Lighting device of a motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a lighting device (1) of a motor vehicle comprising a first light module (2) capable of emitting a first light beam (F) with a horizontal cutoff (CS), a second light module (3) capable of emitting a second pixelated light beam (HD), and a controller (5) arranged, in response to receiving an instruction to emit a regulatory low-beam lighting function, to control the first light module (2) to emit the first light beam (F) and to control the second light module (3) to emit only a portion (ZI) of the second pixelated elementary beam (HD), this portion being formed by elementary light beams (HDi,j), at least one of which extends above the upper cutoff (CS) and has a light intensity of between 300 and 1000 Cd.

Description

Lighting device of a motor vehicle.

[0001] The invention relates to the field of lighting. More specifically, the invention relates to a motor vehicle lighting system provided with a light module capable of emitting a pixelated light beam.

[0002] Many countries and regions have regulations that motor vehicles must comply with in order to be driven on the roads of those countries and regions. In particular, regulations are adopted requiring that the lighting emitted by a headlight positioned at the front of a motor vehicle meet specific constraints under specific conditions.

[0003] For example, this is the case of dipped beam lighting, which, in most regulations, requires that it be achieved by a light beam with a higher cut-off, forming two distinct zones, the first illuminated and the second mostly unlit. Still in some regulations, this second zone must include points with a light intensity greater than a given value and at other points, a light intensity lower than a given value.

[0004] In order to assess the compliance of a projector with specific regulations, the light beam emitted by the projector is projected against a screen equipped with an orthonormal reference and a photometric grid made up of points placed on this screen, said points defining maximum and minimum light intensity thresholds. Thus, it is the value of the light intensity of the light beam projected at these points which will be checked with regard to the maximum and minimum thresholds to allow it to be concluded whether the light beam complies with the regulations in force in the country.

[0005] Some of these points can be positioned above the horizontal axis of the marker to correspond to the second zone with a majority of no lighting, above the upper cut-off, in order to assess whether the light beam is dazzling or not. Indeed, it is necessary to prevent the light intensity of the beam projected onto these glare points, located above the upper cut-off, from exceeding the maximum thresholds permitted by the regulations.

[0006] These can also define minimum light intensity values ​​for other points located above the cut-off. This is the case, for example, for points called gantry points, which correspond to locations of traffic signs that must be illuminated by a dipped beam.

[0007] However, these gantry points pose several problems. Indeed, their locations are close to the glare points located above the cut-off. It is therefore necessary to be able to delimit, in the light beam, zones associated with the gantry points, whose light intensities are higher than those of the minimum thresholds of these gantry points, and zones associated with the glare points, whose light intensities are lower than those of the maximum thresholds of these gantry points.

[0008] In order to address these problems, it is generally known to use light modules comprising a high number of selectively activatable light sources, called elementary light sources, associated with an optical device, to enable the production of pixelated light beams, for example containing at least 500 pixels, each projected pixel being formed by an elementary light beam emitted by one of the elementary light sources.

[0009] Beyond the fact that this type of module allows advanced lighting functions to be implemented, for example anti-glare road, ground writing, road markings or reception scenarios, it also allows the definition of light intensity control in precisely delimited areas. It is therefore possible to juxtapose a zone of light intensity below a maximum threshold and a zone of light intensity above a minimum threshold and therefore to meet the regulatory requirements relating to both glare points and gantry points, even when these points are close together.

[0010] While this type of module partially addresses the problem of gantry points, there are still unresolved issues. The minimum thresholds associated with gantry points are close to the maximum thresholds associated with these glare points. Furthermore, the areas corresponding to the gantry points must be broadly delimited to accommodate the projector's adjustment tolerances. It may therefore happen that an area whose light intensity is higher than a minimum threshold for a gantry point overlaps an area in which the light intensity must be lower than a maximum threshold. To prevent this situation from leading to regulatory compliance issues, it is therefore necessary for the light intensity of each pixel in the light beam to be precisely controlled.

[0011] The present invention is placed in this context and aims to meet this need.

[0012] For these purposes, the subject of the invention is a lighting device for a motor vehicle comprising a first light module capable of emitting a first light beam having, when projected onto a screen, a substantially horizontal upper cut-off, said first light beam extending only below said upper cut-off, a second light module capable of emitting a second pixelated light beam, each pixel being formed by a selectively controllable elementary light beam, said second pixelated light beam extending, when projected onto a screen, at least partially above the upper cut-off of the first light beam and a controller capable of receiving an instruction to emit a regulatory dipped-beam type lighting function and arranged to, in response to the reception of said emission instruction,controlling the first light module to emit the first light beam and controlling the second light module to emit only a portion of the second pixelated elementary beam, said portion being formed by elementary light beams of which at least one extends, when projected onto a screen, above the upper cut-off of the first light beam and has a maximum light intensity of 1000 Cd, so that the meeting of the first light beam and said portion of the second pixelated light beam performs said regulatory dipped beam type lighting function.,

[0013] In the invention, the term pixelated light beam means a beam composed of a plurality of pixels arranged in a plurality of rows and / or columns. This beam has a resolution defined in particular as a function of the dimensions of each pixel and the dimension of the emission zone associated with this beam.

[0014] The invention therefore proposes to form a non-dazzling dipped beam of light capable of illuminating the points of glare without exceeding a maximum intensity governed by the regulations in force.In a particular embodiment, the controller is capable of receiving an instruction to emit a regulatory dipped beam type lighting function and is arranged to, in response to receiving said emission instruction, control the first light module to emit the first light beam and control the second light module to emit only a portion of the second pixelated elementary beam, said portion being formed by elementary light beams of which at least one extends when projected onto a screen, above the upper cut-off of the first light beam and has a light intensity of between 10 and 1000 Cd, such that the joining of the first light beam and said portion of the second pixelated light beam performs said regulatory dipped beam type lighting function.

[0015] In a particular embodiment, the controller is capable of receiving an instruction to emit a regulatory dipped beam type lighting function and is arranged to, in response to receiving said emission instruction, control the first light module to emit the first light beam and control the second light module to emit only a portion of the second pixelated elementary beam, said portion being formed by elementary light beams of which at least one extends when projected onto a screen, above the upper cut-off of the first light beam and has a light intensity of between 300 and 1000 Cd, such that the joining of the first light beam and said portion of the second pixelated light beam performs said regulatory dipped beam type lighting function.

[0016] Advantageously, the second light module comprises a plurality of selectively controllable elementary light sources, each of the elementary light sources forming one of the elementary light beams.

[0017] Preferably, the first light module comprises at least one selectively controllable light source, said at least one light source forming the first light beam.

[0018] In the invention, all the light sources are controlled by a controller in accordance with known solutions. For example, each light source can be controlled by a PWM type signal generated by the controller.

[0019] Thus, all of the elementary light beams form a pixelated light beam having predetermined photometric characteristics according to said instruction, each pixel thus having a light intensity greater than and / or less than a threshold value defined by the regulations governing the lighting function indicated by the instruction received by the controller.

[0020] According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the second light module is arranged so that the second pixelated light beam is a light beam comprising a plurality of pixels, for example 25,000 pixels whose angular resolution is between 0.025° and 0.3°, distributed according to a plurality of rows and columns, for example 80 rows and 320 columns.

[0021] For example, the second light module may comprise a plurality of elementary light sources and an optical device arranged to together emit said second pixelated light beam.

[0022] A light source is understood to mean any light source possibly associated with an electro-optical element, capable of being selectively activated and controlled to emit an elementary light beam whose light intensity is controllable. This could in particular be a light-emitting semiconductor chip, a light-emitting element of a monolithic pixelated light-emitting diode, a portion of a light-converting element excitable by a light source or a light source associated with a liquid crystal or a micro-mirror.

[0023] In a particular embodiment of the invention, the controller is arranged to selectively control each of the elementary light sources of the second light module according to said instruction so that this light source emits an elementary light beam forming one of the pixels of the pixelated light beam, all of said elementary light beams forming said portion.

[0024] Advantageously, the controller is arranged to generate, for each of the elementary light sources and as a function of said instruction, a control signal for said light source determining the light intensity intended to be emitted by said elementary light source, the controller periodically controlling said elementary light source using said control signal.

[0025] In a preferred embodiment, the second light module is capable of emitting said second pixelated light beam in an emission zone, and wherein the controller is arranged to control, as a function of said instruction, the second light module to emit a pixelated light beam whose profile, photometry and / or position in the emission zone is predetermined as a function of said instruction.

[0026] According to the invention, upon receipt of said instruction, the controller is arranged to selectively control each of the elementary light sources of the second light module so that at least part of the elementary light beams emitted by these elementary light sources form part of an upper cut-off of the overall beam formed by the union of the first and second light beams.

[0027] In a particular embodiment, upon receipt of said instruction, the controller is arranged to selectively control each of the elementary light sources of the second light module so that at least part of the elementary light beams emitted by these elementary light sources form an upper cut-off of the overall beam formed by the first light beam.

[0028] Advantageously, the upper cut-off of the overall beam formed by the union of the first and second light beams forms a regulatory crossing type cut-off.

[0029] In a particular embodiment, a portion of the upper cutoff of the first light beam is aligned with the upper cutoff of the second light beam.

[0030] In another embodiment, a portion of the upper cutoff of the first light beam is not aligned with the upper cutoff of the second light beam.

[0031] In a particular embodiment, the upper cutoff of the first beam comprises at least one portion oblique with respect to the upper cutoff of the second beam.

[0032] Preferably, the screen onto which the first and second light beams are projected is provided with an orthonormal reference frame provided with an axis HH and a vertical axis VV intersecting at the origins, and on which the first light beam extends only under the horizontal axis HH and the emission zone extends on either side of the horizontal axis HH and on either side of the vertical axis VV.

[0033] According to a particular embodiment, the emission zone comprises a portion extending horizontally in a range going substantially from 0° to +2°, and, vertically, in a range going substantially beyond +3°.

[0034] In a particular embodiment, the emission zone comprises a portion extending horizontally in a range from -4° to +3°, and, vertically, in a range substantially from +2° to +40°.

[0035] Advantageously, the controller is arranged to, in response to the reception of said emission instruction, control the second light module to emit at least one elementary light beam extending, when projected onto a screen, around a range positioned horizontally between 1° and 3°, and, vertically at 0.5°, said elementary light beam having a maximum light intensity of 800 Cd, preferably between 200 Cd and 800 Cd.

[0036] In a preferred embodiment, the emission zone comprises a portion extending horizontally in a range of substantially -15° to 9°, and vertically in a range of substantially -3.5° to +3°.

[0037] Advantageously, the controller is arranged to, in response to the reception of said emission instruction, control the second light module to emit at least one elementary light beam extending, when it is projected onto a screen, around a point positioned horizontally at -4°, and, vertically at +2°, said elementary light beam having a maximum light intensity of 200 Cd.

[0038] In a particular embodiment, the controller is arranged to, in response to the reception of said emission instruction, control the second light module to emit at least one elementary light beam extending, when it is projected onto a screen, around a point positioned horizontally at -4°, and, vertically at +2°, said elementary light beam having a light intensity of between 30 Cd and 130 Cd.

[0039] In a preferred embodiment, the emission zone comprises a portion extending horizontally in a range of substantially at least -8° to 8°, and vertically in a range of substantially above 4°.

[0040] Advantageously, the controller is arranged to, in response to the reception of said emission instruction, control the second light module to emit at least one elementary light beam extending, when projected onto a screen, around a range positioned horizontally between -20° and 10°, and, vertically around a range positioned between -2.5° and 6°, said elementary light beam having a maximum light intensity of 200 Cd, preferably between 30 Cd and 130 Cd.

[0041] In the same way, the controller is arranged to, in response to the reception of said emission instruction, control the second light module to emit at least one elementary light beam extending, when projected onto a screen, around a point positioned horizontally at +8°, ​​and, vertically at +4°, said elementary light beam having a maximum light intensity of 200 Cd, preferably between 30 and 130 Cd.

[0042] Furthermore, the controller is arranged to, in response to receiving said emission instruction, control the second light module to emit at least one elementary light beam extending, when projected onto a screen, around a point positioned horizontally at -8°, and vertically at +4°, said elementary light beam having a maximum light intensity of 200 Cd, preferably between 30 and 130 Cd.

[0043] According to the invention, the controller is able to receive an instruction to emit a non-glare road lighting function, and arranged to, in response to the reception of said emission instruction, control the first light module to emit the first light beam and control the second light module to emit only a portion of the second pixelated light beam, said portion being formed by elementary light beams of which at least a part extends, when they are projected onto a screen, above the upper cut-off of the first light beam and said portion having a dark zone above this upper cut-off, the controller is able to receive an instruction to emit a ground writing function, and arranged to, in response to the reception of said emission instruction,controlling the first light module to emit the first light beam and controlling the second light module to emit only a portion of the second pixelated light beam, said portion being formed by elementary light beams of which at least a part extends, when they are projected onto a screen, below the upper cut-off of the first light beam and said portion defining a pattern below this upper cut-off.,

[0044] Advantageously, the portion being formed by elementary light beams of which at least a part extends, when they are projected onto a screen, above the upper cut-off of the first light beam and said portion having a dark zone above this upper cut-off is capable of performing a non-glare road type lighting function for which pixels of the second light beam, located above the upper cut-off of the second light beam are controlled to form a dark zone in the overall beam formed by the union of the first and second light beams, the rest of the pixels remaining lit.

[0045] Advantageously, the portion being formed by elementary light beams of which at least a part extends, when they are projected onto a screen, below the upper cut-off of the first light beam and said portion defining a pattern below this upper cut-off is capable of performing a ground writing function for which pixels of the second light beam, located below the upper cut-off of the second light beam and located in a display zone, are controlled to materialize a pictogram or a ground marking, for example by negative or positive contrast, in the overall beam formed by the meeting of the first and second light beams.

[0046] In a particular embodiment, the first light module is capable of emitting a third segmented light beam extending, when projected onto a screen, at least partially above the substantially horizontal upper cutoff of the first light beam, the resolution of the third segmented light beam being substantially lower than the resolution of the second pixelated light beam.

[0047] In a particular embodiment, the lighting device comprises a third light module capable of emitting a third segmented light beam extending, when projected onto a screen, at least partially above the substantially horizontal upper cut-off of the first light beam, the resolution of the third segmented light beam being substantially lower than the resolution of the second pixelated light beam.

[0048] Advantageously, the first light module comprises at least a first light source and a first optical device arranged to form, from the light rays emitted by said first light source, said first light beam.

[0049] An optical device means a device comprising one or more reflectors or one or more lenses, or a combination of one or more reflectors and one or more lenses.

[0050] In a particular embodiment, the optical device is associated with a cut-off member intended to form said upper cut-off in the first light beam, said cut-off member is for example in the form of a cover.

[0051] Advantageously, the first light module comprises a plurality of second light sources that can be selectively activated, a plurality of primary optical members each associated with one of the second light sources and an optical projection device arranged to form, from the light rays emitted by each second light source and collected by the associated primary optical member, a segment of said third light beam.

[0052] The term primary optical organ means light guides, microlenses and / or collimators or a combination of one or more of these elements.

[0053] An optical projection device is a device in the form of a lens or a reflector.

[0054] Advantageously, the optical projection device is the same as for the first light sources so as to have a common output.

[0055] In a preferred embodiment, the controller is capable of receiving an instruction to emit a non-glare road lighting function, and in that the controller is arranged to, in response to receiving said emission instruction, control the first light module to emit the first light beam and at least a portion of the third segmented light beam, at least one of the segments being deactivated, and control the second light module to emit only a portion of the second pixelated light beam, said portion being formed by elementary light beams of which at least a portion extends, when they are projected onto a screen, at the deactivated segment of the third light beam, presenting a dark zone.

[0056] In a preferred embodiment, all of the first and second modules and the controller are arranged in a common projector.

[0057] The present invention is now described using examples which are purely illustrative and in no way limitative of the scope of the invention, and from the appended drawings, drawings in which the various figures represent:

[0058] represents, schematically and partially, a lighting device according to one embodiment of the invention;

[0059] represents, schematically and partially, a lighting function performed by the lighting device on a screen, more particularly the crossing type function;

[0060] represents, schematically and partially, a lighting function performed by the lighting device on a screen, more particularly the road type function;

[0061] In the following description, elements which are identical, by structure or by function, appearing in different figures retain, unless otherwise specified, the same references.

[0062] A partial view of a lighting device 1 of a motor vehicle according to one embodiment of the invention is shown.

[0063] The lighting device 1 comprises, in the example described, a projector 11 in which is arranged a first light module 2 capable of emitting a first light beam F having, when it is projected onto a screen 4, a substantially horizontal upper cut-off CS. The first light beam F is a non-pixelated beam extending only below said upper cut-off CS.

[0064] The first light module 2 comprises in particular a first light source 21 and a lens 22 arranged to form, from the light rays emitted by said first light source 21, said first light beam F.

[0065] In addition, the first light module 2 is capable of emitting a third segmented light beam MxB extending, when it is projected onto a screen 4, at least partially above the substantially horizontal upper cut-off CS of the first light beam F.

[0066] To do this, the first light module 2 comprises a plurality of second light sources 21 i,j selectively activatable, a plurality of primary optical members 23 each associated with one of the second light sources 21 i,j and a lens 22 common with the first light source 21, so as to have a common output.

[0067] The common lens 21 is arranged to form, from the light rays emitted by each second light source 21 i,j and collected by the lens, an MxB segment i,j said third light beam MxB.

[0068] In the example described, the plurality of second light sources 21 i,j are light-emitting diodes each comprising one or more light-emitting elements to form a segment which can be activated and selectively controlled by a controller 5, all of the segments being emitted towards the lens 22, which thus projects onto the screen 4 a segmented light beam MxB whose light intensity is controllable.

[0069] Still, the projector 11 also comprises a second light module 3 capable of emitting a second HD pixelated light beam, each pixel being formed by an elementary HD light beam. i,j selectively controllable, said second pixelated light beam HD extending, when projected onto a screen 4, at least partially above the upper cut-off CS of the first light beam F.

[0070] The second light module 3 notably comprises a plurality of elementary light sources 31 i,j associated with a lens 32. In the example described, the elementary light source 31 i,j is a monolithic pixelated light-emitting diode, each of whose light-emitting elements forms an elementary light source 31 i,j can be selectively activated and controlled by a controller 5 to emit light towards the lens 32, which thus projects onto the screen 4 an elementary HD light beam i,j whose light intensity is controllable.

[0071] Thus, the second light module 3 comprises a plurality of elementary light sources 31 i,j selectively controllable, each of the 31 elementary light sources i,j forming one of the elementary HD light beams i,j .

[0072] The first 2 and second light modules 3 are arranged so that the emission zone of the second light beam HD extends below and above the substantially horizontal cut-off CS of the first light beam F.

[0073] The overall beam G, formed by the union of the first light beam F and the second pixelated light beam HD when they are emitted simultaneously, is thus capable of carrying out several advanced lighting functions, such as different dipped beam type lighting functions, non-glare road type lighting, a ground writing function, the pixels formed by the elementary light beams HD i,j being selectively controlled according to the function that this global beam G must perform.

[0074] The controller 5 is capable of receiving an instruction to transmit a regulatory dipped-beam type lighting function and is arranged to, in response to receiving said transmission instruction, control the first light module 3 to transmit the first light beam F and control the second light module 2 to transmit only a portion ZI of the second pixelated elementary beam HD, said portion ZI being formed by elementary light beams HD i,j at least one of which extends, when projected onto a screen 4, above the upper cut-off CS of the first light beam F and has a light intensity of between 300 and 1000 Cd, so that the meeting of the first light beam F and said portion ZI of the second pixelated light beam HD performs said regulatory dipped-beam type lighting function.

[0075] The controller is arranged to selectively control each of the elementary light sources 31 i,j of the second light module 3 according to said instruction so that this elementary light source 31 i,j emits an elementary HD light beam i,j forming one of the pixels of the HD pixelated light beam, all of said HD elementary light beams i,j forming said portion ZI.

[0076] Thus, the second light module 3 is capable of emitting said second pixelated light beam HD in an emission zone ZE, and in which the controller 5 is arranged to control, as a function of said instruction, the second light module 3 to emit a pixelated light beam HD whose profile, photometry and / or position in the emission zone ZE is predetermined as a function of said instruction.

[0077] Therefore, upon receipt of said instruction, the controller 5 is arranged to selectively control each of the elementary light sources HD i,j , of the second light module 3 so that at least part of the elementary light beams HD i,j emitted by these elementary light sources 31 i,j forms part of an upper cutoff CS of the overall beam G formed by the union of the first F and second light beams HD.

[0078] There are shown inet, two projections of the first and second light beams F and HD or of the first, second and third light beams F, HD and MxB on a screen 4 provided with an orthonormal reference frame and positioned 25 meters from the projector 11, respectively fulfilling dipped beam type and non-glare road type lighting functions. In this reference frame, the coordinates correspond to horizontal and vertical angles, measured from the origin of the reference frame. The positive abscissas correspond to the half-plane located to the right of the vertical axis VV, the negative abscissas correspond to the half-plane located to the left of the vertical axis VV, the positive ordinates correspond to the half-plane located above the horizontal axis HH and the negative ordinates correspond to the half-plane located below the horizontal axis HH.

[0079] Each elementary HD light beam i,jis projected by the lens 32 into a given emission cone, defined by a given emission direction and a given angular aperture. Thus, in the example described, all of the elementary light beams HD i,j thus forms a second HD pixelated lighting beam presenting 500 pixels distributed over 25 columns and 20 lines, extending in an emission zone defined horizontally by an angular range of 24°, from -15° to +9°, and vertically by a vertical angular range of 6.5°, from -3.5° to +3°, and each pixel of which is formed by one of these elementary HD light beams i,j . Each elementary HD light beam i,j emitted by one of the elementary light sources 31 i,j has a horizontal and vertical opening of less than 1°.

[0080] Similarly, each MxB segment i,jis projected by the lens 22 into a given emission cone, defined by a given emission direction and a given angular aperture. Thus, in the example described, the set of segments MxB i,j thus forms a third MxB segmented light illumination beam having 500 pixels distributed over 25 columns and 20 lines, extending in an emission zone defined horizontally by an angular range of 50°, from -35° to +15°, and vertically by a vertical angular range of 7°, from -1° to +6°, and each pixel of which is formed by one of these MxB segments i,j . Each MxB segment i,j emitted by one of the second light sources 21 i,j has a horizontal and vertical opening of less than 1°.

[0081] The resolution of the second HD pixelated light beam is significantly higher than the resolution of the third MxB segmented light beam.

[0082] As shown in, some of the elementary light sources 31 i,j are activated while others are deactivated so that the second HD light beam, formed by the elementary HD light beams i,j emitted by the activated sources, has an upper cut-off. Part of this upper cut-off is aligned with the substantially horizontal upper cut-off CS of the first light beam F, the overall light beam G resulting from the superposition of these two beams F and HD thus having an upper cut-off of the “low beam” type.

[0083] The controller 5 is arranged to, in response to the reception of said emission instruction, control the second light module 3 to emit at least one elementary light beam HD i,j extending, when projected onto a screen 4, around a point 2U-4L positioned horizontally at -4°, and, vertically at +2°, said elementary light beam HDi,j with a light intensity between 300 and 1000 Cd.

[0084] The 2U-4L zone has been reported on this screen 4, this zone being located around a point positioned horizontally at -4° and vertically at +2°. The American regulation Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108, or FMVSS108, stipulates that the luminous intensity of the overall beam G measured in this 2U-4L zone must be greater than 135 Cd. This point is called a "gantry point" and is intended in particular to illuminate traffic signs positioned at height.

[0085] This 2U-4L zone is close to another ZI zone, located at the level of glare points of another aspect of the FMVSS108 regulation: the adaptive driving beam tests, or ADB, for Adaptive Driving Beam, at which the luminous intensity of the overall beam G must be lower, in certain anti-glare scenarios, than values ​​around 350-400 Cd for each beam emitted by the left and right headlights, in order to avoid situations of dazzling opposing vehicles. However, the 2U-4L zone must be wide enough to meet the adjustment tolerances of the first light module 2, and it is therefore possible that it encroaches on the ZI zone.

[0086] It is therefore necessary that the light intensity of the HD light beam(s) i,j forming the pixel(s) positioned at the level of this 2U-4L zone is greater than 135 Cd and less than 380 Cd.

[0087] In order to be able to make this constraint and the limitation of controller 5 compatible, controller 5 then adopts a control of the light sources 31 i’,j’ forming the pixels at this area 2U-4L different from that of the other light sources 31 i,j .

[0088] The controller 5 is also capable of receiving an instruction to emit a non-glare road lighting function, illustrated in [Fig. 3], the controller 5 is arranged to, in response to the reception of said emission instruction, control the first light module 2 to emit the first light beam F and at least a portion of the third segmented light beam MbX, at least one of the segments being deactivated, and control the second light module 3 to emit only a portion of the second pixelated light beam HD, said portion being formed by elementary light beams HD i,jat least part of which extends, when projected onto a screen 4, to the level of the deactivated segment of the third light beam MbX, presenting a dark zone ZS.

[0089] The controller 5 is capable of receiving an instruction to transmit a ground writing function, and arranged to, in response to the reception of said transmission instruction, control the first light module 2 to transmit the first light beam F and control the second light module 3 to transmit only a portion of the second pixelated light beam HD, said portion being formed by elementary light beams HD i,j at least part of which extends, when projected onto a screen 4, below the upper cut-off CS of the first light beam F and said portion defining a pattern below this upper cut-off CS.

[0090] In any event, the invention cannot be limited to the embodiments specifically described in this document, and extends in particular to all equivalent means and to any technically effective combination of these means.

[0091] In particular, other types of light module producing a pixelated light beam than that described may be considered, and in particular a light module comprising a combination of a light source and a matrix of micro-mirrors or liquid crystals that can be selectively activated.

[0092] It may also be possible to consider controlling the lighting system for the emission of other light functions than those described, and in particular motorway-type lighting functions or for adverse weather conditions, or even light functions in which other types of pictogram or road marking are provided.

Claims

Lighting device (1) of a motor vehicle comprising:A first light module (2) capable of emitting a first light beam (F) having, when projected onto a screen (4), a substantially horizontal upper cut-off (CS), said first light beam (2) extending only below said upper cut-off (CS);A second light module (3) capable of emitting a second pixelated light beam (HD), each pixel being formed by an elementary light beam (HD i,j) selectively controllable, said second pixelated light beam (HD) extending, when projected onto a screen (4), at least partially above the upper cut-off (CS) of the first light beam (F); andA controller (5) capable of receiving an instruction to emit a regulatory dipped-beam type lighting function and arranged to, in response to the reception of said emission instruction, control the first light module (2) to emit the first light beam (F) and control the second light module (3) to emit only a portion (ZI) of the second pixelated elementary beam (HD), said portion being formed by elementary light beams (HD i,j) at least one of which extends, when projected onto a screen (4), above the upper cut-off (CS) of the first light beam (F) and has a maximum light intensity of 1000 Cd, so that the meeting of the first light beam (F) and said portion (ZI) of the second pixelated light beam (HD) performs said regulatory dipped beam type lighting function. Lighting device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the second light module (3) comprises a plurality of elementary light sources (31 i,j ) selectively controllable, each of the elementary light sources (31 i,j ) forming one of the elementary light beams (HD i,j ). Lighting device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the controller (5) is arranged to selectively control each of the elementary light sources (31 i,j) of the second light module (3) according to said instruction so that this light source (31 i,j ) emits an elementary light beam (HD i,j ) forming one of the pixels of the pixelated light beam (HD), all of said elementary light beams (HD i,j ) forming said portion (ZI). Lighting device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second light module (3) is capable of emitting said second pixelated light beam (HD) in an emission zone (ZE), and in which the controller (5) is arranged to control, as a function of said instruction, the second light module (3) to emit a pixelated light beam (HD) whose profile, photometry and / or position in the emission zone is predetermined as a function of said instruction. Lighting device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that, upon receipt of said instruction, the controller (5) is arranged to selectively control each of the elementary light sources (31 i,j ), of the second light module (3) so that at least part of the elementary light beams (HD i,j ) emitted by these elementary light sources (31 i,j ) form part of an upper cutoff (CS), of the overall beam (G) formed by the union of the first (F) and second light beams (HD). Lighting device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the screen (4) onto which the first (F) and second light beams (HD) are projected is provided with an orthonormal reference frame provided with an axis HH and a vertical axis VV intersecting at the origins, and on which the first light beam (F) extends only under the horizontal axis HH and the emission zone (ZE) extends on either side of the horizontal axis HH and on either side of the vertical axis VV. Lighting device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the emission zone (ZE) comprises a portion (ZI) extending horizontally in a range going substantially from -15° to 9°, and, vertically, in a range going substantially from -3.5° to +3°. Lighting device (1) according to one of claims 6 or 7, characterized in that the controller (5) is arranged to, in response to the reception of said emission instruction, control the second light module (3) to emit at least one elementary light beam (HD i,j ) extending, when projected onto a screen (4), around a point positioned horizontally at -4°, and vertically at +2°, said elementary light beam (HD i,j ) with a maximum light intensity of 200 Cd. Lighting device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that: The controller (5) is capable of receiving an instruction to emit a non-glare road type lighting function, and arranged to, in response to the reception of said emission instruction, control the first light module (2) to emit the first light beam (F) and control the second light module (3) to emit only a portion (ZI) of the second pixelated light beam (HD), said portion (ZI) being formed by elementary light beams (HD i,j) at least part of which extends, when projected onto a screen (4), above the upper cut-off (CS) of the first light beam (F) and said portion (ZI) having a dark zone above this upper cut-off (CS);The controller (5) is capable of receiving an instruction to transmit a ground writing function, and arranged to, in response to the reception of said transmission instruction, control the first light module (2) to transmit the first light beam (F) and control the second light module (3) to transmit only a portion of the second pixelated light beam (HD), said portion being formed by elementary light beams (HD i,j ) at least part of which extends, when projected onto a screen (4), below the upper cut-off (CS) of the first light beam (F) and said portion defining a pattern below this upper cut-off (CS). Lighting device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first light module (2) is capable of emitting a third segmented light beam (MxB) extending, when projected onto a screen (4), at least partially above the substantially horizontal upper cut-off (CS) of the first light beam (F), the resolution of the third segmented light beam (MxB) being substantially lower than the resolution of the second pixelated light beam (HD). Lighting device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the controller (5) is capable of receiving an instruction to emit a non-glare road type lighting function, and in that the controller (5) is arranged to, in response to the reception of said emission instruction, control the first light module (2) to emit the first light beam (F) and at least a portion of the third segmented light beam (MxB), at least one of the segments being deactivated, and control the second light module (3) to emit only a portion of the second pixelated light beam (HD i,j ), said portion being formed by elementary light beams (HD i,j ) at least part of which extends, when projected onto a screen (4), to the level of the deactivated segment of the third light beam (MxB) presenting a dark zone (ZS).

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