Door panel lighting via ambient lighting onboard dashboard.

Abstract

Lighting device (18) for a vehicle interior comprising a dashboard (2) and a door (3), the dashboard (2) having a thickness 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 portion of the door (3). The light source is attached to the dashboard (2). See Fig. 2 for abbreviations.

Description

Title of the invention: Door panel lighting via ambient lighting integrated into 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 various components such as gauges, controls, and other features. For example, a gauge might indicate vehicle speed, distance traveled, or temperature. A control, for instance, might activate the windshield wipers, the heating system, or the parking lights. These gauges and controls must be visible day and night to ensure safe and comfortable driving. To this end, the dashboard is equipped with various lighting devices to make the components visible when ambient light is low or even nonexistent.

[0003] Similarly, for more comfortable use of the vehicle, interior lighting is provided in areas that allow for the placement or storage of objects. This is the case, for example, with a vehicle door. An interior part of the door, such as a trim panel, may have a storage compartment. This compartment can hold, for example, eyeglasses, a remote control, tissues, a telephone, a parking ticket, or other items. A light source in the compartment illuminates the storage area and the objects it contains. Consequently, these items are visible when ambient light is low or nonexistent, and it is easier to remove or replace them. Therefore, the use of illuminated storage compartments is satisfactory.

[0004] However, installing a lighting device for an interior part of a door, such as a compartment, presents a number of disadvantages.

[0005] In particular, the installation of the light source in the door is quite complex. Indeed, the source, which includes, for example, an electric bulb, is powered by one or more wires coming from a rechargeable battery. Each wire follows a fairly long, specific path because the door is a moving part relative to the rest of the vehicle. A portion of the wire must be able to deform elastically. The system is reversible, adapting to the opening and closing of the door. Therefore, the wire must be long enough to ensure its deformation remains within the elastic limit of the material. The complexity of installing the light source can sometimes reduce its reliability. Furthermore, installing the lighting is time-consuming and quite expensive. Finally, an electrical wire adds weight to the vehicle, especially if it is made of copper. Description 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] A complementary objective 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 make it lighter.

[0008] To this end, the invention proposes a lighting device for a vehicle interior comprising a dashboard and a door, the dashboard having a thickness 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 portion of the door. The light source of the device is fixed 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 via a more regular and shorter path than if it had to reach a part of the door, passing at the hinge of the door relative to the rest of the vehicle. Among the resulting advantages are a shorter installation time, i.e., faster manufacturing, a lower cost, and less weight. Furthermore, the wire retains its geometry, in that it has no section subject to alternating bends due to the opening and closing of the door. This advantageously results in improved reliability of the lighting system.

[0010] According to one family of embodiments, the dashboard has a through hole, with the light source located on the inner surface, so that light emitted by the source passes through the hole. This placement of the light source protects it very well from accidental impacts and gives the dashboard excellent ergonomics.

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

[0012] In addition, a light guide is positioned between the light source and the diffuser. The guide directs 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 achieve light diffusion in cases where the dashboard structure is complex, in the sense that the lighting system is difficult to access.

[0013] Alternatively, a light guide is positioned between the light source and the hole. The guide directs the light towards the hole from a position further back from the light source. Using a guide allows, for example, a beam of light to be emitted in cases where the dashboard structure is complex, in the sense that the lighting system is difficult to access. The beam illuminates a very precise area of ​​the door.

[0014] According to another family of embodiments, the dashboard has a through hole, the light source being located at the hole, so that light emanates from the outer 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] Generally speaking, in some cases the light source includes a diode. This component is simple, inexpensive, and easy to integrate into a lighting device. Furthermore, depending on its characteristics, it is possible to select or vary the color of the emitted light. Certain colors create more pleasant atmospheres, which indirectly improves the overall comfort of using the vehicle.

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

[0017] Generally, and without limitation, the interior part of the door has a trim panel with a compartment illuminated by the light source. The compartment allows for the storage of various items. Since the light emitted by the source comes from the dashboard, the items are illuminated by an oblique beam. Unexpectedly, the visual perception of the items is improved compared to that achieved with conventional overhead lighting. It turns out that the oblique beam increases the contrast between the illuminated and unilluminated parts of the items, resulting in a better perception of the contours of said items.

[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 objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, which presents non-limiting embodiments, with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

[0020] - [Fig. 1] is a simplified, bird's-eye view of a vehicle interior automobile, showing a dashboard and two front doors, for the implementation of 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.1],

[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 shown with reference to Figures 1 and 2.

[0026] It is recalled that the automotive field, with regard to design In a broad sense, it uses a direct orthonormal coordinate system OXYZ. In this system, the OX axis represents the front-to-back longitudinal direction of a vehicle and is oriented towards the rear, the OY axis represents the transverse direction of the vehicle and is oriented to the right, and the OZ axis represents the vertical direction of the vehicle and is oriented upwards. The OXYZ coordinate system is visible in [Fig. 1], 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's passenger compartment, here, without limitation, a left-hand drive car, is shown partially. The interior 1 includes, in particular, a dashboard 2, a first side door 3 and a second side door 4, as well as a center console 5. The space 6 between the first side door 3 and the center console 5 is a seat for a driver, and the space 7 between the second side door 4 and the center console 5 is a seat for a passenger. Alternatively, the reverse configuration may be provided. In this case, the vehicle is a right-hand drive car.

[0028] The first door 3 is delimited by an interior portion 8 on the passenger compartment side. Without limitation, the interior portion 8 has a trim 9 equipped in particular with an armrest 10 under which is located a storage compartment 11. The latter has an access opening 12 opposite the armrest. With reference to the orthonormal coordinate system OXYZ, the opening 12 is an upper limit of the compartment 11, for inserting or removing objects from above.

[0029] The storage compartment 11 is illuminated by a light beam L1 emitted from a light source attached to the dashboard 2, for example, when the dashboard lighting is active. The beam L1 illuminates the compartment 11 and, where applicable, any objects within it. This facilitates the placement or removal of these objects when ambient light is low or nonexistent.

[0030] The second embodiment of the invention is shown in Figures 3 to 5, for the implementation of a lighting device 18 at a passenger seat. In this case, as can be seen in [Fig. 3], a vehicle comprises a dashboard 19 and a side door 20, which is delimited by an interior portion 21 on the passenger compartment side. Without limitation, the interior portion 21 has a trim 22 equipped in particular with an armrest 23, above which is a location 24 provided for the installation of a door handle (not shown) for the door 20.

[0031] The dashboard 19 has a through hole 25, made for example in the form of a slot, for the implementation of the lighting device 18 as shown in figures 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 dashboard 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 emitting portion 36 housed within the hole 25, and a transmitting portion 37 located on the inner surface 27 of the panel 19. A light guide 38 is disposed in contact with the diffuser 35, within the transmitting portion 37, to direct 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 and then through the diffuser 35 to emit a light beam L2 towards the inner part 21 of the side door 20. Consequently, the beam L2 passes through the hole 25 of the panel 19. The beam L2 illuminates the location 24 for the door handle, for example, when the dashboard lighting 19 is active. The passenger can more easily find the door handle if the external light is low or nonexistent.

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

[0035] In particular, various shapes can be provided for the diffuser, such as that of a bar dimensioned to fit into the slot 25, or a series of emission portions.

Claims

Demands

1. Vehicle interior comprising a dashboard (2, 19), a door (3, 4, 20) and a lighting device (18), the dashboard (2, 19) having a thickness between an external surface (26), facing the interior of the vehicle, and an internal surface (27), the lighting device (18) comprising a light source intended to illuminate an internal part (8, 21) of the door (3, 4, 20), characterized in that the light source is attached to the dashboard (2, 19), the internal part (8, 21) of the door (3, 4, 20) having a trim (9, 22) with a storage compartment (11) illuminated by the light source.

2. Vehicle interior 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. Vehicle interior according to claim 2, wherein a diffuser (35) is disposed at the through hole (25), so that light passes through the diffuser (35).

4. Vehicle interior according to claim 3, wherein a light guide (38) is disposed between the light source and the diffuser (35).

5. Vehicle interior according to claim 2, wherein a light guide (38) is disposed between the light source and the hole (25).

6. Vehicle interior 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. Vehicle interior according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the light source comprises a diode.

8. Vehicle interior according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the light source comprises an electric bulb.

9. Motor vehicle comprising a vehicle interior according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

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