Vehicle fire

Abstract

Vehicle Light The light (1) comprises a housing containing a plurality of light sources mounted on an electronic circuit board and an optical plate having an opaque area with a through-hole located opposite a first set of light sources. The housing cover (10) has, opposite the opaque area, a retroreflective area (15) which comprises, distributed over substantially the entire surface of the retroreflective area: - retroreflective ridges projecting inwards towards the housing; - transparent areas (45), without retroreflective ridges, which allow the light emitted by the light sources of the first set to pass through the opening, forwards and outwards from the housing. The transparent areas are provided between at least some of the retroreflective ridges and allow the display of a light pattern (50). Figure 11

Description

Title of the invention: Vehicle light

[0001] The invention relates to a vehicle fire.

[0002] A vehicle light typically comprises a housing containing a plurality of light sources designed to produce different optical functions. In addition, the housing cover of such a light most often, or even necessarily, includes a retroreflective area, generally triangular in shape, forming a catadioptric reflector.

[0003] Vehicle manufacturers pay close attention to the aesthetics of the lights fitted to their vehicles. Furthermore, most manufacturers want these lights to have a distinctive design that allows for easy identification of the vehicle model and / or the manufacturer. In particular, some manufacturers want their logo to be clearly visible on the light.

[0004] However, aesthetic considerations can be difficult to reconcile with regulatory obligations, given the technical constraints and the fact that the space available in the light housing is limited.

[0005] The present invention aims to remedy the aforementioned drawbacks by providing a vehicle light that combines aesthetics, personalization and regulatory compliance.

[0006] To this end, the invention relates to a vehicle light, the light comprising a housing having a base and a cover mounted on the base, at the front of the base, the light further comprising, housed in the housing:

[0007] - an electronic board and a plurality of light sources mounted on the board electronics;

[0008] - an optical plate located at the front of the electronic board, configured for to guide and / or diffuse the light emitted by the light sources, the optical plate comprising an opaque area having a through opening located opposite a first set of at least one light source among the plurality of light sources;

[0009] the hood having, opposite the opaque area and its opening, a retroreflective area which includes:

[0010] - a plurality of retroreflective reliefs projecting from the inner face of the hood towards the inside of the case, said retroreflective reliefs being distributed over substantially the entire surface of the retroreflective area;

[0011] - a plurality of transparent areas, devoid of retroreflective features and configured to allow light emitted by the light source(s) of the first set to pass through the opening, forward and outwards from the housing, the transparent areas being provided between at least some of the retroreflective reliefs and being distributed at least over substantially the entire surface of the portion of the retroreflective area located opposite the opening, preferably over substantially the entire surface of the retroreflective area.

[0012] Thus, on the one hand, the light according to the invention has a retroreflective zone, in accordance with regulations. Since this zone is not entirely covered with retroreflective surfaces due to the presence of transparent areas, the overall light reflection performance may be reduced compared to a conventional reflective system in which the retroreflective zone is entirely covered with retroreflective surfaces. However, this performance remains sufficient to meet regulatory criteria and ensure the required safety of property and persons. The retroreflective zone can typically be triangular in shape.

[0013] Furthermore, the light according to the invention allows the display of a luminous pattern generated by the rays emitted by the light source(s) of the first assembly, after passing through the through-hole in the opaque area and then through the transparent areas of the hood, i.e., the areas that allow light to pass through. This luminous pattern is contained within an opaque area and is defined by the through-hole in this opaque area; its outline is therefore clearly visible. As for the inner surface of the luminous pattern, it is not entirely illuminated since the rays emitted by the light source(s) of the first assembly can exit the housing at the transparent areas of the hood, while they cannot exit at the retroreflective raised areas of the hood. In other words, the inner surface of the luminous pattern has areas that are illuminated and areas that are not.However, by planning to leave transparent areas between at least some of the retroreflective features and distributing them at least over substantially the entire surface of the portion of the retroreflective area facing the opening, it is ensured that the inner surface of the light pattern can be clearly perceived, overall, by a person looking at the light. The light pattern is therefore clearly visible.

[0014] Thus, the opaque area and its through opening behave like a kind of "optical stencil" allowing the display of a luminous pattern such as a logo forming for example a means of recognition of the vehicle manufacturer.

[0015] The light according to the invention therefore produces two different optical results, namely a retroreflection and the display of a luminous pattern, in the same location on the light, which is very advantageous in terms of size. Furthermore, although potentially slightly less effective than if they were produced in separate locations on the light, each by a dedicated system specifically designed for the function In this case, both results are entirely satisfactory and, of course, comply with current regulations. This is due to the distribution and relative arrangement of the retroreflective surfaces and transparent areas within the retroreflective zone, which allows for an optical compromise. For example, the retroreflective surfaces and transparent areas can form two distinct networks arranged in a nested fashion.

[0016] Preferably, the free areas are distributed over substantially the entire surface of the retroreflective zone, that is to say, not only opposite the opening. Such an arrangement makes it possible to adapt the structure of the light to any luminous pattern to be displayed.

[0017] The retroreflective features can be substantially evenly distributed over the portion of the retroreflective area where they are present. Alternatively or in addition, the transparent areas can be substantially evenly distributed over the portion of the retroreflective area where they are present.

[0018] Retroreflective reliefs can form a repeating pattern on the portion of the retroreflective area where they are present. Alternatively or in addition, transparent areas can form a repeating pattern on the portion of the retroreflective area where they are present. The patterns formed by the retroreflective reliefs, on the one hand, and the patterns formed by the transparent areas, on the other hand, can be substantially identical; they can be offset from one another; they can form two networks nested within one another.

[0019] The density of retroreflective features can be substantially constant in the portion of the retroreflective area where they are present. Alternatively, or in addition, the density of transparent areas can be substantially constant in the portion of the retroreflective area where they are present. Density is defined as the number of retroreflective features, or the number of transparent areas, per unit area. In other words, for sub-areas with an area greater than the area of ​​a retroreflective feature, or a transparent area, the local densities in each sub-area can be the same.

[0020] According to one possible embodiment, over the entire retroreflective area, the density of retroreflective reliefs is substantially identical to the density of transparent areas.

[0021] The retroreflective features may have identical shapes. Each retroreflective feature may be pyramidal in shape, with its base located in the plane of the inner face of the cover and its apex located inside the housing. Each retroreflective feature may be a tetrahedron, preferably a regular tetrahedron.

[0022] According to one possible embodiment, the retroreflective reliefs form a network of retroreflective reliefs joined by the vertices of their bases, and define a network of transparent areas surrounded by retroreflective reliefs.

[0023] In other words, for a given retroreflective surface, each vertex of its base is contiguous with a vertex of the base of a neighboring retroreflective surface. With this configuration, the transparent areas have a polygonal shape identical to the shape of the base of the retroreflective surfaces, and the transparent areas are contiguous at their vertices, that is, at the vertices of the polygons.

[0024] According to one possible embodiment, in the retroreflective zone, the retroreflective features are arranged in parallel bands, with the vertices of the retroreflective features in a given band aligned. Furthermore, between two adjacent bands of retroreflective features, a series of transparent areas arranged in a band is provided.

[0025] With this configuration, the light pattern appears striped.

[0026] In practical terms, the vertices can be aligned along a line substantially parallel to the hood. In the case where the retroreflective reliefs are regular tetrahedra, taking as a reference the vertex of one of the tetrahedra, three virtual lines of alignment of vertices of other tetrahedra can be drawn which intersect at said reference vertex and which are arranged angularly at 120° to each other.

[0027] The transparent areas may be identical to each other. For example, each transparent area may be in the form of a plate of transparent material having an entrance diopter located in the plane of the inner face of the hood and an exit diopter located in the plane of the outer face of the hood.

[0028] The invention also relates to a system comprising a vehicle light as previously described and a control device, wherein the vehicle light comprises a first set of light sources located opposite the through-hole in the opaque area of ​​the optical plate and a second set of light sources, separate from the first set, configured to produce a position light function. Furthermore, the control device is configured so that, upon receiving an activation command for the second set of light sources, it also activates the first set of light sources, thereby causing a luminous pattern in the shape of said opening to be displayed in the retroreflective area. Such a luminous pattern is visible to a person through the cover of the light housing.

[0029] The invention further relates to a vehicle comprising a light or a system as previously described.

[0030] A possible embodiment of the invention is now described by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the attached figures:

[0031] [Fig-1] is an exploded perspective view of a vehicle light according to a mode of realization of the invention;

[0032] [Fig.2] is a plan view of an optical plate belonging to the fire of [Fig.1];

[0033] [Fig.3] is a plan view of the inner face of the light cover of [Fig.1], said inner face including a retroreflective area illustrated schematically;

[0034] [Fig.4] is a detail view of [Fig.3];

[0035] [Fig.5] and [Fig.6] are partial perspective views of the inner face of the hood ;

[0036] [Fig.7] is a detailed perspective view of the inner face of the hood;

[0037] [Fig.8] schematically illustrates the path of light rays through a relief retroreflective hood;

[0038] [Fig.9] schematically illustrates the path of light rays through a transparent area of ​​the hood;

[0039] [Fig. 10] schematically illustrates a first type of lighting obtained with fire;

[0040] [Fig. 11] schematically illustrates a second type of lighting obtained with fire.

[0041] Figure 1 represents a vehicle light 1, for example a light intended to be mounted at the rear of a vehicle. The light 1 may have a general parallelepiped shape.

[0042] The light 1 comprises a housing 2 which forms a closed and sealed enclosure. The housing 2 includes, on the one hand, a base 3 intended to be mounted on the vehicle and provided for this purpose with assembly means such as holes 4 for receiving studs 5 or other fastening elements. The housing 2 also includes a cover 10 which is mounted on the base 3.

[0043] The hood 10 has a main wall 11 which can be generally flat, and a peripheral rim 12 which is assembled to the base 3, for example via a peripheral bead of glue 6 to ensure sealing.

[0044] The light 1 further includes an electronic board 7 which is housed in the casing 2 and preferably fixed parallel to the base 3, for example via screws 8. Several light sources 20 are mounted on the electronic board 7 so as to emit light beams towards the hood 10.

[0045] The axis Al of the light 1 is defined as the axis orthogonal to the main wall 11 of the hood 10, this axis being able to correspond to the optical axis of the light sources 20. The axis Al can typically be parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle equipped with the light 1. In the description of the light 1, the terms "front" and "rear" are used with reference to the axis Al and the general direction of light emission by the light sources 20. Thus, the hood 10 is mounted on the base 3 at the front of the base 3. The expression "opposite" is used with reference to the axis Al of the light 1.

[0046] The light 1 also includes an optical plate 30 which is housed in the casing 2, at the front of the electronic board 7. The optical plate 30 can be assembled to the cover 3, for example by means of snap-on tabs 39 and / or a central rod not visible in the figures. The optical plate 30 is configured to guide and / or diffuse the light emitted by the light sources 20.

[0047] As can be seen in Figures 1 and 2, several zones are defined on the optical plate 30, each of these zones being opposite a given set of at least one light source 20 and allowing a particular optical function to be obtained on the light 1. The different sets of light sources 20 are preferably distinct.

[0048] In particular, the optical plate 30 has an opaque area 31 which has a through opening 38 and which is located opposite a first set 21 of at least one light source 20. Preferably, the opaque area 31 has a substantially triangular shape, with a point - possibly truncated - directed upwards in the position of use, and is located near a lateral edge of the optical plate 30.

[0049] In addition, the optical plate 30 may comprise all or part of the areas listed below, these areas preferably being distinct:

[0050] - a second zone 32 which is located opposite a second set 22 of less a light source 20, to produce a position light function. The second zone 22 is preferably red. According to the embodiment shown as an example, it may have an overall U shape having two horizontal branches each extending along a longitudinal edge of the optical plate 30, on either side of the opaque zone 31, and a base, possibly slanted, which joins the two branches in the vicinity of a transverse edge of the optical plate 30;

[0051] - a third zone 33 which is located opposite a third set 23 of minus a light source 20, to produce a brake light function. The third zone 33 is preferably red. According to the embodiment shown as an example, it can be located between the branches of the U forming the second zone 32;

[0052] - a fourth zone 34 which is located opposite a fourth set 24 of at least one light source 20, to produce a reversing light function. The fourth zone 34 is preferably white. According to the embodiment shown by way of example, it can form a substantially horizontal band - in the position of use - located between the third zone 33 and the upper arm of the U forming the second zone 32;

[0053] - a fifth zone 35 which is located opposite a fifth set 25 of at least one light source 20, to produce a direction indicator function. The fifth zone 35 is preferably yellow. Depending on the implementation represented as an example, it can form an L-shaped band having a substantially horizontal part - in the position of use - located between the third zone 33 and the lower branch of the U forming the second zone 32 and a part running along the base of the U;

[0054] - a sixth zone 36 which is located opposite a sixth set 26 of at least A light source 20 is used to produce a fog light function. The sixth zone 36 is preferably red. According to the embodiment shown as an example, it can be located between the opaque zone 31 and the lateral edge of the optical plate 30 situated near the opaque zone 31.

[0055] The hood 10 has an inner face 13, visible in [Fig.3], which is turned towards the inside of the light 1, i.e. towards the base 3, and an outer face 14, visible in [Fig.1], which is opposite the inner face 13 and turned towards the outside of the light 1.

[0056] The hood 10 has a retroreflective area 15 which is located opposite the opaque area 31 of the optical plate 30 and the aperture 38. The retroreflective area 15 preferably has a shape substantially identical to that of the opaque area 31. It should be noted that, in [Fig.3], the retroreflective area 15 is illustrated schematically.

[0057] As can be seen in figures 4 to 7, the retroreflective area 15 comprises on the one hand a plurality of retroreflective reliefs 40 which protrude from the inner face 13 of the cover 10 towards the interior of the housing 2 and on the other hand a plurality of transparent areas 45, devoid of retroreflective reliefs.

[0058] As can be seen in [Fig. 8], each retroreflective feature 40 is configured to reflect a beam of light 16 emitted by a light source located outside and in front of the hood 10 (i.e., at the rear of the vehicle if the light 1 is a rear vehicle light), such as the high beams of another vehicle. The retroreflective features 40 therefore act as reflectors.

[0059] Furthermore, as can be seen in [Fig.9], each transparent area 45 is configured to allow a light beam 17 emitted by the light source(s) 20 of the first assembly 21 to pass through the opening 38 of the opaque plate 30, forward and out of the housing 2.

[0060] More specifically, a transparent zone 45 can be in the form of a plate of transparent material - namely the main wall 11 of the hood 10 - having an entrance diopter 46 located in the plane of the inner face 13 of the hood 10 and an exit diopter 47 located in the plane of the outer face 14 of the hood 10.

[0061] The retroreflective features 40 are distributed over substantially the entire surface of the retroreflective area 15. In addition, the transparent areas 45 are distributed over substantially the entire surface of the retroreflective area 15, being provided between at least some of the retroreflective features 40. Alternatively, it is It is conceivable to provide transparent areas 45 only in the portion of retroreflective area 15 which is located opposite the opening 38 of the optical plate 30.

[0062] In the embodiment shown, the retroreflective reliefs 40 are identical tetrahedra. Each tetrahedron has, on the one hand, a triangular base 41 which is located in the plane of the inner face 13 of the cover 10 and which has three vertices 42, and on the other hand, a vertex 43 located inside the housing 2. In addition, the retroreflective reliefs 40 are joined at the vertices 42 of their bases 41.

[0063] Thus, and as can be seen particularly in [Fig.7], the retroreflective reliefs 40 define between them transparent areas 45 which have identical shapes, triangular in plan view, each transparent area 45 being surrounded and delimited by three retroreflective reliefs 40.

[0064] The retroreflective reliefs 40 therefore form a regular network, and the transparent areas 45 also form a regular network, these two networks being distinct and nested within each other.

[0065] As shown in particular in [Fig. 6], according to this arrangement, the retroreflective features 40 are arranged in parallel bands 44, the retroreflective features 40 of a given band 44 having their vertices 43 aligned. In addition, between two adjacent bands 44 of retroreflective features 40, a set of transparent areas 45 is provided, also arranged in a band 48. More precisely, the vertices 43 are arranged in a hexagonal pattern.

[0066] The light 1 allows two different types of lighting to be obtained in the retroreflective area 15.

[0067] As schematically illustrated in [Fig.10], a first type of lighting is obtained when the light sources 20 of the first set 21 are switched off.

[0068] In this case, and when the light 1 is illuminated by an external beam, for example the high beams of a vehicle located at the rear of the vehicle equipped with the light 1, each retroreflective relief 40 reflects the light beam 16 that it receives, in the direction of this light beam 16. The retroreflective area 15 therefore acts as a catadioptric and appears illuminated as a whole.

[0069] As schematically illustrated in [Fig.1 1], a second type of lighting is obtained when the light sources 20 of the first set 21 are switched on.

[0070] In this case, the light beam 17 emitted by the light source(s) 20 of the first assembly 21 comprises a portion that is blocked by the opaque plate 30 and a portion that passes through the opening 38 of the opaque plate 30 and then through the transparent areas 45 of the cover 10. This generates a light pattern 50 whose shape corresponds to the shape of the opening 38. It should be noted that, since no light is emitted through the cover 10 at the level of the retroreflective reliefs 40 Located opposite the opening 38, the inner surface of the luminous pattern 50 has areas that are illuminated and areas that are not. With the retroreflective reliefs 40 and transparent areas 45 arranged in bands 44, 48 as described previously, the inner surface of the luminous pattern 50 can appear as an illuminated surface striped with dark bands.

[0071] It should be noted that the light pattern 50 is not visible with the configuration of [Fig.10].

[0072] Preferably, the retroreflective features 40, on the one hand, and the transparent areas 45, on the other hand, are substantially evenly distributed over the entire surface of the retroreflective area 15. Moreover, over the entire retroreflective area 15, the density of retroreflective features 40 is substantially identical to the density of transparent areas 45. As a result, the lighting obtained is very satisfactory in terms of intensity, uniformity, and rendering, whether it is lighting of the first type or the second type. In particular, in the configuration of [Fig. 11], the shape of the light pattern 50 is clearly discernible.

[0073] According to one possible embodiment, the light 1 is mounted on a vehicle equipped with a control device which is configured to, upon receiving an activation order for the second set 22 of light sources 20, also trigger the activation of the first set 21 of light sources 20. Specifically, when the driver of the vehicle activates the position lights, this also activates the light sources 20 located opposite the opening 38 of the optical plate 30. In other words, the light pattern 50 is displayed in the retroreflective area 15 when the position lights are activated.

[0074] It goes without saying that the invention is not limited to the embodiment described above by way of example but includes all technical equivalents and variants of the means described as well as their combinations.

Claims

Demands

1. Vehicle light (1), the light (1) comprising a housing (2) having a base (3) and a cover (10) mounted on the base (3), at the front of the base (3), the light (1) further comprising, housed in the housing (2): - an electronic board (7) and a plurality of light sources (20) mounted on the electronic board (7); - an optical plate (30) located at the front of the electronic board (7), configured to guide and / or diffuse the light emitted by the light sources (20), the optical plate (30) having an opaque area (31) having a through opening (38) located opposite a first set (21) of at least one light source (20) from among the plurality of light sources (20);the hood (10) having, opposite the opaque area (31) and its opening (38), a retroreflective area (15) which includes: - a plurality of retroreflective reliefs (40) projecting from the inner face (13) of the hood (10) towards the inside of the housing (2), said retroreflective reliefs (40) being distributed over substantially the entire surface of the retroreflective area (15);- a plurality of transparent areas (45), devoid of retroreflective features (40) and configured to allow the light emitted by the light source(s) (20) of the first assembly (21) to pass through the opening (38), forward and outward from the housing (2), the transparent areas (45) being provided between at least some of the retroreflective features (40) and being distributed at least over substantially the entire surface of the portion of the retroreflective area (15) located opposite the opening (38), preferably over substantially the entire surface of the retroreflective area (15).

2. Vehicle light according to claim 1, characterized in that the retroreflective reliefs (40) and / or transparent areas (45) are substantially regularly distributed over the part of the retroreflective area (15) where they are present.

3. Vehicle light according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the retroreflective reliefs (40) and / or transparent areas (45) form a repeated pattern on the part of the retroreflective area (15) where they are present.

4. Vehicle light according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the density of retroreflective reliefs (40) and / or the density of transparent areas (45) is substantially constant in the part of the retroreflective area (15) where they are present, the density being defined as the number of retroreflective reliefs (40), respectively the number of transparent areas (45), per unit area.

5. Vehicle light according to claim 4, characterized in that, over the whole of the retroreflective area (15), the density of retroreflective reliefs (40) is substantially identical to the density of transparent areas (45).

6. Vehicle light according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the retroreflective reliefs (40) have identical shapes, each retroreflective relief (40) having the shape of a pyramid whose base (41) is located in the plane of the inner face (13) of the hood (10) and whose apex (43) is located inside the housing (2), each retroreflective relief (40) preferably being a tetrahedron.

7. Vehicle light according to claim 6, characterized in that the retroreflective reliefs (40) form a network of retroreflective reliefs (40) joined by the vertices (42) of their bases (41), and define a network of transparent areas (45) surrounded by retroreflective reliefs (40).

8. Vehicle light according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that, in the retroreflective area (15), the retroreflective reliefs (40) are arranged in parallel bands (44), the retroreflective reliefs (40) of a given band (44) having their vertices (43) aligned, and in that between two adjacent bands (44) of retroreflective reliefs (40) is provided a set of transparent areas (45) arranged in a band (48).

9. Vehicle light according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the transparent areas (45) are identical to each other, each transparent area (45) being in the form of a plate of transparent material having an inlet diopter (46) located in the plane of the inner face (13) of the hood (10) and an outlet diopter (47) located in the plane of the outer face (14) of the hood (10).

10. A system comprising a vehicle light (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9 and a control device, wherein the vehicle light (1) comprises a first set (21) of light sources (20) located opposite the opening (38) through the opaque area (31) of the optical plate (30) and a second set (22) of light sources (20) which is distinct from the first set (21) and which is configured to produce a position light function, characterized in that the control device is configured to, following the receipt of an activation order of the second set (22) of light sources (20), also cause the activation of the first set (21) of light sources (20), and thus cause the display, in the retroreflective area (15), of a light pattern (50) having the shape of said opening (38).

11. Vehicle comprising a light (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9 or a system according to claim 10.

Images