Simplified housing optical unit for one vehicle
The fixing tab in optical units addresses membrane detachment issues by acting as a deflector, maintaining sealing and simplifying manufacturing, thus preventing liquid ingress and reducing costs.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- FR · FR
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- STELLANTIS AUTO SAS
- Filing Date
- 2024-12-13
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-19
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
Title of the invention: Simplified housing optical unit for a vehicle Technical field of the invention
[0001] The invention relates to optical blocks which are suitable for equipping certain vehicles and which include a housing. State of the art
[0002] Many vehicles, possibly automobiles, include at least one optical unit defining a cavity with a lens housing components designed to provide at least one photometric lighting function and / or at least one photometric signaling function. To allow this type of optical unit to be mounted on equipment or a component of a vehicle, the housing includes a peripheral wall on which at least one mounting tab protrudes.
[0003] It should be noted that this type of fixing can be installed in a front or rear end of a vehicle.
[0004] The casing and the (protective) glass are sealed together (generally by gluing, with an interposed sealing gasket) to prevent liquid from entering the cavity they jointly define. As those skilled in the art know, in order to allow for equalization of the internal pressure within the cavity and the atmospheric pressure outside this cavity, but also to allow air circulation within this cavity to prevent condensation and to allow the dissipation of heat generated during operation, at least one through hole covered by a breathable membrane is defined in at least one wall of the casing (generally the one defining the bottom (or rear) of the cavity).
[0005] Typically, each breathable membrane is glued to its housing wall at the periphery of the associated through-hole. However, liquid runoff on the outer face of this wall can, over time, cause a breathable membrane to detach and thus render the optical block non-sealing, which can lead to internal short circuits (or even an electrical fire) and / or accelerated aging of electrical or electronic components.
[0006] To prevent the aforementioned delamination, an anti-drip rib is defined on the outer face of the housing wall, completely surrounding each through-hole covered by a breathable membrane. This prevents direct runoff onto each breathable membrane, but defining each anti-drip rib requires adapting and complicating the mold used to manufacture the housing, which generally necessitates at least one movement during demolding. additional space is required to clear each anti-drip rib, thus complicating the manufacturing operations of the cases and consequently increasing the manufacturing costs of the cases.
[0007] The invention therefore aims in particular to improve the situation. Presentation of the invention
[0008] In particular, it proposes for this purpose an optical block suitable for equipping a vehicle and comprising a housing, on the one hand, defining with a glass a cavity housing components suitable for ensuring at least one photometric function, and, on the other hand, comprising at least one mounting tab protruding on a peripheral wall.
[0009] This optical block is characterized by the fact that:
[0010] - the peripheral wall of its housing includes, at the level of, and next to, the leg of fixing at least one through hole covered by a breathable membrane designed to allow air circulation while preventing liquid from entering the housing, and
[0011] - the fixing tab protects this breathable membrane from runoff.
[0012] Thus, the (each) fixing tab has a dual function: it participates in fixing its optical block and defines an anti-drip deflector (or "cap") for the breathable membrane installed next to it (or under it), which makes it possible not to have to define an anti-drip rib around the through hole covered by this breathable membrane, and therefore to simplify the mold and avoid having to add at least one additional movement to clear each anti-drip rib during demolding.
[0013] The optical block according to the invention may include other features which may be taken separately or in combination, and in particular:
[0014] - its housing may include at least two mounting tabs protruding from its wall peripheral and at the level, and next to, each of which is defined at least one through hole covered by a breathable membrane;
[0015] - the peripheral wall of its housing may include at the level of, and next to, each fixing tab a recess in which is defined at least one through hole covered by a breathable membrane;
[0016] - each fixing tab can protrude substantially perpendicularly to a portion of the peripheral wall of the case.
[0017] The invention also proposes a vehicle, possibly of the automobile type, and comprising at least one optical block of the type presented above.
[0018] For example, this vehicle may include a front end comprising each optical block. Brief description of the figures
[0019] 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:
[0020] [Fig. 1] schematically illustrates, in a perspective view from the rear, part of an example embodiment of an optical block according to the invention, and
[0021] [Fig.2] schematically illustrates, in a cross-sectional view at the level of a leg of fixing, part of the optical block housing of the [Fig.l]. Detailed description of the invention
[0022] The invention aims in particular to provide an optical block BO intended to equip a vehicle and whose housing BB is simplified compared to a housing of the prior art.
[0023] In what follows, it is considered, by way of non-limiting example, that the BO optical unit is intended to equip a motor vehicle, such as a car. However, the BO optical unit can equip any vehicle (land, sea (or river), or air).
[0024] Furthermore, in the following, by way of non-limiting example and as partially and non-limitingly illustrated in [Fig. 1], the optical unit BO is considered to be intended to be part of the front end of a motor vehicle. In this case, it constitutes a front light or a headlight. However, the optical unit BO could also be intended to equip the rear end of a vehicle, and in this case, it constitutes a rear light, for example.
[0025] In figures 1 and 2 the direction X 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 direction Y is intended to be parallel to the transverse direction of the vehicle, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X, and the direction Z 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.
[0026] 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.
[0027] Figure 1 schematically illustrates, at least partially, part of an example embodiment of an optical block BO according to the invention. As illustrated at least partially in Figures 1 and 2, an optical block BO according to the invention comprises a housing BB and a (protective) lens GP which together define a cavity CB housing components suitable for providing at least one photometric lighting function (such as, for example, a high beam or low beam function). dipping) or signaling (such as a daytime running light (DRL) function, a turn signal function, or a position light function).
[0028] Among the components housed in the CB cavity, one can notably mention a source photons (possibly installed with control and power supply circuits on an electronic board which may be a PCB type printed circuit board (“Printed Circuit Board”)), an optical element (such as a light guide, a reflector or a lens), and a mask.
[0029] It will be noted that the photons participating in the (each) photometric function of the optical block BO exit the cavity CB through the (protective) glass GP, which therefore serves as an interface with the outside of the optical block BO.
[0030] The BB housing and the GP (protective) glass are joined together in a watertight manner, for example by gluing and with the interposition of a sealing gasket to prevent the penetration of liquid into the CB cavity which they delimit together.
[0031] The BB housing comprises at least one peripheral wall PP on which at least one fixing tab PF protrudes. The term "peripheral wall PP" here means a wall that is fixedly attached to the periphery of the bottom (or rear) wall PF' of the BB housing, and which may (as illustrated without limitation) also be fixedly attached to the glass GP.
[0032] As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, this peripheral wall PP includes, at and adjacent to the PF mounting tab, at least one through hole TT which is covered by a breathable membrane MR designed to allow air circulation from the outside to the inside, and vice versa, while preventing liquid from entering the CB cavity of the BB housing. The PF mounting tab is arranged to protect the breathable membrane MR from liquid runoff.
[0033] It will be understood that the presence of a PF mounting tab is used here to prevent liquid from running down towards a breathable membrane MR which is installed at the level of, and next to, it (or below it). Consequently, the PF mounting tab has a dual function: it helps to secure its optical block BO and it defines a deflector (or cap) to prevent runoff for the breathable membrane MR installed next to it (PF) (or below it (PF)), and for example just below it (PF).
[0034] This simplification of the BB housing by moving a through hole TT covered by a breathable membrane MR to, and next to, a fixing tab PF is particularly advantageous, because it eliminates the need to define an anti-drip rib around this through hole TT, thus simplifying the mold used to produce the BO housing and therefore avoiding the need to add at least one additional movement to clear each anti-drip rib during demolding. It This results in a reduction in the complexities of the mold and manufacturing operations of the BB cases and consequently a reduction in the manufacturing costs of the BB cases.
[0035] For example, and as illustrated without limitation in [Fig. 1], at least two through holes TT, covered respectively by two breathable membranes MR, can be defined in a zone ZR of the peripheral wall PP which is located at, and next to, a fastening tab PF. But the number of through holes TT defined in such a zone ZR of the peripheral wall PP can take any value greater than or equal to one.
[0036] It will be noted, although it does not appear in the figures, that the BB housing can include at least two PF fixing tabs which protrude from its peripheral wall PP and at the level, and next to, each of which is defined at least one through hole TT covered by a breathable membrane MR.
[0037] Also, for example, and as illustrated without limitation in Figures 1 and 2, the peripheral wall PP may include, at and beside each fixing tab PF, a recess RT defined in a zone ZR and in which is defined at least one through hole TT covered by a breathable membrane MR. The definition of at least one through hole TT in a recess RT of the peripheral wall PP further prevents runoff liquid from reaching the breathable membrane MR that covers this through hole TT.
[0038] But in an alternative embodiment not shown, the area ZR (in which at least one through hole TT is defined) could not include a recess RT.
[0039] Also, for example, and as illustrated without limitation in Figures 1 and 2, each PF fixing tab can project substantially perpendicularly to a zone (or portion) ZR of the peripheral wall PP in which at least one through hole TT is defined. However, an angle of approximately 90° is not mandatory. Indeed, the angle between a PF fixing tab and the zone (or portion) ZR of the peripheral wall PP (in which at least one through hole TT is defined) can be less than 90°. For example, this angle can be between 60° and 90°. But other values can be used provided they allow a PF fixing tab to define a deflector (or cap) to prevent runoff for the breathable membrane MR installed next to (or under) it.
Claims
Demands
1. Optical unit (OU) suitable for equipping a vehicle and comprising a housing (H) i) defining with a lens (G) a cavity (H) housing components suitable for ensuring at least one photometric function, and ii) comprising at least one mounting tab (MT) projecting on a peripheral wall (PW), characterized in that said peripheral wall (PW) comprises at the level, and next to said mounting tab (MT) at least one through hole (TT) covered by a breathable membrane (PM) suitable for allowing air circulation while preventing liquid from entering said housing (H), and in that said mounting tab (MT) protects said breathable membrane (PM) from dripping.
2. Optical block according to claim 1, characterized in that said housing (BB) has at least two mounting tabs (PF) projecting on said peripheral wall (PP) and at the level, and next to, each of which is defined at least one through hole (TT) covered by a breathable membrane (MR).
3. Optical block according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said peripheral wall (PP) includes at the level, and next to, each fixing tab (PF) a recess (RT) in which is defined at least one through hole (TT) covered by a breathable membrane (MR).
4. Optical block according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that each fixing tab (PF) protrudes substantially perpendicularly to a portion of said peripheral wall (PP).
5. Vehicle, characterized in that it comprises at least one optical unit (OU) according to one of the preceding claims.
6. Vehicle according to claim 5, characterized in that it comprises a front end comprising each optical block (OB).
7. Vehicle according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that it is of the automobile type.