Lighting system for powered vehicles

Abstract

Lighting device for motor vehicles The invention relates to a lighting system for an automotive vehicle (1), comprising a first headlamp (111) capable of projecting a first light beam (21) and a second headlamp (121) capable of projecting a second light beam (22), the first light beam (21) being formed by at least one first focused beam and the second light beam (22) being formed by at least one second focused beam, the first and second focused beams being controlled by a control law, the control law being configured to generate an asymmetry between the angular displacement of the first focused beam (31) from a first outer end position (P1ext) to a first inner end position (P1int) and the angular displacement of the second focused beam (41) from a second outer end position (P2ext) to a second inner end position (P2int).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of lighting for motor vehicles, and more specifically to a directional lighting function for illuminating the inside of a corner.

Summary of the Invention

[0002] Motor vehicles are equipped with headlamps for illuminating the road in front of the vehicle at night or when the light intensity decreases. These headlamps include one or more light-emitting modules that are controlled to produce two lighting modes: a first "high beam" mode and a second "low beam" mode. The "high beam" mode enables sufficient illumination of the road and the road shoulder in front of the vehicle at a high light intensity when the road is straight. The "low beam" mode enables illumination of the road in front of the vehicle at a low light intensity, but also enables good visibility without dazzling other road users. In a traffic situation where the road is shared by multiple vehicles, the vehicle uses the "low beam" mode to avoid dazzling other road users. When turning, especially at a corner, the light beam projected in any lighting mode, particularly the "low beam" mode, may not be able to sufficiently illuminate the inner edge of the corner for the driver of the vehicle to avoid potential hazards.

[0003] Low-beam light beams are known to be divided into a wide illumination zone with a cutoff and a more restricted, focused illumination zone called the "kink" section. The wide illumination zone, also called the "flat" section, forms the lower part of the beam below the horizontal line formed by the horizontal cutoff of this illumination zone, and is intended to broadly illuminate the road scene without dazzling other users of the road scene. The focused illumination zone is located at least partially above this horizontal line and is positioned laterally on both sides of the vehicle's central longitudinal axis when the vehicle is traveling straight. This focused illumination zone, in particular, has a cutoff edge that is substantially perpendicular to or inclined to the horizontal cutoff of the "flat" section, which laterally separates the "kink" section on the driver's side from vehicles that are likely to be traveling in the opposite lane from the direction the vehicle is traveling.

[0004] Furthermore, vehicle headlamps are known to be configured to perform directional lighting functions, also known as "Dynamic Bending Light" or "DBL," by angularly shifting the light beam emitted in accordance with the steering wheel angle to ensure optimal illumination of the edges when the vehicle changes its trajectory. In particular, such directional lighting functions are known to be implemented mechanically by rotating the entire module that generates the low beam or high beam left or right depending on the direction of the corner.

[0005] Therefore, when a vehicle equipped with directional lighting turns a corner, the entire light beam forming the low beam is likely to curve inward towards the inside of the corner. The inward orientation of the beam with a wide cutoff that forms the lower portion of the beam, i.e., the "flat" portion, allows the edges forming the inside of the corner to be illuminated, while the inward orientation of the focused beam that forms the upper portion of this beam, i.e., the "kinked" portion, allows the roadway to be effectively illuminated by the curve of the corner.

[0006] If the light-emitting module includes multiple light sources involved in generating beam portions that form pixels of the light beam emitted as a whole, a decision may be made to digitally implement directional illumination by activating or deactivating the light sources to direct the light beam without rotating the module. The control rules are configured to control the activation and deactivation of the light sources in order to change the range and angular direction of the light beam thus formed emanating from the headlamp.

[0007] Since the aforementioned concentrated illumination zone, or "kink," can be generated by a light source with a higher resolution than that associated with a high-resolution light source, i.e., an illumination zone with a wide cutoff, a wide illumination zone with a cutoff can be defined as a diffuse illumination zone. Throughout this disclosure, the terms "having a wide cutoff" and "wide with a cutoff" are used synonymously.

[0008] Combining a digitally directional light beam with a focused illumination zone generated by a high-definition light source, and limiting the angular range of this focused illumination zone that forms a "kink," can cause discontinuities in the light beam used to illuminate the road near the focused illumination zone when the light beam generated by the headlamp is angled, especially when cornering on the opposite side of the driver. This can be distracting to the driver.

[0009] The present invention proposes overcoming these various constraints, particularly the discontinuity of light beams, with a light-emitting system for automobile vehicles, comprising: a first headlamp mounted on a first side of the automobile vehicle and intended to project a first light beam; and a second headlamp mounted on a second side of the automobile vehicle and intended to project a second light beam, wherein the first and second light beams are complementary to form a light beam for illuminating the road, the light beams are controlled by a control law, and each headlamp comprises means for projecting a wide light beam with a cutoff and pixelated projection means for a focused beam, at least the pixelated projection means comprising a plurality of selectively operable light sources, the first light beam The first optical beam is formed by a first focused beam having a first optical axis and a first wide optical beam having a cutoff, and the second optical beam is formed by a second focused beam having a second optical axis and a second wide optical beam having a cutoff, and at least the first focused beam is digitally controlled by a control law to pivot between a first outer end position and a first inner end position, and at least the second focused beam is digitally controlled by a control law to pivot between a second inner end position and a second outer end position, and the control law is configured to generate an asymmetry between, on the one hand, the angular displacement of the first focused beam from the first outer end position to the first inner end position with respect to the first optical axis, and on the other hand, the angular displacement of the second focused beam from the second outer end position to the second inner end position with respect to the second optical axis. According to the invention, the control law is configured to introduce an asymmetry between the angular displacement of the first focused beam from the first outer end position to the first inner end position and the angular displacement of the second focused beam from the second outer end position to the second inner end position, with respect to the central longitudinal axis of the light-emitting system according to the invention.

[0010] The digital directional illumination function, realized by pixelated projection means within the vehicle's headlamp, is controlled by control laws implemented in the vehicle's control unit. These control laws allow control of the orientation of the first and second focused beams by activating or deactivating the light sources that enable the generation of these focused beams. According to the invention, during a change in the vehicle's trajectory at a corner directed to the second side, i.e., away from the driver, the displacement of the first focused beam is controlled such that the angular range of digital rotation of the first focused beam is different from the angular range of displacement of the second focused beam during a change in the vehicle's trajectory at a corner directed to the first side, i.e., on the driver's side. This asymmetry prevents the first inner end position of the first pixelated light beam and the second outer end position of the second pixelated light beam from being too far apart at the second position of the light beam when passing through a corner oriented toward the second side, thereby allowing the driver of the vehicle to observe a substantially uninterrupted focused beam formed by the first and second focused beams during changes of direction and the corresponding turns of the light beam.

[0011] These angular end positions, unique to each pixelated light beam, are defined with respect to the optical axis inherent to the headlamp configured to project the pixelated light beam. The optical axis is defined by the nominal orientation of the beam for illuminating a straight road, i.e., without any information regarding corners. In this nominal orientation, in particular, each headlamp is configured such that the corresponding optical axis is substantially parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the light-emitting system on both sides where the two headlamps are positioned, and this central longitudinal axis of the light-emitting system can, in particular, coincide with the central longitudinal axis of the vehicle. The optical axis is located, for example, near the light source of the headlamp or near one of the light sources. In particular, it can be contiguous with the centers of multiple selectively operable light sources.

[0012] A light-emitting system may have one or more of the following features, either individually or in combination:

[0013] A wide beam with a cutoff has a substantially linear cutoff, particularly a horizontal cutoff, when each headlamp of the light-emitting system is in its normal operating position.

[0014] The horizontal cutoffs of the first wide beam and the second wide beam are aligned so as a whole form a horizontal cutoff.

[0015] A wide beam with a cutoff can be formed by a diffuse beam or a pixelated beam according to the invention, but it should be noted that if this wide beam with a cutoff is pixelated, it will have low resolution, for example, pixel sizes such that their field of view exceeds 5°. The need to modify the control law is more specifically useful with respect to a focused beam illuminating a road scene above the horizontal cutoff of a beam with a wide cutoff, as long as the relevant pixelated projection means has high resolution with pixels having a field of view of less than 2° or 3°, and therefore the focused beam has a narrowed field of illumination.

[0016] Each of the focused beams has a cutoff edge, which can be tilted relative to the corresponding optical axis of the headlamp, and the angular position of the focused beam is determined by the position of this cutoff edge relative to the corresponding optical axis.

[0017] Each of the focused beams has a cutoff edge, which can be tilted relative to the cutoff of the corresponding wide beam with cutoff of the headlamp, and the angular position of the focused beam is determined by the position of this cutoff edge, in particular by the position of the intersection of this cutoff edge and the corresponding cutoff of the wide beam with cutoff with respect to the corresponding optical axis.

[0018] Throughout this disclosure, where features are described for a cutoff edge that is inclined with respect to the corresponding optical axis of a headlamp, the same features can be applied to a cutoff edge that is inclined with respect to the cutoff of a corresponding wide beam with a cutoff of a headlamp, and vice versa.

[0019] Throughout this disclosure, where a feature is described relating to the location of a cutoff edge, the same feature can also be applied to the location of the intersection of this cutoff edge with the cutoff of a wide beam with a corresponding cutoff, and vice versa.

[0020] According to one feature of the invention, the asymmetry generated by the control law is brought about by a specific command intended with respect to at least one of the means for projecting the first focused beam and the means for projecting the second focused beam. As described below, the specific command may include interrupting the angular rotation performed by the control law by fixing the operation and deactivation of the light source associated with the digitally controlled headlamp, or similarly interrupting the illumination function performed by the corresponding headlamp by deactivating all the light sources of the pixelated projection means of the headlamp. The specific command generated by the control law is used when the focused beam reaches a predetermined angular value.

[0021] According to another feature of the invention, the first focused beam has a first beam width determined between a first cutoff edge forming the edge of the first focused beam and a first end, and the second focused beam has a second beam width determined between a second cutoff edge forming the edge of the second focused beam and a second fixed end, the first and second beam widths vary depending on the number of light sources being operated, and the first and second beam widths change independently of each other when the first and second focused beams move between a first position and a second position of the light beam. The beam widths of the first and second focused beams are determined, for example, by the distance between the first cutoff edge and the first fixed end and the second cutoff edge and the second fixed end of the first and second focused beams when they are projected onto a vertical plane 25 m from a vehicle.

[0022] According to one feature of the invention, the number of light sources in a pixelated projection means, which are operated by a control law to generate each of the focused beams, changes in accordance with information related to the turning of the automobile vehicle. This information regarding the turning can be obtained, for example, from the angular position of the steering wheel or the drift angle of the vehicle.

[0023] According to another feature of the invention, the control law is configured to activate or deactivate the light source of at least one pixelated projection means, and the angular displacement of the corresponding focused beam is carried out by gradually changing the activated and deactivated light sources. Thus, the orientations of the first focused beam and the second focused beam are digitally controlled by the control law by activating and / or deactivating a certain light source.

[0024] According to one feature of the invention, the first focused beam has a first cutoff edge inclined with respect to a first optical axis, the second focused beam has a second cutoff edge inclined with respect to a second optical axis, and the control law is configured to control the light beams such that the intersection point of the first cutoff edge of the first focused beam and the cutoff of the first wide light beam moves from a first outer end position to a first inner end position, and the intersection point of the second cutoff edge of the second focused beam and the cutoff of the second wide light beam moves from a second inner end position to a second outer end position.

[0025] According to one feature of the invention, the first focused beam has a first cutoff edge that is inclined with respect to the cutoff of a first wide light beam having a cutoff, and the second focused beam has a second cutoff edge that is inclined with respect to the cutoff of a second wide light beam having a cutoff, and the control law is configured to control the light beams such that the intersection point of the first cutoff edge of the first focused beam and the cutoff of the first wide light beam with a cutoff moves from a first outer end position to a first inner end position, and the intersection point of the second cutoff edge of the second focused beam and the cutoff of the second wide light beam with a cutoff moves from a second inner end position to a second outer end position.

[0026] According to one feature of the invention, the angular displacement between the first outer end position and the first optical axis is greater than or equal to the angular displacement between the second optical axis and the second outer end position, which is greater than or equal to the angular displacement between the second inner end position and the second optical axis, and the angular displacement between the first inner end position and the first optical axis is substantially equal to the angular displacement between the second inner end position and the second optical axis.

[0027] According to one feature of the invention, the angular displacement between the first outer end position and the first optical axis is 15°, the angular displacement between the second outer end position and the second optical axis is 9°, the angular displacement between the second inner end position and the second optical axis is 6°, and the angular displacement between the first inner end position and the first optical axis is also 6°.

[0028] According to another feature of the invention, the control law is configured to control the light beam such that the first cut-off edge of the first condensing beam can move from a first outer end position offset 15° from the first side to a first inner end position offset 6° from the second side on either side of the central longitudinal axis of the lighting system extending at an equal distance from the two headlamps, and the second cut-off edge of the second condensing beam can move from a second inner end position offset 6° from the first side to a second outer end position offset 9° from the second side of the motor vehicle on either side of this central longitudinal axis of the lighting system. In this and subsequent cases, the angle is measured relative to the position of the condensing beam and, for example, of the corresponding cut-off edge, with respect to each optical axis specific to the headlamp associated with this condensing beam. Depending on whether the angle is on the first side or the second side of the motor vehicle, the indicated angle value on the side where the angle is located is specified.

[0029] According to another feature of the invention, the angular displacement between the first outer end position and the first optical axis is greater than the angular displacement between the second outer end position and the second optical axis, greater than the angular displacement between the second inner end position and the second optical axis, and greater than the angular displacement between the first inner end position and the first optical axis, and these last three angular displacements are substantially equal.

[0030] According to another feature of the invention, the angular displacement between the first outer end position and the first optical axis is 15°, and the angular displacements between the second outer end position and the second optical axis, between the second inner end position and the second optical axis, and between the first inner end position and the first optical axis are all 6° for all three.

[0031] According to another feature of the invention, the first cut-off edge of the first condensing beam can move from a first outer end position offset by 15° from the first side to a first inner end position offset by 6° from the second side on either side of the central longitudinal axis of the lighting system that extends at an equal distance from the two headlamps, and the second cut-off edge of the second condensing beam can move on either side of the central longitudinal axis of the lighting system from a second inner end position offset by 6° from the first side to a second outer end position offset by 6° from the second side of the motor vehicle, and the control law of the light beam is configured to control the light beam.

[0032] According to another feature of the invention, the control law of the light beam, on the one hand, interrupts the angular turning of the first condensing beam when the first cut-off edge reaches a first inner end position offset by 6° with respect to the central longitudinal axis of the lighting system on the second side, and on the other hand, interrupts the angular turning of the second condensing beam when the second cut-off edge reaches a second outer end position offset by 9° or 6° with respect to the central longitudinal axis of the lighting system on the second side.

[0033] According to one feature of the invention, the control law of the light beam, on the one hand, interrupts the displacement of the first condensing beam when the first cut-off edge reaches a first inner end position shifted by a first determined value with respect to the first optical axis, and on the other hand, interrupts the displacement of the second condensing beam when the second cut-off edge reaches a second outer end position shifted by a second determined value with respect to the second optical axis, and the second value is 3° or more than the first value.

[0034] According to one feature of the invention, the control law of the light beam, firstly, interrupts the displacement of the first condensing beam when the first cut-off edge reaches a first inner end position shifted by a first determined value, and secondly, interrupts the displacement of the second condensing beam when the second cut-off edge reaches a second outer end position shifted by a second determined value.

[0035] According to one feature of the invention, the control law for the light beam is configured such that when the first cutoff edge of the first focused beam reaches the first inner end position, all light sources of the pixelated projection means of the first headlamp are deactivated.

[0036] According to another feature of the invention, when the light source of the pixelated projection means of the first headlamp is deactivated, the second focused beam has a higher luminous intensity. The luminous intensity of the second focused beam increases when the first cutoff edge reaches an angular value determined by the first inner end position of the first focused beam, and the light source involved in generating the first focused beam is deactivated, thereby the overall luminous intensity of the light beam remains substantially constant, and large fluctuations in luminous intensity do not interfere with the driver.

[0037] According to another feature of the invention, the control law for the light beam is configured to progressively deactivate the light sources of the pixelated projection means of the first headlamp, the deactivation of which begins when the first cutoff edge of the first focused beam reaches a position offset by an angle R1 before the first inner end position, and is completed when the first cutoff edge of the first focused beam reaches the first inner end position. "Progressively deactivate" is understood here to mean that the luminous flux of each light source decreases according to a continuously decreasing function until it reaches zero.

[0038] According to one feature of the invention, the continuously decreasing function is a function of the angle of the position of the first cutoff edge of the first focused beam.

[0039] According to another feature of the invention, the control law for the light beam is configured such that the luminous intensity of the second focused beam is progressively increased when the light source of the pixelated projection means of the first headlamp is progressively deactivated. Advantageously, the start of the increase is synchronized with the start of the aforementioned deactivation. Advantageously, the increase is complete, i.e., it compensates for the deactivation such that the overall luminous intensity of the light beam remains substantially constant when the first cutoff edge of the first focused beam reaches the first inner end position. "Progressively increasing" is understood here to mean that the luminous flux of each light source increases according to a continuously increasing function.

[0040] According to one feature of the invention, the continuously increasing function is a function of the angle of the position of the second cutoff edge of the second focused beam.

[0041] According to one feature of the invention, the deactivation and intensification are such that the overall luminosity of the light beam remains substantially constant throughout the gradual evolution of the fluxes and / or luminosity of the first and second light beams, respectively.

[0042] The gradual deactivation and increase ensure a smooth transition when moving from two focused beams to a single beam. This transition, which could potentially interfere with the driver's perception, is difficult to perceive.

[0043] According to one feature of the invention, the value of R1 is in the range of 2 to 4°. These values ​​have the advantage of ensuring a sufficiently smooth transition and minimizing the time it takes for the luminosity of the second focused beam to increase. If the value of R1 is larger, the light source will heat up more, which will negatively affect their proper operation and may even lead to their destruction. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0044] Further features, details, and advantages of the invention will become clearer, on the one hand, by reading the following description, and on the other hand, by referring to the attached schematic drawings, which are provided as non-limiting representations, and in said schematic drawings: [Figure 1] Figure 1 schematically shows an automobile equipped with a light-emitting system. [Figure 2] Figure 2 schematically shows the light beams emitted by the two headlights of the automobile vehicle shown in Figure 1. [Figure 3] Figure 3 schematically shows a light beam projected onto a vertical surface away from the vehicle, where the first cutoff edge of the beam emitted by the first headlamp is located near the first outer end, and the second cutoff edge of the beam emitted by the second headlamp is located near the second inner end. [Figure 4] Figure 4 shows a graph of the angular displacement of the first and second cutoff edges according to one embodiment of the control law for controlling the lighting system according to the invention. [Figure 5] Figure 5 schematically shows a light beam projected onto a vertical plane where the first cutoff edge is located near the first outer end and the second cutoff edge is located near the second outer end, according to an embodiment of the control law in Figure 4. [Figure 6] Figure 6 shows a graph of the angular displacement of the first and second cutoff edges according to another embodiment of the control law. [Figure 7] Figure 7 schematically shows a light beam projected onto a vertical plane where the first cutoff edge is located near the first inner end and the second cutoff edge is located near the second outer end, according to an embodiment of the control law in Figure 6. [Figure 8] Figure 8 graphically shows the angular displacements of the first and second cutoff edges according to another embodiment of the control law. [Figure 9] Figure 9 shows a graph illustrating the changes in intensity of the first and second focused beams according to the embodiment of the control law in Figure 8. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0045] First, while the figures disclose the invention in detail for its implementation, it should be noted that these figures can, where appropriate, be clearly used to define the invention more precisely. It should also be noted that these figures merely disclose embodiments of the invention.

[0046] The features, variations, and various embodiments of the invention can be related to one another in various combinations, provided that they are not interchangeable or exclusive. Notably, it is also possible to envision variations of the invention that include only selected features from those described below, separated from other described features, provided that such selection is sufficient to provide a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention from the prior art.

[0047] In the diagrams, elements common to multiple diagrams use the same reference numeral.

[0048] Furthermore, referring to the diagram, the vertical direction is drawn by axis L and corresponds to the direction of vehicle movement, the perpendicular direction is drawn by axis V and corresponds to the direction perpendicular to the ground on which the vehicle is traveling, and the horizontal direction is drawn by axis T and corresponds to the direction perpendicular to the vertical and perpendicular directions.

[0049] Figure 1 shows an automobile vehicle 1 equipped with the light-emitting system according to the invention. The automobile vehicle 1 has a central longitudinal axis 100 that extends parallel to the main direction of the automobile vehicle 1 and separates the automobile vehicle 1 into substantially equal first side 11 and second side 12. It should be noted that the first side 11 is systematically the side of the automobile vehicle 1 that corresponds to the side on which the driver of the automobile vehicle 1 is located. Therefore, for an automobile vehicle where the steering wheel and the driver are on the left side, the first side is the left-hand side in the forward direction of the automobile vehicle. For an automobile vehicle where the steering wheel and the driver are on the right side, the first side is the right-hand side in the forward direction of the automobile vehicle. In the figures of this application and the following detailed description, the first side 11 of the automobile vehicle 1 is the left-hand side in the forward direction of the automobile vehicle 1, but it should be noted that the description of this first side 11 applies mutatis mutandis regardless of whether it is the right-hand side or the left-hand side of the automobile vehicle 1.

[0050] The automobile vehicle 1 is equipped with a light-emitting system according to the invention, which includes at least one first headlamp 111 located on the first side 11 and capable of emitting a first light beam 21, and a second headlamp 121 located on the second side 12 and capable of emitting a second light beam 22. The headlamps are located on both sides of the central longitudinal axis of the light-emitting system, which can be particularly aligned with the central longitudinal axis 100 of the automobile vehicle. The first light beam 21 and the second light beam 22 are complementary in order to generate a light beam 2. This light beam 2 allows the road on which the automobile vehicle 1 is traveling to be illuminated, for example, especially at night, in order to ensure optimal driving conditions or to be visible to other drivers. Each of the first headlamp 111 and the second headlamp 121 includes means for projecting a wide light beam with a cutoff and pixelated projection means for a focused beam, wherein the combination of the wide light beam with a cutoff and the focused beam projected by the first headlamp 111 is involved in the generation of the first light beam 21, and the combination of the wide light beam with a cutoff and the focused beam projected by the second headlamp 121 is involved in the generation of the second light beam 22. More specifically, each light beam is formed by a wide light beam with a cutoff, which has a wide illumination field that is projected directly onto the road scene in front of the vehicle and has a horizontal cutoff, and is a focused beam that has a narrower illumination field in the extension of the horizontal cutoff, which is narrower than that of the illumination field of the wide light beam with a cutoff, in particular to ensure that the focused beam is high-definition.

[0051] It should be noted that in alternative embodiments, wide beams with cutoffs can also be pixelated. In this case, the focused beam differs from that of the wide beam with a cutoff in that it has a higher resolution and a narrower field of view per pixel than that associated with the wide beam with a cutoff. As a non-limiting example, the field of view of each pixel generating the wide beam with a cutoff can be on the order of 5° at a minimum, while the field of view of the pixels generating the focused beam can be less than 3°.

[0052] The pixelated projection system is provided with multiple selectively operable light sources, each generating a ray that forms a focused beam. It is understood that the focused beam is formed by multiple rays equal to the number of light sources generating the rays, i.e., the number of activated rays. The pixelated projection system includes at least 20,000 light sources, and this substantial number of light sources enables the projection of the pixelated light beam with very high resolution.

[0053] Each light source, particularly those involved in generating a focused beam, can be activated or deactivated by a control law to generate or deactivate one of its rays. This control law enables the pixelated projection means to project an angularly movable focused beam. In this way, the control law for managing at least the angular displacement of each focused beam makes it possible to provide a directional illumination function that allows the light beam 2 to be directed between a first and second position according to information related, for example, the turning of a car vehicle 1 or the angle of the steering wheel. Thus, the directional illumination function is performed digitally via the control law, and changes in the orientation of the focused beam, resulting from changes in the activation or deactivation of some light sources, are involved in the generation of the corresponding focused beam.

[0054] Figure 2 shows two pixelated projection means 3 and 4, which, when installed in a motor vehicle 1, are positioned on the first headlamp 111 and the second headlamp 121, respectively. These two pixelated projection means 3 and 4 generate a first focused beam 31 and a second focused beam 41, respectively, and in the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the first focused beam 31 and the second focused beam 41 are projected onto a vertical plane 5 to 25 m from the vehicle to schematically illustrate the light beams when they are projected onto the road in front of the vehicle equipped with such pixelated projection means. A horizontal line H indicates a horizontal line, below which a wide light beam with a cutoff is projected by a projection means (not shown here), and the horizontal line substantially corresponds to the horizontal cutoff of the light beam with a wide cutoff.

[0055] The central longitudinal axis 100 of the automobile vehicle 1 is, in this case, schematically drawn substantially in the center of the vertical plane 5, and it should be noted that in a standard position of the vehicle as shown in Figure 2, i.e., a position where directional lighting function is not being implemented, the focused beam is involved in generating light beams that extend similarly to the left and right of the central longitudinal axis 100. The lighting system is adjusted so that the first and second light beams projected onto the road coincide infinitely, but it should be noted that these beams have a lateral offset relative to each other when they are projected onto vertical planes 5 to 25 meters apart due to the lateral spacing of the vehicle's headlamps. In each depiction shown in the figures and described below, the angular position of the light beam is relative to the optical axis of the corresponding headlamps.

[0056] Therefore, the first focused beam 31 generated by the pixelated projection means of the first headlamp extends on both sides of the first optical axis 30 associated with the first headlamp. This first optical axis 30 is oriented in the propagation direction of the first focused beam 31 and forms the central axis of the first focused beam 31 when the vehicle is traveling in a straight line and the light beam has a nominal orientation. Similar to the first focused beam 31, the second focused beam 41 extends on both sides of the second optical axis 40 associated with the second headlamp.

[0057] The first focused beam 31 extends laterally between the end forming the first cutoff edge 310 and the first fixed end 311, and is set to be at a position 8° from the first optical axis of the second side 12, while the second optical beam extends laterally between the end forming the second cutoff edge 410 and the second fixed end 411, and is set to be at a position 15° from the second optical axis of the second side 12. In this context, the first focused beam has a first beam width defined between the first cutoff edge 310 and the first fixed end 311, while the second focused beam has a second beam width defined between the second cutoff edge 410 and the second fixed end 411.

[0058] The fixed ends 311 and 411 are fixed relative to the optical axis corresponding to each headlamp, particularly due to the high-resolution implementation of the pixelation function, i.e., having a predetermined number of light sources over a given angular range. As a result, the width of these pixelated beams is likely to vary depending on the cutoff position relative to the corresponding fixed end.

[0059] These first and second cutoff edges 310 and 410 are inclined with respect to the optical axis of the corresponding headlamp, which helps prevent dazzling road users moving in the opposite direction to the vehicle equipped with the headlamp according to the invention, and form the edge of the corresponding focused beam directed toward the first side 11 of the vehicle. Additionally or alternatively, the first and second cutoff edges 310 and 410 are inclined with respect to the cutoff of the corresponding wide beam with cutoff.

[0060] The control law allows the orientation of the first and second focused beams 31 and 41 to be modified by operating or deactivating the light source to displace the first and second cutoff edges 310 and 410 laterally. Thus, the control law allows the position of the first cutoff edge 310 to be modified between the first outer end position P1ext and the first inner end position P1int, and the position of the second cutoff edge 410 to be modified between the second inner end position P2int and the second outer end position P2ext. For each of the focused beams projected by a given pixelated projection means, the inner end positions P1int and P2int of the cutoff of the focused beam must be understood as end positions oriented toward other pixelated projection means, i.e., end positions oriented toward the inside of the vehicle, while the outer end positions P1ext and P2ext of the cutoff of the focused beam must be understood as end positions oriented toward away from other pixelated projection means, i.e., end positions oriented toward the outside of the vehicle. In the case of a vehicle where the steering wheel and driver are on the left side of the vehicle as shown in the figure, the first inner end position P1int of the cutoff of the first focused beam is the right end position of the beam, and the first outer end position P1ext of the cutoff is the left end position of the beam. Note that this is reversed for vehicles where the steering wheel and driver are on the left side of the vehicle.

[0061] Figure 3 shows the light beam 2 projected onto a vertical plane 5 in more detail. In this case, the vertical plane 5 has markings for determining the angular positions of the first and second cutoff edges 310, 410 of the pixelated light beams projected onto the vertical plane 5 relative to the optical axis of each headlamp intended to project these beams. The light beam 2, since it is projected onto the vertical plane 5 in this case, has a first wide light beam 200 with a cutoff and a second wide light beam 201 with a cutoff, which form a wide portion of the beam commonly called the "flat" portion and are intended to illuminate the road scene directly in front of the vehicle so as not to dazzle other road users, and has a horizontal cutoff 203, which is complemented by a narrower upper portion, commonly called the "kinked" portion, formed by combining the first focusing beam 31 and the second focusing beam 41.

[0062] Figure 3 shows the first position of the light beam when the vehicle turns a corner on the driver's side, which is achieved by a directional illumination function to illuminate the inside of the corner. This first position of the light beam is achieved by changing the angular position of the focused beam, which in this case is achieved by keeping a wide light beam with a cutoff fixed. To form the first position of the light beam, the two focused beams are digitally positioned via a control law at end positions oriented toward the inside of the corner, i.e., in this case, at the first outer end position P1ext for the first focused beam and at the second inner end position P2int for the second focused beam. The first cutoff edge 310 is located on the first side 11 near the first outer end P1ext at an angular orientation of 15° with respect to the first optical axis. The second cutoff edge 410 is also located on the first side 11 near the second inner end P2int at an orientation of 6° with respect to the second optical axis. It should be noted that if the angles of the first or second cutoff edges 310 and 410 with respect to the corresponding optical axis are considered to be the angular distance between the light ray forming the cutoff emitted by the corresponding pixelated projection means and the longitudinal direction parallel to the corresponding optical axis, then it may be depicted in the figure as a function of the central longitudinal axis 100 that forms the axis of symmetry of the light-emitting system when it is installed in a vehicle.

[0063] As will be described in detail here, for a vehicle in which the steering wheel and driver are on the left side of the vehicle, the angular position of the first outer end position P1ext of the first cutoff edge 310 and the angular position of the second inner end position P2int of the second cutoff edge 410 are 15° and 6°, respectively, with respect to the corresponding optical axis, and it should be noted that this remains unchanged in each of the various embodiments described herein when there is a first position in which the light beam is directed toward the inside of the left corner of the vehicle.

[0064] Figure 4 illustrates the control law according to the first embodiment, which controls the angular positions of the first and second cutoff edges 310 and 410 with respect to the corresponding optical axis in this first embodiment, according to the tilt angle of the steering wheel of the automobile vehicle 1.

[0065] In Figure 4, the various angular positions of the first and second cutoff edges 310 and 410, indicated by a cross and a triangle respectively, are determined by a control law that guarantees the asymmetry of the displacement of the light beam between the two sides with respect to the central axis of the light-emitting system according to the invention, i.e., the central longitudinal axis 100 of the vehicle when the light-emitting system is mounted on a vehicle. This asymmetry brought about by the control law is due to the interruption of the angular displacement of the focused beam when the angle of the first cutoff edge 310 with respect to the first optical axis 30 reaches a limit position of 6° on the second side 12, and when the angle of the second cutoff edge 410 with respect to the second optical axis 40 reaches 9° on the second side 12. In this way, it can be seen that when the corner is on the driver's side, the light beam has a first position on the first side 11 with respect to the central longitudinal axis of the vehicle at an order of 15°, determined by the first outer end position P1ext of the first cutoff edge 310, and when the corner is on the passenger side, the light beam has a second position on the second side 11 with respect to the central longitudinal axis at an order of 9°, determined by the second outer end position P2ext of the second cutoff edge 410.

[0066] Figure 5 schematically shows the first and second focused beams 31 and 41 projected onto the vertical plane 5 at a second position of the light beam 2 as the vehicle turns a corner on the opposite side of the driver, according to a first embodiment of the control law shown in Figure 4. The interruption of the rotation of the light beam and the focused beams involved in its formation, as generated by the control law, is such that, on the one hand, the first cutoff edge 310 of the first focused beam is at a first inner end position P1ext offset by 6° with respect to the first optical axis 30, and on the other hand, the second cutoff edge 410 of the second focused beam is at a second outer end position P2ext offset by 9° with respect to the second optical axis 40 on the second side 12 of the automobile vehicle 1.

[0067] Therefore, in this first embodiment, as can also be seen from Figure 4, it is understood that the first cutoff edge 310 is movable from 15° on the first side 11 to 6° on the second side 12 on both sides of the central longitudinal axis, and the second cutoff edge 410 is movable from 6° on the first side 11 to 9° on the second side 12 on both sides of the central longitudinal axis, and the angular displacement of the first cutoff edge and the second cutoff edges 310 and 410 changes in accordance with the change in the trajectory of the automobile vehicle 1.

[0068] The angular displacement of the light beam is thus made asymmetrical on both sides of the central longitudinal axis of the light-emitting system or the central longitudinal axis of the vehicle by appropriately controlling the focused beam, particularly by interrupting the rotation of the focused beam located on the opposite side of the steering wheel and driver. Both Figures 4 and 5 show that at the second position of the light beam, the angular distance between the first and second cutoff edges, 3° in this case, is reduced compared to the angular distance between these two cutoffs at the first position of the light beam, 6° in this case.

[0069] For safety's sake, the first end 311 of the first pixelated light beam is fixed, in this case positioned at 8° from the first optical axis on the second side, thereby forming a dark region 35 between the two focused beams, between the first end 311 of the first pixelated light beam and the second cutoff edge 410 of the second pixelated light beam.

[0070] Thus, the asymmetry generated by the control law, particularly the interruption of the angular displacement of the focused beam, avoids obstructing the driver by providing a dark area 35 with a reduced width of 1° between the first focused beam 31 and the second focused beam 41 during a turn toward the second side 12 of the automobile vehicle 1.

[0071] Figure 6 illustrates the control law according to the second embodiment, which differs from the previous description in that the rotation of the focusing beam is interrupted earlier than in the first embodiment, particularly in relation to the corner opposite the driver, in order to further reduce and advantageously eliminate the dark region between the focusing beams. More specifically, the control law is such that the displacement of the first focusing beam 31 is interrupted, as described above, when the first cutoff edge 310 reaches its limit position of 6° on the second side 12, and the displacement of the second focusing beam 41 is interrupted as soon as the angle of the second cutoff edge with respect to the second optical axis reaches this same position of 6° on the second side 12. In this embodiment, the first inner end of the first focusing beam 31 and the second outer end of the second focusing beam 41 substantially overlap, and the two focusing beams locally overlap over a 2° span of the first focusing beam. Therefore, during large changes in the trajectory toward the second side 12 of the automobile vehicle 1, the first focused beam 31 and the second focused beam 41 generate continuous focused beams without dark regions.

[0072] Figure 7 schematically shows the first and second focused beams 31 and 41 projected onto the vertical plane 5 at a second position of the light beam 2 when the vehicle turns a corner on the side opposite to the driver, according to the embodiment of Figure 6. The interruption of the rotation of the light beam and the focused beams involved in its formation, generated by the control law, is such that, on the one hand, the first cutoff edge 310 is at a first inner end position P1ext at 6° with respect to the first optical axis on the second side 12 of the automobile vehicle 1, and on the other hand, the second cutoff edge 410 of the second focused beam is at a second outer end position P2ext, equal to the first outer end position P1ext, i.e., at 6° with respect to the corresponding optical axis, on the second side 12 of the automobile vehicle 1.

[0073] Therefore, in this second embodiment, as can also be understood from Figure 6, the first cutoff edge 310 is movable on both sides of the central longitudinal axis from 15° on the first side 11 to 6° on the second side 12, and the second cutoff edge 410 is movable on both sides of the central longitudinal axis from 6° on the first side 11 to 6° on the second side 12, and the angular displacement of the first and second cutoff edges 310 and 410 changes in accordance with the change in the trajectory of the automobile vehicle 1.

[0074] Again, the angular displacement of the light beam is thus made asymmetrical on both sides of the longitudinal axis by appropriately controlling the focused beam, particularly by interrupting the rotation of the focused beam located on the opposite side of the steering wheel and driver. Both Figures 6 and 7 show that at the second position of the light beam, the angular distance between the first and second cutoff edges, which is virtually zero in this case, is reduced compared to the angular distance between these two cutoffs at the first position of the light beam, which is 6° in this case.

[0075] Therefore, the asymmetry generated by the control law, particularly the interruption of the angular displacement of the focusing beam, is avoided by providing continuous illumination between the first focusing beam 31 and the second focusing beam 41 during the direction change toward the second side 12 of the automobile vehicle 1, thereby preventing obstruction to the driver.

[0076] Figure 8 shows a third embodiment, which differs from the above in that one of the focusing beams, i.e., the focusing beam on the side opposite the steering wheel and the driver, continues to rotate angularly digitally via control laws and appropriate activation / deactivation of the light source, as described above, while the other focusing beam is turned off beyond a certain angular position.

[0077] More specifically, when the first cutoff edge 310 reaches an angular position equal to 6° on the second side 12, the control law deactivates all light sources of the first pixelated projection means 3 that generate the first focused beam and the first cutoff edge 310, while the second cutoff edge 410 is digitally controlled by angular rotation without interruption until it reaches 15° on the second side 12. This ensures that if the second cutoff edge exceeds the limit position of 8° on the second side 12, as referenced by the angular position of the first fixed end 311, the first light beam is cut off to avoid generating a dark band.

[0078] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 9, the luminous intensity of the second focused beam 41 can be increased simultaneously with the deactivation of the light source forming the first focused beam 31. When the light sources of the first and second pixelated light beams 31 and 41 are operated together, each of the first and second pixelated light beams 31 and 41 has a luminous intensity of a first value I1. When the first cutoff edge 310 reaches its limit position on the second side 12, the light source of the pixelated projection means 3 of the first headlamp 111 is deactivated according to the control law, thereby causing the luminous intensity of the first focused beam 31 to become zero value I0. Concurrently, the luminous intensity of the second focused beam 41 substantially doubles to a second value I2, thereby allowing the user of the automobile vehicle 1 to observe a continuous luminous intensity and ensuring that there is no hindrance in switching off the first focused beam with respect to the displacement of the light beam 2.

[0079] The invention certainly achieves its described objective by proposing a light-emitting system comprising two pixelated projection modules that can provide a digital directional illumination function in which focused beams form continuity as they move between a first position and a second position of the light beam. Modifications not described herein can also be carried out in accordance with the invention, without departing from the scope of the invention, provided that they include a dehumidification method according to the invention.

Claims

1. A light-emitting system for a motor vehicle (1), comprising: a first headlamp (111) mounted on a first side (11) of the motor vehicle (1) and intended to project a first light beam (21); and a second headlamp (121) mounted on a second side (12) of the motor vehicle (1) and intended to project a second light beam (22), wherein the first light beam and the second light beams (21, 22) are complementary to form a light beam (2) for illuminating a road. The light beam (2) is controlled by a control law, and each headlamp (111, 121) includes means for projecting a wide light beam with a cutoff and pixelated projection means (3, 4) for a focused beam, at least the pixelated projection means (3, 4) includes a plurality of selectively operable light sources, the first light beam (21) is formed by a first focused beam (31) having a first optical axis (30) and a first wide light beam (200) having a cutoff, and the second light beam (22) The first focused beam (31) is formed by a second focused beam (41) having a second optical axis (40) and a second wide optical beam (201) having a cutoff, and at least the first focused beam (31) is digitally controlled by the control law to pivot between a first outer end position (P1ext) and a first inner end position (P1int) on both sides of the first optical axis (30), and at least the second focused beam (41) is formed by a second inner end position (P2int) and a second outer end position (P2ext) on both sides of the second optical axis (40) A light-emitting system characterized in that it is digitally controlled by the control law to orbit between the two, wherein the control law is configured to generate an asymmetry between the angular displacement of the first focused beam (31) from the first outer end position (P1ext) to the first inner end position (P1int) with respect to the first optical axis (30), and the angular displacement of the second focused beam (41) from the second outer end position (P2ext) to the second inner end position (P2int) with respect to the second optical axis (40).

2. The light-emitting system according to claim 1, characterized in that the number of light sources of the pixelated projection means (3, 4), which are operated by the control law for generating each of the concentrated beams (31, 41), changes in accordance with information regarding the turning of the automobile vehicle (1).

3. The light-emitting system according to claim 2, characterized in that the control law is configured to activate or deactivate at least one of the pixelated projection means (3, 4), and the angular displacement of the corresponding focusing beams (31, 41) is performed by gradually changing between the activated and deactivated light sources.

4. The light-emitting system according to claim 1, characterized in that the first focused beam (31) has a first cutoff edge (310) inclined with respect to the first optical axis (30), the second focused beam (41) has a second cutoff edge (410) inclined with respect to the second optical axis (40), and the control law is configured to control the light beam (2) such that the intersection of the first cutoff edge (310) of the first focused beam (31) and the cutoff of the first wide light beam (200) having the cutoff moves from the first outer end position (P1ext) to the first inner end position (P1int), and the intersection of the second cutoff edge (410) of the second focused beam (41) and the cutoff of the second wide light beam (201) having the cutoff moves from the second inner end position (P2int) to the second outer end position (P2ext).

5. The light-emitting system according to claim 4, characterized in that the angular displacement between the first outer end position (P1ext) and the first optical axis (30) is greater than or equal to the angular displacement between the second inner end position (P2int) and the second optical axis (40), and the angular displacement between the first inner end position (P1int) and the first optical axis (30) is equal to the angular displacement between the second inner end position (P2int) and the second optical axis (40).

6. The light-emitting system according to claim 5, characterized in that the angular displacement between the first outer end position (P1ext) and the first optical axis (30) is greater than the angular displacement between the second outer end position (P2ext) and the second optical axis (40), greater than the angular displacement between the second inner end position (P2int) and the second optical axis (40), and greater than the angular displacement between the first inner end position (P1int) and the first optical axis (30), and these last three angular displacements are equal.

7. The first focused beam (31) has a first cutoff edge (310) inclined with respect to the first optical axis (30), and the second focused beam (41) has a second cutoff edge (410) inclined with respect to the second optical axis (40), The light emission system according to claim 1, characterized in that the control law for the light beam (2) interrupts the displacement of the first focused beam (31) when the first cutoff edge (310) reaches the first inner end position (P1int) which is shifted by a first determined value relative to the first optical axis (30), and interrupts the displacement of the second focused beam (41) when the second cutoff edge (410) reaches the second outer end position (P2ext) which is shifted by a second determined value relative to the second optical axis (40), and the second value is 3° or more of the first value.

8. The first focused beam (31) has a first cutoff edge (310) inclined with respect to the first optical axis (30), and the second focused beam (41) has a second cutoff edge (410) inclined with respect to the second optical axis (40), The light emission system according to claim 1, characterized in that the control law for the light beam (2) is, firstly, interrupted when the first cutoff edge (310) reaches the first inner end position (P1int) which has been shifted by a first determined value, and secondly, interrupted when the second cutoff edge (410) reaches the second outer end position (P2ext) which has been shifted by a second determined value.

9. The first focused beam (31) has a first cutoff edge (310) that is inclined with respect to the first optical axis (30), The light-emitting system according to claim 1, characterized in that the control rule for the light beam (2) is configured to stop all of the light sources of the pixelated projection means (3) of the first headlamp (111) when the first cutoff edge (310) of the first focused beam (31) reaches the first inner end position (P1int).

10. When the light source of the pixelated projection means (3) of the first headlamp (111) is stopped, the second focused beam (41) will have a higher luminous intensity (I ２ The light-emitting system according to claim 9, characterized by having ).

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