Central headlamp assembly as part of the bodywork, for a land vehicle

Abstract

An optical unit (OU) is fitted to a central part of the front end of a land vehicle with a front hood positioned between two fenders, and comprises: - a housing (BB) at least partially defining a cavity (CB) containing an optical module (MO) that performs a photometric function, and - a protective lens (GP) fixedly attached to the housing (BB) by closing the cavity (CB), and including an extension (EG) extending above this cavity (CB) and opposite a front part (PVG), through which photons generated by the optical module (MO) exit, defining a faceplate occupying an empty space located between this front end and the front hood and fenders. Figure 2

Description

Title of the invention: CENTRAL OPTICAL UNIT PARTICIPATING INTO THE BODYWORK, FOR A LAND VEHICLE Technical field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to optical blocks intended to be installed in a central position in the front ends of land vehicles. State of the art

[0002] Certain land vehicles, generally automobiles, include a front hood positioned between two fenders and set back from a front end comprising a grille, and a soft-nose panel occupying an empty space between this front end and the front hood and fenders, and forming part of the bodywork. This soft-nose panel is specifically designed to extend the front hood forward, giving the impression that the front part of the (land) vehicle is elongated.

[0003] Currently, the front bumper (or soft nose) is a body panel (possibly made of plastic) that is attached to the vehicle and therefore requires not only the design and / or installation of dedicated fasteners, but also very precise positioning with respect to six vehicle components, namely its front hood, its two front fenders, its two headlights, and its grille. It thus contributes to increasing the complexity of the vehicle's design, the number of vehicle components to be manufactured, stored, supplied to the assembly lines, and managed, and the time required for its assembly, and therefore also the cost of the vehicle.

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

[0005] In particular, it proposes for this purpose an optical unit, on the one hand, suitable for equipping a central part of the front end of a land vehicle having a front hood placed between two wings, and, on the other hand, comprising:

[0006] - a housing at least partially delimiting a cavity housing an optical module suitable for ensuring a photometric function, and

[0007] - a protective glass fixedly attached to the housing by closing the cavity.

[0008] This optical block is characterized by the fact that its protective glass includes an extension extending above the cavity and opposite a front part, which it includes and through which photons generated by the optical module exit, defining a plastron (or softnose) which is suitable for occupying an empty space located between the front end and the front hood and wings of the vehicle.

[0009] Thus, the plastron is now an integral part of the protective glass (and therefore of the optical unit), which reduces the number of fastening elements (dedicated to its fixing) to be provided in the vehicle, and to facilitate its precise positioning, and therefore to reduce the complexity of vehicle design, the number of vehicle components, and the time required to assemble the vehicle.

[0010] The optical block according to the invention may include other features which may be taken separately or in combination, and in particular:

[0011] - its optical module and the front part of its protective glass can define together a grille for the vehicle;

[0012] - the photometric function can be a lighting function;

[0013] - the extension of its protective ice may include at least one area weakening which is likely to facilitate its deformation when it is struck by a person;

[0014] - in the presence of the last option, the (each) area of ​​attenuation can be a area of ​​the extension exhibiting a locally reduced thickness or at least a groove;

[0015] - the extension of its protective glass may include a first part made in a first transparent material and having a first crystal color and intended to be placed at the interface with the outside, and a second part having a second chosen color, and placed against and behind this first part so that this second color is visible from the outside by transparency;

[0016] - in the presence of the last option, the second part may comprise, on the one hand, a first sub-part having a shape identical to that of the first part, and, on the other hand, a second sub-part extending opposite the front part of its protective glass to a sub-part of the case, participating in the closure of the cavity;

[0017] - in the presence of the penultimate option and the last sub-option, the first sub-part may include the (each) area of ​​weakening.

[0018] The invention also proposes a land vehicle, possibly of the automobile type, comprising, on the one hand, a front hood placed between two wings and set back from a front end, and, on the other hand, an optical block of the type of that presented above and installed partly in a central part of this front end. Brief description of the figures

[0019] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from an examination of the detailed description below, and the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0020] [Fig-1] schematically and functionally illustrates, in a top view, a example of a land vehicle comprising an example of an embodiment of a central optical unit according to the invention,

[0021] [Fig.2] schematically illustrates, in a cross-sectional view in a longitudinal plane and vertical, a first example of the realization of a central optical block according to the invention, and

[0022] [Fig.3] schematically illustrates, in a cross-sectional view in a longitudinal plane and vertical, a second example of the realization of a central optical block according to the invention. Detailed description of the invention

[0023] The invention aims in particular to provide a central optical block BO intended to be installed, at least partially, in a front end of a land vehicle V and to participate in the bodywork of the latter (V).

[0024] In what follows, the land vehicle V is considered, by way of non-limiting example, to be of the automobile type. This is, for example, a car, as illustrated, but not limited to, in [Fig. 1]. However, the invention is not limited to this type of land vehicle. It relates in fact to any land vehicle comprising a front hood positioned between two front fenders and set back from one front end.

[0025] In figures 1 to 3, direction X is the longitudinal direction of the (land) vehicle V, which is substantially parallel to the lateral (or longitudinal) sides comprising the side doors, direction Y is the transverse direction of the vehicle V, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X, and direction Z is the vertical direction of the vehicle V, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X and transverse direction Y.

[0026] Figures 1 and 2 schematically illustrate an example of a (land) vehicle V (here a sedan-type car) comprising, on the one hand, a front hood CV placed between two front wings AV and set back from a front end EV, and, on the other hand, a (central) optical block BO according to the invention, installed partly in the central part of this front end EV.

[0027] As illustrated at least partially in Figures 1 to 3, an optical (central) block BO, according to the invention, is suitable for equipping the central part of the front end EV of a vehicle V, and comprises a housing BB, an optical module MO, and a protective glass GP.

[0028] The BB housing at least partially delimits a CB cavity which houses the MO optical module.

[0029] The optical module MO is suitable for ensuring a photometric function. For this purpose, it includes, for example, at least one photon source suitable for generating photons to participate in the photometric function, an electronic board for supplying and controlling the (each) photon source and optionally including the (each) photon source, and optionally at least one optical element, such as a reflector or a light guide or a lens or a mask.

[0030] Also, for example, the (each) photon source may include at least one light-emitting diode (LED). Alternatively, the (each) photon source may include at least one laser diode or a gas laser. It should be noted that the choice of the (each) photon source may depend on the photometric function performed.

[0031] Also, for example, the electronic board can be a printed circuit board of the PCB type (“Printed Circuit Board”).

[0032] In the following, by way of illustration, the photometric function is considered to be a lighting function. However, this is not mandatory. Indeed, it could be a signaling function or an ornamental function (or a light signature).

[0033] The protective glass GP is fixedly attached to the housing BB by closing the cavity CB. As illustrated in figures 1 to 3, this protective glass GP comprises a front part PVG, through which photons generated by the optical module MO exit, and an extension EG.

[0034] It should be noted that in the examples illustrated, but not limited to, in Figures 2 and 3, the protective glass GP also contributes to the definition of the CB cavity, more specifically here in its upper part. However, this is not mandatory. Indeed, the entire CB cavity could be delimited by the BB housing alone.

[0035] As can be seen more clearly in Figures 2 and 3, the extension EG extends above the cavity CB and opposite the front part PVG, defining a plastron (or softnose) which is suitable for occupying an empty space located between the front end EV and the front hood CV and front wings AV of the vehicle V.

[0036] Since the EG body panel is now an integral part of the GP protective glass and therefore of the BO optical unit, fewer dedicated fixing elements are required in the vehicle V, and its precise positioning is simplified as it is now only required in relation to three components of the vehicle V, namely the CV front hood and AV front fenders. This results in a reduction not only in the design complexity of the vehicle V, the number of vehicle V components to be manufactured, stored, supplied to the assembly lines, and managed, but also in the time required to assemble the vehicle V, and therefore a reduction in the cost of the vehicle V.

[0037] Furthermore, this allows for a continuity of glass between the EG plastron and the lenses of the front projectors (or headlights).

[0038] For example, the optical module MO and the front PVG portion of the protective glass GP can advantageously together define a grille for the vehicle V. Such an option can in particular be implemented by integrating at least one mask into the optical module MO and / or by defining on the front PVG portion of the glass GP protection includes a mask and / or openings. This provides a rear-lit grille.

[0039] Also, for example, and as illustrated non-limitingly in Figures 2 and 3, the extension EG of the protective glass GP may include at least one weakening zone ZA which is designed to facilitate its deformation when it is struck by a person, such as a pedestrian, a cyclist, or a motorcyclist.

[0040] Thus, the EG body panel does not reduce the impact absorption capacity in the part of the vehicle V located just behind its front end EV, and even contributes to this impact absorption. This allows the vehicle V to very advantageously comply with certain current regulations regarding impact resistance in the part located just behind its front end EV (and in particular that defined by Euro NCAP (“European New Vehicle Assessment Programme”)). It should be noted that these regulations prohibit having a rigid area under any circumstances in the frontal (and therefore central) part of the front hood and on the nose of the vehicle V.

[0041] It should be noted that the (each) weakening zone ZA can be designed to facilitate its deformation by indentation or breakage.

[0042] It is also important to note that the extent of a weakening zone ZA can vary, and that the location of a weakening zone ZA can also vary. This depends on the desired outcome of an impact, and even on the intensity of the impact. For example, a weakening zone ZA can allow for local (and possibly partial) deformation during a low-intensity impact and local (and possibly partial) breakage during a high-intensity impact.

[0043] For example, and as illustrated, but not limited to, in [Fig. 2], each weakening zone ZA can be a zone of the extension EG that has a locally reduced thickness (of material). In other words, in this first embodiment, each weakening zone ZA constitutes a zone of lesser thickness, thus facilitating its deformation by indentation or breakage.

[0044] Alternatively, and as illustrated non-limitingly in [Fig.3], the (each) weakening zone ZA can be a zone of the extension EG which includes at least one groove (or concave portion).

[0045] Also, for example, and as illustrated without limitation in Figures 2 and 3, the extension EG of the protective glass GP may comprise first parts PE1 and second parts PE2. The first part PE1 is made of a first transparent material and has a first color, known as crystal, and is intended to be placed at the interface with the outside. It is therefore visible to an observer outside the vehicle V. The second part PE2 has a second chosen color and is placed (at the less in part) against and behind the first part PE1 so that this second color is visible from the outside by transparency.

[0046] For example, the second color could be black. But this is not mandatory. Indeed, any non-crystal color can be considered, and in particular a color identical to that of the rest of the bodywork, of which the EG panel is a part.

[0047] Also, for example, the first PE1 and second PE2 parts can be obtained by overmolding. For this purpose, a plastic material such as PP (polypropylene) TD 10 or 20 can be used, for example.

[0048] Also, for example, each of the first PE1 and second PE2 parts can have a thickness (of material) between 1 mm and 2 mm.

[0049] Also, for example, and as illustrated without limitation in Figures 2 and 3, the second part PE2 of the extension EG may comprise first sub-parts SP1 and second sub-parts SP2 that extend each other. The first sub-part SP1 has the same shape as the first part PE1 of the extension EG. The second sub-part SP2 extends opposite the front part PVG (and therefore towards the rear of the vehicle V) to a sub-part of the housing BB, thereby contributing to the closure of the cavity CB. This second sub-part SP2 is thus attached to the housing BB, and the first sub-part SP1 passes over it, contributing to the definition of the inner part of the EG body.

[0050] It should be noted that in the example illustrated, but not limited to, in Figures 2 and 3, the first sub-part SP1 includes the (each) attenuation zone ZA. However, in an alternative embodiment not shown, the (each) attenuation zone ZA could be defined in the first part PE1 of the extension EG.

[0051] For example, when the first sub-part SP1 has a thickness (of material) of about 2 mm, the (each) weakening zone ZA can be an area where the thickness is reduced by 1 mm ([Fig.2]) or a groove having a depth of 1 mm ([Fig.3]).

Claims

Demands

1. A land vehicle (V) comprising a front hood (CV) located between two wings (AV) and set back from a front end (EV), comprising an optical unit (BO), installed partly in a central part of said front end (EV), the optical unit (BO) comprising i) a housing (BB) delimiting at least partially a cavity (CB) housing an optical module (MO) suitable for performing a photometric function, and ii) a protective lens (GP) fixedly attached to said housing (BB) by closing said cavity (CB), characterized in that said protective lens (GP) comprises an extension (EG) extending above said cavity (CB) and opposite a front part (PVG), through which photons generated by said optical module (MO) exit, defining a panel suitable for occupying a void located between said front end (EV) and said front hood (CV) and wings (AV),said extension (EG) comprising i) a first part (PE1) made of a first transparent material and having a first crystal color and intended to be placed at the interface with the outside, and ii) a second part (PE2) having a second chosen color, and placed against and behind said first part (PE1) so that this second color is visible from the outside by transparency.

2. Vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that said optical module (MO) and said front part (PVG) of the protective glass (GP) together define a grille for said vehicle (V).

3. Vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said photometric function is a lighting function.

4. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said extension (EG) includes at least one weakening zone (ZA) suitable for facilitating its deformation when struck by a person.

5. Vehicle according to claim 4, characterized in that said weakening zone (ZA) is a zone of said extension (EG) having a locally reduced thickness.

6. Vehicle according to claim 4, characterized in that said weakening zone (ZA) is a zone of said extension (EG) comprising at least one groove.

7. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said second part (PE2) comprises i) a first sub-part (SP1) having a shape identical to that of said first part (PE1), and ii) a second sub-part (SP2) extending opposite said front part (PVG) to a sub-part of said housing (BB) by participating in the closure of said cavity (CB).

8. Vehicle according to any one of claims 4 to 6 taken in combination with claim 7, characterized in that said first subpart (SP1) comprises said weakening zone (ZA).

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