the distance separating the light-emitting diode 22 and the entrance surface of the light guide 23.

[0062] [Fig.2] shows three curves in simulation.

[0063] These three curves are indicated in a graph with the percentage of light lost in the whole on the ordinate and the distance between the light-emitting diode and the light guide on the abscissa.

[0064] These three curves marked by dots, start at approximately 0.2 mm and end at approximately 2.2 mm.

[0065] The first curve is marked by diamonds.

[0066] These diamonds indicate precise simulation data.

[0067] According to an exemplary embodiment, the first curve represents a diameter of 3 mm for a light guide 23.

[0068] The light loss is about 10% at the beginning of the curve and about 73% at the end.

[0069] According to an exemplary embodiment, for a distance between the light-emitting diode 22 and the light guide 23 of 1.6 mm, the assembly loses 60% of light.

[0070] The second curve is marked by squares.

[0071] These squares indicate precise simulation data.

[0072] According to an exemplary embodiment, the second curve represents a diameter of 4 mm for a light guide 23.

[0073] The light loss is about 9% at the beginning of the curve and about 60% at the end.

[0074] According to an exemplary embodiment, for a distance of 0.8 mm between the electro diode luminescent 22 and light guide 23, the whole loses 20% of light.

[0075] The third curve is marked by triangles.

[0076] These triangles indicate precise simulation data.

[0077] According to a simulation example, the third curve represents a diameter of 5 mm for a light guide 23.

[0078] The light loss is about 8% at the beginning of the curve and about 58% at the end.

[0079] According to an exemplary embodiment, for a distance of 1.2 mm between the electro diode luminescent 22 and light guide 23, the whole loses 25% of light.

[0080] Naturally, the invention is described in the above by way of example. It is understood that those skilled in the art are able to carry out different variant embodiments of the invention without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0081] [Fig.3] reproduces certain elements of [Fig.l].

[0082] Some elements were added in the first set.

[0083] These new elements consist of a plate positioned vertically (according to the figure) and a return element which forms the junction between the housing 20 and the electronic card 21.

[0084] Said plate is located on the right face of the electronic card 21.

[0085] According to an exemplary embodiment, the plate is a fixing support for the card electronics 21.

[0086] The support 26 consists of holding the electronic card 21 and maintaining the axiality between the light-emitting diode 22 and the light guide.

[0087] According to an exemplary embodiment, the element which forms the junction between the housing 20 and the electronic card 21 is a spring 25.

[0088] Said return element consists of having a clearance between the light-emitting diode 22 and the light guide 23.

[0089] The play may be due to the assembly tolerances of the different parts between the reflector 24 and the housing 20 or to the conditions of use (vibrations for example).

[0090] According to one embodiment, the support 26 comprises a pivot connection 27 which is located on the lower end of the support 26.

[0091] The pivot connection 27 consists of making the light-emitting diode 22 movable in rotation relative to the axis passing through the pivot connection 27.

[0092] The purpose of the pivot connection 27 is to maintain the entrance of the light guide 23 at the required distance by means of a spring 25.

[0093] According to an exemplary embodiment, the support 26 consists of guiding the electronic card 21 and leaving a single degree of freedom.

[0094] Said degree of freedom in this set is a rotation.

[0095] [Fig.4] shows certain elements of [Fig.l] and [Fig.3].

[0096] [Fig.4] represents the assembly when the support 26 and the electronic card 21 are inclined.

[0097] According to an exemplary embodiment, this inclination is due to an angle of inclination of the pivot connection 27.

[0098] According to an exemplary embodiment, the length of the support 26 must be sufficient so that the angle of inclination of the light-emitting diode 22 relative to the axis of the light guide does not degrade the optical efficiency.

[0099] According to an exemplary embodiment, a tilt angle of ±3° around the nominal position has a negligible effect on the quantity of light entering the guide. This rotation of ±3° is sufficient to make up for the play of ±1 mm or even ±1.5 mm and maintain a constant distance between the light-emitting diode 22 and the entrance to the light guide 23.

[0100] The spring 25 relaxes and the electronic card is slightly compressed.

[0101] [Fig.5] shows a technical drawing.

[0102] The technical drawing includes certain elements of [Fig.l], 3 and [Fig.4].

[0103] The technical drawing shows a partial view of an assembly according to the present invention.

[0104] The view is centered on the clearance between the light-emitting diode 22 and the light guide 23.

[0105] In the partial view, a part of the spring 25 is visible.

[0106] The electronic card support comprises a housing which is visible in the partial view.

[0107] This housing is located between the light-emitting diode 22 and the light guide 23.

[0108] According to an exemplary embodiment, the housing of the support must not include any dust or residue on its surface.

[0109] According to an exemplary embodiment, the material of the support of the electronic card is POM.

[0110] POM is short for PolyOxyMethylene which is a thermoplastic polymer.

[0111] According to an exemplary embodiment, the material of the light guide 23 is PMMA.

[0112] PMMA is the abbreviation of PolyMethylMethacrylate which is a highly transparent thermoplastic polymer, obtained by polymerization of the monomer methyl methacrylate.

[0113] [Fig.6] shows a view of the assembly according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0114] Certain elements are taken from [Fig.l], 3, 4 and [Fig.5].

[0115] The total assembly includes other elements not visible in the other figures.

[0116] This overview includes the spring housing 25.

[0117] According to an exemplary embodiment, the spring is housed in a cavity of the housing and in a lug of the electronic card support.

[0118] According to an exemplary embodiment, the pivot connection 27 comprises a wedge located on the side of the rotation element.

[0119] Said wedge is a stop.

[0120] The role of the stop is to keep a single degree of freedom at the pivot connection 27.

[0121] [Fig.7] is an exploded perspective view according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0122] This view shows the assembly before the various elements are assembled.

[0123] The only elements not indicated are the light guide 23 and the reflector 24.

[0124] According to an exemplary embodiment, the assembly comprises an O-ring 28 and a cover 29.

[0125] The O-ring 28 is a circular ring of round rubber section, which is mounted in a groove and which is compressed to prevent the passage of a fluid. The seal makes the assembly watertight when handling or transporting the housing.

[0126] The hood 29 has the form of a lifting cover which makes it possible to protect the various components of the assembly.

[0127] According to an exemplary embodiment, the support of the electronic card comprises several holes for fitting it with the electronic card 21.

[0128] It is emphasized that all the characteristics, as they emerge for a person skilled in the art from the present description, the drawings and the attached claims, even if concretely they have only been described in relation to other determined features, both individually and in any combinations, may be combined with other features or groups of features disclosed herein, provided that this has not been expressly excluded or that technical circumstances make such combinations impossible or meaningless. List of reference signs

[0129] [Tables 1] References Designations 20 housing 21 electronic card 22 light-emitting diode 23 light guide 24 reflector 25 spring 26 support 27 pivot connection 28 O-ring 29 cover

Claims

Claims

1. An assembly of a housing (20) for coupling a light guide (23) with a light source, characterized in that the assembly comprises: - an electronic card (21) having said light source; - a light guide (23); said light guide (23) having an end facing said light source; said light guide (23) is surrounded by a reflector (24) configured to increase or ensure the diffusion of the light; - a clearance between the light source and said end of the light guide (23) - a support (26) for the electronic card (21), said support (26) comprises a take-up element configured to exert a pressure force on the electronic card (21) relative to the housing (20), the take-up element comprises a pivot connection (27) with a housing (20) and said take-up element is rotatable between a high position and a low position.

2. Assembly according to claim 1, in which the compensation element is a spring (25) comprising two ends, one of the ends is positioned in the housing of the case and the other end is pressed against the electronic card (21), the support (26) comprises a lug positioned in the spring and configured to guide the spring during its deformations.

3. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the electronic card comprises a microcontroller configured to power the light source; the electronic card is connected to a power supply.

4. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein said light source is a light emitting diode (22).

5. An assembly according to claim 4, wherein the distance between the light-emitting diode (22) and the light guide (23) is between 0.2 and 2 mm, preferably around 0.4 mm.

6. Assembly according to claim 1, in which the angle of inclination of the support (26) of the electrical card is between -3° and 3° relative to the longitudinal plane of the support card (26) defining a neutral position.

7. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the end of the housing where the light guide (23) is located comprises an O-ring (28) and a cover (29).

8. Vehicle comprising the assembly according to one of claims 1 to 7.

Images