Motor vehicle grille comprising an illuminated central logo and device for controlling such a logo

Abstract

A motor vehicle grille (2) comprising a support (2a) on which there is mounted at least one left-hand light controlled and powered by a means for controlling the left-hand lighting and at least one right-hand light controlled and powered by a means for controlling the right-hand lighting, characterized in that the grille comprises an illuminated central logo (1) provided with at least two pluralities (1b, 1c) of light sources, a first plurality (1b) of light sources being controlled and powered by the means for controlling the left-hand lighting, the second plurality (1c) of light sources being controlled and powered by the means for controlling the right-hand lighting, such that the illuminated central logo (1) remains partially illuminated in the event of failure of one of the means for controlling the lighting.

Description

[0001] TITLE: Motor vehicle grille comprising an illuminated central logo and device for controlling such a logo

[0002] Technical field

[0003] The technical field of the invention is the management of the lighting of a motor vehicle, and more particularly the management of such lighting in the grille of the vehicle.

[0004] Previous techniques

[0005] Regulations at the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) have recently evolved to now allow the lighting of objects representing car manufacturer logos. It is therefore possible to install either two illuminated logos on the right and left, or a single logo in the center. These installation constraints are identical at the front or rear of the motor vehicle.

[0006] The regulations also require that the logo must be part of an existing function. Therefore, installing a centrally located illuminated logo is only possible with the front lantern function for a front logo and with the rear lantern function for a rear logo.

[0007] Before the regulation was changed to allow an illuminated logo, a number of requirements were already in place.

[0008] - For a function, it is necessary to have continuity of the lit area. This continuity must be ensured by an interruption of less than 75mm between 2 illuminated areas of the same function. To light a logo in the central part, it is necessary to have light also at the level of the grille, the projectors being generally too far away.

[0009] - Then, in the case of a strip-shaped function which would cross the front or rear face of a vehicle on either side, it is required that two independent power supplies on the left and right generate light.

[0010] - Finally, if a source fails, either a message must be sent to the driver, or all other sources of this function must be switched off.

[0011] There is thus a problem in powering and controlling the illumination of a logo in a central position.

[0012] Disclosure of the invention The invention relates to a motor vehicle grille comprising a support on which is mounted at least one left-hand light controlled and powered by a left-hand lighting control means and at least one right-hand light controlled and powered by a right-hand lighting control means. It comprises an illuminated central logo provided with at least two pluralities of light sources, a first plurality of light sources being controlled and powered by the left-hand lighting control means, the second plurality of light sources being controlled and powered by the right-hand lighting control means, so that the illuminated central logo remains partially illuminated in the event of failure of one of the lighting control means, a light being a front headlight or a rear lantern.

[0013] The light sources of the first plurality can be interposed with the light sources of the second plurality so as to have the most homogeneous illumination possible of the illuminated central logo during the failure of one of the control and power supply means.

[0014] The illuminated central logo may include a diffuser designed to diffuse and uniform the light emitted by the at least one light source disposed nearby.

[0015] The diffuser may comprise one or more independent parts

[0016] The first plurality of light sources can be controlled and powered at the same time as a third plurality of light sources arranged in the left part of the grille, the second plurality of light sources can be controlled and powered at the same time as a fourth plurality of light sources arranged in the right part of the grille, the third plurality of light sources and the fourth plurality of light sources being associated with a position light and daytime running light function of the lighting.

[0017] The grille may include a second diffuser extending from the left projector optic to the central logo illuminated and illuminated by the third plurality of light sources and a third diffuser extending from the right projector optic to the central logo illuminated and illuminated by the fourth plurality of light sources.

[0018] The grille may include a fifth plurality of light sources disposed adjacent a left headlight and a sixth plurality of light sources disposed adjacent a right headlight, the fifth plurality of light sources being controlled and powered by the left lighting control means, the sixth plurality of light sources being controlled and powered by the right lighting control means, the fifth plurality of light sources and the sixth plurality of light sources being associated with a position light function.

[0019] The grille may include a fourth diffuser proximate the optic of the left projector illuminated by the fifth plurality of light sources and a fifth diffuser proximate the optic of the right projector illuminated by the sixth plurality of light sources.

[0020] The support can be opaque.

[0021] Another object of the invention is a motor vehicle comprising a grille as described above.

[0022] Brief description of the drawings

[0023] Other aims, characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following description, given solely by way of non-limiting example and made with reference to the appended drawings in which:

[0024] - figure [Fig 1] illustrates an illuminated central logo according to the invention,

[0025] - figure [Fig 2] illustrates an illuminated central logo according to the invention while a first plurality of light sources is inactive,

[0026] - figure [Fig 3] illustrates an illuminated central logo according to the invention while a second plurality of light sources is inactive,

[0027] - figure [Fig 4] illustrates a front grille 2 of a motor vehicle comprising an illuminated central logo, and

[0028] - figure [Fig 5] illustrates an illumination device 20 of a front grille of a motor vehicle according to the invention

[0029] Detailed description

[0030] Figure [Fig 1] illustrates an illuminated central logo 1 intended to be arranged in the central part of the front grille of a vehicle. The illuminated central logo 1 comprises a diffuser 1a delimiting a shape, such as a car manufacturer's logo. The illuminated central logo 1 also comprises a first plurality 1b of light sources and a second plurality 1c of light sources. The parts of the diffuser 1a illuminated by the first plurality 1b of light sources are identified by a first frame, the other parts of the diffuser 1a illuminated by the second plurality 1c of light sources are identified by a second frame. It is understood that in the event of failure of the first plurality 1b of light sources or of the second plurality 1c of light sources, the diffuser 1a remains illuminated by the other plurality of light sources still in operation.In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the light sources of the first plurality 1b and the light sources of the second plurality 1c are arranged alternately so that the diffuser 1a remains uniformly illuminated even in the event of failure of one of the pluralities of light sources. According to the embodiments, the diffuser 1a comprises one or more independent parts.

[0031] Figure [Fig 2] illustrates the illuminated central logo 1 illuminated only by the first plurality 1b of light sources while the second plurality 1c of light sources is faulty. The portions of the diffuser 1a illuminated by the first plurality 1b of light sources are illustrated by the first frame.

[0032] Figure [Fig 3] illustrates the illuminated central logo 1 illuminated only by the second plurality 1e of light sources while the first plurality 1b of light sources is faulty. The portions of the diffuser 1a illuminated by the second plurality 1e of light sources are illustrated by a second frame different from the frame of figure [Fig 2],

[0033] Figure [Fig 4] illustrates a front grille 2 of a motor vehicle comprising an opaque support 2a in which the diffuser 1a of the illuminated central logo 1 is embedded in a central position, forming a first diffuser of the grille 2. The front grille 2 also comprises a second diffuser 22al extending from the optic of the left projector to the illuminated central logo 1 and a third diffuser 22a2 extending from the optic of the right projector to the illuminated central logo 1, a fourth diffuser 23al near the optic of the left projector, a fifth diffuser 23a2 near the optic of the right projector.

[0034] In one embodiment, the second and third diffusers 22al, 22a2 are symmetrical.

[0035] In one embodiment, the second and third diffusers 22al, 22a2 each comprise several parts, distributed in particular between the upper limit and the lower limit of the front grille 2.

[0036] In another embodiment, the fourth and fifth diffusers 23 a1, 23 a2 located near the optics of a projector each comprise several parts, arranged in particular around or on either side of the optics of a projector.

[0037] The front grille 2 also includes light sources 1b, 1c, 23b, 23c, 22b, 22c arranged behind the diffusers 1a, 23al, 23a2, 22al, 22a2.

[0038] The first plurality 1b of light sources and the second plurality 1c of light sources are arranged behind the first diffuser 1a included in the illuminated central logo 1. The left light projector 21b and the right light projector 21c each comprise a plurality of light sources.

[0039] A third plurality 22b of light sources is arranged in the left part of the vehicle behind the second diffuser 22al extending from the left light projector to the illuminated central logo 1.

[0040] A fourth plurality 22c of light sources is arranged in the right part of the vehicle behind the third diffuser 22a2 extending from the right light projector to the illuminated central logo 1.

[0041] A fifth plurality 23b of light sources is arranged in the left part of the vehicle behind the fourth diffuser 23 al near the optics of the left projector 21b.

[0042] A sixth plurality 23 c of light sources is arranged in the right part of the vehicle behind the fifth diffuser 23 a2 near the optics of the right projector 21 c.

[0043] The different pluralities of light sources 1b, 1c, 22b, 22c, 23b, 23c of the front grille 2 are switched on or off depending on the operating mode of the vehicle lighting, selected by the driver or by an electronic control unit.

[0044] The operating mode of the vehicle lighting means lighting by position lights, lighting by dipped beam headlights or lighting by main beam headlights concerning all the light sources of the vehicle. For the remainder of the description, only the light sources at the front of the vehicle will be considered here. Lighting by dipped beam headlights and lighting by main beam headlights are essentially differentiated by the different operating states of the front headlights 21b, 21c of the vehicle, in particular the angle of incidence of these headlights. In France, the use of these different lightings is regulated by articles R416-4 et seq. of the highway code.

[0045] Generally speaking, position lights are low-intensity lights that allow third-party vehicles to determine the position of the vehicle that switched them on.

[0046] Dipped headlights are front lights of sufficient intensity to allow the user of a vehicle to see the road and obstacles in front of his vehicle, but with an inclination in relation to the horizon such that they cannot dazzle the drivers of vehicles traveling in the opposite direction.

[0047] High beams are front lights that allow the user of a vehicle to see the road and obstacles in front of the vehicle, but do not present an inclination relative to the horizon. In doing so, they have an illuminated volume and an illumination distance much greater than those of dipped beams. However, they can dazzle drivers of vehicles traveling in the opposite direction, so their use is regulated.

[0048] In recent years, daytime running lights have been introduced to increase the daytime visibility of motor vehicles when none of the above-mentioned lights are on.

[0049] Returning to the pluralities of light sources illustrated in Figure [Fig 4], it will be noted that the pluralities of light sources 23b and 23c of the front grille 2 are illuminated when the daytime running lights are activated.

[0050] The pluralities of light sources 1b, 1c, 22b, 22c, 23b, 23c of the front grille 2 are lit when the position lights are operated, the pluralities of light sources 23b and 23c are then lit with an intensity different from the intensity when the daytime running lights are operated.

[0051] The light sources 21b, 21c, of the front grille 2 are lit when the dipped or main beam headlights are activated.

[0052] Figure [Fig 5] illustrates a device 20 for illuminating the front grille of a motor vehicle according to the invention, comprising a means 20b for controlling and supplying the lighting of the left part of the vehicle and a means 20c for controlling and supplying the lighting of the right part of the vehicle.

[0053] The lighting of the left part of the vehicle comprises the fifth plurality of light sources 23b associated with the daytime running light function, the third plurality 22b of light sources associated with the position light function and the left projector 21b associated with the dipped beam and / or main beam function.

[0054] It will be noted that the first plurality 1b of light sources of the illuminated central logo 1 is powered simultaneously with the third plurality 22b of light sources associated with the position light function.

[0055] Similarly, the lighting of the right part of the vehicle comprises the sixth plurality of light sources 23 c associated with the daytime running light function, the fourth plurality 22 c of light sources associated with the position light function and the right projector 21 c associated with the dipped beam function.

[0056] It will be noted that the second plurality 1c of light sources of the illuminated central logo 1 is powered simultaneously with the fourth plurality 22c of light sources associated with the position light function.

[0057] It will be understood that controlling the different sources of a light function involves controlling the sources of the previous light functions. For example, switching on the dipped headlights involves keeping the position lights on, resulting in the plurality of light sources 1b, 1c, 21b, 21c, 22b, 22c, 23b and 23c all being switched on at the same time. The invention has been described above in relation to the front grille of the vehicle. However, the invention is also applicable to the rear part of the vehicle, the front right and front left headlights as well as the daytime running lights being removed.

[0058] List of references:

[0059] 1: illuminated central logo la: diffuser lb: first plurality of light sources le: second plurality of light sources

[0060] 2: front grille

[0061] 2a: opaque support

[0062] 20: illumination device

[0063] 20b: means of controlling and supplying the lighting of the left part of the vehicle

[0064] 20c: means of controlling and supplying the lighting of the right part of the vehicle

[0065] 21b: left light projector

[0066] 21 c: right light projector

[0067] 22al: second diffuser

[0068] 22a2: third diffuser

[0069] 22b: third plurality of light sources

[0070] 22c: fourth plurality of light sources

[0071] 23 al: fourth diffuser

[0072] 23 a2: fifth broadcaster

[0073] 23b: fifth plurality of light sources

[0074] 23 c: sixth plurality of light sources

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Motor vehicle grille comprising a support (2a) on which is mounted at least one left light controlled and powered by a control means (20b) for the left lighting and at least one right light controlled and powered by a control means (20c) for the right lighting, characterized in that it comprises an illuminated central logo (1) provided with at least two pluralities (lb, lc) of light sources, a first plurality (1b) of light sources being controlled and powered by the control means (20b) for the left lighting, the second plurality (le) of light sources being controlled and powered by the control means (20c) for the right lighting, so that the illuminated central logo (1) remains partially illuminated in the event of failure of one of the lighting control means (20b, 20c), a light being a front headlight or a rear lantern.

2. Grille according to claim 1, in which the light sources of the first plurality (1b) are interposed with the light sources of the second plurality (1c) so as to have the most homogeneous illumination possible of the illuminated central logo (1) during the failure of one of the control and power supply means (20b, 20c).

3. Grille according to claim 1 or 2, in which the illuminated central logo (1) comprises a diffuser (1a) designed to diffuse and uniformize the light emitted by the at least one light source arranged nearby.

4. Grille according to claim 3, in which the diffuser 1a comprises one or more independent parts.

5. Grille according to any one of claims 1 to 4, in which the first plurality (1b) of light sources is controlled and powered at the same time as a third plurality (22b) of light sources arranged in the left part of the grille, the second plurality (1e) of light sources is controlled and powered at the same time as a fourth plurality (22c) of light sources arranged in the right part of the grille, the third plurality (22b) of light sources and the fourth plurality (22c) of light sources being associated with a position light and daytime running light function of the lighting.

6. Grille according to claim 5, comprising a second diffuser (22al) extending from the optics of the left projector to the illuminated central logo (1) and illuminated by the third plurality (22b) of light sources and a third diffuser (22a2) extending from the optics of the right projector to the illuminated central logo (1) and illuminated by the fourth plurality (22c) of light sources.

7. Grille according to any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising a fifth plurality (23b) of light sources arranged next to a left projector (21b) and a sixth plurality (23c) of light sources arranged next to a right projector (21c), the fifth plurality (23b) of light sources being controlled and powered by the control means (20b) of the left lighting, the sixth plurality (23c) of light sources being controlled and powered by the control means (20b) of the right lighting, the fifth plurality (23b) of light sources and the sixth plurality (23c) of light sources being associated with a position light function.

8. Grille according to claim 7, comprising a fourth diffuser (23 al) near the optics of the left projector illuminated by the fifth plurality (23b) of light sources and a fifth diffuser (23 a2) near the optics of the right projector illuminated by the sixth plurality (23 c) of light sources.

9. Calender according to any one of claims 1 to 8, in which the support (2a) is opaque.

10. Motor vehicle comprising a grille according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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