Door panel lighting via ambient lighting on the dashboard.

Abstract

Lighting device (18) for a vehicle interior which comprises a dashboard (2) and a door (3), the dashboard (2) having a thickness comprised between an external surface, facing the interior of the vehicle, and an internal surface, the device (18) comprising a light source intended to illuminate an interior part of the door (3). The light source is secured to the dashboard (2). Figure for abstract: Fig.2

Description

Title of the invention: Door panel lighting via ambient lighting on the dashboard. Technical field

[0001] The invention relates to the field of motor vehicles, such as cars, trucks or buses, comprising a dashboard and a door. The invention relates more particularly to a device comprising a light source intended to illuminate an interior part of the door. Previous techniques

[0002] Each motor vehicle, among the categories mentioned above, generally includes a dashboard equipped with different components such as indicators, controls, or other. In a non-exhaustive manner, an indicator relates, for example, to a vehicle speed, a distance traveled, a temperature. A control makes it possible, for example, to activate the windshield wipers, a heating device, position lights. These indicators and controls must be visible day and night, so that the vehicle is driven in satisfactory conditions of safety and comfort. For this purpose, the dashboard is equipped with different lighting means, to make the components visible when the ambient light is low, or even zero.

[0003] In the same spirit, for more comfortable use of the vehicle, interior lighting is provided in areas that allow objects to be placed or stored. This is the case, for example, for a vehicle door. An interior part of the door, such as a trim, may have a storage compartment. This can accommodate, for example, glasses, a remote control, tissues, a telephone, a parking ticket, or other items. A light source at the compartment illuminates the storage area and the objects it contains. As a result, the latter are visible when the ambient light is low or zero, and it is easier to remove or replace them. In fact, the use of illuminated storage compartments is satisfactory.

[0004] However, providing a lighting device for an interior part of a door, such as a compartment, has a number of drawbacks.

[0005] In particular, the installation of the light source in the door is quite complex. Indeed, the source, which comprises for example an electric bulb, is powered by one or more wires coming from an accumulator, such as a battery. Each wire follows a specific path that is quite long, because the door is a moving part relative to the rest of the vehicle. A portion of wire must be able to deform elastically reversibly, to adapt to the openings and closings of the door. In fact, the length of the wire must be significant, so that its deformations remain within the elastic limit of the material from which it is made. The complexity of installing the light source sometimes reduces its reliability. In addition, the installation of lighting takes time and is quite expensive. Furthermore, an electric wire contributes to weighing down the vehicle, especially if it is made of copper. Statement of the invention

[0006] The invention seeks to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks, and has the general aim of simplifying the implementation of a device intended to illuminate an interior part of a motor vehicle door.

[0007] An additional aim is to improve the reliability of the device. The invention also seeks to reduce the time required to set up the device, to reduce its cost, and to lighten it.

[0008] To this end, the invention proposes a lighting device for a vehicle interior which comprises a dashboard and a door, the board having a thickness comprised between an external surface, facing the interior of the vehicle, and an internal surface, the device comprising a light source intended to illuminate an interior part of the door. The light source of the device is secured to the dashboard.

[0009] Compared to the prior art, the invention has changed the location of the light source by placing it elsewhere than in the door. Consequently, the routing of the power supply wire(s) is simpler. Indeed, each wire extends from a connection point to the source by a more regular and shorter path than if it had to join a part of the door, passing at the level of the articulation of the latter relative to the rest of the vehicle. Among the advantages which result from this, we can cite a shorter installation time, that is to say faster manufacturing, a lower cost price, and a lower weight. In addition, the wire retains its geometry, in the sense that it does not have any portion which undergoes alternating flexions due to the openings and closings of the door. This advantageously results in better reliability of the lighting device.

[0010] According to a family of embodiments, the dashboard has a through hole, the light source being located on the side of the internal surface, so that a light emitted by the source passes through the hole. This location of the light source protects it very well from untimely shocks, and gives the dashboard very good ergonomics.

[0011] For example, a diffuser is arranged at the through hole, so that light passes through the diffuser. This arrangement produces an intense beam of light, for better energy efficiency and for better visual comfort.

[0012] In addition, a light guide is arranged between the light source and the diffuser. The guide channels the light towards the diffuser from a position further back from the light source. The use of a guide makes it possible, for example, to obtain light diffusion in cases where the structure of the dashboard is complex, in the sense that the lighting device is difficult to access.

[0013] Alternatively, a light guide is arranged between the light source and the hole. The guide channels the light towards the hole from a position further back from the light source. The use of a guide makes it possible, for example, to emit a beam of light in cases where the structure of the dashboard is complex, in the sense that the lighting device is difficult to access. The beam illuminates an area of ​​the door very precisely.

[0014] According to another family of embodiments, the dashboard has a through hole, the light source being located at the hole, so that light emerges from the side of the external surface. Here the light emission is direct, and the structure of the lighting device is simpler. This advantageously results in a further reduction in manufacturing costs.

[0015] Broadly speaking, in some cases the light source comprises a diode. This component is simple, inexpensive and easy to integrate into a lighting device. In addition, it is possible, depending on its characteristics, to select or vary the color of the emitted light. Certain colors create more pleasant atmospheres, which indirectly improves the overall comfort of use of the vehicle.

[0016] In other cases, the light source comprises an electric bulb. This component is traditional and easy to use.

[0017] In a general and non-limiting manner, the interior part of the door has a trim with a compartment illuminated by the light source. The compartment allows the storage of various objects. Since the light emitted by the source comes from the dashboard, the objects are illuminated by an oblique beam. Unexpectedly, the visual perception of the objects is improved compared to that linked to conventional lighting from above. It turns out that the oblique beam increases the contrasts between the illuminated parts and the unlit parts of the objects. Hence a better perception of the reliefs of said objects.

[0018] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising a lighting device for an interior of the vehicle, as mentioned above. Brief description of the figures

[0019] Other aims, characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following description, which presents non-limiting embodiments, in reference to the attached figures, in which:

[0020] - [Fig.l] is a simplified general view, from above, of a vehicle interior at automobile, showing a dashboard and two front doors, for implementing a lighting device according to a first embodiment of the invention,

[0021] - [Fig.2] is a partial perspective view of the dashboard and the side door driver, for the embodiment according to [Fig.l],

[0022] - [Fig.3] is a partial perspective view of a dashboard and a door passenger side, for the implementation of a lighting device according to a second embodiment of the invention,

[0023] - [Fig.4] is a section along IV-IV of [Fig.3],

[0024] - [Fig.5] is a partial enlargement of [Fig.4]. Detailed description

[0025] The first embodiment of the invention is presented with the aid of figures 1 and 2.

[0026] It is recalled that the automotive field, as regards design in broad sense, uses a direct orthonormal reference frame OXYZ. In this reference frame, the OX axis designates the front-rear longitudinal direction of a vehicle and is oriented backwards, the OY axis designates the transverse direction of the vehicle and is oriented to the right, and the OZ axis designates the vertical direction of the vehicle and is oriented upwards. The OXYZ reference frame is visible in [Fig.l], in slight perspective from a high point. In fact, the OX axis is also visible in slight perspective.

[0027] An interior 1 of a vehicle passenger compartment, here in a non-limiting manner a left-hand drive car, is shown in part. The interior 1 comprises in particular a dashboard 2, a first side door 3 and a second side door 4, as well as a central console 5. The space 6 between the first side door 3 and the central console 5 is a place for a driver, and the space 7 between the second side door 4 and the central console 5 is a place for a passenger. Alternatively, the reverse can be provided. In this case the vehicle is a right-hand drive car.

[0028] The first door 3 is delimited by an interior part 8 on the passenger compartment side. In a non-limiting manner, the interior part 8 has a trim 9 provided in particular with an armrest 10 under which a storage compartment 11 is located. The latter has an access opening 12 opposite the armrest. With reference to the orthonormal reference OXYZ, the opening 12 is an upper limit of the compartment 11, for the introduction or removal of objects from above.

[0029] The storage compartment 11 is illuminated by a light beam L1 emitted by a light source attached to the dashboard 2, for example when the lighting of said dashboard is active. The beam L1 illuminates the compartment 11 and, where appropriate, the objects present. This makes it easier to put them in place or remove them when the ambient light is low or non-existent.

[0030] The second embodiment of the invention is presented with the aid of figures 3 to 5, for an implementation of a lighting device 18 at the level of a place for a passenger. In this case, as visible in [Fig.3], a vehicle comprises a dashboard 19 and a side door 20, which is delimited by an interior part 21 on the passenger compartment side. In a non-limiting manner, the interior part 21 has a trim 22 provided in particular with an armrest 23, above which is located a location 24 provided for the installation of an opening handle (not shown) of the door 20.

[0031] The dashboard 19 has a through hole 25, made for example in the form of a slot, for implementing the lighting device 18 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

[0032] The dashboard 19 has an external surface 26, facing the interior of the vehicle, and an internal surface 27, the distance between said surfaces 26, 27 delimiting a thickness of said board 19. In fact, the through hole 25 extends in the thickness of the dashboard 19, from the external surface 26 to the internal surface 27.

[0033] A diffuser 35 is located at the through hole 25. More precisely, the diffuser 35 has an emission portion 36 housed in the hole 25, and a transmission portion 37 placed on the side of the internal surface 27 of the board 19. A light guide 38 is arranged in contact with the diffuser 35, in the transmission portion 37, to bring light emitted by a source such as a diode or an electric bulb, these components not being shown. By this arrangement, the light emitted by the source passes through the guide 38 then the diffuser 35 to emit a light beam L2 towards the inner part 21 of the side door 20. As a corollary, the beam L2 passes through the hole 25 of the board 19. The beam L2 here illuminates the location 24 for the door opening handle, for example when the lighting of the dashboard 19 is active. The passenger finds the door handle more easily if the external light is low or non-existent.

[0034] The invention is not limited to the embodiments described, and includes all equivalents that may fall within the scope of the claims which follow.

[0035] In particular, various shapes may be provided for the diffuser, such as that of a bar sized to enter the slot 25, or a series of emission portions.

Claims

Claims

1. Lighting device (18) for a vehicle interior which comprises a dashboard (2, 19) and a door (3, 4, 20), the board (2, 19) having a thickness comprised between an external surface (26), facing the interior of the vehicle, and an internal surface (27), the device (18) comprising a light source intended to illuminate an interior part (8, 21) of the door (3, 4, 20), characterized in that the light source is secured to the dashboard (2, 19).

2. Device (18) according to claim 1, wherein the dashboard (2, 19) has a through hole (25), the light source being located on the side of the internal surface (27), so that light emitted by the source passes through the hole (25).

3. A device (18) according to claim 2, wherein a diffuser (35) is disposed at the through hole (25) such that light passes through the diffuser (35).

4. Device (18) according to claim 3, for which a light guide (38) is arranged between the light source and the diffuser (35).

5. Device (18) according to claim 2, wherein a light guide (38) is arranged between the light source and the hole (25).

6. Device (18) according to claim 1, wherein the dashboard (2, 19) has a through hole (25), the light source being located at the hole (25), so that light shines from the side of the external surface (26).

7. Device (18) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the light source comprises a diode.

8. A device (18) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the light source comprises an electric bulb.

9. Device (18) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the inner part (8, 21) of the door (3, 4, 20) has a trim (9, 22) with a compartment (11) illuminated by the light source.

10. A motor vehicle comprising a lighting device (18) for a vehicle interior according to one of claims 1 to 9.

Images