MOOD LIGHTING DEVICE IN A VEHICLE AND VEHICLE PROVIDED WITH SUCH A DEVICE

Abstract

The invention relates to an ambient lighting device in a vehicle comprising at least one module (2, 20) receiving a plurality of light-emitting diodes, a support (3) for fixing the device to a vehicle, a diffuser for the light emitted by the light-emitting diodes, the diffuser comprising a main body provided with an upper part or cover (91) made of a transparent or translucent material, the module (2, 20) receiving a plurality of light-emitting diodes being placed under the main body of the diffuser and under the fixing support (3), characterized in that a part (12) of the diffuser and a part of the fixing support (3) define at least one member preventing infiltration of a liquid onto the module (2, 20) of light-emitting diodes. The invention also relates to a vehicle provided with such a device. Figure to be published with the abstract: Fig.3

Description

Title of the invention: AMBIENT LIGHTING DEVICE IN A VEHICLE AND VEHICLE PROVIDED WITH SUCH A DEVICE DEVICE

[0001] The invention relates to an ambient lighting device in a vehicle and to a vehicle provided with such a device.

[0002] Here the term vehicle designates a car, a van, a truck, a public transport vehicle, a public works or agricultural machine, the vehicle being powered by an electric motor and / or a thermal engine.

[0003] Ambient lighting is frequently found on a vehicle, for example in the doors and / or in the passenger compartment and / or on the dashboard. Ambient lighting in a vehicle allows users to benefit from non-glare passenger compartment lighting that does not impede the driver's vision, particularly at night. This lighting is obtained by light-emitting diodes or LEDs advantageously managed by an electronic module that allows their activation and / or their colors to be acted upon according to certain actions occurring in the vehicle, for example opening the doors, using the indicators, switching on the headlights, turning on the radio or using the infotainment screen. Subsequently, the acronym LED will preferably be used to designate such diodes.When the lighting is emitted from the dashboard, the LEDs are placed behind the part of the dashboard visible to the occupants, with the other electrical, electronic and / or mechanical components present behind the dashboard. In other words, the LEDs are located between the partition separating the engine compartment from the passenger compartment and the passenger compartment, it being understood that it is also in this space that external air intake ducts or more generally ducts connected to the exterior open. US-B-11 872 934 describes ambient lighting by a plurality of LEDs placed behind the dashboard, the light being diffused upwards by a diffuser placed under a transparent or translucent cover located in the upper part of the dashboard. The LEDs are placed on a support extending over the entire length of the dashboard.WO-A-2020 201 416 discloses a light strip composed of LEDs and arranged along the length of the dashboard. In order to limit the number of LEDs used, and therefore the costs, two light guides facing each other are used, the light being diffused by the two guides, which allows optimal lighting with a reduced number of LEDs. These solutions are not optimal with regard to the protection of the electrical and / or electronic elements of the device against the entry of liquid or water into the device. Indeed, it turns out that, . Due to the position of the LEDs behind the dashboard, water or liquid infiltration may occur, which may damage the LEDs and / or associated electronic modules. This infiltration may, for example, come from above the dashboard, when cleaning it or from overturning a container containing liquid placed on top of the dashboard. It may also be water infiltration from the outside, for example, through a passage hole of a conduit crossing the partition wall of the passenger compartment and opening into the passenger compartment. It may also be a phenomenon of condensation.

[0004] The object of the invention is to propose a solution making it possible to protect the ambient lighting device from any infiltration of liquid, while respecting the manufacturing constraints and without significantly increasing the mass of the vehicle and the manufacturing costs.

[0005] To this end, the invention relates to an ambient lighting device in a vehicle comprising at least one module receiving a plurality of light-emitting diodes, a support for fixing the device in a vehicle, a diffuser for the light emitted by the light-emitting diodes, the diffuser comprising a main body provided with an upper part or cover made of a transparent or translucent material, the module receiving a plurality of light-emitting diodes being placed under the main body of the diffuser and under the fixing support, characterized in that a part of the diffuser and a part of the fixing support define at least one member preventing infiltration of a liquid onto the light-emitting diode module.

[0006] Thanks to the invention, any infiltration of water or liquid into the LED module is avoided, in a simple and optimal manner. In this way, the operation of the LEDs is guaranteed while avoiding any risk of breakdowns of electrical and / or electronic origin.

[0007] According to advantageous, but not mandatory, aspects of the invention, such an ambient lighting device may comprise one or more of the following characteristics:

[0008] The fixing support of the device comprises a part called the front support and a part called the rear support, each extending towards the outside of the module.

[0009] The front support is in the shape of an open V with a first branch comprising an angled end provided with a concave zone.

[0010] The part of the diffuser is called a barrier and is Z-shaped, a first branch extending towards the bottom of the diffuser in the direction of the module, another branch of greater length being arranged angularly relative to the first branch at a connection zone between the branches.

[0011] The first branch of the barrier has a folded edge and substantially parallel to a other branch of the front support.

[0012] The first branch of the barrier rests against the first branch of the front support.

[0013] The connecting zone between the first and second branches of the barrier is bent and opposite the concavity of the bent end of the first branch of the front support.

[0014] The connecting zone between the first and second branches of the barrier and the concavity of the bent end of the first branch of the front support together define a housing for receiving a part of a light guide.

[0015] the invention also relates to a vehicle provided with an ambient lighting device conforming to any one of the preceding characteristics.

[0016] The invention will be better understood and other advantages thereof will appear more clearly on reading the description which follows, given solely by way of non-limiting example and with reference to the appended drawings in which:

[0017] [Fig-1] is a simplified perspective view, three-quarters, of the device according to an embodiment of the invention, the dashboard not being illustrated,

[0018] [Fig.2] is a perspective view, on another scale and from the upwardly facing side when the device is in place in a vehicle, without the light diffuser and

[0019] [Fig.3] is a simplified and partial sectional view on a larger scale of a part of the device according to section plane III.

[0020] [Fig.l] illustrates a mood lighting device alone, for example before its installation behind the dashboard of a vehicle. This mood lighting device, referenced 1, will be referred to hereinafter by the term device alone. The device 1 comprises, from the bottom of [Fig.l], a module referenced 2, generally in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped. The module 2 houses a plurality of light-emitting diodes, not visible, known per se and subsequently designated by the acronym DEL. The module 2 also houses organs, not visible, for controlling the switching on and off of the LEDs as well as electrical and / or electronic elements necessary for powering the diodes and, for example, for their variations in intensity and / or colors according to certain parameters such as the opening of the doors, the switching on of the headlights, external brightness or others.The module 2 is connected to a vehicle power source, not shown, enabling the various components housed in the module 2 and the LEDs to be powered. The connection between the module 2 and a power source is made by a connection block 20. The term block will also be used hereinafter. The module 2 is secured, advantageously in a removable manner, to a supporting part, not shown, fixed to the vehicle and located at the rear of the face of the dashboard visible from the passenger compartment of the vehicle. In other words, all the . The components of the ambient lighting system are placed behind the dashboard and are neither visible nor accessible to vehicle users, access being reserved for professionals who need to carry out maintenance and / or repairs on the system.

[0021] The device 1 is secured to a vehicle by a fixing support comprising here two support parts 3 and 4. Subsequently, to facilitate reading, the support parts 3, 4 will be designated by the terms supports 3 or 4 only. The support 3 is called the front support, it is located in the right part of [Fig.l] and it is as close as possible to the visible face of the dashboard when the device 1 is in place in the vehicle. The support 3 comprises a flattened tab positioned on top of an end 5 called the front of the module 2. The support 3 has a width greater than that of the connection block 20, so as to form a protective member for the block 20. The support 3 comprises a free edge 6 configured as a hook oriented upwards when looking at [Fig.l]. The edge 6 makes it possible, by its shape, to prevent a liquid from falling on the end 5 and on the block 20 of the module 2.

[0022] The support 4 is called the rear support and it is positioned opposite the support 3, namely above an end 7 called the rear end of the module 2. The support 4 is, here, generally L-shaped and inclined relative to the main plane of the module 2. The small branch 8 of the L extends outwards and is oriented downwards and provided with an orifice when looking at [Fig.l]. The branch 8 makes it possible to fix the support 4 to a load-bearing part located in the vehicle. It is understood that the supports 3 and 4 may have other geometric shapes and / or dimensions than those visible in Figures 1 and 2, depending on the fixing method chosen, namely by screwing, clipping or others.

[0023] The light produced by the LEDs is diffused into the passenger compartment of the vehicle by a part subsequently designated by the term diffuser and referenced 9. The diffuser 9 is generally T-shaped in the illustrated embodiment. Alternatively, it has another shape and / or other dimensions. The leg 11 of the T is located at the end 7 of the module 2. The diffuser 9 comprises a hollow main body 90 visible in [Fig. 2] and extending between the supports 3 and 4. The main body 90 is capped by a part 91 or cover made of a transparent or translucent, colorless or colored material, allowing diffusion of the light while maintaining uniform illumination of the illuminated surfaces. The part 91 is advantageously removable to allow access to the interior of the body 90. The light is diffused in the upper part at least at the level of the bar 10 of the T by the cover 91. Advantageously the body 90 of the diffuser 9 and the supports 3 and 4 are in one piece.The diffuser 9, therefore the body 90 and the cover 91, is inclined upwards when looking at [Fig.l]. Such an inclination prevents liquid from accumulating on the device 1, the liquid being directed, by gravity, towards the rear of the device therefore towards the support 4. A portion of the part 91 located at the front of the diffuser 9 and subsequently. called barrier 12, extends, substantially vertically, between the bar 10 and the support 3. The barrier 12 has a length equivalent to the area to be illuminated, namely, for example, the length of the dashboard.

[0024] [Fig. 2] illustrates the interior of the main body 90 of the diffuser 9, without the upper part 91. It is noted that the main body 90 of the diffuser 9 is placed laterally relative to the module 2, which allows independent access to these two elements. The interior of the body 90 of the diffuser 9 houses a light guide referenced 13. The light guide 13 is a hollow and tubular element which brings the light emitted by the LEDs from the module 2 to the transverse bar 10, this over the entire length of the latter. The light guide 13 is located under the cover 91, so as to allow optimal diffusion of the light. The light guide 13 ensures a homogeneous distribution of the light in the leg 11 and in the bar 10 therefore de facto on the surface to be illuminated.

[0025] It is necessary to guarantee the sealing of the module 2 in all circumstances, therefore also of its electrical and electronic components, the interior of the module 2 must also remain accessible. In particular, the connection block 20 must remain free from any liquid infiltration. It is also necessary to facilitate the evacuation of the heat produced by the electrical and / or electronic elements. It turns out that water or more generally a liquid can flow inside the device 1, therefore up to the module 2 and the block 20. This may be, for example, liquid or water for cleaning a part of the passenger compartment or coming from a container and placed on a part of the passenger compartment, for example the dashboard. It may also be a liquid infiltrated through a passage opening in the partition between the engine compartment and the passenger compartment or condensation water in certain climatic situations.In addition to the geometric configuration of the edge 6 of the support 3 which directs the evacuation of a liquid falling on the device 1 towards the outside relative to the module 2, the invention uses two of the constituent elements of the device to optimize the sealing of the module 2 and of the block 20 without compromising access to the various constituent elements of the device, without affecting the dissipation of the heat produced in the module 2 and without affecting the configuration of the device 1.

[0026] [Fig. 3] illustrates in simplified section the solution implemented by the invention. The barrier 12 is generally Z-shaped and comprises, in addition to a first branch 120 extending downwards when looking at [Fig. 3], a second branch 121 provided with a folded edge extending outwards and substantially perpendicular to the main plane of the branch 120. The branch 121 is substantially parallel to a branch 32 of the edge 3. Its shape makes it possible to direct any liquid present towards the lateral edges of the device 1. The barrier 12 extends towards the rear of the device, in the direction of the support 4 by another branch 122 constituting the Z. The branch 122 is placed angularly with respect to part 120. It has a length such that it extends beyond the length of module 2.

[0027] The support 3 is generally in the shape of an open V. A first branch 30 is inclined towards the rear of the device and thus facilitates the flow of a liquid towards the edge 6. The branch 30 is of greater length than the branch 32 of the support 3 and it ends with a bent end 31. This bent end 31 is provided with a concave zone, the opening of the concavity being oriented upwards when looking at [Fig. 3], therefore oriented towards a connecting zone 123 between the branches 120 and 122 of the barrier 12. The zone 123 advantageously has a shape and dimensions complementary to those of the bent end 31. The concavity of the bent end 31 defines, with the part of the zone 123 placed opposite and above the end 31, a housing for receiving a part of the light guide 13, here referenced 14 and of tubular shape with a circular base. The part 14 is held in position between the end 31 and the connecting zone 123.

[0028] The small branch 32 of the support 3 extends horizontally towards the front of the device and it ends with the edge 6. The branch 32 is parallel to the main plane of the module 2. The edge 6 is located downstream of the module 2. The geometric configurations of the support 3 and the barrier 12 make it possible to prevent a liquid from flowing and penetrating into the device 1, in particular into the module 2, the branch 121 of the barrier 12 and the edge 6 of the support 3 direct the water towards the outside. The support 3 and the barrier 12 together define at least one member opposing an infiltration of liquid on the module 2 and on the connection block 20, it being understood that individually the support 3 and the barrier 12 also define a member opposing any infiltration of liquid.

[0029] The creation of double protection, both by the barrier 12 and by the support 3, associated with a complementary geometric configuration of a part of these elements optimizes the protection against liquid infiltration into the module 2, this by limiting the number of additional parts, without modifying the quality of the lighting and without significantly increasing the mass and the manufacturing cost of the device.

Claims

Claims

1. Ambient lighting device (1) in a vehicle comprising at least one module (2, 20) receiving a plurality of light-emitting diodes, a support (3, 4) for fixing the device (1) in a vehicle, a diffuser (9) for the light emitted by the light-emitting diodes, the diffuser (9) comprising a main body (90) provided with an upper part or cover (91) made of a transparent or translucent material, the module (2, 20) receiving a plurality of light-emitting diodes being placed under the main body (90) of the diffuser (1) and under the fixing support (3, 4), characterized in that a part (12) of the diffuser (9) and a part (3) of the fixing support (3, 4) define at least one member preventing infiltration of a liquid onto the module (2, 20) of light-emitting diodes.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the support (3, 4) for fixing the device (1) comprises a part called the front support (3) and a part called the rear support (4) each extending towards the outside of the module (2).

3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the front support (3) is in the shape of an open V with a first branch (30) comprising a bent end (31) provided with a concave zone.

4. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the part (12) of the diffuser (1) is called a barrier (12) and is Z-shaped, a first branch (120) extending downwards from the diffuser (1) towards the module (2), another branch (122) of greater length being arranged angularly (123) relative to the first branch (120) at a connecting zone (123) between the branches (120, 122).

5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the first branch (120) of the barrier (12) has an edge (121) folded substantially parallel to another branch (32) of the front support (3).

6. Device according to claims 3 and 4, characterized in that the first branch (120) of the barrier (12) bears against the first branch (30) of the front support (3).

7. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the connecting zone (123) between the first (120) and second (122) branches of the barrier (12) is bent and opposite the concavity of the bent end (31) of the first branch (30) of the front support (3).

8. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the zone of connection (123) between the first (120) and second (122) branches of the barrier (12) and the concavity of the bent end (31) of the first branch (30) of the front support (3) together define a housing for receiving a part (14) of a light guide (13).

9. Vehicle provided with an ambient lighting device according to any one of the preceding claims.

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