manufacturing process

Abstract

The present invention relates to a support (1) for a lighting device for a motor vehicle, said device, said vehicle, and a method for manufacturing this support (1) having a general polygonal frame shape comprising at least four sides and adapted to receive at least one lighting device, said support being characterized in that it comprises an elastic adjuster (10) allowing the lengthening or shortening of this first side, so that when said support (1) is fitted to a vehicle by its fasteners (11), an elastic deformation of the frame, parallel to an axis (A) passing through the two light sources (30), makes it possible to maintain the respective position of the optical components (2) relative to the light sources (30). Figure for the abstract: Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Support for a lighting device, lighting device and vehicle equipped with such a device and method of manufacture

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of motor vehicles such as automobiles and in particular to displays and lighting (and / or signaling) devices for such vehicles.

[0002] In particular, the present invention relates to a support for a lighting device, a lighting device and a vehicle equipped with such a device and a method.

[0003] Nowadays, many lighting devices use electronic components comprising a light source coupled to an optical component. A recurring problem in this field concerns the alignment of the optical components with the position of the light sources in the electronic components, particularly due to cost reduction constraints. Indeed, it is not uncommon for two (or more) optical components to be coupled to a single electronic component comprising one or two (or more) light sources. However, integrating such assemblies into a support suitable for vehicle mounting often leads to position alignment problems that can result in degraded lighting device performance.In some cases, these drawbacks arise from the fact that the mounts are made of rigid material but are flexible enough to be slightly deformable in order to adapt their shape to their intended location on the vehicle. This slight deformation can lead to misalignment of the light sources with the optical components, particularly when a single electronic component is designed to be coupled to at least two optical components.

[0004] One object of the present invention is to overcome at least some of the drawbacks of the prior art by providing a support for display devices which makes it easier to mount and adjust them without degrading performance.

[0005] This objective is achieved by a support for a lighting device for a motor vehicle, said support having a general polygonal frame shape comprising at least four sides and being capable of receiving at least one lighting device within this frame and an electronic component on a first side of the polygonal frame, said support also comprising fixings enabling it to be fixed to a vehicle and, furthermore, having hooks enabling it to receive and hold fixed at least two optical components, each on one of the two sides adjacent to the first side, so that they are functionally connectable to light sources of said electronic component, characterized in that: -said electronic component includes fasteners enabling it, on the one hand, to maintain said optical components centered in front of said light sources, - said first side of the frame includes an elastic adjuster allowing the lengthening or shortening of this first side, so that when adjusting said support on a vehicle by its fasteners, an elastic deformation of the frame, parallel to an axis passing through the two light sources, allows the respective position of the optical components to be maintained with respect to the light sources.

[0006] According to another feature, the support for each of the optical components, on either side of said adjuster, includes two complementary attachments of two of said attachments of the electronic component, one of the latter being a free attachment configured to offer a degree of freedom in a direction parallel to an axis passing through the two attachments of the optical component, when mounting the latter on said electronic component and the other being an attachment adjusted to immobilize said optical component with respect to said electronic component.

[0007] According to another feature, said adjuster is formed by at least one curved slat parallel to the axis of the light sources and making said first side of the frame elastic by the curvature of this slat.

[0008] According to another feature, said adjuster comprises a first curved slat parallel to the axis and a second curved slat parallel to the first and whose curvature is in the opposite direction to that of said first curved slat.

[0009] According to another feature, said adjuster comprises two curved slats parallel to each other and whose curvature has the same direction, at least a third curved slat parallel to the two slats and preferably arranged in the middle of these slats, but with a curvature whose direction is opposite to that of these two slats.

[0010] According to another feature, said fasteners of the electronic component are configured in an isostatic manner with respect to the fasteners to maintain fixed the respective position of the optical components with respect to the light sources of the electronic component.

[0011] Another goal is to propose a lighting device that addresses at least some of the problems of the interior.

[0012] This goal is achieved by a motor vehicle lighting device, characterized in that it comprises a support according to any one of the embodiments described in this application.

[0013] According to another feature, the device includes fasteners suitable for holding other components of a lighting system to form a headlight or signaling device of said motor vehicle.

[0014] Another goal is to propose a motorized vehicle that addresses at least some of the problems from the inside.

[0015] This goal is achieved by a motorized vehicle, characterized in that it includes a lighting device in any of the embodiments described in this application.

[0016] Another goal is to propose a support manufacturing process that addresses at least some of the problems from the inside.

[0017] This goal is achieved by a method of manufacturing a support for a lighting device for a motor vehicle, characterized in that it comprises, in addition to the classic steps of manufacturing the frame, at least one step of defining the axis passing through the locations of the two light sources, then the design of the support for its production with a step of defining an axis along which the adjuster of the support extends.

[0018] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become clearer upon reading the description of various embodiments below, made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0019] [Fig-1] [Fig.1] represents a front perspective view of a support (1) for lighting device according to certain embodiments;

[0020] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] shows a side view of a support (1) for a device lighting according to certain embodiments;

[0021] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] represents a three-quarter profile view of a support (1) for a lighting device according to certain embodiments;

[0022] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] represents a side view of part of a support (1) for lighting device according to certain embodiments;

[0023] [Fig.5] [Fig.5] represents an enlargement of the upper part of [Fig.4];

[0024] [Fig 6] [Fig 6] represents an enlargement of the upper part of [Fig.4];

[0025] [Fig.7] [Fig.7] represents a perspective view of several adjusters of a support for lighting device according to certain embodiments;

[0026] [Fig 8] [Fig 8] represents a top view of several adjusters of a support for a lighting device according to certain embodiments.

[0027] In general, the present invention is intended for integration into a motor vehicle and relates principally to a support (1) for a lighting device and a lighting device equipped with such a support (1). Said support (1) has a general polygonal frame shape comprising at least four sides, made suitable for receiving at least one lighting device within this frame (by the presence of a housing within the frame and any means of fixing, hooks, or fasteners). In [Fig. 1], for example, the support is configured to receive a car headlight with its low beams and high beams, as well as the direction indicator lights ("turn signals"), in addition to the daytime running lights, which are formed by two light guides (2), each running along the contour of one of the upper and lower sides of the support (1). It should be noted that these terms are used interchangeably in this application and all refer to the possibility of fixing, whether removably or not, one component, element, device, or apparatus to another. Such fixing generally relies on structures of mutually complementary shape, and no details are necessary for a person skilled in the art to implement them.Furthermore, this frame is suitable for accommodating at least one electronic component (3), at least on one side of the polygonal frame, and the support (1) also includes fasteners (11) enabling it to be fixed to a vehicle, as well as clips (12) enabling it to receive and hold fixed, at least two optical components (2). Such optical components (2) are generally light guides forming, for example, the signature of daytime running lights or the illumination of a position light or even dipped headlights, but they can also be reflectors, collimators, lenses, etc., since the principle of the invention is applicable to any support receiving at least two devices, which may be identical or different, particularly from the list of examples cited above.On the other hand, these two optical components (2) each have clips (12) on one of the two sides adjacent to the first side, so that they are functionally connectable to said light sources (30) of said electronic component (3). By functionally connectable, we mean here that the optical components (2) must be kept correctly aligned with respect to the light sources (30). This is why the attachment of each optical component (2) to the electronic component (3) is generally isostatic, which makes assembly more difficult and also presents risks of performance degradation compared to that expected. Because a single electronic component (3) is often used in an isostatic manner for optical components, it serves to...

[0028] Furthermore, said electronic component (3) has fasteners (32) enabling it, on the one hand, to hold said optical components (2) in front of light sources (30) provided on said electronic component (3), while also providing a degree of freedom for adjusting the respective positions of the optical components (2) relative to said light source (30). Generally, such a device is a printed circuit board containing light-emitting diodes (LEDs).

[0029] Furthermore, said first side of the frame advantageously includes an elastic adjuster (10) allowing the lengthening and / or shortening of this first side of the frame, so that during an adjustment of said support (1) on a vehicle by its fasteners (11), an elastic deformation of the frame at the level of said first side, along an axis parallel to that of the degree of freedom of said fasteners (32) of the electronic component (3), makes it possible to maintain the respective position of the optical components (2) with respect to the light sources (30).

[0030] In certain embodiments, each of the optical components (2), on either side of said adjuster (10), has two attachments (23) complementary to two of said attachments (32) of the electronic component (3), one of the latter being a free attachment (32d) configured to offer one degree of freedom in a direction parallel to an axis passing through the two attachments (23) of the optical component (2), when the latter is mounted on said electronic component (3), and the other being an adjusted attachment (32f) to immobilize said optical component (2) relative to said electronic component (3). Thus, the mounting is facilitated by preventing variations in the size of the center-to-center distance between the attachments (23) of one optical component (2) to the other and / or in the distance between the attachments (32) of one electronic component to the other from hindering or interfering with this mounting.Thus, with the play offered by the free fasteners (32f), as for example in the non-limiting example shown in [Fig.4], oblong holes (32f) forming the free fasteners cooperate with substantially cylindrical or frustoconical studs (the term cylinder is not limiting and can in fact designate a generalized cylinder whose base is not circular but can have any shape).

[0031] It should be noted that attaching the complementary fasteners of the optical components (2) to the fasteners of the electronic components ensures satisfactory stability since this attachment is isostatic. Thus, it is understood that the isostatic attachment of the two optical components to an electronic component results in a hyperstatic attachment requiring a technical solution such as the one proposed in this application.

[0032] In certain embodiments, said adjuster (10) is formed by at least one curved strip that makes said first side of the frame (1) elastic due to the curvature of this strip. Such a curved strip, by deforming its curvature, allows the adjuster to compensate for positional defects in the structures on which said support (1) is intended to be mounted. This strip solution is less expensive than using other alternatives requiring a separate part, such as a spring or other parts made of elastic material. Indeed, by incorporating a first side of the frame as a deformable strip directly into the frame material, the production cost is significantly reduced. Thus, it is preferable to provide an adjuster integrated into said support frame, made for example of plastic or composite, notably with molding techniques (or extrusion or possibly 3D printing)

[0033] However, with only one slat, it remains possible that any movement could cause the frame to twist at the point where it has the most elasticity. For example, with only one slat, it is not uncommon to observe a twisting (twisting) of the frame.

[0034] In certain embodiments, said adjuster (10) comprises a first curved slat parallel to a second curved slat whose curvature is in the opposite direction to that of said first curved slat. This type of embodiment allows one slat to compensate for the deformation of the other, so as to guarantee better stability of the assembly over time.

[0035] In certain embodiments, characterized in that said adjuster (10) comprises two parallel curved blades whose curvature has the same direction, and a third curved blade parallel to the two blades and preferably disposed in the middle of these blades, but with a curvature whose direction is opposite to that of these two blades. An even greater number of blades is possible, but a maximum of three blades will generally suffice. Preferably, the respective widths (sizes perpendicular to the (longitudinal) axis of the adjuster (parallel to the axis between the light sources) of the blades of the same adjuster are identical from one blade to another, when comparing blades having curvatures in opposite directions.Similarly, in the case of an odd number of lamellae, for example three, the sums of the total widths of the lamellae curved in one direction are identical to the sums of the widths of the lamellae curved in the other direction. Figures 7 and 8 show limiting examples of such lamellae and their dimensions.

[0036] In certain embodiments, said fasteners (32) of the electronic component (3) are configured isostatically with respect to the fasteners (23) to maintain the respective position of the optical components (2) with respect to the light sources (30).

[0037] Furthermore, as mentioned above, the invention also relates to a lighting device for a motor vehicle, characterized in that it comprises a support (1) according to any one of the embodiments described in this application. In some of these embodiments, the lighting device comprises fasteners adapted to hold other components of a lighting system to form a headlight or a signaling device for said motor vehicle. Finally, this application relates to a motor vehicle equipped with such a lighting device.

[0038] Finally, the present invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a support according to the present application. This method comprises, in addition to the conventional steps for manufacturing the frame, at least one step for defining the axis passing through the locations of the two light sources (30), then the design of the support for its production with a step of defining an axis along which the support adjuster extends. In particular, this definition of the adjuster axis may include a definition of the slat length and the number of slats with their axes parallel to the axis of the light sources

[0039] This application describes various technical features and advantages with reference to the figures and / or various embodiments. Those skilled in the art will understand that the technical features of a given embodiment can in fact be combined with features of another embodiment unless the contrary is explicitly stated, or it is obvious that such features are incompatible, or that the combination does not provide a solution to at least one of the technical problems mentioned in this application. Furthermore, the technical features described in a given embodiment can be isolated from the other features of that embodiment unless the contrary is explicitly stated.

[0040] Detailed list of references in the figures: 1 support 11 fixings or fasteners 12 hooks 2 optical components, 21 fasteners 3 electronic components, 30 light sources. 23 optical component attachments (2) 32 electronic component attachments (3), 32f attachments 32 fixed 32d attachment 32 free

Claims

Demands

1. Support (1) for a motor vehicle lighting device, said support (1) having a general polygonal frame shape comprising at least four sides and being capable of receiving at least one lighting device within this frame and an electronic component (3) on a first side of the polygonal frame, said support (1) also comprising fasteners (11) making it capable of being fixed to a vehicle and, furthermore, comprising hooks (12) making it capable of receiving and holding fixed at least two optical components (2), each on one of the two sides adjacent to the first side, so that they are functionally connectable to light sources (30) of said electronic component (3), characterized in that: - said electronic component (3) comprises fasteners (32) making it capable, on the one hand, of holding said optical components (2) centered opposite said light sources (30),- said first side of the frame includes an elastic adjuster (10) allowing the lengthening or shortening of this first side, so that when said support (1) is fitted to a vehicle by its fasteners (11), an elastic deformation of the frame, parallel to an axis passing through the two light sources (30), makes it possible to maintain the respective position of the optical components (2) relative to the light sources (30).

2. Support (1) for lighting device according to claim 1, characterized in that each of the optical components (2), on either side of said adjuster (10), comprises two attachments (23) complementary to two of said attachments (32) of the electronic component (3), one of the latter being a free attachment (32d) configured to offer a degree of freedom in a direction parallel to an axis passing through the two attachments (23) of the optical component (2), when the latter is mounted on said electronic component (3) and the other being an adjusted attachment (32f) to immobilize said optical component (2) with respect to said electronic component (3).

3. Support (1) for a lighting device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said adjuster (10) is formed by at least one curved blade parallel to the axis of the light sources and making elastic said first side of the frame (1) by the curvature of this slat.

4. Support (1) for lighting device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said adjuster (10) comprises a first curved slat parallel to the axis and a second curved slat parallel to the first and whose curvature is in the opposite direction to that of said first curved slat.

5. Support (1) for lighting device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said adjuster (10) comprises two parallel curved slats whose curvature has the same direction, at least one third curved slat parallel to the two slats and preferably disposed in the middle of these slats, but with a curvature whose direction is opposite to that of these two slats.

6. Support (1) for lighting device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said fasteners (32) of the electronic component (3) are configured isostatically with respect to the fasteners (23) to maintain fixed the respective position of the optical components (2) with respect to the light sources (30) of the electronic component (3).

7. Lighting device for motor vehicle, characterized in that it comprises a support (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. Lighting device for motor vehicle according to claim 7, characterized in that it comprises fasteners suitable for holding other components of a lighting system to form a headlight or signaling device for said motor vehicle.

9. Motorized vehicle, characterized in that it comprises a lighting device according to any one of claims 7 and 8.

10. Method of manufacturing a support (1) for a lighting device for a motor vehicle, characterized in that it comprises, in addition to the classic steps of manufacturing the frame, at least one step of defining the axis passing through the locations of the two light sources (30), then the design of the support for its production with a step of defining an axis along which the support adjuster extends.

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