Lighting device of a motor vehicle.

Abstract

The invention relates to a lighting device (1) for a motor vehicle comprising a first light module (2) capable of emitting a first light beam (F) with a horizontal cut-off (CS), a second light module (3) capable of emitting a second pixelated light beam (HD), and a controller (5) arranged to, in response to receiving an instruction to emit a regulatory dipped-beam type lighting function, control the first light module (2) to emit the first light beam (F) and control the second light module (3) to emit only a portion (ZI) of the second pixelated elementary beam (HD), said portion being formed by elementary light beams (HDi,j) of which at least one extends above the upper cut-off (CS) and has a luminous intensity of between 300 and 1000 Cd. Figure to be published with the abstract: Fig. 1

Description

Title of the invention: Lighting device for a motor vehicle.

[0001] The invention relates to the field of lighting. More specifically, the invention relates to a motor vehicle lighting system provided with a light module capable of emitting a pixelated light beam.

[0002] Many countries or regions define regulations, with which motor vehicles must comply in order to be able to circulate on the roads of these countries or regions. In particular, regulations are adopted requiring that the lighting emitted by a projector positioned at the front of a motor vehicle meets specific constraints under precise conditions.

[0003] For example, this is the case of dipped beam lighting which, in most regulations, requires that the latter be achieved by a light beam having a higher cut-off, forming two distinct zones, a first illuminated and a second mostly devoid of lighting. Still in certain regulations, this second zone must include points having a luminous intensity greater than a given value and at other points, a luminous intensity lower than a given value.

[0004] In order to assess the conformity of a projector with a specific regulation, the light beam emitted by the projector is projected against a screen provided with an orthonormal reference mark and a photometric grid consisting of points placed on this screen, said points defining maximum and minimum light intensity thresholds. Thus, it is the value of the light intensity of the light beam projected at these points which will be checked with regard to the maximum and minimum thresholds to allow it to be concluded whether the light beam complies with the regulations in force in the country.

[0005] Some of these points may be positioned above the horizontal axis of the marker to correspond to the second zone predominantly devoid of lighting, above the upper cut-off, in order to assess whether the light beam is dazzling or not. Indeed, it is necessary to prevent the light intensity of the beam projected onto these dazzling points, located above the upper cut-off, from exceeding the maximum thresholds authorized by the regulations.

[0006] The latter can also define, for other points located above the cut-off, minimum values ​​of luminous intensity. This is for example the case for points called gantry points, which correspond to locations of traffic signs which must be illuminated by a dipped beam.

[0007] However, these gantry points pose several problems. Indeed, their locations are close to the glare points located above the cutoff. It is therefore necessary to be able to delimit, in the light beam, zones associated with the gantry points, the light intensities of which are higher than those of the minimum thresholds of these gantry points, and zones associated with the glare points, the light intensities of which are lower than those of the maximum thresholds of these gantry points.

[0008] In order to address these problems, it is generally known to use light modules comprising a high number of selectively activatable light sources, called elementary light sources, associated with an optical device, to enable the production of pixelated light beams, for example containing at least 500 pixels, each projected pixel being formed by an elementary light beam emitted by one of the elementary light sources.

[0009] Beyond the fact that this type of module allows advanced lighting functions to be performed, for example anti-glare road type, ground writing, ground marking or reception scenario, it also allows the definition of controlling the light intensity in precisely delimited areas. It is therefore possible to juxtapose a zone of light intensity lower than a maximum threshold and a zone of light intensity higher than a minimum threshold and therefore to meet the regulatory requirements relating to both glare points and gantry points, even when these points are close.

[0010] While this type of module partially addresses the problem of gantry points, there are still unresolved problems. Indeed, the minimum thresholds associated with the gantry points are close to the maximum thresholds associated with these glare points. Furthermore, the zones corresponding to the gantry points must be broadly delimited, in order to be able to adapt to the adjustment tolerances of the projector. It may thus happen that a zone, the luminous intensity of which is higher than a minimum threshold of a gantry point, overlaps a zone in which the luminous intensity must be lower than a maximum threshold. In order to avoid this situation leading to a problem of compliance with the regulations, it is therefore necessary that the luminous intensity of each pixel of the light beam can be precisely controlled.

[0011] The present invention is placed in this context and aims to meet this need.

[0012] For these purposes, the invention relates to a device for lighting a vehicle at car comprising a first light module capable of emitting a first light beam having, when projected onto a screen, a substantially horizontal upper cut-off, said first light beam extending only below said upper cut-off, a second light module capable of emitting a second pixelated light beam, each pixel being formed by a selectively controllable elementary light beam, said second pixelated light beam extending, when projected onto a screen, at least partially above the upper cut-off of the first light beam and a controller capable of receiving an instruction to emit a regulatory dipped beam type lighting function and arranged to, in response to the reception of said emission instruction, control the first light module to emit the first light beam and control the second light module to emit only a portion of the second pixelated elementary beam, said portion being formed by elementary light beams of which at least one extends, when projected onto a screen, above the upper cut-off of the first light beam and has a maximum light intensity of 1000 Cd,so that the meeting of the first light beam and said portion of the second pixelated light beam achieves said regulatory dipped-type lighting function.

[0013] In the invention, the term “pixelated light beam” means a beam composed of a plurality of pixels arranged in a plurality of rows and / or columns. This beam has a resolution defined in particular as a function of the dimensions of each pixel and the dimension of the emission zone associated with this beam.

[0014] The invention therefore proposes to form a non-dazzling dipped beam type light beam capable of illuminating the dazzling points without exceeding a maximum intensity governed by the regulations in force.In a particular embodiment, the controller is capable of receiving an instruction to emit a regulatory dipped beam type lighting function and is arranged to, in response to receiving said emission instruction, control the first light module to emit the first light beam and control the second light module to emit only a portion of the second pixelated elementary beam, said portion being formed by elementary light beams of which at least one extends when projected onto a screen, above the upper cut-off of the first light beam and has a light intensity of between 10 and 1000 Cd, such that the joining of the first light beam and said portion of the second pixelated light beam performs said regulatory dipped beam type lighting function.

[0015] In a particular embodiment, the controller capable of receiving an instruction to transmit a regulatory dipped-beam type lighting function and arranged to, in response to the reception of said transmission instruction, control the first light module to transmit the first light beam and control the second light module to transmit only a portion of the second pixelated elementary beam, said portion being formed by elementary light beams of which at least one extends when it is projected onto a screen, above the cut-off su upper part of the first light beam and has a luminous intensity of between 300 and 1000 Cd, so that the meeting of the first light beam and said portion of the second pixelated light beam performs said regulatory dipped beam type lighting function.

[0016] Advantageously, the second light module comprises a plurality of elementary light sources that can be selectively controlled, each of the elementary light sources forming one of the elementary light beams.

[0017] Preferably, the first light module comprises at least one selectively controllable light source, said at least one light source forming the first light beam.

[0018] In the invention, all of the light sources are controlled by a controller in accordance with known solutions. For example, each light source can be controlled by a PWM type signal generated by the controller.

[0019] Thus, all of the elementary light beams form a pixelated light beam having predetermined photometric characteristics as a function of said instruction, each pixel thus having a light intensity greater than and / or less than a threshold value defined by the regulations governing the lighting function indicated by the instruction received by the controller.

[0020] According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the second light module is arranged so that the second pixelated light beam is a light beam comprising a plurality of pixels, for example 25,000 pixels whose angular resolution is between 0.025° and 0.3°, distributed according to a plurality of lines and columns, for example 80 lines and 320 columns.

[0021] For example, the second light module may comprise a plurality of elementary light sources and an optical device arranged to together emit said second pixelated light beam.

[0022] A light source is understood to mean any light source possibly associated with an electro-optical element, capable of being activated and selectively controlled to emit an elementary light beam whose light intensity is controllable. It may in particular be a light-emitting semiconductor chip, a light-emitting element of a monolithic pixelated light-emitting diode, a portion of a light converter element excitable by a light source or a light source associated with a liquid crystal or a micromirror.

[0023] In a particular embodiment of the invention, the controller is arranged to selectively control each of the elementary light sources of the second light module according to said instruction so that this light source emits an elementary light beam forming one of the pixels of the light beam. pixelated, all of said elementary light beams forming said portion.

[0024] Advantageously, the controller is arranged to generate, for each of the elementary light sources and as a function of said instruction, a control signal for said light source determining the light intensity intended to be emitted by said elementary light source, the controller periodically controlling said elementary light source using said control signal.

[0025] In a preferred embodiment, the second light module is capable of emitting said second pixelated light beam in an emission zone, and in which the controller is arranged to control, as a function of said instruction, the second light module to emit a pixelated light beam whose profile, photometry and / or position in the emission zone is predetermined as a function of said instruction.

[0026] According to the invention, upon receipt of said instruction, the controller is arranged to selectively control each of the elementary light sources of the second light module so that at least a portion of the elementary light beams emitted by these elementary light sources form a portion of an upper cutoff of the overall beam formed by the union of the first and second light beams.

[0027] In a particular embodiment, upon receipt of said instruction, the controller is arranged to selectively control each of the elementary light sources of the second light module so that at least a portion of the elementary light beams emitted by these elementary light sources form an upper cutoff of the overall beam formed by the first light beam.

[0028] Advantageously, the upper cut-off of the overall beam formed by the union of the first and second light beams forms a regulatory crossing type cut-off.

[0029] In a particular embodiment, a portion of the upper cutoff of the first light beam is aligned with the upper cutoff of the second light beam.

[0030] In another embodiment, a portion of the upper cutoff of the first light beam is not aligned with the upper cutoff of the second light beam.

[0031] In a particular embodiment, the upper cutoff of the first beam comprises at least one portion oblique with respect to the upper cutoff of the second beam.

[0032] Preferably, the screen onto which the first and second light beams are projected is provided with an orthonormal reference frame provided with an axis HH and a vertical axis. VV crossing at the origins, and on which the first light beam extending only under the horizontal axis HH and the emission zone extending on either side of the horizontal axis HH and on either side of the vertical axis VV.

[0033] According to a particular embodiment, the emission zone comprises a portion extending horizontally in a range going substantially from 0° to +2°, and, vertically, in a range going substantially beyond +3°.

[0034] In a particular embodiment, the emission zone comprises a portion extending horizontally in a range from -4° to +3°, and, vertically, in a range substantially from +2° to +40°.

[0035] Advantageously, the controller is arranged to, in response to the reception of said emission instruction, control the second light module to emit at least one elementary light beam extending, when it is projected onto a screen, around a range positioned horizontally between 1° and 3°, and, vertically at 0.5°, said elementary light beam having a maximum light intensity of 800 Cd, preferably between 200 Cd and 800 Cd.

[0036] In a preferred embodiment, the emission zone comprises a portion extending horizontally in a range of substantially -15° to 9°, and vertically in a range of substantially -3.5° to +3°.

[0037] Advantageously, the controller is arranged to, in response to the reception of said emission instruction, control the second light module to emit at least one elementary light beam extending, when it is projected onto a screen, around a point positioned horizontally at -4°, and, vertically at +2°, said elementary light beam having a maximum light intensity of 200 Cd.

[0038] In a particular embodiment, the controller is arranged to, in response to the reception of said emission instruction, control the second light module to emit at least one elementary light beam extending, when it is projected onto a screen, around a point positioned horizontally at -4°, and, vertically at +2°, said elementary light beam having a light intensity of between 30 Cd and 130 Cd.

[0039] In a preferred embodiment, the emission zone comprises a portion extending horizontally in a range of substantially at least -8° to 8°, and vertically in a range of substantially above 4°.

[0040] Advantageously, the controller is arranged to, in response to the reception of said emission instruction, control the second light module to emit at least one elementary light beam extending, when it is projected onto a screen, around a range positioned horizontally between -20° and 10°, and, vertically around a range positioned between -2.5° and 6°, said elementary light beam having a maximum light intensity of 200 Cd, preferably between 30 Cd and 130 CDs.

[0041] In the same way, the controller is arranged to, in response to the reception of said emission instruction, control the second light module to emit at least one elementary light beam extending, when it is projected onto a screen, around a point positioned horizontally at +8°, ​​and, vertically at +4°, said elementary light beam having a maximum light intensity of 200 Cd, preferably between 30 and 130 Cd.

[0042] Furthermore, the controller is arranged to, in response to the reception of said emission instruction, control the second light module to emit at least one elementary light beam extending, when projected onto a screen, around a point positioned horizontally at -8°, and, vertically at +4°, said elementary light beam having a maximum light intensity of 200 Cd, preferably between 30 and 130 Cd.

[0043] According to the invention, the controller is able to receive an instruction to transmit a non-glare road lighting function, and arranged to, in response to the reception of said transmission instruction, control the first light module to transmit the first light beam and control the second light module to transmit only a portion of the second pixelated light beam, said portion being formed by elementary light beams of which at least a part extends, when they are projected onto a screen, above the upper cut-off of the first light beam and said portion having a dark zone above this upper cut-off, the controller is able to receive an instruction to transmit a ground writing function, and arranged to, in response to the reception of said transmission instruction,controlling the first light module to emit the first light beam and controlling the second light module to emit only a portion of the second pixelated light beam, said portion being formed by elementary light beams of which at least a part extends, when they are projected onto a screen, below the upper cut-off of the first light beam and said portion defining a pattern below this upper cut-off.

[0044] Advantageously, the portion being formed by elementary light beams of which at least a part extends, when they are projected onto a screen, above the upper cut-off of the first light beam and said portion having a dark zone above this upper cut-off is capable of performing a non-dazzling road type lighting function for which pixels of the second light beam, located above the upper cut-off of the second light beam are controlled to form a dark zone in the overall beam formed by the union of the first and second light beams, the rest of the pixels remaining lit.

[0045] Advantageously, the portion being formed by elementary light beams of which at least a part extends, when they are projected onto a screen, below the upper cut-off of the first light beam and said portion defining a pattern below this upper cut-off is capable of performing a ground writing function for which pixels of the second light beam, located below the upper cut-off of the second light beam and located in a display zone, are controlled to materialize a pictogram or a ground marking, for example by negative or positive contrast, in the overall beam formed by the union of the first and second light beams.

[0046] In a particular embodiment, the first light module is capable of emitting a third segmented light beam extending, when it is projected onto a screen, at least partially above the substantially horizontal upper cutoff of the first light beam, the resolution of the third segmented light beam being substantially lower than the resolution of the second pixelated light beam.

[0047] In a particular embodiment, the lighting device comprises a third light module capable of emitting a third segmented light beam extending, when projected onto a screen, at least partially above the substantially horizontal upper cutoff of the first light beam, the resolution of the third segmented light beam being substantially lower than the resolution of the second pixelated light beam.

[0048] Advantageously, the first light module comprises at least one first light source and a first optical device arranged to form, from the light rays emitted by said first light source, said first light beam.

[0049] An optical device is understood to mean a device comprising one or more reflectors or one or more lenses, or a combination of one or more reflectors and one or more lenses.

[0050] In a particular embodiment, the optical device is associated with a cut-off member intended to form said upper cut-off in the first light beam, said cut-off member is for example in the form of a cover.

[0051] Advantageously, the first light module comprises a plurality of second light sources that can be selectively activated, a plurality of primary optical members each associated with one of the second light sources and an optical projection device arranged to form, from the light rays emitted by each second light source and collected by the associated primary optical member, a segment of said third light beam.

[0052] By the terms primary optical organ, we mean light guides, microlenses and / or collimators or a combination of one or more of these elements.

[0053] An optical projection device is understood to mean a device in the form of a lens or a reflector.

[0054] Advantageously, the optical projection device is the same as for the first light sources so as to have a common output.

[0055] In a preferred embodiment, the controller is capable of receiving an instruction to emit a non-glare road lighting function, and in that the controller is arranged to, in response to receiving said emission instruction, control the first light module to emit the first light beam and at least a portion of the third segmented light beam, at least one of the segments being deactivated, and control the second light module to emit only a portion of the second pixelated light beam, said portion being formed by elementary light beams of which at least a portion extends, when they are projected onto a screen, at the deactivated segment of the third light beam, presenting a dark zone.

[0056] In a preferred embodiment, all of the first and second modules as well as the controller are arranged in a common projector.

[0057] The present invention is now described using examples which are purely illustrative and in no way limitative of the scope of the invention, and from the appended drawings, drawings in which the various figures represent:

[0058] [Fig-1] represents, schematically and partially, a lighting device according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0059] [Fig.2] represents, schematically and partially, a lighting function performed by the lighting device on a screen, more particularly the crossing type function;

[0060] [Fig.3] represents, schematically and partially, a lighting function performed by the lighting device on a screen, more particularly the road type function;

[0061] In the following description, elements that are identical, by structure or by function, appearing in different figures retain, unless otherwise specified, the same references.

[0062] [Fig.l] shows a partial view of a lighting device 1 of a motor vehicle according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0063] The lighting device 1 comprises, in the example described, a projector 11 in which is arranged a first light module 2 capable of emitting a first light beam F having, when it is projected onto a screen 4, a substantially horizontal upper cutoff CS. The first light beam F is a non-pixelated beam extending only below said upper cut CS.

[0064] The first light module 2 comprises in particular a first light source 21 and a lens 22 arranged to form, from the light rays emitted by said first light source 21, said first light beam F.

[0065] In addition, the first light module 2 is capable of emitting a third segmented light beam MxB extending, when it is projected onto a screen 4, at least partially above the substantially horizontal upper cut-off CS of the first light beam F.

[0066] To do this, the first light module 2 comprises a plurality of second light sources 21^ which can be selectively activated, a plurality of primary optical members 23 each associated with one of the second light sources 21^ and a lens 22 common with the first light source 21, so as to have a common output.

[0067] The common lens 21 is arranged to form, from the light rays emitted by each second light source 21ij and collected by the lens, a segment MxBij of said third light beam MxB.

[0068] In the example described, the plurality of second light sources 21ij are light-emitting diodes each comprising one or more light-emitting elements to form a segment that can be activated and selectively controlled by a controller 5, all of the segments being emitted towards the lens 22, which thus projects onto the screen 4 a segmented light beam MxB whose light intensity is controllable.

[0069] Still, in [Fig.l], the projector 11 also comprises a second light module 3 capable of emitting a second pixelated light beam HD, each pixel being formed by an elementary light beam HD;j which can be selectively controlled, said second pixelated light beam HD extending, when it is projected onto a screen 4, at least partially above the upper cut-off CS of the first light beam F.

[0070] The second light module 3 comprises in particular a plurality of elementary light sources 31ij associated with a lens 32. In the example described, the elementary light source 3 Cj is a monolithic pixelated light-emitting diode, each of the light-emitting elements of which forms an elementary light source 3 lij that can be activated and controlled selectively by a controller 5 to emit light towards the lens 32, which thus projects onto the screen 4 an elementary light beam HDLJ whose light intensity is controllable.

[0071] Thus, the second light module 3 comprises a plurality of elementary light sources 3 hj that can be selectively controlled, each of the elementary light sources 3hj forming one of the elementary light beams HDij.

[0072] The first 2 and second light modules 3 are arranged so that the emission zone of the second light beam HD extends below and above the substantially horizontal cut-off CS of the first light beam F.

[0073] The overall beam G, formed by the union of the first light beam F and the second pixelated light beam HD when they are emitted simultaneously, is thus capable of performing several advanced lighting functions, such as different dipped beam type lighting functions, non-glaring road type lighting, a ground writing function, the pixels formed by the elementary light beams HD; j being selectively controlled according to the function that this overall beam G must perform.

[0074] The controller 5 is capable of receiving an instruction to transmit a regulatory dipped-beam lighting function and is arranged to, in response to receiving said transmission instruction, control the first light module 3 to transmit the first light beam F and control the second light module 2 to transmit only a portion ZI of the second pixelated elementary beam HD, said portion ZI being formed by elementary light beams HD; j of which at least one extends, when projected onto a screen 4, above the upper cutoff CS of the first light beam F and has a light intensity of between 300 and 1000 Cd, such that the joining of the first light beam F and said portion ZI of the second pixelated light beam HD performs said regulatory dipped-beam lighting function.

[0075] The controller is arranged to selectively control each of the elementary light sources 3 hj of the second light module 3 according to said instruction so that this elementary light source 3 hj emits an elementary light beam HD^ forming one of the pixels of the pixelated light beam HD, all of said elementary light beams HD^ forming said portion ZI.

[0076] Thus, the second light module 3 is capable of emitting said second pixelated light beam HD in an emission zone ZE, and in which the controller 5 is arranged to control, as a function of said instruction, the second light module 3 to emit a pixelated light beam HD whose profile, photometry and / or position in the emission zone ZE is predetermined as a function of said instruction.

[0077] Therefore, upon receipt of said instruction, the controller 5 is arranged to selectively control each of the elementary light sources HD, of the second light module 3 so that at least a portion of the elementary light beams HDij emitted by these elementary light sources 3Lj forms a portion of an upper cutoff CS of the overall beam G formed by the union of the first F and second light beams HD.

[0078] In [Fig.2] and [Fig.3], two projections of the first and second light beams F and HD or even first, second and third light beams F, HD and MxB on a screen 4 provided with an orthonormal reference frame and positioned 25 meters from the projector 11, respectively fulfilling dipped beam and non-glare road type lighting functions. In this reference frame, the coordinates correspond to horizontal and vertical angles measured from the origin of the reference frame. The positive abscissas correspond to the half-plane located to the right of the vertical axis VV, the negative abscissas correspond to the half-plane located to the left of the vertical axis VV, the positive ordinates correspond to the half-plane located above the horizontal axis HH and the negative ordinates correspond to the half-plane located below the horizontal axis HH.

[0079] Each elementary light beam HDij is projected by the lens 32 into a given emission cone, defined by a given emission direction and a given angular aperture. Thus, in the example described, all of the elementary light beams HDij thus form a second pixelated lighting beam HD having 500 pixels distributed over 25 columns and 20 lines, extending in an emission zone defined horizontally by an angular range of 24°, from -15° to +9°, and vertically by a vertical angular range of 6.5°, from -3.5° to +3°, and each pixel of which is formed by one of these elementary light beams HD^. Each elementary light beam HDij emitted by one of the elementary light sources 3hj has a horizontal and vertical aperture of less than 1°.

[0080] In the same way, each segment MxBjj is projected by the lens 22 in a given emission cone, defined by a given emission direction and a given angular aperture. Thus, in the example described, all of the segments MxBjj thus form a third segmented light illumination beam MxB having 500 pixels distributed over 25 columns and 20 lines, extending in an emission zone defined horizontally by an angular range of 50°, from -35° to +15°, and vertically by a vertical angular range of 7°, from -1° to +6°, and each pixel of which is formed by one of these segments MxBLJ. Each segment MxBLJ emitted by one of the second light sources 21ij has a horizontal and vertical aperture of less than 1°.

[0081] The resolution of the second HD pixelated light beam is significantly higher than the resolution of the third MxB segmented light beam.

[0082] As shown in [Fig.2], some of the elementary light sources 3hj are activated while others are deactivated so that the second light beam HD, formed by the elementary light beams HDi j emitted by the activated sources, has an upper cutoff. A part of this upper cutoff is aligned with the substantially horizontal upper cutoff CS of the first light beam F, the overall light beam G resulting from the superposition of these two beams F and HD thus having an upper cutoff of the type "low beam".

[0083] The controller 5 is arranged to, in response to the reception of said emission instruction, control the second light module 3 to emit at least one elementary light beam HD;j extending, when it is projected onto a screen 4, around a point 2U-4L positioned horizontally at -4°, and, vertically at +2°, said elementary light beam HD;j having a light intensity of between 300 and 1000 Cd.

[0084] The 2U-4L zone has been reported on this screen 4, this zone being located around a point positioned horizontally at -4° and vertically at +2°. The American regulation Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108, or FMVSS108, provides that the luminous intensity of the overall beam G measured in this 2U-4L zone must be greater than 135 Cd. This point is called a “gantry point” and is intended in particular to illuminate traffic signs positioned at height.

[0085] This 2U-4L zone is close to another ZI zone, located at the level of glare points of another aspect of the FMVSS108 regulation: the adaptive driving beam (ADB) tests, at which the light intensity of the overall beam G must be lower, in certain anti-glare scenarios, than values ​​around 350-400 Cd for each beam emitted by the left and right headlights, in order to avoid situations of dazzling opposing vehicles. However, the 2U-4L zone must be wide enough to be able to meet the adjustment tolerances of the first light module 2, and it is therefore possible that it encroaches on the ZI zone.

[0086] It is therefore necessary that the light intensity of the light beam(s) HD;j forming the pixel(s) positioned at the level of this zone 2U-4L be greater than 135 Cd and less than 380 Cd.

[0087] In order to be able to make this constraint and the limitation of the controller 5 compatible, the controller 5 then adopts a control of the light sources 3 lr j' forming the pixels at the level of this zone 2U-4L different from that of the other light sources 3 hj.

[0088] The controller 5 is also capable of receiving an instruction to transmit a non-glare road lighting function, illustrated in [Fig. 3], the controller 5 is arranged to, in response to the reception of said transmission instruction, control the first light module 2 to transmit the first light beam F and at least a portion of the third segmented light beam MbX, at least one of the segments being deactivated, and control the second light module 3 to transmit only a portion of the second pixelated light beam HD, said portion being formed by elementary light beams HDij of which at least a portion extends, when they are projected onto a screen 4, at the deactivated segment of the third light beam MbX by presenting a dark zone ZS.

[0089] The controller 5 is capable of receiving an instruction to transmit a ground writing function, and arranged to, in response to the reception of said transmission instruction, control the first light module 2 to transmit the first light beam F and control the second light module 3 to transmit only a portion of the second pixelated light beam HD, said portion being formed by elementary light beams HDij of which at least a part extends, when they are projected onto a screen 4, below the upper cutoff CS of the first light beam F and said portion defining a pattern below this upper cutoff CS.

[0090] In any event, the invention cannot be limited to the embodiments specifically described in this document, and extends in particular to all equivalent means and to any technically effective combination of these means.

[0091] In particular, other types of light module producing a pixelated light beam than that described may be envisaged, and in particular a light module comprising a combination of a light source and a matrix of micro-mirrors or liquid crystals that can be selectively activated.

[0092] It will also be possible to envisage controlling the lighting system for the emission of other light functions than those which have been described, and in particular motorway type lighting functions or for unfavourable weather conditions, or even light functions in which other types of pictogram or ground marking are provided.

Claims

Claims

1. Lighting device (1) of a motor vehicle comprising: - A first light module (2) capable of emitting a first light beam (F) having, when projected onto a screen (4), a substantially horizontal upper cut-off (CS), said first light beam (2) extending only below said upper cut-off (CS); - A second light module (3) capable of emitting a second pixelated light beam (HD), each pixel being formed by a selectively controllable elementary light beam (HD; j), said second pixelated light beam (HD) extending, when projected onto a screen (4), at least partially above the upper cut-off (CS) of the first light beam (F);and - A controller (5) capable of receiving an instruction to transmit a regulatory dipped-beam lighting function and arranged to, in response to receiving said transmission instruction, control the first light module (2) to transmit the first light beam (F) and control the second light module (3) to transmit only a portion (ZI) of the second pixelated elementary beam (HD), said portion being formed by elementary light beams (HDij) of which at least one extends, when projected onto a screen (4), above the upper cut-off (CS) of the first light beam (F) and has a maximum light intensity of 1000 Cd, such that the joining of the first light beam (F) and said portion (ZI) of the second pixelated light beam (HD) performs said regulatory dipped-beam lighting function.;

2. Lighting device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the second light module (3) comprises a plurality of elementary light sources (3 hj) which can be selectively controlled, each of the elementary light sources (3hj) forming one of the elementary light beams (HD^).

3. Lighting device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the controller (5) is arranged to selectively control each of the elementary light sources (3 lij) of the second light module (3) according to said instruction so that this light source (3hj) emits an elementary light beam (HD, ,) forming one of the pixels of the pixelated light beam (HD), all of said elementary light beams (HD;j) forming said portion (ZI).

4. Lighting device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second light module (3) is capable of emitting said second pixelated light beam (HD) in an emission zone (ZE), and in which the controller (5) is arranged to control, as a function of said instruction, the second light module (3) to emit a pixelated light beam (HD) whose profile, photometry and / or position in the emission zone is predetermined as a function of said instruction.

5. Lighting device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that, upon receipt of said instruction, the controller (5) is arranged to selectively control each of the elementary light sources (3lij), of the second light module (3) so that at least a portion of the elementary light beams (HDij) emitted by these elementary light sources (3lij) form a portion of an upper cut-off (CS), of the overall beam (G) formed by the union of the first (F) and second light beams (HD).

6. Lighting device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the screen (4) on which the first (F) and second light beams (HD) are projected is provided with an orthonormal reference frame provided with an axis HH and a vertical axis VV intersecting at the origins, and on which the first light beam (F) extends only under the horizontal axis HH and the emission zone (ZE) extends on either side of the horizontal axis HH and on either side of the vertical axis V-

7. V. Lighting device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the emission zone (ZE) comprises a portion (ZI) extending horizontally in a range going substantially from -15° to 9°, and, vertically, in a range going substantially from -3.5° to +3°.

8. Lighting device (1) according to one of claims 6 or 7, characterized in that the controller (5) is arranged to, in response to the reception of said transmission instruction, control the second module light (3) for emitting at least one elementary light beam (HDij) extending, when projected onto a screen (4), around a point positioned horizontally at -4°, and vertically at +2°, said elementary light beam (HD^) having a maximum light intensity of 200 Cd.

9. Lighting device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that: - The controller (5) is capable of receiving an instruction to emit a non-glare road type lighting function, and arranged to, in response to the reception of said emission instruction, control the first light module (2) to emit the first light beam (F) and control the second light module (3) to emit a portion (ZI) only of the second pixelated light beam (HD), said portion (ZI) being formed by elementary light beams (HD^) of which at least a part extends, when they are projected onto a screen (4), above the upper cut-off (CS) of the first light beam (F) and said portion (ZI) having a dark zone above this upper cut-off (CS);- The controller (5) is capable of receiving an instruction to transmit a ground writing function, and arranged to, in response to the reception of said transmission instruction, control the first light module (2) to transmit the first light beam (F) and control the second light module (3) to transmit only a portion of the second pixelated light beam (HD), said portion being formed by elementary light beams (HD^) of which at least a part extends, when they are projected onto a screen (4), below the upper cut-off (CS) of the first light beam (F) and said portion defining a pattern below this upper cut-off (CS).;

10. Lighting device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first light module (2) is capable of emitting a third segmented light beam (MxB) extending, when projected onto a screen (4), at least partially above the cut-off substantially horizontal upper (CS) of the first light beam (F), the resolution of the third segmented light beam (MxB) being substantially lower than the resolution of the second pixelated light beam (HD).

11. Lighting device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the controller (5) is capable of receiving an instruction to emit a non-glare road lighting function, and in that the controller (5) is arranged to, in response to the reception of said emission instruction, control the first light module (2) to emit the first light beam (F) and at least a portion of the third segmented light beam (MxB), at least one of the segments being deactivated, and control the second light module (3) to emit only a portion of the second pixelated light beam (HDij), said portion being formed by elementary light beams (HD^) of which at least a portion extends, when they are projected onto a screen (4), at the level of the deactivated segment of the third light beam (MxB) by presenting a dark zone (ZS).

Images