Motor vehicle lighting architecture including a front passing light that illuminates when the motor vehicle is in motion

Abstract

The invention relates to a motor vehicle lighting architecture (18) comprising two rear red lights (24), a rear crossing light (26), two headlights (20) each having daytime running lights (30), a front crossing light (22), and a unit control system module (36) connected to the two rear red lights (24) and the rear crossing light (26) such that the two rear red lights (24) and the rear crossing light (26) are continuously illuminated when the motor vehicle (16) is in operation. The unit control system module (36) is also connected to the front crossing light (22) such that said front crossing light (22) is continuously illuminated when the motor vehicle (16) is in operation. Figure for the abstract: Fig. 3

Description

Title of the invention: Motor vehicle lighting architecture comprising a front passing light that illuminates when the motor vehicle is in motion. Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to the lighting of a motor vehicle.

[0002] In particular, the invention relates to a motor vehicle lighting architecture comprising a front passing light which radiates when the motor vehicle is in motion. CONTEXT

[0003] Generally, as illustrated in [Fig.1] in a daytime condition and in [Fig.2] in a nighttime condition, the front of a motor vehicle has functions such as daytime running lights 2, position lights, low beams 4, high beams, fog lights, corner lights, turn signals, etc.

[0004] The motor vehicle includes left and right headlights 6 which integrate several of these functions, a combination switch 8 for controlling certain functions such as position lights, low beams, or high beams, via a unit control system module 12. The motor vehicle also includes two rear red lights 10 and the unit control system module 12 for making these two rear red lights 10 shine at night.

[0005] The daytime running lights 2 operate automatically without requiring manual intervention from the driver. During the day, when the motor vehicle is started, the daytime running lights 2 activate automatically. When the low beam function 4 is activated, the daytime running lights 2 switch off automatically.

[0006] Some motor vehicles include a front crossing lamp arranged between the headlights 6, the front crossing lamp having a position light function 4a. This front crossing lamp is generally referred to as a "front crossing lamp" in English.

[0007] In these motor vehicles, each headlight 6 includes a unique complex driver 14 to connect the headlights 6 and the front crossing light as master and slave, in particular, the headlights 6 slave the slaved front crossing light so that when the master function is activated, the slave function is also activated as illustrated in [Fig.2]. SUMMARY

[0008] The object of the invention is to improve the visibility of a motor vehicle, to make a front passing light illuminate at the same time as the daytime running lights, to improve the possibilities to customize the light signature for the motor vehicle, and to present an automatic radiance of the front passing light.

[0009] The invention relates to a motor vehicle lighting architecture comprising two rear red lights, a rear crossing light, two headlights each having daytime running lights, a front crossing light, and a unit control system module which is connected to the two rear red lights and the rear crossing light so that the two rear red lights and the rear crossing light radiate continuously when the motor vehicle is in operation, characterized in that the unit control system module is also connected to the front crossing light so that said front crossing light radiates continuously when the motor vehicle is in operation.

[0010] The unit control system module which is connected to the two rear red lights and the tail-by-day light so that the two rear red lights and the tail-by-day light are continuously illuminated when the motor vehicle is in operation, sometimes referred to as the tail-by-day concept, is a feature of the architecture in which the rear red light is available at all times.

[0011] The unit control system module, which is also connected to the front crossing light, is a simple and cost-effective solution for ensuring the front crossing light is always illuminated when the motor vehicle is in motion. This feature improves the visibility of the motor vehicle, allows the front crossing light to illuminate simultaneously with the daytime running lights, enhances the possibilities for customizing the motor vehicle's lighting signature, and enables automatic activation of the front crossing light.

[0012] The motor vehicle lighting architecture may include a common connection between the unit control system module, the two rear red lights, the rear crossing light, and the front crossing light.

[0013] Thus, the two rear red lights, the rear crossing light, and the front crossing light exhibit the same lighting behavior.

[0014] The two rear red lights, the rear crossing light, and the front crossing light can radiate in both daytime and nighttime conditions.

[0015] Thus, the visibility and light signature of the motor vehicle are improved.

[0016] The radiation from the front passing light can be independent of the radiation from the daytime running lights of the two headlights.

[0017] Thus, the front passing light can radiate without reducing the night-related lighting functions, such as the instrument cluster.

[0018] The front passing light and the daytime running lights of both headlights can be capable of radiating simultaneously, in particular during the day.

[0019] On the contrary, on certain known motor vehicles, the radiation from the front passing light is switched off or modifies the radiation from the daytime running lights.

[0020] Each headlight may have at least one function of a position light, a low beam, a high beam, a turn signal, or a corner light, the radiation of the front passing light being independent of the radiation of said function.

[0021] On the contrary, on certain known motor vehicles, the radiation of the front passing light is dependent on said function.

[0022] The intensity of the radiation from the front passing light may be different from the intensity of the radiation from the daytime running lights of the two headlights.

[0023] Each headlight may include a power driver. The motor vehicle lighting architecture may include a combined switch, capable of simultaneously controlling both power drivers, via a unit control system module.

[0024] Thus, the front passing light can radiate without adding an intelligence function to the existing headlights and without adding a driver to control all the front functions.

[0025] Another object of the invention is to provide a motor vehicle comprising a motor vehicle lighting architecture as described above. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0026] Other advantages and specific features of the invention will become apparent upon reading the detailed description of embodiments of the invention, which are non-limiting examples, illustrated in the attached drawings, including:

[0027] [Fig.1] is a schematic view of a motor vehicle lighting architecture according to the prior art in a daytime condition;

[0028] [Fig.2] is a view corresponding to [Fig.1] in a nighttime condition;

[0029] [Fig.3] is a schematic view of a motor vehicle lighting architecture according to an example of the invention under daytime conditions; and

[0030] [Fig.4] is a view corresponding to [Fig.3] under nighttime conditions. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] As shown in Figures 3 in a daytime condition and in [Fig.4] in a nighttime condition, a motor vehicle 16 includes a motor vehicle lighting architecture 18 which includes, at the front of the vehicle, two headlights 20 and a front crossing light 22 disposed between the two headlights 20 and, at the rear of the vehicle, two rear red lights 24 and a rear crossing light 26 disposed between the two rear lights.

[0032] Each headlight 20 includes several lighting functions, namely a position light 28, a low beam, a high beam, a turn signal, a corner light, and daytime running lights 30. Each headlight 20 also includes a power driver 32.

[0033] The motor vehicle lighting architecture 18 further includes a combination switch 34 suitable for controlling the headlights 20 via a unit control system module 36 which has multiple connection pins.

[0034] The unit control system module 36 is connected to the combination switch 34 via a dedicated connection pin on the unit control system module 36. Through other dedicated connection pins, the unit control system module 36 is connected to the power drivers 32 of the two headlights 20. The combination switch 34 can control the lighting functions of the headlights 20 via the unit control system module 36. In particular, there is no electrical connection between the two headlights 20 and the front daytime running light 22, which is thus independent of the headlights 20. The front daytime running light 22 is therefore able to illuminate without the aid of a connection pin on the unit control system module 36 dedicated to daytime running lights.

[0035] The unit control system module 36, via another separate connection pin, is connected to the two rear red lights 24, to the front crossing light 22, and here to the rear crossing light 26 by a common connection 38.

[0036] The daytime running lights 30 of the two headlights 20 are an automatic function that illuminates during the day when the motor vehicle 16 is in operation. The daytime running lights 30 of the two headlights 20 switch off automatically at night.

[0037] The two rear red lights 24, and here the rear passage light 26, each radiate continuously when the motor vehicle 16 is in operation, in daytime or nighttime conditions, each emitting a rear light 40.

[0038] The radiation 42 of the front passing light 22 is independent of the radiation of the functions of the two headlights 20. Thus, the operation of the two headlights 20 does not affect the radiation 42 of the front passing light 22. For example, when the flashing function is on, the daytime running lights 30 go off, while the radiation 42 of the front passing light 22 is unchanged.

[0039] As illustrated in [Fig.3] under daytime conditions, the motor vehicle lighting architecture 18 allows the daytime running lights 30 in both headlights 20, the front passing light 22, the two rear red lights 24, and here the rear passing light 26 to radiate simultaneously.

[0040] As illustrated in [Fig.4] under night conditions, the motor vehicle lighting architecture 18 allows the low beams, high beams, and position lights in the two headlights 20, the front passing light 22, the two rear red lights 24, and here the rear passing light 26 to radiate simultaneously.

[0041] As illustrated in [Fig.3] and 4, the unit control system module 36 is powered by a battery 44 from the motor vehicle 16.

Claims

Demands

1. Motor vehicle lighting architecture (18) comprising two rear red lights (24), a rear crossing light (26), two headlights (20) each having daytime running lights (30), a front crossing light (22), and a unit control system module (36) which is connected to the two rear red lights (24) and the rear crossing light (26) such that the two rear red lights (24) and the rear crossing light (26) are continuously illuminated when the motor vehicle (16) is in operation, characterized in that the unit control system module (36) is also connected to the front crossing light (22) such that said front crossing light (22) is continuously illuminated when the motor vehicle (16) is in operation.

2. Motor vehicle lighting architecture (18) according to claim 1, comprising a common connection (38) between the unit control system module (36), the two rear red lights (24), the rear crossing light (26), and the front crossing light (22).

3. Motor vehicle lighting architecture (18) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the two rear red lights (24), the rear crossing light (26), and the front crossing light (22) radiate both in daytime and nighttime conditions.

4. Motor vehicle lighting architecture (18) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the radiation (42) of the front passing light (22) is independent of the radiation of the daytime running lights (30) of the two headlights (20), the front passing light (22) and the daytime running lights (30) of the two headlights (20) being able to radiate simultaneously, in particular during the day.

5. Motor vehicle lighting architecture (18) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein each headlight (20) has at least one function of a position light (28), a low beam, a high beam, a turn signal, or a corner light, the radiation (42) of the front passing light (22) being independent of the radiation of said function.

6. Motor vehicle lighting architecture (18) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the intensity of the radiation (42) of the front passing light (22) is different from the radiation intensity of the daytime running lights (30) of the two headlights (20).

7. Motor vehicle (16) comprising a motor vehicle lighting architecture (18) according to any one of claims 1 6.

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