Set of optical modules of a motor vehicle lighting and / or signaling device.

Abstract

Optical module (12) for a motor vehicle lighting and / or light signaling device, said optical module (12) comprising a housing (102) obtained after assembly of a support plate (120) receiving at least one light source (SEL) and a shell (220) defining at least one reflector (202) extending opposite the light source (SEL); the housing (102) defining a hollow body having an opening on the front face of the housing (102) closed by a projection lens (320) suitable for allowing the diffusion of light emitted by said light source (SEL) towards the outside of the module (12) and cooperating with the reflector to form a determined type of light beam; said lens (320) being shaped to be sandwiched between the free edges (121, 222) of the plate (120) and the shell (220) respectively when they are assembled and fixed to each other. (Figure 7)

Description

Title of the invention: Set of optical modules for a motor vehicle lighting and / or signaling device.

[0001] The invention relates generally to lighting and / or signaling devices for motor vehicles and is more particularly concerned with the assembly of optical module elements of a lighting and / or signaling device, in particular a motor vehicle headlight.

[0002] According to the prior art, an optical module of a lighting and / or signaling device comprises, in a known manner, at least one light source associated with optical means or components such as lenses, reflectors, and the like, for generating at least one light beam in a predetermined direction. An optical module is generally contained in a housing which itself belongs to, or is attached to, the housing of a motor vehicle headlight. A headlight may comprise one or more optical modules, and in particular three optical modules generating three types of light beams independently or in combination.

[0003] Traditionally, a projection lens for an optical module of a lighting and / or signaling device is attached to the front face of the module's housing and closes the recess defined by the inside of the housing. The lens is fixed to the front face of the housing by screws, clips, or staples. These fixing elements must be multiplied by the number of modules in a projector with multiple optical modules. This results in additional assembly operations and increased parts costs, ultimately increasing the projector's production cost.

[0004] The invention therefore aims in particular to overcome these drawbacks by proposing a solution that reduces costs on the one hand, by reducing the number of assembly elements and, on the other hand, by facilitating assembly operations, especially when the projector has a plurality of optical modules.

[0005] To this end, the invention primarily relates to an optical module for a motor vehicle lighting and / or signaling device, said optical module comprising a housing obtained after assembly of a support plate, receiving at least one light source, and a shell defining at least one reflector extending opposite the light source; the housing defining a hollow body having an opening on the front face of the housing closed by a projection lens adapted to allow the diffusion of light emitted by said light source towards the outside of the module and cooperating with the reflector to form a type of light beam determined; said lens being shaped to present support interfaces sandwiched, in the front face of the housing, between the free edges respectively of the plate and the shell when they are assembled and fixed to each other; the fixing of the lens in the housing being ensured solely by the pressure being applied to the support interfaces between the free edges respectively of the plate and the shell.

[0006] According to one feature, the support interfaces of the projection lens have lateral extensions made of material with the lens and extending substantially perpendicularly to the diffusion plane of the lens.

[0007] According to another feature, the lens has a U-shaped transverse profile; the arms of the U corresponding respectively to first and second lateral extensions of the lens extending inside the housing and the straight part connecting the two arms of the U corresponding to the diffusion plane of the lens.

[0008] According to another feature, the first and second extensions include centering means cooperating respectively with complementary centering means arranged on the respective free edges of the plate and the shell.

[0009] According to another feature, the free edge of the plate has a cavity cooperating with a front lens centering means arranged on the first extension, and in which the free edge of the shell has a cavity cooperating with a lateral lens centering means arranged on the second extension; and support means arranged respectively on either side of the cavity arranged in the free edge of the shell.

[0010] According to another feature, the front centering means is a notch formed from the material with the free edge of the first extension, cooperating with the cavity formed in the free edge of the plate, of complementary shape, and the lateral centering means is a lug formed from the material with the second extension cooperating with the cavity formed in the free edge of the hull, of complementary shape; the support means respectively defining a rib formed on either side of the cavity formed in the free edge of the hull.

[0011] According to another feature, first and second bezels are respectively fixed to the mounting plate and the housing, covering them at least partially, in the vicinity of the front face of the housing and on the outside of the housing; said first and second bezels being arranged and shaped to have free edges extending beyond the lens, on the outside of the lens, so as to respectively conceal the lens mounting interfaces inside the housing from an observer located in front of the module when the latter is mounted in the vehicle; said mounting interfaces comprising the lateral extensions of the lens and their centering and alignment means. that their additional means of centering, of error correction on the plate, and their additional means of centering and means of support on the hull.

[0012] The present invention has as its second object a method for assembling an optical module as described above, consisting of vertically attaching the first bezel to the plate, outside the plate and near the front face of the housing, and fixing it to the plate; attaching the lens inside the free edge of the plate by engaging the front centering means of the first lens extension in the complementary centering means provided in the free edge of the plate; vertically attaching the shell to the plate and the lens to form and close the housing body, the free edge of the shell being laterally centered with the second lens extension via the lateral centering means of the second extension and the complementary centering means of the shell, and by bearing on the second extension via the support means; and fixing the shell to the plate.and to attach the second hubcap to the hull.

[0013] The present invention has as its third object a lighting and / or signaling device comprising a plurality of adjacent modules as described above, in which the first extensions of the lenses of each module further comprise keying means cooperating respectively with complementary keying means arranged on each plate allowing each of the lenses to be paired with their respective housing.

[0014] The present invention has as its fourth and final object, a motor vehicle comprising at least one lighting and / or signaling device as described above.

[0015] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from an examination of the detailed description below, and the accompanying drawing, on which:

[0016] [Fig-1] illustrates a set of optical modules, according to the invention, seen in perspective ;

[0017] [Fig.2] illustrates all the optical modules of [Fig.1] according to an exploded view;

[0018] [Fig.3] illustrates the plates of all the optical modules according to the invention, seen in perspective;

[0019] [Fig.4] illustrates the shells of all the optical modules according to the invention, seen in perspective;

[0020] [Fig.5] illustrates the projection lenses of the entire set of optical modules according to the invention, seen in perspective;

[0021] [Fig. 6] illustrates the assembly of optical modules according to the invention in top view; and

[0022] [Fig.7] illustrates one of the modules of the set of optical modules according to the invention, according to a cross-sectional view along the cutting axis VILVII of [Fig.6].

[0023] In what follows, it is assumed that the elements represented in the figures are oriented within the same orthonormal XYZ coordinate system and identical elements are designated by the same alphanumeric references.

[0024] For this purpose, and unless otherwise specified, reference is made to the orthonormal coordinate system XYZ to identify the directions of extension corresponding to those of a motor vehicle on which a lighting and / or signaling device, such as a headlight, according to the invention, is mounted, and the associated related concepts, including a longitudinal direction (along X), a transverse direction (along Y), and a vertical direction (along Z). The longitudinal direction X extends between the front and rear of the vehicle, the transverse direction Y extends between the right and left lateral sides of the vehicle as identified with respect to the driver in the vehicle's driving position, and the vertical direction Z defines the vehicle's elevation from its ground plane.Subsequently, the relative concepts of front, or frontal, and rear are identified longitudinally, the lateral concept and the relative concepts of right and left are identified transversely, the concepts such as superior and inferior or other related relative concepts such as bottom and top, ... are defined vertically with respect to the vehicle's rolling plane on the ground.

[0025] Fig. 1 illustrates a set 10 of three modules 11, 12, 13 located within a closed contour in dashed line schematically representing a lighting and / or signaling device 1 and more particularly a vehicle projector 1 V in which said set 10 is installed.

[0026] Each of these three modules 11, 12, 13 participates in one or more lighting and / or signaling functions usually provided by a motor vehicle headlight.

[0027] Fig. 2 illustrates the assembly 10 of the three modules 11, 12 and 13 of Fig. 1 according to an exploded view allowing to distinguish the different constituent elements of each of the optical modules 11, 12 and 13.

[0028] Each module 11, 12, 13 comprises a housing 101, 102 and 103 whose hollow body defines a housing obtained after assembly of two elements: a plate 110, 120, 130 and a shell 210, 220, 230.

[0029] In the described embodiment, the plates 110, 120 and 130 and the shells 210, 220 and 230 of each of the three modules 11, 12 and 13 are made respectively from a single piece obtained by injection molding or two pieces 100 and 200 which when assembled together, define the housings 101, 102 and 103 of the three modules 11, 12 and 13.

[0030] The part 100 forming the plates 110, 120 and 130 is hereinafter referred to as "lower part" and the part forming the shells 210, 220 and 230 is hereinafter referred to as " upper part”, referring to their respective positions on the [Fig.2]; positions which are those of projector 1 when the latter is mounted in vehicle V.

[0031] The lower and upper parts 100 and 200 are fixed to each other by means of screws, not shown in [Fig.2].

[0032] Each housing 101, 102, 103 has the general shape of a rectangular parallelepiped, defining a hollow housing receiving one or more light sources, such as light-emitting diodes or LEDs (Anglo-Saxon acronym for "Light-Emitting Diode"). Such LEDs, SELs, are mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB) supported by the boards 110, 120, 130 as schematically illustrated in [Fig. 7], which considers one 12 of the three modules 11, 12, 13 in a longitudinal section (along X), a figure which will be described in detail below.

[0033] Figure 3 illustrates, by means of a perspective top view, the lower part 100 which groups the plates 110, 120 and 130 of modules 11, 12 and 13 and [Fig.4], illustrates by a perspective view from below, the upper piece 200 grouping the shells 210, 220 and 230 of modules 11, 12 and 13.

[0034] The LED(s), SEL, are capable of generating a light beam by reflection of the light rays emitted by the LED(s) SEL on reflectors 201, 202 and 203 arranged respectively in each of the shells 210, 220 and 230 (figures 4 and 7) and which have the shape of one or more parabolic surfaces obtained by molding with the shell 210, 220 and 230. The light beams are then respectively diffused through the projection lenses 310, 320 and 330 closing the housing 101, 102, 103 at the front of the housing 101, 102, 103.

[0035] As illustrated in [Fig.5], each lens 310, 320, 330 has first and second lateral extensions 311-312, 321-322, 331-332 made of material with the lens 310, 320, 330 and extending substantially perpendicularly to the plane (YZ plane) of diffusion of the lens 310, 320, 330.

[0036] The first and second extensions 311-312, 321-322, 331-332 define respectively in the vicinity of the front face of each housing 101, 102, 103, support interfaces inside the free edges of the plates 110, 120 and 130 and of the shells 210, 220 and 230 and which are held fixedly sandwiched between their plates 110, 120 and 130 and their respective shells 210, 220 and 230 at the time of assembly and then fixing of the shells 210, 220 and 230 with the plates 110, 120 and 130.

[0037] Thus, the fixing of the lenses 310, 320, 330 in their respective housings 101, 102 and 103 does not require any means of fixing such as screws, clips, staples, ... The fixing is achieved solely by applying pressure to the free edges of the plates 110, 120 and 130 and the shells 210, 220 and 230 on the support interfaces 311-312, 321-322 and 331-332 of the lenses 310, 320, 330.

[0038] Each lens 310, 320, 330 has a U-shaped cross-section (XZ plane). The arms of the U correspond respectively to the first and second extensions 311-312, 321-322, 331-332 of each lens 310, 320, 330 inside their respective housings 101, 102, 103. They define first and second legs, 311-312, 321-322, 331-332, respectively lower and upper, with a generally rectangular cross-section. The straight portion connecting the first and second arms of the U corresponds to the diffusion plane of the lens 310, 320, and 330 (the YZ plane).

[0039] Each upper leg 312, 322, 332 has a lateral centering means 313, 323, 333 of the lens 310, 320, 330 ([Fig.5]) defining a lug centered on the upper leg 312, 322, 332, formed from the material with the upper leg 312, 322, 332 and extending outwards from the lens 310, 320, 330 (along Z). This lateral centering lug 313, 323, 333 cooperates with a complementary half-moon shaped cavity 213, 223, 233 arranged inside the free edge 212, 222, 232 of the corresponding shell 210, 220, 230 receiving the lens 310, 320, 330, as illustrated in [Fig.4],

[0040] The profiles of the shells 210, 220, 230 are shaped to fit the corresponding profiles of the plates 110, 120 and 130 and to form, once the shells 210, 220, 230 and the plates 110, 120 and 130 are assembled, the housings 101, 102 and 103 of the modules 11, 12 and 13; housings 101, 102 and 103 which are closed on their front face by the lenses 310, 320 and 330.

[0041] The front free edges 212, 222 and 232 of the shells 210, 220, 230 further comprise respectively pairs of support ribs 217, 227, 237 extending perpendicularly to the free edges 212, 222 and 232, on either side of the lateral centering cavities 213, 223, 233. These support ribs 217, 227, 237 contribute to maintaining the lenses 310, 320 and 330 in a "sandwich" configuration within their respective housings 101, 102 and 103.

[0042] Each lower leg 311, 321, 331 includes a frontal centering means 314, 324, 334 for the lens 310, 320, 330, forming a notch formed from the material of the leg 311, 321, 331 and extending transversely (along Y) across the entire width of the end portion of the lower leg 311, 321, 331, and downwards (along Z), perpendicular to the lower leg 311, 321, 331, towards the outside of the lens 310, 320, 330. This rectangular cross-sectional notch 314, 324, 334 cooperates with a complementaryly shaped cavity 114, 124, 134, formed in the corresponding free edge 111, 121, 131 of the plate 110, 120, 130, as illustrated in [Fig.3].

[0043] The lower part 100 groups the plates 110, 120, 130 of each of the three modules 11, 12, 13. This part 100 is shaped to define three plates 110, 120 and 130 of generally rectangular shape, adjacent, connected to each other by their large lateral sides being offset from each other along the three axes X, Y and Z. The small sides of each plate 110, 120 and 130 advance (along X), forwards, to form promontories on which are arranged the transverse centering cavities 114, 124 and 134 receiving the teeth 314, 324 and 334 of the lower legs 311, 321 and 331 of the lenses 310, 320 and 330.

[0044] The lateral edges of the lower legs 311, 321 and 331 further comprise keying means 315-316, 325-326 and 335-336 forming notches and / or studs arranged in the thickness of the legs 31, 321 and 331 and / or in the lateral edge(s) of the notches 314, 324 and 334.

[0045] The error-proofing means 315-316, 325-326 and 335-336 of the lenses 310, 320 and 330 cooperate with complementary error-proofing means 115-116, 125-126 and 135-136 arranged around the cavities 114, 124 and 125 of the plates 110, 120 and 130.

[0046] The keying means 315-316, 325-326 and 335-336 are specific to each lens 310, 320 and 330: they are different from one lens to another. They allow the lenses 310, 320 and 330 to be paired with their respective modules 11, 12 and 13 without risk of incorrect assembly when mounting the lenses 310, 320 and 330 on their respective plates 110, 120 and 130.

[0047] Fig. 6 illustrates the set 10 of the three modules 11, 12 and 13 in a top view and Fig. 7 illustrates a longitudinal sectional view (along X) along the section axis VILVII of Fig. 6.

[0048] In [Fig. 6], the three optical modules 11, 12 and 13 are fully assembled with the various fixing screws, visible, of the shells 210, 220 and 230 on their respective plates 110, 120 and 130.

[0049] Trim elements for the housings 101, 102 and 103, designated respectively by lower trims 410, 420 and 430 and upper trims 510, 520 and 530, are attached respectively to the plates 110, 120 and 130 and the shells 210, 220 and 230 of the modules 101, 102 and 103. The lower trims 410, 420 and 430 are attached vertically under the plates 110, 120 and 130 and then fixed by screws, under the plates 110, 120 and 130 as illustrated in [Fig.7].

[0050] The upper trim pieces 510, 520 and 530 are brought together in a frontal direction, respectively, from the front to the rear of the modules 11, 12 and 13, being guided on the edges of the side walls of the respective lower trim pieces 410, 420 and 430 until they are fixed to their respective shells 210, 220 and 230 by clipping means 211, 511 and 221, 521 and 231, 531, arranged respectively on the upper surfaces of the shells 210, 220 and 230 and on the upper trim pieces 510, 520 and 530.

[0051] The [Fig.7] considers the central module 12 of the three modules 11, 12 and 13, according to a cross-sectional view along the section line VILVII of the [Fig.6].

[0052] What is described below with reference to the central module 12 applies to the other two modules 11 and 13 of the set of modules 11, 12 and 13.

[0053] The free edges 421, 522 of the lower, respectively upper, trim pieces 420, 520 are shaped and arranged so as to conceal the technical parts present inside the housing 102 as well as the fixing interfaces Z12 and Z22 of the lens 320 between the plate 120 and the shell 220, for an observer placed in front of the projector 1 when the latter is mounted on the vehicle V.

[0054] The free edge 421 of the first bezel 420 (lower bezel) extends beyond the lens 220 to form a lower lip that "licks" the lower edge of the lens 320 and the free edge 522 of the second bezel 520 (upper bezel) extends beyond the lens 320 to form a visor above the upper edge of the lens 320. The end portions of the free edges 421, 522 belonging respectively to the lower and upper bezels 420, 520 are curved towards the lens 320 so as to stiffen the end portions and "blunt" them.

[0055] The Z12 and Z22 mounting interfaces, thus masked, include the lugs 321 and 322 of the lens 320 and their centering means 323, 324 and orienting means 325 and 326 (which do not appear in [Fig. 6] but in [Fig. 5]) as well as their complementary centering means 124, orienting means 125, 126 on the plate 120, and their complementary centering means 223 and the support ribs 227 on the shell 220. The support ribs 227 do not appear in [Fig. 6] but appear in [Fig. 4].

[0056] These interfaces Z12 and Z22 have their counterparts in the other two modules 11 and 13, respectively, Z11,Z21 and Z13, Z23 (as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4). The lower trim pieces 410, 430 and upper trim pieces 510, 530, corresponding respectively to the other modules 11 and 13, are shaped and arranged to similarly conceal the technical parts and the lens tabs with their respective centering and alignment means, for an observer positioned in front of the projector 1 when the latter is mounted on the vehicle V.

[0057] The lower trim pieces 410, 420 and 430 and the upper trim pieces 510, 520 and 530 can be made from a single piece 400 and 500 respectively, obtained by an injection molding process, as for the plates 100, 120 and 130 (lower piece 100) and the shells 210, 220 and 230 (upper piece 200). Thus, the assembly 10 of the three modules 11, 12 and 13 according to the invention can be made from the assembly of only four pieces 100, 200, 400 and 500 and the three lenses 310, 320 and 330.

[0058] The assembly of the different parts is thus simplified with a reduced number of assembly operations respecting a precise assembly order as described below considering a 12 of the optical modules 11, 12 and 13.

[0059] The assembly method according to the invention of the optical module 12 consists of vertically attaching the first trim piece 420 to the plate 120, outside the plate 120 and in the vicinity of the front face of the housing 102 and fixing it to the plate 120 by screws.

[0060] It then consists of bringing the lens 120 inside the free edge 121 of the plate 120 by engaging the front centering means 324 of the first extension 321 of the lens 320 in the complementary centering means 124 arranged in the free edge 121 of the plate 120.

[0061] It then consists of vertically bringing the shell 220 onto the plate 120 and the lens 320, to form and close the body of the casing 102.

[0062] The free edge 222 of the shell 220 is laterally centered with the second extension 322 of the lens 320 via the lateral centering means 323 of the second extension 322 and the complementary centering means 223 of the shell 220.

[0063] The free edge 222 of the hull rests, via the support ribs 227, on the second extension 322.

[0064] The process then consists of fixing the shell 220 onto the plate 120 and finally, attaching and fixing the second trim piece 520 onto the shell 220 by screws.

[0065] The assembly process, respecting the same assembly order, is identical with regard to the assembly of the optical modules 11, 12 and 13 of the assembly 10; the lenses 310, 320 and 330 being moreover paired with their respective housings 101, 102 and 103.

Claims

1. Demands Optical module (12) for a lighting and / or light signaling device (1) of a motor vehicle (V), said optical module (12) comprising a housing (102) obtained after assembly of a support plate (120) receiving at least one light source (SEL) and a shell (220) defining at least one reflector (202) extending opposite the light source (SEL); the housing (102) defining a hollow body having an opening on the front face of the housing (102) closed by a projection lens (320) suitable for allowing the diffusion of light emitted by said light source (SEL) towards the outside of the module (12) and cooperating with the reflector (202) to form a determined type of light beam;said lens (320) being shaped to present support interfaces (321, 322) sandwiched, in the front face of the housing (102), between the free edges (121, 222) respectively of the plate (120) and the shell (220) when they are assembled and fixed to each other; the fixing of the lens (320) in the housing (102) being ensured solely by the pressure applied to the support interfaces (321, 322) between the free edges (121, 222) respectively of the plate (120) and the shell (220), the lens (320) having a transverse profile in the shape of a “U”; the arms of the "U" corresponding respectively to first and second lateral extensions (321, 322) of the lens (320) extending inside the housing (102) and the right part connecting the two arms of the "U" corresponding to the diffusion plane of the lens (320), in which:; -the first extension (321) includes a means for frontal centering (324) of the lens (320) cooperating with a cavity (124) provided on the free edge of the plate (120), -the second extension (322) includes a means for lateral centering (323) of the lens (320), cooperating with a cavity (223) provided on the free edge of the shell (220), The free edge (121) of the plate (120) has a cavity (124) cooperating with a frontal centering means (324) for the lens (320) arranged on the first extension (321), and in which the free edge (222) of the shell (220) has a cavity (223) cooperating with a lateral centering means (323) for the lens (320), arranged on the second extension, and support means (227) arranged respectively on either side of the cavity (223) arranged in the free edge (222) of the hull (220).

2. Optical module (12) according to the preceding claim, wherein the lateral extensions are formed from material with the lens (320) and extend substantially perpendicularly to the diffusion plane of the lens (320).

3. Optical module (12) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the front centering means (324) is a notch formed from material with the free edge of the first extension (321), cooperating with the cavity (124) formed in the free edge (121) of the plate (120), of complementary shape, wherein the lateral centering means (323) is a lug formed from material with the second extension (322) cooperating with the cavity (223) formed in the free edge (222) of the shell (220), of complementary shape; the support means (227) respectively defining a rib formed on either side of the cavity (223) formed in the free edge (222) of the shell (220).

4. Optical module (12) according to claims 1 to 3, wherein first and second bezels (420, 520) are respectively fixed to the plate (120) and to the shell (220) by covering them at least partially, in the vicinity of the front face of the housing (102) and outside the housing (102); said first and second bezels (420, 520) being arranged and shaped to respectively have free edges (421, 522) extending in projection beyond the lens (320), outside the lens (320), so as to respectively mask the fixing interfaces (Z 12, Z22) of the lens (320) inside the housing (102), for an observer located in front of the module (12) when the latter is mounted in the vehicle (V);said fixing interfaces (Z 12, Z22) comprising the lateral extensions (321,322) of the lens (320) and their centering (323, 324) and error-correcting (325, 326) means as well as their complementary centering (124), error-correcting (125, 126) means on the plate (120), and their complementary centering (223) means and support (227) means on the shell (220).;

5. A method for assembling an optical module (12) according to the preceding claim, said method consisting of vertically attaching the first bezel (420) to the plate (120), on the outside of the plate (120) and in the vicinity of the front face of the housing (102) and to fix it onto the plate (120), to bring the lens (120) inside the free edge (121) of the plate (120) by engaging the front centering means (324) of the first extension (321) of the lens (320) in the complementary centering means (124) provided in the free edge (121) of the plate (120), to vertically bring the shell (220) onto the plate (120) and the lens (32), to form and close the body of the housing (102), the free edge (222) of the shell (220) being laterally centered with the second extension (322) of the lens (320) via the lateral centering means (323) of the second extension (322) and the complementary centering means (223) of the shell (220) and by bearing via the support means (227) on the second extension (322), to fix the hull (220) on the plate (120) and, to attach and fix the second trim piece (520) on the hull (220).

6. A lighting and / or signaling device (1) comprising a plurality of adjacent modules (11, 12, 13) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the first extensions (311, 321 and 331) of the lenses (310, 320 and 330) of each module (11, 12 and 13) further comprise keying means (315-316, 325-326, 335-336) cooperating respectively with complementary keying means (114-115, 124-125, 134-135) arranged on each plate (110, 120, 130) allowing each of the lenses (310, 320 and 330) to be paired with their respective housing (101, 102 and 103).

7. Motor vehicle (V) comprising at least one lighting and / or signaling device (1) according to the preceding claim.

Images