VEHICLE OPTICAL UNIT WITH SIMPLIFIED INSTALLATION LIGHT GUIDE PIECE

Abstract

An optical unit (OU) is fitted to a vehicle and comprises a support piece (SB) coupled to a guide piece (GP) having first (PE1) and second (PE2) end sections that are opposite and connected by at least two light guides (LGs) designed to perform a photometric function. This support piece (SB) and these first (PE1) and second (PE2) end sections are arranged to cooperate in order to immobilize the guide piece (GP) relative to the support piece (SB) under constraint, preventing translation along any of the three spatial directions. Figure 2

Description

Title of the invention: VEHICLE OPTICAL UNIT, WITH LIGHT GUIDE PART WITH SIMPLIFIED INSTALLATION Technical field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to optical units which are intended to equip vehicles and which must provide at least one photometric function. State of the art

[0002] Certain vehicles, generally of the automobile type, comprise at least one optical unit comprising a housing in which is installed a support part on which is secured a guide part comprising first and second opposite end parts and connected to each other by at least two light guides capable of participating in a photometric function. For example, this photometric function may be a position light function (or code or even lantern).

[0003] Currently, at least one of the first and second end portions of the guide piece is secured to the support piece by at least two screws. Consequently, securing the guide piece to the support piece requires several screwing operations which are relatively time-consuming and therefore increase the manufacturing cost of the optical unit. Furthermore, when the screwing torque is insufficient, the screws can gradually unscrew and induce annoying vibrations which degrade the impression of quality of the vehicle. Furthermore, due to the manufacturing and assembly tolerances of the guide piece, support piece and housing, it may happen that the guide piece is not correctly stressed relative to the support piece despite sufficient screwing torque, and therefore this can also induce annoying vibrations which degrade the impression of quality of the vehicle.

[0004] The invention therefore aims in particular to improve the situation. Presentation of the invention

[0005] It proposes in particular for this purpose an optical unit, on the one hand, intended to equip a vehicle, and, on the other hand, comprising a support part to which is coupled a guide part comprising first and second opposite end parts and connected to each other by at least two light guides capable of participating in a photometric function.

[0006] This optical unit is characterized by the fact that its support part and the first and second end parts of the guide part are arranged so as to cooperate together to immobilize under stress the guide part relative to the support part without the possibility of translation along one of the three directions of space.

[0007] Thanks to the invention, a simple assembly operation by coupling makes it possible to couple the guide part to the support part very efficiently and permanently, thanks to their respective arrangements alone and therefore without screwing or welding or gluing operations, which makes the assembly of the optical unit less complex and less time-consuming, and therefore makes it possible to reduce its manufacturing cost.

[0008] The optical unit according to the invention may include other characteristics which may be taken separately or in combination, and in particular:

[0009] - its support part may comprise first and second support walls each comprising at least one first positioning element and at least one first immobilizing element. In this case, each of the first and second end portions of the guide piece may comprise, on the one hand, at least one second positioning element cooperating with a corresponding first positioning element to be positioned relative to the corresponding first or second support wall, and, on the other hand, at least one second immobilizing element cooperating with a corresponding first immobilizing element to be immobilized relative to the corresponding first or second support wall;

[0010] - in the presence of the first option, a first positioning element can be arranged in the form of a protruding pin on an inner face of the first support wall. In this case, a second positioning element may be arranged in the form of a hole defined in the first end portion and housing a part of this pin;

[0011] - in the presence of the last sub-option, the pawn can have a shape at least truncated cone;

[0012] - also in the presence of the first option, at least one first element of posi operation may be arranged in the form of a notch open on a front face and defined in the second support wall. In this case, at least one second positioning element may be arranged in the form of a rib which comprises the second end portion and housed in a corresponding notch preventing translations of the second end portion towards the rear and in a vertical direction;

[0013] - in the presence of the last sub-option, each notch may comprise a part front flared so as to facilitate the introduction of the corresponding rib;

[0014] - also in the presence of the first option, the first and second elements immobilization can be clipping elements;

[0015] - also in the presence of the first option, the second support part of the support part may comprise at least one stressing rib moving the second end portion away from the latter to stress the guide piece between the first and second support walls;

[0016] - the photometric function can be a signaling function chosen from a position light function, a brake light function, a reversing light function, and a turn indicator function.

[0017] The invention also proposes a vehicle, possibly of the automobile type, and comprising at least one optical unit of the type presented above. Brief description of the figures

[0018] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on examining the detailed description below, and the attached drawings (obtained in CAD / CAM (“Computer Aided Design / Computer Aided Drawing”)), in which:

[0019] [Fig-1] schematically illustrates, in a perspective view from the front side, a part of an exemplary embodiment of an optical unit according to the invention,

[0020] [Fig.2] schematically illustrates, in a perspective view from the front side, the support part and guide part of the optical unit of [Fig.l] after their assembly, but before their assembly in the housing,

[0021] [Fig.3] schematically illustrates, in a perspective view from the front side, the support part and guide part of the optical unit of [Fig.l] before their assembly,

[0022] [Fig.4] schematically illustrates, in a perspective view from the front side and from the internal side, the first support part of the support piece of figures 1 to 3,

[0023] [Fig.5] schematically illustrates, in a perspective view from the front side and from the internal side, the second support part of the support piece of figures 1 to 3,

[0024] [Fig.6] schematically illustrates, in a perspective view from the front side and from the external side, the second support part of the support piece of Figures 1 to 3, once the second end part of the guide piece is assembled to it,

[0025] [Fig.7] schematically illustrates, in a perspective view from the rear side and from the external side, the second end portion of the guide piece of Figures 1 to 3, before assembly to the support piece, and

[0026] [Fig.8] schematically illustrates, in a perspective view from the front side, the assembly between the second support part of the support piece and the second end part of the guide piece of Figures 1 to 3. Detailed description of the invention

[0027] The invention aims in particular to propose an optical unit BO intended to equip a vehicle and capable of ensuring at least one photometric function by means of a (light) guide part PG comprising at least two light guides GL and the assembly of which to the support part PSB is simplified.

[0028] It is considered in the following, by way of non-limiting example, that the optical unit BO is intended to equip a motor vehicle, such as for example a car. But the invention is not limited to this type of vehicle. Indeed, the optical unit BO can equip any vehicle (land, sea (or river), or air) which must have at least one photometric function by means of a light guide coupled to a support part.

[0029] Furthermore, it is considered in the following, by way of non-limiting example, that the optical unit BO constitutes a rear light of a vehicle. But it could constitute a front headlight (or projector) (when it also provides at least one photometric lighting function), or a front light of a vehicle, for example.

[0030] In the above and the following, the notion of "front" is defined in relation to the place where the photons participating in a photometric function exit, and the notion of "rear" is defined in relation to the place which is opposite to that where the photons participating in a photometric function exit. Consequently, the front face of an element is oriented towards the outside, while the rear face of this element is oriented towards the inside and opposite the front face.

[0031] In Figures 1 to 8, the X direction is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, which is substantially parallel to the lateral (or longitudinal) sides comprising the side doors, the Y direction is parallel to the transverse direction of the vehicle and perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X, and the Z direction is parallel to the vertical direction of the vehicle and perpendicular to the longitudinal directions X and transverse directions Y.

[0032] [Fig.l] schematically illustrates an example of an embodiment of an optical block BO according to the invention.

[0033] As illustrated at least partially in Figures 1 to 3, an optical block BO, according to the invention, comprises at least one housing BB, one support part PSB, one (light) guiding part PG, and possible electronic cards, mask MB and protective glass GP.

[0034] The BB housing defines, possibly with the GP protective glass, a cavity housing an assembly of the PSB support part and the PG guide part, which will be discussed later.

[0035] The electronic card (not illustrated) can be secured to the housing BB and / or to the support part PSB, and is provided with components which are suitable for participating in the controlled generation of photons which must supply the guide part PG (and more precisely its light guides GL) to participate in a photometric function.

[0036] For example, this photometric function may be a signaling function. As an illustrative (and therefore non-limiting) example, this signaling function may be a position light function (or low beam or even lantern). But it could be a stop light function or a reversing light function or even a direction indicator function (or flashing light), for example.

[0037] Also for example, the electronic card may comprise at least one photon source not illustrated and suitable for generating the photons which must participate in the photometric function and supplying the guide part PG, and components and / or electronic circuit(s) making it possible to control the supply and operation of this (each) photon source.

[0038] Also for example, the (each) photon source may comprise at least one light-emitting diode (or LED). But as a variant the (each) photon source may comprise at least one laser diode or a gas laser.

[0039] It will be noted that the choice of the (each) photon source may depend on the photometric function.

[0040] Also for example, the electronic card can be a printed circuit board of the PCB type (“Printed Circuit Board”).

[0041] As illustrated at least partially in Figures 2, 3, and 6 to 8, the guide part PG comprises first PE1 and second PE2 opposite end portions connected to each other by at least two light guides GL which are capable of participating in the aforementioned photometric function when they are supplied with photons by at least one photon source.

[0042] It will be noted that each light guide GL is arranged so as to guide the photons that it receives in a rear part towards a front face through which they exit to reach the outside, for example after passing through the protective glass GP.

[0043] It will also be noted that in the example illustrated without limitation, the guide part PG comprises three light guides GL. But the number of light guides GL can take any value greater than or equal to two.

[0044] Furthermore, and as illustrated at least partially in Figures 2, 6 and 8, the support part PSB and the first PE1 and second PE2 end parts of the guide part PG are arranged so as to cooperate together to immobilize under stress the guide part PG relative to the support part PSB without the possibility of translation along one of the three directions in space (namely the longitudinal X, transverse Y and vertical Z directions).

[0045] In other words, it is only the respective arrangements of the support part PSB and the first PE1 and second PE2 end parts which allow precise positioning and complete immobilization under stress of the guide part PG relative to the support part PSB, during a simple assembly operation by coupling, without screwing or welding or gluing operations, and this assembly can then be fixedly installed in the housing BB (by securing the support part PSB to the latter (BB)).

[0046] The installation of the PG guide piece is therefore particularly simple, and makes the assembly of the BO optical block less complex and less time-consuming, thus reducing the manufacturing cost of the BO optical block.

[0047] For example, and as illustrated non-limitingly and at least partially in Figures 2 to 6 and 8, the support part PSB may comprise first PSI and second PS2 support walls each comprising at least one first positioning element EPI and at least one first immobilization element EU. In this case, and as illustrated non-limitingly and at least partially in Figures 2, 3 and 6 to 8, each of the first PE1 and second PE2 end portions may comprise at least one second positioning element EP2 and at least one second immobilization element EI2.

[0048] Each second positioning element EP2 is arranged to cooperate with a corresponding first positioning element EPI so that its first PE1 or second PE2 end portion is positioned relative to the corresponding first PSI or second PS2 support wall. Each second immobilization element EI2 is arranged to cooperate with a corresponding first immobilization element EU so that its first PE1 or second PE2 end portion is immobilized relative to the corresponding first PSI or second PS2 support wall along the three spatial directions X, Y and Z.

[0049] Also for example, and as illustrated non-limitingly and at least partially in Figures 2 to 4, a first positioning element EPI can be arranged in the form of a protruding pin on a first internal face Fil of the first support wall PSI. In this case, a second positioning element EP2 can be arranged in the form of a hole which is defined in the first end portion PE1 of the guide piece PG and which houses a part of this pin EPI.

[0050] Also for example, the EPI pin may have at least a truncated cone shape in order to facilitate its introduction into the corresponding hole EP2 of the first support wall PSI during the assembly operation. Here, the hole EP2 is through due to the relatively large length of the EPI pin. But it could be non-through.

[0051] It will be noted, as illustrated non-limitingly and at least partially in Figures 2 to 4, that the first support wall PSI may also comprise a guide protrusion PRG projecting from its first internal face Fil and making it possible to guide the first end part PE1 in the transverse direction Y during its positioning relative to the first support wall PSI.

[0052] Also for example, and as illustrated non-limitingly and at least partially in Figures 2, 3, 5, 6 and 8, at least one first EPI positioning element may be arranged in the form of a notch which is open on a front face and defined in the second support wall PS2. In this case, and as illustrated non-limitingly and at least partially in Figures 2 and 6 to 8, the second end part PE2 may comprise at least one second positioning element EP2 arranged in the form of a rib (or slide) housed in a corresponding notch EPI which prevents translations of the second end part PE2 towards the rear (substantially in the longitudinal direction X) and in the vertical direction Z (upwards and downwards). This makes it possible to ensure immobilization of the guide part PG in the vertical direction Z.

[0053] Also for example, and as illustrated non-limitingly and at least partially in Figures 2, 5, 6 and 8, the (each) notch EPI may be defined between the second internal face FI2 and the first external face FE1 of the second support wall PS2 in order to be through and thus facilitate the introduction of the corresponding rib EP2 defined on the second external face FE2 of the second end portion PE2. But the (each) notch EPI could not be through, and in this case it is defined only in the second internal face FI2 of the second support wall PS2.

[0054] It will be noted that in the example illustrated the second support wall PS2 comprises two notches EPI in which are respectively housed two ribs EP2 of the second end part PE2. But the number of notches EPI (and therefore also the number of ribs EP2) can take any value greater than or equal to one.

[0055] Also for example, the (each) notch PE1 may comprise a front part which is flared so as to facilitate the introduction of the corresponding rib EP2 of the second end part PE2.

[0056] Also for example, and as illustrated non-limitingly and at least partially in Figures 2 to 5 and 8, the first EU and second EI2 immobilization elements may be clipping elements. It will be noted that in the illustrated example each of the first PSI and second PS2 support walls comprises two first immobilization elements EU cooperating respectively with two second immobilization elements EI2 of the first PE1 and second PE2 end portions. But the number of first immobilization elements EU (and therefore also the number of second immobilization elements EI2) of each of the first PSI and second PS2 support walls may take any value greater than or equal to one.

[0057] It will also be noted that in the example illustrated without limitation, each first immobilization element EU is a clipping tab, comprising a notch housed in a hole, possibly passing through, or clipped onto an edge and constituting a corresponding second immobilization element EI2. But an inverse arrangement is conceivable, namely each first immobilization element EU can be a hole or an edge cooperating with a clipping tab constituting a corresponding second immobilization element EI2.

[0058] It will also be noted that in the example illustrated without limitation the two first immobilization elements EU of the first support wall PSI have different respective orientations (here substantially perpendicular to each other) so as to ensure immobilization substantially along the transverse Y and vertical Z directions. On the other hand, the first two immobilization elements EU of the second support wall PS2 have the same orientation so as to ensure immobilization substantially along the transverse Y direction. But other arrangements of the EPI coupling tabs can be envisaged on the first Fil and second FI2 internal faces respectively of the first PS 1 and second PS2 support walls.

[0059] It will also be noted that in the example illustrated without limitation, the second end part PE2 comprises two (non-through) clipping holes EI2 defined in its third internal face FI3 (see figures 2, 3 and 8), while the first end part PE1 comprises a (through) clipping hole EI2 and an edge EI2 (see figures 2 and 3). This through clipping hole EI2 advantageously allows the guide part PG to be re-stressed relative to the corresponding (lower) clipping tab EU.

[0060] Also for example, and as illustrated non-limitingly and at least partially in Figures 2 to 5 and 8, the second support part PS2 may comprise on its second internal face FI2 at least one stressing rib NMC arranged so as to move the second end part PE2 away from this second support part PS2. This advantageously makes it possible to stress the guide part PG between the first PSI and second PS2 support walls. It will be understood in fact that such a stressing rib NMC pushes the guide part PG towards the first support part PSI, which makes it possible to press its first end part PE1 against the latter (PSI) and thus to prevent the generation of vibrations.

[0061] It will be noted that in the example illustrated without limitation, the second end part PE2 comprises two stressing ribs NMC on its second internal face FI2, so as to offer good support stability on the side of the second support wall PS2.

[0062] Thanks to the arrangement described above, with reference to Figures 1 to 8, the assembly of the guide part PG on the support part PSB is done by a translation along a single axis, namely that of the pin EPI of the first support wall PSI which passes through the hole EP2 of the first end part PE1, then by pushing the guide part PG (and more precisely its second end part PE2) towards the rear (and therefore towards the support part PSB) so that the clipping (EPI, EP2) is carried out. It will be noted that due to the relatively large length of the pin EPI, the latter (EPI) makes it possible to pre-position the guide part PG on the support part PSB before the two ribs EP2 of the second end part PE2 are housed respectively in the two corresponding EPI notches of the second support wall PS2.

[0063] It will also be noted that the support part PSB and the (light) guide part PG can be produced by injection molding of a rigid and resistant plastic material, such as for example polycarbonate (or PC). Similarly, the housing BB can be produced by injection molding of a rigid and resistant plastic material, such as for example polycarbonate (or PC).

Claims

Claims

1. Optical unit (BO) suitable for equipping a vehicle and comprising a support part (PSB) to which is coupled a guide part (PG) comprising first (PE1) and second (PE2) opposite end parts and connected to each other by at least two light guides (GL) suitable for participating in a photometric function, characterized in that said support part (PSB) and said first (PE1) and second (PE2) end parts are arranged so as to cooperate together to immobilize under stress said guide part (PG) relative to said support part (PSB) without the possibility of translation along one of the three directions in space.

2. Optical unit according to claim 1, characterized in that said support part (PSB) comprises first (PSI) and second (PS2) support walls each comprising at least one first positioning element (EPI) and at least one first immobilization element (EU), and in that each of said first (PE1) and second (PE2) end parts comprises i) at least one second positioning element (EP2) cooperating with a corresponding first positioning element (EPI) to be positioned relative to said corresponding first (PSI) or second (PS2) support wall, and ii) at least one second immobilization element (EI2) cooperating with a corresponding first immobilization element (EU) to be immobilized relative to said corresponding first (PSI) or second (PS2) support wall.

3. Optical unit according to claim 2, characterized in that a first positioning element (EPI) is arranged in the form of a protruding pin on an internal face of said first support wall (PSI), and in that a second positioning element (EP2) is arranged in the form of a hole defined in said first end portion (PE1) and housing a part of said pin (EPI).

4. Optical unit according to claim 3, characterized in that said pin (EPI) has at least a truncated cone shape.

5. Optical unit according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that at least one first positioning element (EPI) is arranged in the form of a notch open on a front face and defined in said second support wall (PS2), and in that at least one second positioning element (EP2) is arranged in the form of a rib which comprises said second end part (PE2) and housed in a corresponding notch (EPI) preventing translations of said second end part (PE2) towards the rear and in a vertical direction.

6. Optical unit according to claim 5, characterized in that each notch (PE1) comprises a flared front part so as to facilitate introduction of said corresponding rib (EP2).

7. Optical unit according to one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that said first (EU) and second (EI2) immobilizing elements are clipping elements.

8. Optical unit according to one of claims 2 to 7, characterized in that said second support part (PS2) comprises at least one stressing rib (NMC) moving said second end part (PE2) away from the latter (PS2) to stress said guide part (PG) between said first (PSI) and second (PS2) support walls.

9. Optical unit according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that said photometric function is a signaling function chosen from a position light function, a stop light function, a reversing light function, and a direction indicator function.

10. Vehicle, characterized in that it comprises at least one optical unit (BO) according to one of claims 1 to 9.

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