Light device for object detection

Abstract

Light Device for Object Detection. One aspect of the invention relates to a light device (100) for a motor vehicle comprising: a plurality of light modules (110) emitting pulsed visible light, modulated by means of a high-frequency light code, each light module (110) having at least two sectors (151, 152, 153) each grouping several light-emitting diodes (130) around a driver circuit (120), and a device for receiving the light emitted by each of the light modules (110), after reflection from an object (20), wherein the light module (110) has a time-delay latching loop (140) connected to the driver circuit (120) of each of the sectors (151, 152, 153) to ensure synchronization of said driver circuits. Another aspect of the invention relates to a driver assistance system for a motor vehicle, comprising at least one such light device (100).

Description

Title of the invention: Luminous device for object detection TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a light device for a motor vehicle, suitable for object detection. The invention also relates to a driving assistance system for a motor vehicle comprising this light device. TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] With the development of autonomous motor vehicles, driver assistance systems have improved significantly in recent years. One of the most useful assistance systems is assistance in detecting pedestrians or objects in the vehicle's environment.

[0003] Devices for detecting the presence of pedestrians or objects in the vehicle's environment, simply called object detection devices, are known. These devices generally use Lidar (Light Detection And Ranging) technology, which is based on analyzing the properties of a light beam, generally a laser beam, emitted by a specific light source and reflected by the object. With Lidar technology, the distance between the light source and the object is measured from the time lag between the emission of a laser pulse and the reception of the reflected pulse. An object detection device using Lidar is relatively simple to implement because the light source emits a single high-power infrared signal that bounces off the object; the time of flight of the infrared signal is measured upon receipt of said signal by a sensor.Such an object detection device, however, requires specific equipment to emit the infrared signal and to receive the bounced signal.

[0004] To ensure a detection rate and / or false positives that comply with the standard, a complementarity of technologies is necessary. For this, three assistance devices based on different technologies are generally combined with each other; the data generated by these different assistance devices are cross-referenced and final data is generated to inform the driver, or the vehicle itself in the case of an autonomous vehicle, of the presence of a pedestrian or an object in the vehicle's environment. However, the addition of three separate devices in the same area of ​​the vehicle has the effect of loading an area that is already heavily used in terms of congestion.

[0005] To address the space requirements, it has been considered to perform object detection using the lighting already present on the vehicle, such as the vehicle's daytime running lights. However, the light source of current lighting devices is generally a set of light-emitting diodes, controlled from of a driver circuit. However, light-emitting diodes, or LEDs, in vehicle lighting devices emit continuous visible light, which makes it difficult to detect after reflection on the object, particularly because it is combined with natural light from the sun, streetlights and other external light sources. To facilitate the detection of light emitted by LEDs and reflected by the object, it has been considered to modulate the light; the light beam emitted by the LEDs is then pulsed and modulated by a high-frequency code. However, to be effective, and therefore detectable, the modulation of the light beam must be precise; the LEDs forming the light source must therefore all emit their light beam simultaneously to avoid generating interference.However, the current trend is to deploy LEDs in lines, in layers or in grids, for stylistic effects, which has the consequence of distancing some of them from the driver circuit that controls them; the fact that the LEDs are more or less distant from the driver circuit causes a time shift in the emission of the light beam of some LEDs compared to the others. Said shift causes a spreading of the signal emissions over time, which has two consequences. First, this emission shift is carried over to the signal that has been reflected on an object, and which is re-emitted to a sensor present on the vehicle. Therefore, it is more difficult to determine the time shift between the emission of a light pulse and the reception of the reflected pulse. Second, the spreading of the pulses degrades the signal to noise ratio.Indeed, all other things being equal, the intensity of a simultaneous pulse is more easily detected at the sensor than the intensity of a plurality of emissions spread out over time. Summary of the invention

[0006] To address the problems mentioned above of interference and time lag of emission by the LEDs, the applicant proposes a light device suitable for object detection, in which the LEDs are grouped by sectors around a driver circuit which supplies them with electricity, the driver circuits being synchronized by means of a delay-locked loop.

[0007] According to a first aspect, the invention relates to a lighting device for a motor vehicle comprising: • at least one first light module configured to emit pulsed visible light, modulated to transmit a high-frequency light code, the at least one first light module comprising at least two sectors each grouping together several light-emitting diodes electrically powered by a driver circuit configured to modulate, according to the high-frequency code, an electrical power received by the light-emitting diodes nescent in order to emit the emitted pulsed visible light, and • a device for receiving the light emitted by the at least one first light module, for receiving the light code after reflection of the pulsed light emitted by the at least one light module on an object, in which the at least one first light module comprises a delay-locked loop connected to the driver circuit of each of the sectors of the respective light module to ensure synchronization of the modulation according to the code by said driver circuits.

[0008] A light device is a light element configured to be mounted in the vehicle, and preferably comprises a housing configured to be mounted in the vehicle, in which a light module is mounted. Preferably several light modules are mounted in the housing.

[0009] A light module is preferably a set of components secured to each other. Preferably, a light module can be mounted in the housing of a light device. Preferably, the light module is configured to fulfill or participate in regulatory lighting or signaling functions. When the light module participates in the performance of a signaling or lighting function, it is understood that at least one other light module, for example included in another light device, completes the performance of the function.

[0010] By light-emitting diodes (or LEDs) is meant light-emitting sources emitting incoherent light, such as are known to be well-suited for use in luminous signaling or lighting devices for motor vehicles, as opposed to laser sources (including laser diode type). Indeed, laser sources emit temporally and spatially coherent light, and have the disadvantage of posing risks to eye safety, which must be controlled by complex and costly means.

[0011] It is understood that the driver circuits are connected to the LEDs of their sector so as to supply them with electrical power, while modulating at high frequency, according to the code, the power received by the LEDs, so that the light emitted by the LED is modulated according to the code. Preferably, a driver circuit can operate as a high-frequency switch, capable of alternately blocking or allowing passage of electrical power intended to supply electrical power to the LEDs of the sector of the driver circuit. Alternatively, the driver circuit is provided with means, passive or preferably active, capable of adapting the electrical power to be supplied to the LEDs of the sector of the driver circuit according to the code received, so as to guarantee the correct transmission of the code in the form of pulsed light.

[0012] The light devices according to the invention fulfill or at least contribute to lighting and / or signaling functions known to those skilled in the art. The functions lighting functions include, for example, the functions of high beam, front fog light and dipped beam. The signaling functions include, for example, the functions of position light (known by the abbreviation PL, for Position Light), direction indicator, and daytime running light (also known to the skilled person by the Anglo-Saxon name DRL, for Daytime Running Light). Said daytime running light and position light are particularly advantageous for an embodiment of the invention because these functions can be performed by the same light-emitting diodes; in this way, the same light-emitting diodes can contribute to a detection function at night and during the day, while performing a regulatory signaling function.This results in a lighting device capable of contributing to a detection function, making it possible to avoid costs linked to a lighting device dedicated to a detection function while still performing a regulatory function.

[0013] Furthermore, the lighting device according to the invention is particularly suitable for producing a complex DRL / PL function in which several sectors, each comprising a plurality of LEDs, are used for the purpose of marking a distinctive style of the vehicle. In such lighting devices, it is common to find numerous LEDs distributed within the same module, for example at least 12 LEDs, preferably 30 LEDs, for example in lines, in sheets, or in grids. In a device according to the invention, these LEDs are distributed between several sectors, each powered by a driver circuit powering the LEDs of the respective sector.

[0014] A device suitable for performing a DRL / PL function in fact makes it possible to perform a detection function using a large portion of the LEDs required for the signaling function. A large portion is understood to mean more than 50% of the LEDs assigned to the function transmitting the code, preferably more than 75%, preferably all of the LEDs transmitting the code. This is particularly relevant when the LEDs are similar in terms of flux emission characteristics and activation current. In this way, to the extent that the large portion of the LEDs participate in the signaling function illuminating objects located in front of the motor vehicle, the detection of the pulsed light from the LEDs is not disturbed by the detection of non-pulsed light emitted by the same function. A signal-to-noise ratio of the reception of the light code by the sensor is improved.

[0015] Alternatively, if the light function is performed by dissimilar LEDs, it is advantageous for LEDs representing more than 50% of the light flux attributed to the function to transmit the code, preferably more than 75% of this flux, preferably all of this flux.

[0016] In the same way, it is advantageous to realize the lighting functions such as the low beam and the high beam with light-emitting diodes of which the power supply is modulated at high frequency to transmit the code. Several light-emitting diodes are usually used to produce the dipped beam and the main beam, sometimes within the same light module, for example a dual-function light module. It is then preferred to use at least one driver circuit capable of modulating at high frequency the power supply of the LEDs of a sector grouping together first LEDs necessary for the dipped beam function, according to the code, and a driver circuit capable of modulating at high frequency the power supply of the second LEDs of a sector grouping together LEDs necessary for the main beam function, according to the same code, in a manner synchronized with the power supply of the sector of the first LEDs.In another example, the high beam function and / or the dipped beam function comprise individually activatable and deactivatable LEDs, for example to emit a partial high beam in which lighting zones are activated or deactivated, or, alternatively or cumulatively, a dipped beam in which LEDs corresponding to a light cut-off are activated or deactivated so as to move a central zone of a cut-off zone horizontally relative to the vehicle when the lighting device is mounted on the vehicle, and thus to achieve a directional dipped beam function, known as DBL (from the English abbreviation Dynamic Bending Light). In this way, since the majority of the LEDs emit pulsed light modulated according to the code, the detection of the pulsed light of the LEDs is not disturbed by the detection of non-pulsed light emitted by the same function.This improves the signal-to-noise ratio of the light code reception by the sensor.

[0017] With sectored LEDs and a delay-locked loop connected between the driver circuits of the different sectors, the light module of this light device is capable of synchronously emitting all the light rays forming the light beam of the light device, without risk of interference. The light device according to the invention is thus suitable for object detection.

[0018] In addition to the characteristics which have just been mentioned in the preceding paragraph, the light device according to one aspect of the invention may have one or more additional characteristics among the following, considered individually or according to all technically possible combinations: • the delay-locked loop is connected to an internal clock of each of the driver circuits so as to set the clock of a driver circuit ahead of the clock of a driver circuit behind. • in each sector, the light-emitting diodes are connected to the driver circuit by conductive tracks, all the conductive tracks of the same sector having the same track length so that all the light-emitting diodes in the same sector are controlled synchronously by the driver circuit. • in each sector, the length of the conductive tracks is equal to the distance between the driver circuit and the light-emitting diode furthest from said driver circuit, the conductive tracks of the light-emitting diodes closest to the driver circuit forming delay lines. • the receiving device comprises at least one light sensor and a blue light optical filter. • the receiving device is connected to a calculation unit ensuring the determination of a time of flight of modulated pulsed light waves and a measurement of the distance between the object and the light device. • for each sector of the at least one first light module, the light-emitting diodes of the sectors are grouped on the same substrate, in particular of the FR4 or SMI type. • for each light module, the light-emitting diodes of the same light module are grouped on the same substrate, in particular of the FR4 or SMI type, • the device comprises, in addition to the at least one first light module, at least one second light module connected to the delay-locked loop of the at least one first light module.

[0019] By setting the clock of a driver circuit ahead of the clock of a driver circuit behind, it is understood that the clock of the two circuits are brought back to the same clock value, so that the modulation of the code by the two driver circuits is simultaneous, to within a residue.

[0020] A second aspect of the invention relates to a driving assistance system for a motor vehicle, characterized in that it comprises at least a first and a second light device according to the first aspect, combined with each other for the detection of the same object.

[0021] A third aspect of the invention relates to a driving assistance system for a motor vehicle, characterized in that it comprises at least a first device for detecting an object in the environment of the motor vehicle, the light device according to the first aspect constituting a second object detection device providing redundancy to the first object detection device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0022] Other advantages and characteristics of the invention will appear on reading the following description, illustrated by the figures in which:

[0023] [Fig.l] schematically represents an example of a vehicle equipped with devices luminous according to the invention;

[0024] [Fig.2] schematically represents an example of modulated light pulses, emitted by a light device according to the invention;

[0025] [Fig. 3] schematically represents an example of a control signal emitted by a driver circuit connected to a delay locking loop according to the invention; and

[0026] [Fig.4] schematically represents an example of a light module comprising driver circuits connected to a delay locking loop in accordance with the invention.

[0027] In the figures, identical elements are identified by identical references. For reasons of readability of the figures, the size scales between elements represented are not respected. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] An exemplary embodiment of a light device according to the invention is described in detail below, with reference to the attached drawings. This example illustrates the characteristics and advantages of the invention. It is however recalled that the invention is not limited to this example.

[0029] An example of a motor vehicle 10 equipped with two lighting devices 100 according to the invention is shown in [Fig.l]. This example shows a pedestrian 20 crossing in front of the vehicle 10. The vehicle 10 is equipped with two lighting devices 100, for example daytime running lights, which illuminate the road scene SR in front of the vehicle. The lighting devices 100 are integrated into a driver assistance system by which the pedestrian 20 can be detected.

[0030] The lighting device 100 according to the invention can be any basic lighting device present on a vehicle. The lighting device 100 can, for example, be a daytime running light, a position light, a signal light, a side light strip, a front light grille or any other exterior lighting means usually integrated on a vehicle to allow its visibility on the road; the lighting device is then used for the detection of pedestrians or objects on the road scene or in the environment outside the vehicle. The lighting device can also be an internal lighting device in the vehicle; it can then be used for the detection of objects or people inside the vehicle.

[0031] The light device 100 is used to emit pulsed light, modulated by a high-frequency light code. This light code is a binary cyclic code composed of a succession of 1s and 0s, the 1s corresponding to a pulse, the 0s to a non-emission of light. The light beam emitted by the LEDs contained in the light device is modulated to transmit the light code. The LEDs thus emit a succession of light pulses at a rate of approximately 10 to 20 ns, which corresponds to a high modulation frequency of the power supply of the LEDs of 10 MHz to 400 MHz, preferably 30 MHz to 200 MHz, preferably 50 to 100 MHz. An example of a code is shown in part A of [Fig.2] and an example of light pulses corresponding to this code is shown in part B of [Fig.2]. It should be noted that by emitting at high frequency a light beam modulated by this code, the human eye does not perceive this modulation. For the human eye, the light beam is continuous; the light code is invisible. The light code emitted via the modulation of the light beam can therefore be used for object detection.

[0032] As shown schematically in [Fig. 4], a lighting device 100 according to the invention comprises several lighting modules 110 which each comprise at least two driver circuits 120 and several white LEDs 130, organized into sectors 151, 152, 153. A driver circuit 120, also called a driver, is a piece of equipment enabling the direct current supply of the LEDs to which it is connected. A driver circuit 120 therefore controls several LEDs 130. According to the invention, the lighting module 110 comprises several sectors 151, 152, 153, each comprising a driver circuit 120 to which several LEDs 130 are connected. In the example of [Fig. 4], the lighting module 110 comprises three sectors 151, 152, 153, each comprising a driver circuit 120 and three LEDs 130.A sector 151, 152, 153 is a geographical area of ​​the light module in which a driver circuit 120 is connected to LEDs 130, all positioned in the environment of the driver circuit 120, at relatively close distances from said driver circuit. The organization of the driver circuits and the LEDs of the light module 110 into sectors makes it possible to position a driver circuit at a relatively reduced distance from each of the LEDs. Thus, no LED 130 of the light module is far from the driver circuit which controls it; all the LEDs 130 of the same sector 151, 152, 153 are at more or less similar distances from the driver circuit 120 which controls them, which limits or even avoids the risk of time lag during the emission of the light rays of some of the LEDs.

[0033] In the example of [Fig. 4], the light module 110 comprises three driver circuits and nine LEDs organized into three sectors. Of course, the number of sectors per light module, the number of driver circuits and the number of LEDs per sector are given solely as an example and may vary in particular depending on the type of light device, the desired lighting effects, the arrangement of the LEDs, etc.

[0034] Regardless of the number of sectors 151, 152, 153 and / or driver circuits 120, the light module according to the invention comprises a delay-locked loop 140, Also called DLL (for "Delay-locked loop" in English terminology). A delay-locked loop 140 is a digital circuit for changing the phase of a clock signal. Thanks to the DLL, propagation delays are compensated, so that only a small offset remains between the output clock signals.

[0035] In the light module according to the invention, the DLL 140 is connected to each of the driver circuits 120 of the module so as to make the commands of all the driver circuits 120 of said module synchronous. Indeed, the DLL 140 is connected to the internal clock of each of the driver circuits 120 of the light module 110 and monitors these internal clocks to determine whether some of these internal clocks are late or early compared to the others. If a delay or an advance of an internal clock is detected by the DLL 140, then the latter intervenes on the internal clock(s) of the driver circuit(s) 120 in advance to set these internal clocks ahead of the internal clock of the most late driver circuit. In other words, the DLL 140 delays the internal clocks of the drivers 120 ahead so that all the drivers 120 are aligned with the internal clock of the most delayed driver 120.

[0036] In the example of [Fig. 3], the DLL 140 monitors the internal clock of a first driver circuit (clock signal line SI) and the internal clock of a second driver circuit (clock signal line S2), represented as a function of time t. This monitoring indicates that the clock signal SI is ahead of the clock signal S2: for example, the pulse ill of the signal SI is emitted before the pulse i21 of the signal S2. The DLL 140 then modifies the transmission phase of the clock signal SI so that the pulses of the signal SI are synchronous with those of the signal S2. In the example of [Fig. 3], after the clock signals SI and S2 have been set, the pulse il4 of the signal SI and the pulse i23 of the signal DS2 are emitted simultaneously: the clock signals SI and S2 are then synchronous.

[0037] The DLL 140 monitors all the driver circuits 120 of the light module 110 in the same way as explained above and sets the clocks of all these driver circuits so as to make them synchronous. Thus, all the driver circuits 120 of the light module 110 simultaneously control the LEDs 130 to which they are connected. Since the LEDs 130 are all close to a driver circuit, the emission of the different light rays by these LEDs is simultaneous.

[0038] However, if the sector organization requires that certain LEDs 130 be at a distance from the driver circuit 120 that is substantially different from the other LEDs in the same sector, for example sector 151, the time shift potentially caused by this difference in distance can be prevented by connecting all the LEDs 130 in sector 151 to the driver circuit 120 of this sector 151 by means of conductive tracks of identical length. Indeed, as known in the field of lighting devices for a motor vehicle, the LEDs 130 and the driver circuits 120 are mounted on a PCB (for "Printed Circuit Board" in English terminology) or IMS (Insulated Metallized Substrate) type substrate where the LEDs 130 are connected to the driver circuits 120 each by a conductive track. The conductive tracks connecting each of the LEDs 130 of a sector to the driver circuit 120 of this sector have equal lengths.

[0039] For example, in the embodiment of [Fig. 4], if the three LEDs 130 of the sector 151 are positioned, relative to the driver circuit 120 of said sector 151, at unequal physical distances, they can all be connected to the driver circuit 120 by means of conductive tracks (not shown) of equal lengths. All the conductive tracks connecting the LEDs of the same sector to the driver circuit of the sector can have the same length. The length of these conductive tracks is determined according to the LED furthest from the driver circuit. All the conductive tracks thus have a length equal to the length of the conductive track making it possible to connect the driver circuit 120 to the LED furthest from said driver circuit.The conductive track connecting the furthest LED 130 to the driver circuit 120 is a conventional conductive track; the conductive tracks which connect the driver circuit 120 to the LEDs closest to the driver circuit 120 form delay lines. All the LEDs 130 of the same sector 151, 152, 153 of the light module can thus be connected equidistant from the driver circuit which controls them.

[0040] The distance between the driver circuit and an LED is a physical distance, i.e. a “point-to-point” length determined between the control output of the driver circuit and the input terminal of the LED. The notion of “furthest” must therefore be understood in terms of physical distance, the LED furthest from the driver circuit being the LED whose distance to the driver circuit is the greatest compared to the distances of the other LEDs to the driver circuit. Similarly, the notion of “closest” must be understood in terms of physical distance, the LED closest to the driver circuit being the LED whose distance to the driver circuit is the shortest compared to the distances of the other LEDs to the driver circuit.

[0041] Thus, the physical distance between a driver circuit 120 and the LEDs 130 that it controls can vary, while the connection distance between this driver circuit 120 and these LEDs 130 is equal.

[0042] In other words, since all the conductive tracks are of the same length, the conductive tracks of the LEDs closest to the driver circuit include loops and / or detours for generating the delay lines. Thus, when the driver circuit 120 issues a light beam emission command, the control signal emitted by the driver circuit 120 is received simultaneously by all the LEDs. 130 connected to this driver circuit. The LEDs 130 of the same sector 151, 152, 153 therefore emit their light beam at the same time, in a synchronized manner. In parallel, the driver circuits 120 of the different sectors 151, 152, 153 are also synchronized by means of the DLL 140. There is thus a first level of synchronization at the level of each sector 151, 152, 153 and a second level of synchronization at the level of the light module. The light beam emitted by all the LEDs 130 of the light module 110 is therefore necessarily synchronous, which allows efficient modulation of the light beam, with all the light rays of the LEDs of the module which simultaneously emit the same bit of the light code.

[0043] The light module 110 as just described allows the emission of a synchronously modulated light beam. To allow object detection, this light module is associated with a device for receiving the light beam reflected by the object (not visible in the figures). This receiving device is integrated into the light device 100 of the invention. It allows the light beams to be received after they have been reflected by the object that one seeks to detect. This receiving device comprises a sensor or a set of light sensors; this / these sensors may be, for example, photon counters, preferably avalanche diodes. The photon counters are preferably distributed on the same high-density substrate, preferably so as to constitute a detection matrix.The sensor is preferably associated with a blue light optical filter, that is to say a bandpass filter adapted to capture only the blue wavelength light and to suppress all other wavelengths. Indeed, white LEDs suitable for signaling comprise an electroluminescent chip emitting blue light and on which is applied a phosphor adapted to transform part of the blue light into a yellow light, the mixture of untransformed blue light emitted by the chip and yellow light transformed by the phosphor resulting in a white light. In the same way, amber LEDs suitable for signaling comprise a chip emitting blue light on which is applied a suitable phosphor.The blue light optical filter makes it possible to separate the blue light corresponding to the majority of the light beam, in particular corresponding to the emission line of the electroluminescent chip, sent by the light module 110 and reflected by the object 20 from the rest of the spectrum of the light coming from the sun or from any other external light sources emitting, in the environment of the vehicle, light in the visible range. In this way, the signal-to-noise ratio of the detection is greatly improved.

[0044] This receiving device is connected to a computing unit, mounted in the light device or housed in any other location of the vehicle, preferably directly mounted on the sensor, which determines the time of flight of the light beam and deduces therefrom a measurement of the distance between the vehicle and the detected object. The flight time is the propagation time of the waves of the light beam emitted by the light module 110, in the environment, that is to say the time necessary for the light beam to propagate to the object and return to the receiving device. The distance between the object and the vehicle is determined from this flight time. It is then understood that the fact that the light beam is emitted by the light module 110 synchronously makes it possible to improve the determination of the flight time. It is also understood that the “object detection” function can be implemented by the light device 100 in parallel with its standard lighting function.

[0045] The light device 100 as just described can be used alone for object detection, in particular if the light device is an interior lighting device for the vehicle.

[0046] The light device 100 can also be used in combination with another similar light device. The two light devices 100, for example the two front lighting devices of the vehicle, can be combined with each other for the detection of the same object.

[0047] The lighting device 100 can also be integrated into a driving assistance system for a motor vehicle. Indeed, driving assistance systems generally require the combination of two or even three separate object detection devices, i.e. operating using different technologies. These object detection devices must be complementary. The lighting device according to the invention can constitute one of these object detection devices. It has the advantage of using a specific technology not yet used since it ensures object detection by means of a light beam in the visible range. It has the additional advantage of not adding mass and bulk since it uses a lighting device already present on the vehicle.It also has the advantage of being able to be implemented on several lighting devices of the same vehicle (for object detection in the same area of ​​the vehicle or in different areas) without risk of interference, simply by choosing a different light code for each of the lighting devices used.

[0048] Although described through a certain number of examples, variants and embodiments, the light device according to the invention comprises various variants, modifications and improvements which will be obvious to those skilled in the art, it being understood that these variants, modifications and improvements are part of the scope of the invention. For example, upon reading the present application, those skilled in the art will understand that it is easy to apply the principles thereof to other light devices on the exterior of the motor vehicle, for example rear signaling lights of the motor vehicle.

Claims

Claims

1. A light device (100) for a motor vehicle comprising: - at least one light module (110) configured to emit pulsed visible light, modulated to transmit a high-frequency light code, the at least one first light module (110) comprising at least two sectors (151, 152, 153) each grouping together several light-emitting diodes (130) and a driver circuit (120), each of the light-emitting diodes being electrically powered by the driver circuit (120) of the respective sector, to modulate according to the high-frequency code an electrical power received by the light-emitting diodes of the respective sector in order to emit the pulsed visible light, and - a device for receiving the light emitted by the at least one first light module (110), to receive the pulsed light, modulated according to the code,after reflection of the pulsed light emitted by the at least one first light module on an object outside the vehicle (20), - wherein the modulation frequency is greater than 10 MHz, and wherein the at least one first light module (110) comprises a delay-locked loop (140) connected to the driver circuit (120) of each of the sectors (151, 152, 153) of the respective light module to ensure synchronization of the modulation according to the code by said driver circuits, the light module being configured to fulfill or participate in regulatory lighting or signaling functions, the light-emitting diodes (or LEDs) being light-emitting sources emitting incoherent light.,

2. A lighting device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the delay-locked loop (140) is connected to an internal clock of each of the driver circuits (120) so as to set the clock of a driver circuit ahead of the clock of a driver circuit behind.

3. Luminous device according to one of the preceding claims, ca- characterized in that, in each sector (151, 152, 153), the light-emitting diodes (130) are connected to the driver circuit by conductive tracks, all the conductive tracks of the same sector having the same track length so that all the light-emitting diodes (130) of the same sector (151, 152, 153) are controlled synchronously by the driver circuit.

4. Luminous device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that, in each sector (151, 152, 153), the length of the conductive tracks is equal to the distance between the driver circuit (120) and the light-emitting diode furthest from said driver circuit, the conductive tracks of the light-emitting diodes least distant from the driver circuit forming delay lines.

5. Luminous device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, for each sector of the at least one first luminous module, the light-emitting diodes (130) of the sectors are grouped on the same substrate, in particular of the FR4 or SMI type.

6. A lighting device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device comprises, in addition to the at least one first lighting module, at least one second lighting module connected to the delay-locked loop of the at least one first lighting module.

7. Luminous device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the receiving device comprises at least one light sensor and a blue light optical filter.

8. A light device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the receiving device is connected to a calculation unit ensuring the determination of a time of flight of modulated pulsed light waves and a distance measurement between the object (20) and the light device (100).

9. Driving assistance system for a motor vehicle, characterized in that it comprises at least a first device for detecting an object located in the environment of the motor vehicle, in particular a radar, a, the light device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 6 constituting a second object detection device ensuring redundancy for the first object detection device.

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