LIGHTING DEVICE FOR A VEHICLE AIR INTAKE GRILLE

Abstract

A lighting device (ED) is fitted to a vehicle's air intake grille comprising internal partitions separated by first passages adapted to airflow, and includes: - N photon sources generating photons, - a diffusion element (DE) comprising N sub-parts (SPP) separated by second passages (P2) adapted to airflow, each housed within a first passage, and diffusing each of the photons received on an inlet face (FE) to an outlet face (FS) so that they contribute to illuminating the air intake grille, and - a transfer element (TE) comprising N reflectors (RP) separated from each other by third passages (P3) adapted to airflow, placed in front of the inlet faces (FE), and each transferring, by reflection(s), photons generated by a photon source (SP) to an associated inlet face (FE). Figure 4

Description

Title of the invention: LIGHTING DEVICE FOR A VEHICLE AIR INTAKE GRILLE Technical field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to the air intake grilles that equip certain vehicles. State of the art

[0002] Certain vehicles, generally automobiles, include, usually in a front end comprising a grille, an air intake grille with internal partitions separated from each other by passages adapted for air circulation. This incoming air is intended to cool the equipment and components installed in the engine compartment and / or to supply air to certain equipment or components (such as, for example, an internal combustion engine or a heating / air conditioning system).

[0003] Such an air intake grille is usually installed above the grille, but this is not mandatory.

[0004] In some vehicles, the grille or air intake is illuminated by means of at least one lighting device. This improves the vehicle's visibility while giving it a distinctive lighting signature. Currently, the lighting device is an integral part of the grille or air intake, but is not attached to it. Consequently, it is necessary to provide, for certain versions of a vehicle model, a grille or air intake with illumination, and for other versions of that vehicle model, a different grille or air intake without illumination.This proves costly both in terms of designing the two grilles or air intakes and in terms of manufacturing them, as the molds used for almost all parts must be duplicated, sometimes with significant differences. Furthermore, this complicates inventory management and increases space requirements on the assembly lines.

[0005] The invention therefore aims in particular to improve the situation. Presentation of the invention

[0006] In particular, it proposes for this purpose a lighting device suitable for equipping an air intake grille of a vehicle comprising internal partitions separated from each other by first passages adapted to air circulation.

[0007] This lighting device is characterized by the fact that it comprises:

[0008] - N photon sources capable of generating photons,

[0009] - a diffusion component comprising N sub-parts separated from each other by second passages adapted to air circulation, each housed within a corresponding first passage, and each designed to diffuse photons received on an inlet face to an outlet face so that they contribute to illuminating the air inlet grille, and

[0010] - a transfer piece comprising N reflectors separated from each other by thirds passages adapted to air circulation, placed respectively in front of the inlet faces, and suitable for transferring each to an associated inlet face, by reflection(s), photons generated by an associated photon source.

[0011] Thanks to the fact that the lighting device is attached to the air intake grille, the latter can advantageously be used with lighting devices to equip certain variations of a vehicle model, or without a lighting device to equip certain other variations of this vehicle model, which makes it possible to reduce the number of molds used, to facilitate stock management, and to reduce the space required on the assembly lines.

[0012] The lighting device according to the invention may include other features which may be taken separately or in combination, and in particular:

[0013] - in the presence of an air inlet grille comprising at least N pairs of first internal partitions separated from each other by a first first passage of a first width and installed respectively between pairs of second internal partitions separated from each other by second first passages having a second width strictly greater than the first width and including a first first passage, each of the N sub-parts can be housed in a corresponding first first passage between two first internal partitions defining the latter;

[0014] - it may include an electronic board on which are installed in N places respectively the N photon sources;

[0015] - in the presence of the last option, the electronic card can be attached to the transfer piece;

[0016] - each reflector may comprise a concave reflecting face specific to reflect the generated photons towards the entrance face of the associated sub-part;

[0017] - the diffusion piece can be fixedly attached to the transfer piece.

[0018] The invention also proposes a vehicle, possibly of the automobile type, comprising, on the one hand, an air intake grille having internal partitions separated from each other by first passages adapted to the circulation of air, and, on the other hand, at least one lighting device of the type presented above and coupled to the air intake grille.

[0019] For example, this vehicle may include two lighting devices, right and left, coupled respectively to right and left parts of the air intake grille.

[0020] Also, for example, each lighting device can be fixedly attached by screwing it to the air inlet grille.

[0021] Also, for example, this vehicle may include a front end comprising a grille above which the air intake grille is installed. Brief description of the figures

[0022] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from an examination of the detailed description below, and the accompanying drawings (obtained using CAD / CAM (“Computer-Aided Design / Computer-Aided Manufacturing”)), in which:

[0023] [Fig. 1] schematically illustrates, in a front view, an example of the front end of a vehicle comprising a grille and an air intake grille equipped with two examples of embodiments of a lighting device according to the invention,

[0024] [Fig.2] schematically illustrates, in a front view, a part left of the air inlet grille of [Fig. 1], equipped with a left lighting device according to the invention,

[0025] [Fig.3] schematically illustrates, in a cross-sectional view in a horizontal plane on the rear side, a portion of the left side of the air intake grille of [Fig. 1], equipped with a left-hand lighting device according to the invention,

[0026] [Fig.4] schematically illustrates, in a perspective view from the front side, the left lighting device of [Fig. 1], before it was fitted to the left side of a vehicle air intake grille,

[0027] [Fig.5] schematically illustrates, in a perspective view from the front side, the part of the diffusion of the lighting device of [Fig. 4], and

[0028] [Fig.6] schematically illustrates, in a perspective view from the front side, the part transfer and electronic board of the lighting device of the [Fig.4]. Detailed description of the invention

[0029] The invention aims in particular to provide a DE lighting device intended to equip a GE A air intake grille of a vehicle by being attached in such a way as to allow this GEA air intake grille to be used also without a DE lighting device.

[0030] In what follows, it is considered, by way of non-limiting example, that the (each) DE lighting device is intended to be fitted to a motor vehicle, such as a car. However, the DE lighting device can be fitted to any vehicle (land, sea (or river), or air) comprising at least one air intake grille.

[0031] Furthermore, in what follows, by way of non-limiting example and as illustrated non-limitingly in Figures 1 and 2, it is considered that each lighting device DE is intended to equip a GEA air inlet grille installed at one end The front EV of a motor vehicle, above a CV grille. But the DE lighting device could be intended to equip an air intake grille installed in the rear end of a motor vehicle, for example.

[0032] In figures 1 to 6, the X direction is intended to be parallel to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, which is substantially parallel to the lateral (or longitudinal) sides comprising the side doors, the Y direction is intended to be parallel to the transverse direction of the vehicle, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X, and the Z direction is intended to be parallel to the vertical direction of the vehicle, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X and the transverse direction Y.

[0033] In the preceding and following text, the terms "front" and "rear" are defined with respect to the front end of the vehicle. Consequently, the front part of an element is located closer to the front end of the vehicle than the rear part of that same element.

[0034] Figures 1 to 3 schematically illustrate at least partially an example of the front end EV of a vehicle comprising a CV grille above which is installed an air intake grille GEA comprising right and left parts to which are fixedly attached respectively right and left lighting devices DE, for example by screwing and / or clipping.

[0035] As illustrated at least partially in Figures 2 and 3, the GEA air intake grille includes internal partitions Clj which are separated from each other by first passages Plk adapted to the circulation of air from outside the vehicle to inside the vehicle (and more specifically here to the inside of the (front) engine compartment).

[0036] As illustrated at least partially in Figures 2 to 6, a lighting device DE, according to the invention, comprises at least N photon sources SP, a diffusion piece PD and a transfer piece PT.

[0037] The N photon sources SP (see [Fig.4]) are each suitable for generating photons to participate in illuminating the air inlet grille GEA.

[0038] For example, each SP photon source may include at least one light-emitting diode (or LED). But alternatively, each SP photon source could include at least one laser diode or a gas laser, for example.

[0039] The PD diffusion element comprises N sub-parts SPP which are separated from each other by second passages P2 adapted for airflow from outside the vehicle to inside the vehicle (and more specifically here to the inside of the (front) engine compartment), and each housed in a corresponding first passage Plk of the GEA air intake grille (see [Fig. 3]). Furthermore, each of the N sub-parts SPP is designed to diffuse photons which it receives on its inlet face FE to its outlet face FS, so that they participate in illuminating the air inlet grille GEA.

[0040] The transfer element PT comprises N reflectors RP which are separated from each other by third passages P3 adapted to the airflow from outside the vehicle to inside the vehicle (and more specifically here to the inside of the (front) engine compartment), and positioned respectively in front of the inlet faces FE of the N sub-parts SPP (see [Fig. 4]). Furthermore, each of the N reflectors RP is designed to transfer, by reflection(s), the photons generated by the associated photon source SP to the inlet face FE of the associated sub-part SPP.

[0041] Since each DE lighting device is now mounted on the GEA air intake grille, the latter (GEA) can advantageously be used with DE lighting devices to equip certain versions of a vehicle model, or without DE lighting devices to equip certain other versions of that vehicle model. This reduces the number of molds used, facilitates inventory management, and reduces space requirements on the assembly lines.

[0042] As illustrated, but not limited to, and at least partially illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, each right or left part of the GEA air inlet grille can comprise at least N pairs of first internal partitions Cil (j = 1) which are separated from each other by a first first passage Pli (k = 1) having a first width 11 and installed respectively between pairs of second internal partitions CI2 (j = 2) which are separated from each other by second first passages P12 (k = 2) having a second width 12 strictly greater than this first width 11 and including a first first passage Pli. In this case, each of the N sub-parts SPP can be housed in a corresponding first first passage Pli between two first internal partitions Cil (k = 1) defining the latter (Pli). This advantageously allows the N sub-parts SPP to be precisely positioned in the corresponding N first first passages Pli.But in an alternative embodiment not shown, the N pairs of first internal partitions Cil could be dispensed with, and in this case each sub-part SPP is installed in a second first passage P12 defined between two second internal partitions CI2. .

[0043] Also, for example, and as illustrated, without limitation and at least partially, in Figures 4 and 6, the (each) lighting device DE may also include an electronic board CE on which the N photon sources SP are installed in N locations respectively. In addition to the N photon sources SP, this electronic board CE may also include electronic components and / or circuit(s) for controlling the power supply and operation of these SP photon sources. Also, for example, this CE electronic board can be a PCB type printed circuit board (“Printed Circuit Board”).

[0044] Also, for example, and as illustrated, but not limited to, and at least partially, in Figures 4 and 6, the electronic board CE can be attached to the transfer piece PT, for example by clipping and / or screwing. This allows each photon source SP to be precisely positioned relative to the corresponding reflector RP. However, in an alternative embodiment not shown, the electronic board CE could be attached to the diffusion piece PD.

[0045] Also, for example, and as illustrated, but not limited to, and at least partially, in Figures 4 and 6, each reflector RP may include a concave reflection face FR, which is designed to reflect the photons generated by the associated photon source SP towards the entrance face FE of the associated sub-part SPP. It should be noted that the transfer of a photon to an entrance face FE, by a reflector RP, can occur through one or more reflections on the reflection face FR. However, in an alternative embodiment not shown, the photons could enter the interior of each reflector RP and undergo one or more internal reflections before exiting the reflector (RP) to reach the corresponding entrance face FE.

[0046] It should also be noted that the PD diffusion piece can be fixedly attached to the PT transfer piece, for example by screwing and / or clipping.

[0047] It should also be noted that the PD diffusion piece can, for example, be made by molding a polycarbonate (or PC), possibly transparent (or crystal colour).

[0048] It should also be noted that the transfer part PT can, for example, be made by molding a rigid and resistant plastic or synthetic material, so as to protect the diffusion part PD and the possible electronic CE board.

[0049] It should also be noted that when the GEA air inlet grille is not intended to be illuminated, it can nevertheless include in each of its right and left parts a trim piece similar to a PD diffusion piece (but without a PT transfer piece and without any possible CE electronic board).

Claims

Demands

1. Lighting device (ED) for an air intake grille (AIG) of a vehicle comprising internal partitions (Clj) separated from each other by first passages (Plk) adapted to airflow, characterized in that it comprises i) N photon sources (SP) capable of generating photons, ii) a diffusion element (PD) comprising N sub-parts (SPP) separated from each other by second passages (P2) adapted to airflow, each housed in a corresponding first passage (Plk), and each capable of diffusing photons received on an inlet face (FE) at the level of an outlet face (FS) so that they contribute to illuminating said air intake grille (AIG), and iii) a transfer element (TE) comprising N reflectors (RP) separated from each other by third passages (P3) adapted to airflow, placed respectively in front of said inlet faces (FE), and each capable of transferring to an associated input face (IF),by reflection(s) of photons generated by an associated photon source (SP).

2. Lighting device according to claim 1, characterized in that in the presence of an air inlet grille (AIG) comprising at least N pairs of first internal partitions (C11) separated from each other by a first first passage (P11) of a first width and installed respectively between pairs of second internal partitions (C11) separated from each other by second first passages (P12) having a second width strictly greater than said first width and including a first first passage (P11), each of said N sub-parts (SPP) is housed in a first first passage (P11) corresponding between two first internal partitions (C11) defining the latter (P11).

3. Lighting device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises an electronic board (CE) on which said N photon sources (SP) are installed in N locations respectively.

4. Lighting device according to claim 3, characterized in that said electronic board (CE) is attached to said transfer piece (PT).

5. Lighting device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that each reflector (RP) comprises a concave reflection face (FR) adapted to reflect said generated photons towards said entrance face (FE) of the associated subpart (SPP).

6. Lighting device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said diffusion piece (PD) is fixedly attached to said transfer piece (PT).

7. Vehicle comprising an air intake grille (AIG) having internal partitions (Clj) separated from each other by first passages (Plk) adapted to the air circulation, characterized in that it comprises at least one lighting device (ED) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, coupled to said air intake grille (AIG).

8. Vehicle according to claim 7, characterized in that it comprises two lighting devices (ED), right and left, coupled respectively to right and left parts of said air intake grille (AIG).

9. Vehicle according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that each lighting device (ED) is fixedly attached by screwing to said air intake grille (AIG).

10. Vehicle according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that it comprises a front end (EV) including a grille (CV), and in that said air intake grille (GEA) is installed above said grille (CV).