MULTI-ZONE AMBIENT LIGHTING ON A MOTOR VEHICLE STEERING WHEEL

Abstract

MULTI-ZONE AMBIENT LIGHTING ON A MOTOR VEHICLE STEERING WHEEL The present invention relates to a motor vehicle (4), comprising: - a steering wheel (2); - an ambient lighting system for the passenger compartment (6) of the motor vehicle; notable in that the steering wheel includes at least one ambient lighting zone (10), separate from a functional indicator and backlighting of a control element, controlled by the ambient lighting system. (Figure to be published with the abbreviation: Figure 1)

Description

Title of the invention: MULTI-ZONE AMBIENT LIGHTING ON A MOTOR VEHICLE STEERING WHEEL Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of motor vehicles, more particularly the field of ambient lighting for motor vehicles. Prior art

[0002] One of the most popular innovations in recent years is the introduction of ambient lighting in the passenger compartment of motor vehicles. Indeed, more and more modern motor vehicles are equipped with this type of lighting, which generally takes the form of illuminated light guides extending along the interior trim elements of the passenger compartment. These lights, often customizable in terms of color and intensity, offer occupants a comfortable and soothing driving experience.

[0003] However, despite this notable advancement, there is still room for improvement for conventional ambient lighting solutions, designed to provide an even more satisfying user experience and increased comfort for passengers in motor vehicles. Statement of the invention

[0004] The present invention aims to overcome at least one of the drawbacks of the aforementioned state of the art. More particularly, the invention aims to propose a simple, efficient and economical solution making it possible to improve the comfort provided by ambient lighting in a motor vehicle interior.

[0005] To this end, the invention relates to a motor vehicle, comprising: - a steering wheel; - an ambient lighting system for a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle; remarkable in that the steering wheel comprises at least one ambient lighting zone, separate from a functional indicator and backlighting of a control member, controlled by the ambient lighting system.

[0006] According to one embodiment, the at least one ambient lighting zone comprises at least one light guide with a light output face on a front face of the steering wheel, and at least one light source supplying light to said at least one light guide.

[0007] According to one embodiment, the at least one light guide forms a ring.

[0008] According to one embodiment, the ring internally delimits a hollow part crossing the steering wheel entirely in a direction perpendicular to the front face of the said steering wheel.

[0009] According to one embodiment, the at least one light guide forming a ring is arranged close to an outer contour of the steering wheel so that at least one finger of the hand of a driver engaged with said outer contour can at least partially penetrate the corresponding hollow part.

[0010] According to one embodiment, the steering wheel has a non-circular general shape, substantially rectangular with four corners, the at least one light guide forming a ring comprising four light guides arranged at the four corners of the steering wheel, respectively.

[0011] According to one embodiment, the ambient lighting system is activated in particular as soon as a door of the motor vehicle is opened.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the at least one ambient lighting zone is electrically powered by an on-board computer of the passenger compartment by means of a multiplexed communication network of the LIN type, the ambient lighting system and the at least one ambient lighting zone being commonly managed by said on-board computer.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the steering wheel controls steered wheels by means of electrically controlled steering.

[0014] The invention also relates to a steering wheel for a motor vehicle according to the invention, remarkable in that said steering wheel comprises at least one ambient lighting zone configured to be controlled by a motor vehicle ambient lighting system, the at least one ambient lighting zone comprising at least one light guide forming a ring with a light exit face on a front face of the steering wheel, and at least one light source supplying light to said at least one light guide.

[0015] The measures of the invention are advantageous in that the ambient lighting zone having a ring-shaped light guide encircling each of the hollow parts of the steering wheel makes it possible to offer remarkable visual comfort within the passenger compartment, thus offering an improved and more ergonomic overall user experience.

[0016] Indeed, each ambient lighting zone makes it possible to considerably improve the visibility of the hollow parts of the steering wheel where the driver grips it, thus making them easier to spot, particularly during night driving. Brief description of the drawings

[0017] [Fig.l] represents a perspective view of a motor vehicle steering wheel according to the invention. Detailed description

[0018] [Fig.l] represents a steering wheel 2 of a motor vehicle 4 comprising a passenger compartment 6 provided with an ambient lighting system preferably having several light guides 8 extending into interior trim elements of the passenger compartment 6.

[0019] Advantageously, the steering wheel 2 comprises at least one ambient lighting zone 10 controlled by the ambient lighting system of the motor vehicle.

[0020] In this configuration, said ambient lighting zone 10 is distinct from a functional indicator and distinct from a backlighting of a control member. Indeed, the ambient lighting zone 10 is, for example, distinct from a backlit key or a backlit push button that can be arranged on a front face 2.1 of the steering wheel 2.

[0021] Preferably, the ambient lighting zone 10 comprises a light guide 12 comprising a light output face 12.1 arranged on the front face 2.1 of the steering wheel 2, and comprises one or more light sources (not shown) supplying light to the light guide 12.

[0022] The light sources illuminating the light guide 12 may be fixed and / or polychromatic.

[0023] In an alternative, the ambient lighting zone 10 can be directly integrated into decorative parts of the steering wheel 2, including in particular translucent parts capable of diffusing light at the level of the front face 2.1.

[0024] Advantageously, an intelligence of an on-board computer of the motor vehicle 4 makes it possible to link the ambient lighting system of the passenger compartment 6 to that of the steering wheel 2, it ensures centralized control and management of the lighting of the light guides 8 with that of the ambient lighting zone 10 on the steering wheel 2.

[0025] In this regard, the ambient lighting zone 10 is electrically powered by the on-board computer of the passenger compartment, preferably by means of a multiplexed communication network of the LIN type.

[0026] The ambient lighting system can be activated as soon as a door of the motor vehicle 4 is opened, thus jointly illuminating the light guides 8 on the trims and the lighting zone 10.

[0027] Preferably, the steering wheel 2 controls the steered wheels of the motor vehicle 4 by means of electrically controlled steering. This is a drive-by-wire function, also referred to as: “drive-by-wire” driving function, specifically comprising a directional control function: “steer-by-wire” provided by electric power steering units without a steering column, i.e. having no mechanical link between the steering wheel and the wheels.

[0028] For this purpose, the steering wheel 2 preferably comprises a shape which is no longer necessarily circular, and more preferably comprises a substantially rectangular shape. tangular with four corners 2.2.

[0029] The steering wheel 2 comprises several ambient lighting zones 10 with preferably four light guides 12, each forming a ring 12 arranged at the four corners 2.2 of the steering wheel 2.

[0030] The invention is not limited to a number and / or a precise shape of the ambient lighting zone 10 of the steering wheel 2. Indeed, the light guides 12 may comprise a free and non-closed and / or linear shape, or may be of an oblong and / or complex and non-circular and / or rectangular and / or triangular shape and / or a combination of these.

[0031] It can be seen that the ring 12 internally delimits a hollow part 14 passing completely through the steering wheel 2 in a direction perpendicular to its front face 2.1.

[0032] The steering wheel 2 comprises four hollow parts 14 arranged at the four corners 2.2 of the steering wheel 2, and close to an outer contour 2.3 of the steering wheel 2.

[0033] Preferably, the hollow parts 14 are distributed homogeneously on the front face 2.1, each being arranged at most 40 mm from the external contour 2.3.

[0034] In this configuration, at least one finger of a driver's hand, engaged with said outer contour 2.3, can at least partially penetrate one of the hollow parts 14 of the steering wheel 2. This provides the driver with a better grip and increased control of the steering wheel 2.

[0035] Advantageously, the ambient lighting zone 10 having a ring-shaped light guide 12 encircling each of the hollow parts 14 also makes it possible to improve the visibility of the areas where the driver grips the steering wheel 2, in particular during night driving.

[0036] The evolution of the shapes of steering wheels of motor vehicles towards complex and / or non-circular shapes, such as that of the steering wheel 2 of the invention, could possibly present a difficulty in visually identifying the hollow parts allowing the handling of said steering wheel, in particular when the passenger compartment is dark.

[0037] Thus, the steering wheel of the invention makes it easier to locate its hollow parts 14 and makes driving the motor vehicle 4 comfortable, more ergonomic and safer.

[0038] Preferably, the steering wheel 2 further comprises a second ring-shaped light guide 16 arranged within each of the hollow parts 14, powered by corresponding light sources or by the same ones as those illuminating the light guides 12.

Claims

Claims

1. Motor vehicle (4), comprising: - a steering wheel (2); - an ambient lighting system for a passenger compartment (6) of the motor vehicle (4); characterized in that the steering wheel (2) comprises at least one ambient lighting zone (10), separate from a functional indicator and backlighting of a control member, controlled by the ambient lighting system.

2. Motor vehicle (4) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one ambient lighting zone (10) comprises at least one light guide (12) with a light exit face (12.1) on a front face (2.1) of the steering wheel (2), and at least one light source supplying light to said at least one light guide (12).

3. Motor vehicle (4) according to claim 2, wherein the at least one light guide (12) forms a ring (12).

4. Motor vehicle (4) according to claim 3, in which the ring (12) internally delimits a hollow part (14) passing entirely through the steering wheel (2) in a direction perpendicular to the front face (2.1) of said steering wheel (2).

5. Motor vehicle (4) according to claim 4, wherein the at least one light guide (12) forming a ring (12) is arranged close to an outer contour (2.3) of the steering wheel (2) so that at least one finger of the hand of a driver engaged with said outer contour (2.3) can at least partially penetrate the corresponding hollow part (14).

6. Motor vehicle (4) according to one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the steering wheel (2) has a non-circular, substantially rectangular general shape with four corners (2.2), the at least one light guide (12) forming a ring (12) comprising four light guides (12) arranged at the four corners of the steering wheel (2), respectively.

7. Motor vehicle (4) according to one of claims 1 to 6, in which the ambient lighting system is activated in particular as soon as a door of the motor vehicle (4) is opened.

8. Motor vehicle (4) according to one of claims 1 to 7, in which the at least one ambient lighting zone (10) is electrically powered by an on-board computer of the passenger compartment (6) at by means of a LIN type multiplexed communication network, the ambient lighting system and the at least one ambient lighting zone (10) being commonly managed by said on-board computer.

9. Motor vehicle (4) according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the steering wheel (2) controls steered wheels by means of electrically controlled steering.

10. Steering wheel (2) for a motor vehicle (4) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that said steering wheel (2) comprises at least one ambient lighting zone (10) configured to be controlled by an ambient lighting system of a motor vehicle (4), the at least one ambient lighting zone (10) comprising at least one light guide (12) forming a ring (12) with a light outlet face (12.1) on a front face (2.1) of the steering wheel (2), and at least one light source supplying light to said at least one light guide (12).

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