OPTICAL BLOCK WITH A CAVITY THAT PREVENTS THE PASSAGE OF PHOTONS
The optical block addresses sealing issues by incorporating a one-piece cavity to house the light guide end, preventing photon leakage and ensuring compliant and aesthetically pleasing photometric functions.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- FR · FR
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- STELLANTIS AUTO SAS
- Filing Date
- 2023-02-28
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-26
AI Technical Summary
Existing optical blocks in vehicles suffer from poor sealing between the luminous device and the light guide, leading to stray light and color mixing, which can result in non-compliant photometric functions and unsightly appearances.
The optical block features a one-piece cavity that houses and masks the end of the light guide, preventing photon passage and eliminating the need for clipping, thus eliminating stray light and color mixing.
The solution ensures effective sealing, preventing stray light and color mixing, ensuring compliance with regulations and maintaining the integrity of photometric functions.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
Title of the invention: OPTICAL BLOCK WITH CAVITY PREVENTING THE PASSAGE OF PHOTONS Technical field of the invention
[0001] The invention relates to optical blocks which ensure at least two different and similar photometric functions, and more specifically the sealing between these photometric functions. State of the art
[0002] In certain fields, such as for example that of vehicles, possibly of the automobile type, optical blocks are used which ensure at least two different and similar photometric functions.
[0003] In what follows, "photometric function" means a photometric signaling function, a photometric lighting function, or a photometric light effect function, possibly decorative.
[0004] The invention relates more specifically to optical blocks which comprise a housing containing:
[0005] - a luminous device capable of delivering first photons ensuring a first photometric function, and
[0006] - a support made by molding and comprising at least one wall, on the one hand, defining a groove in which is installed a light guide capable of delivering second photons ensuring a second photometric function, and, on the other hand, comprising a part defining a separation wall with the luminous device and housing one end of this light guide.
[0007] Generally, the end of the light guide (located in the immediate vicinity of the light source) includes a clipping tab that passes through a clipping hole defined in the portion of the support wall that forms the separation wall. Furthermore, due to the necessary clearances for assembling the various elements of the optical block, there are small openings at the end of the portion of the support wall that forms the separation wall.
[0008] Consequently, first photons of the first photometric function can reach the throat containing the light guide and then the latter, just as second photons of the second photometric function can reach the light device, by passing through the clipping hole or one of the aforementioned passages.
[0009] This lack of sealing between the support (of the light guide(s)) and the lighting device proves problematic. Indeed, it can generate stray light. at least one of the first and second photometric functions may be affected, which can result in an unsightly appearance and / or render at least one photometric function non-compliant with applicable regulations. Furthermore, when the first and second photons have wavelengths corresponding to different colors (for example, white and amber (or red)), mixing can cause a slight alteration of the base color of at least one of the first and second photometric functions, which may also render it non-compliant with applicable regulations.
[0010] The invention therefore aims in particular to improve the situation. Presentation of the invention
[0011] In particular, it proposes for this purpose an optical block comprising a housing containing:
[0012] - a light-emitting device capable of delivering photons ensuring a first function photometric, and
[0013] - a support made by molding and comprising at least one wall, on the one hand, defining a groove in which is installed a light guide suitable for delivering photons ensuring a second photometric function, and, on the other hand, comprising a part defining a separation wall with the luminous device and housing one end of this light guide.
[0014] This optical block is characterized by the fact that the part of its support includes a terminal sub-part defining a one-piece cavity which fixedly houses, by masking it, the end of the light guide, and is arranged so as to prevent the passage of photons between the throat and the light device.
[0015] Thanks to the invention, there is no longer any need to clip the end of the light guide to the part of the wall and therefore the photons cannot pass through this part, and at the same time the passages resulting from the technical games at the level of the terminal sub-part and the light device are no longer troublesome because the photons can neither exit the end of the light guide nor enter this end, and therefore there is no longer any risk of generating stray light or mixing of colors.
[0016] The optical block according to the invention may include other features which may be taken separately or in combination, and in particular:
[0017] - the (each) one-piece cavity may have a general parallelepiped shape having a front face oriented outwards and at least partially closed, an open face substantially perpendicular to this front face and crossed by the end of the light guide, and four other closed faces including a rear face opposite this front face, an end face opposite this open face and defining a sub-part of the separating wall, and two lateral faces opposite each other and substantially perpendicular to the front and rear faces;
[0018] - in the presence of the first option, each of the lateral faces can form an angle obtuse with the end face in order to facilitate lateral demolding by drawer of the support;
[0019] - its support may comprise two walls respectively delimiting two grooves in which are respectively installed two light guides, each having its end housed in a monobloc cavity and masked by the latter;
[0020] - it may include in a front part a mask masking the front face of the (each) one-piece cavity;
[0021] - the first photometric function can be a lighting function or a signaling function. For example, this first photometric function could be a direction change indication (or flashing) function;
[0022] - the second photometric function can be a signaling function. By For example, this second photometric function can be a daytime running light (or DRL) function.
[0023] The invention also proposes a vehicle, possibly of the automobile type, and comprising at least one optical block of the type presented above. Brief description of the figures
[0024] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from an examination of the detailed description below, and the accompanying drawings (obtained using CAD / CAM (“Computer-Aided Design / Computer-Aided Manufacturing”)), in which:
[0025] [Fig-1] schematically illustrates, in a cross-sectional view in a horizontal plane, a part of an example of an embodiment of an optical block according to the invention,
[0026] [Fig.2] schematically illustrates, in a front view, the support of the optical block of [Fig. 1], equipped with two light guides,
[0027] [Fig.3] schematically illustrates, in a cross-sectional view in a horizontal plane, the terminal sub-part of the first wall of the support of [Fig.2] defining a first groove, with the end of the first light guide,
[0028] [Fig.4] schematically illustrates, in a perspective view of the side of the face previously, the terminal sub-part of the first wall of the support of [Fig.2] defining a first groove, in the absence of the first light guide, and
[0029] [Fig.5] schematically illustrates, in a cross-sectional view in a vertical plane, the terminal sub-part of the first wall of the support of the [Fig.2] defining a first groove, in the absence of the first light guide. Detailed description of the invention
[0030] The invention aims in particular to provide an optical block BO ensuring at least first and second photometric functions that are different and similar, and with one-piece cavity(ies) CM preventing the passage of photons.
[0031] In the following, by way of non-limiting example, the BO optical unit is considered to be intended for use in a motor vehicle, such as a car. However, the invention is not limited to this application. Indeed, the BO optical unit can be a component that can be added to and used in numerous systems or that can be part of other equipment which is itself part of a system. Thus, the BO optical unit can be part of any system, and in particular of a vehicle (land, sea (or river), or air), an installation (possibly industrial), a device (possibly consumer), or a building.
[0032] Furthermore, in the following, by way of non-limiting example, the optical unit BO is considered to constitute a headlight (or projector) of a vehicle. However, it could also constitute a front or rear light of a vehicle.
[0033] Finally, considering the preceding choices, the following will be considered, by way of non-limiting example, as assuming that the optical unit BO is intended to provide at least first and second photometric signaling functions. For example, in the case of an application to a motor vehicle, the first photometric signaling function may be a turn signal (or indicator) function, and the second photometric signaling function may be a daytime running light (or DRL) function. However, the first photometric signaling function could be a position light or a brake light function, and the second photometric signaling function could be a brake light function.
[0034] It should be noted, however, that the invention is not limited to photometric signaling functions. Indeed, the optical block BO, according to the invention, is a luminous device capable of providing at least a first photometric signaling or lighting or light effect function (possibly decorative) and a second photometric signaling or lighting or light effect function (possibly decorative).
[0035] In the preceding and following text, the notion of "front" is defined with respect to the location where the photons participating in the photometric function emerge, and the notion of "back" is defined with respect to the location opposite to that where the photons participating in the photometric function emerge. Consequently, the front face of an element is oriented outwards, while the back face of that element is oriented inwards and opposite to the front face.
[0036] Figure 1 schematically illustrates part of an example of an embodiment of an optical block BO according to the invention, here intended to equip a front part of a vehicle.
[0037] As illustrated in [Fig.1], an optical block BO, according to the invention, includes in particular a housing BB, a luminous device DL, a support SC and at least one light guide GLj.
[0038] The BB housing delimits, preferably with a GP glass, an internal housing in which the DL light device and the SC support are fixedly installed, at least partially, as well as possibly at least one MB mask responsible for masking the technical parts in a front part of the BO optical block.
[0039] The lighting device DL is designed to deliver first photons that perform a first photometric function (here, a turn signal indicator). To this end, it comprises a first photon source SP designed to generate first photons, at least one optical element RP, such as a reflector RP (possibly parabolic), and optionally a first translucent screen EC1 to allow the first photons to pass through to a front section, upstream of the lens GP. For example, the first photon source SP could be a bulb (possibly xenon), or at least one light-emitting diode (LED), or at least one laser diode, or even a gas laser.
[0040] The support SG is made by molding, for example from a plastic or synthetic material, preferably rigid and resistant. Furthermore, it comprises at least one wall PS that defines a groove Gj in which a light guide GLj is installed, designed to deliver second photons ensuring the second photometric function. This wall PS includes a portion PP that defines a separation wall with the light device DL and houses a (second) end E22 of the light guide GLj. In the example illustrated, but not limited to, in [Fig. 1], this portion PP defines a separation wall extending forward from the reflector RP of the light device DL.
[0041] It should be noted that in the example illustrated, but not limited to, in [Fig. 2], the support SG comprises two walls (a lower one and an upper one) defining, respectively, first G1 (j = 1) and second G2 (j = 2) grooves in which first GL1 (j = 1) and second GL2 (j = 2) light guides are respectively installed. However, the support SG could comprise only one wall PS.
[0042] Each groove Gj comprises first E1 and second E12 opposite ends housing respectively first E21 and second E22 opposite ends of a light guide GLj.
[0043] The first end E21 of each GLj light guide is supplied with second photons by a second photon source (not shown). For example, the second photon source may be at least one light-emitting diode (or LED) or at less a laser diode or a bulb (possibly xenon) or even a gas laser.
[0044] As illustrated non-limitingly in [Fig.1], the BB housing can also house, downstream of each light guide GLj and upstream of the glass GP, a second translucent screen EC2 to allow the second photons exiting this light guide GLj to pass into a front part.
[0045] As can be seen more clearly in [Fig. 3], the PP portion of the PS wall of the SG support includes a terminal sub-portion SPT which defines a one-piece cavity CM that permanently houses, by masking it, the second end E22 of the light guide GLj (here the first GL1). This one-piece cavity CM is arranged so as to prevent the passage of photons between the groove Gj (here the first Gl) and the light device DL.
[0046] It will be understood that the terminal sub-part SPT is here located in the immediate vicinity of the first screen EC1 of the luminous device DL.
[0047] Thanks to this one-piece cavity CM, which completely, or almost completely, surrounds and immobilizes the second end E22 of the light guide GLj (located in the immediate vicinity of the light device DL), it is no longer necessary to clip this second end E22 to the PP portion of the wall PS. Therefore, it is no longer necessary to define a clipping hole in this PP portion of the wall PS, which prevents the passage of first and second photons through this PP portion. Furthermore, the gaps resulting from the technical clearances necessary for assembling the various elements of the optical block BO at the level (here) of the terminal sub-part SPT and the first screen EC1 of the light device DL are no longer problematic because the second photons can no longer exit the second end E22 and travel towards these gaps, just as the first photons can no longer enter the second end E22.Therefore, there is no longer a risk of generating stray light or mixing of colors (of photons) at the level of at least one of the first and second photometric functions.
[0048] For example, and as illustrated non-limitingly and at least partially in Figures 3 to 5, the one-piece cavity CM may have a general parallelepiped shape having a front face FV opposite a closed rear face FR, two closed and opposite lateral faces FL, a closed end face FE, and an open face FO.
[0049] The front face FV is oriented outwards and at least partially closed. In the example illustrated, but not limited to, in [Fig. 4], the front face FV is partially closed, but it could be totally closed.
[0050] The open face FO is substantially perpendicular to the front face FV and crossed by the second end E22 (see [Fig.3]).
[0051] The rear face FR is opposite the front face FV, and substantially perpendicular to the open face FO.
[0052] The end face FE is opposite the open face FO and defines a sub-part of the separating wall. It therefore comprises an external sub-face, which is located at the interface with the luminous device DL in the vicinity of the first screen EC1, and an internal sub-face, which is located at the interface with the second end E12 of the groove Gj.
[0053] The two lateral faces FL are substantially perpendicular to the front face FV and rear face FR (see figures 4 and 5).
[0054] It should be noted that the one-piece cavity CM could have other general shapes, and in particular cylindrical, possibly with a circular cross-section.
[0055] Also, for example, and as illustrated non-limitingly and at least partially in Figures 4 and 5, each of the lateral faces FL can make an obtuse angle (or open angle or draft angle) with the end face FE in order to facilitate lateral (or transverse) demolding by drawer of the support SG.
[0056] In fact, the one-piece cavity CM is demolded along a transverse direction, perpendicular to the main demolding axis of the support SG. This preferably requires that the lateral faces FL form an obtuse angle with the end face FE and therefore with the transverse demolding direction. During demolding, the main part of the mold is first opened along the main demolding direction. Then, once the main part of the mold is freed, the slide is translated along the transverse demolding direction (perpendicular to the main demolding direction). This allows the injected part, which then constitutes the support SG, to be completely removed from the mold.
[0057] It should be noted that the use of a drawer in the mold can create a visible parting line between the parts that demold respectively along the principal demolding direction and the transverse demolding direction. Since this parting line and the draft angle (obtuse angles) of the one-piece cavity CM are visible, it is advantageous to provide the second screen EC2 in front of each light guide GLj to make them invisible or at least blur them. This second screen EC2 can then incorporate optics / prisms (or an opal material).
[0058] For example, each obtuse angle can be between 2° and 5°.
[0059] Also, for example, and as illustrated without limitation and at least partially on figures 1 and 3, the optical block BO can also include in a front part a mask MB arranged so as to mask the front face FV of the monobloc cavity CM, as it constitutes a technical part.
[0060] It will be noted, as illustrated non-limitingly in [Fig. 2], that when the support SG comprises two walls PS delimiting respectively the first G1 and second G2 grooves in which the first GL1 and second GL2 light guides are respectively installed, the upper wall PS (here), which is away from the lighting device DL, can also include an end sub-part SPT defining a one-piece cavity CM housing, concealing, and immobilizing the second end E22 of the second light guide GL2. This avoids having to add a clipping tab to this second end E22 and defining a clipping hole in the PP part of the upper wall PS.
Claims
Demands
1. Optical block (OB) comprising a housing (BB) containing i) a light device (DL) adapted to deliver first photons ensuring a first photometric function, and ii) a support (SG) made by molding and comprising at least one wall (PS) delimiting a groove (Gj) in which is installed a light guide (GLj) adapted to deliver second photons ensuring a second photometric function, a first end (E21) of the light guide (GLj) being supplied with second photons by a second photon source, and comprising a part (PP) defining a separating wall with said light device (DL) and housing a second end (E22) of said light guide (GLj) opposite its first end, characterized in that said part (PP) comprises a terminal sub-part (SPT) defining a one-piece cavity (CM) fixedly housing, by masking it, said end (E22),and arranged so as to prevent the passage of photons between said throat (Gj) and said luminous device (DL).
2. Optical block according to claim 1, characterized in that said one-piece cavity (CM) has a general parallelepiped shape having a front face (FV) oriented outwards and at least partially closed, an open face (FO) substantially perpendicular to said front face (FV) and traversed by said end (E22), and four other closed faces including a rear face (FR) opposite said front face (FV), an end face (FE) opposite said open face (FO) and defining a sub-part of said separating wall, and two lateral faces (FL) opposite each other and substantially perpendicular to said front face (FV) and rear face (FR).
3. Optical block according to claim 2, characterized in that each of said lateral faces (FL) makes an obtuse angle with said end face (FE) in order to facilitate lateral demolding by drawer of said support (SG).
4. Optical block according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said support (SG) comprises two walls (PS) respectively delimiting two grooves (Gj) in which are respectively installed two light guides (GLj), each having their end (E22) housed in a one-piece cavity (CM) and masked by the latter (CM).
5. Optical block according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it comprises in a front part a mask (MB) masking said front face (FV) of the monobloc cavity (CM).
6. Optical block according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said first photometric function is a lighting function or a signaling function.
7. Optical block according to claim 6, characterized in that said first photometric function is a direction change indication function.
8. Optical block according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said second photometric function is a signaling function.
9. Optical block according to claim 8, characterized in that said second photometric function is a daytime running light function.
10. Vehicle, characterized in that it comprises at least one optical unit (OU) according to any one of claims 1 to 9.