Optical assembly for a motor vehicle
The optical assembly efficiently illuminates vehicle exterior areas using a primary light source, guide, and reflector, addressing the high cost and bulkiness of existing systems by minimizing components and ensuring uniform lighting.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- VALEO VISION SA
- Filing Date
- 2025-12-09
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-18
AI Technical Summary
Existing vehicle lighting systems for exterior components, such as the front grille, require numerous light sources and guides, leading to high costs and bulkiness, especially when the engine compartment is involved.
An optical assembly comprising a primary light source, primary light guide with prisms, a reflector, and a screen with distinct lighting zones, utilizing a reflector to efficiently direct light to multiple areas with reduced components.
The solution allows for economical and compact illumination of vehicle exterior areas, reducing the number of components and cost while maintaining homogeneous lighting.
Smart Images
Figure EP2025086027_18062026_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
Automotive Optical Assembly
[0001] The invention relates to a vehicle optical system comprising at least one light source. The invention also relates to a vehicle equipped with the optical system according to the invention.
[0002] In the automotive industry, it is known to implement lighting for portions of the exterior of the vehicle, including parts of the bodywork, grille, or grille.
[0003] For example, the grille is typically illuminated from inside the front compartment of the vehicle, particularly the engine compartment, via multiple light guides positioned at the different areas to be illuminated, each associated with a light source. In the case of lighting a vehicle's front grille, such an arrangement requires a significant number of light sources and light guides to provide internal illumination for the individual bars that make up the grille. This principle has the disadvantage of being expensive and bulky, especially when the front compartment of the vehicle contains the engine.
[0004] The invention falls within this context and aims to offer an alternative to known optical assemblies allowing the illumination of desired areas of the vehicle in a more economical and compact manner, in particular to allow its integration into the front of the vehicle.
[0005] To this end, the invention relates to an optical assembly for a motor vehicle comprising: - at least one primary light source configured to emit a primary light beam; - at least one primary light guide configured to transmit the primary light beam and comprising a plurality of primary prisms configured to deflect at least a part of said primary light beam; - a screen comprising a plurality of distinct primary lighting zones spaced apart from each other and suitable for allowing the passage of the primary light beam;- a reflecting element, at least partially interposed between at least one primary light guide and the screen according to the direction of propagation of the primary light beam, comprising a plurality of reflective portions arranged opposite the plurality of primary prisms, at least a part of the reflective portions being configured to reflect the primary light beam deflected by the primary prisms towards at least a part of the illumination areas of the screen.
[0006] In particular, the reflector: - includes a curved and / or parabolic structure; and / or - is configured to surround at least part of at least one primary light guide.
[0007] According to embodiment examples, the reflector is made of a plastic material and / or is at least partly white.
[0008] Optionally: - the plurality of primary prisms is arranged over a portion of a length of at least one primary light guide, defined along an extension direction of said guide, with subsets of primary prisms each comprising at least one primary prism being arranged at non-zero distances from each other along at least one primary light guide; and / or - a size, shape and / or depth of the primary prisms of the plurality of primary prisms varies according to the proximity of a considered prism to at least one primary light source.
[0009] In particular, the screen includes at least one opaque wall configured to extend in relation to at least one primary light guide.
[0010] Optionally, the optical assembly further comprises: - at least one secondary light source configured to emit a secondary light beam; - a support to be illuminated comprising a first face, turned towards the at least one secondary light source and / or the reflector, and a second face, opposite to the first face; and - at least one secondary light guide configured to direct the secondary light beam and comprising a plurality of secondary prisms configured to direct the secondary light beam so as to illuminate, by reflection, at least one secondary lighting area of the second surface of the support.
[0011] According to examples of implementation: - the screen and the support are connected or adjacent; and / or - at least one primary light guide and at least one secondary light guide are connected.
[0012] In particular, the screen may include a secondary opening or a transparent or translucent secondary passage area disposed opposite at least one secondary light guide and capable of permitting the passage of the secondary light beam.
[0013] For example: - the secondary prisms are arranged continuously along at least part of a length of at least one secondary light guide; and / or - at least one secondary light guide and at least one primary light guide extend on either side of a plane comprising at least part of the screen and / or the support.
[0014] The invention also extends to a motor vehicle comprising an optical assembly according to the invention.
[0015] Further details, features and advantages will become clearer upon reading the detailed description given below, which is indicative and not exhaustive, in relation to the various implementation examples illustrated in the following figures:
[0016] This is a schematic cross-sectional representation of a vehicle equipped with an optical assembly according to the invention.
[0017] This is a schematic representation of the vehicle viewed from the front.
[0018] This is an exploded schematic representation of an example of a first embodiment of the optical assembly.
[0019] This is a schematic cross-sectional representation of an example of the first embodiment of the optical assembly.
[0020] This is a schematic representation of the propagation of a primary light beam.
[0021] This is a schematic representation of a primary light guide and a reflector.
[0022] This is a schematic cross-sectional representation of an example of the second embodiment of the optical assembly.
[0023] This is a schematic cross-sectional representation of the second embodiment of the optical assembly.
[0024] This is a schematic representation viewed from the front of a part of the front face of the vehicle in the case of the second embodiment.
[0025] This is a schematic representation viewed from the front of a part of the front face of the vehicle in the case of the second embodiment.
[0026] Figures 1 to 10 schematically illustrate examples of embodiments of an optical assembly 1 according to the invention for a motor vehicle 10. According to one non-limiting embodiment, the optical assembly 1 is mounted at the front of the vehicle 10, in particular on a front panel and / or a front compartment of the vehicle 10, as further detailed below. According to alternative embodiments not shown, the optical assembly 1 can be positioned on the sides or rear of the vehicle 10's body.
[0027] By convention in the description below, the direction in which the motor vehicle 10 moves in a straight line is defined as the longitudinal direction X, the axis representing the longitudinal direction X being oriented, conventionally, from the front to the rear of the vehicle 1. The direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and located in a plane parallel to the ground is called the transverse direction Y. The direction perpendicular to the X and Y directions, orthogonal to the ground on which the vehicle 10 rests, is called the vertical direction Z. A direct XYZ coordinate system is thus defined, as shown in the figures where required. The terms "first" and "second" or "primary" and "secondary" are intended to distinguish similar elements and not to define a hierarchy among said elements. Similarly, the terms "upstream" and "downstream" refer to the direction of propagation of a given light beam Fx.
[0028] Figures 3 to 6 illustrate an example of an embodiment of a first mode of the optical assembly 1. In general, the optical assembly 1 comprises at least one primary light source 21 configured to emit a primary light beam FX1, at least one primary light guide 22 configured to transmit the primary light beam FX1, a screen 3 comprising a plurality of distinct primary lighting zones 31, spaced apart from each other and suitable for allowing the passage of the primary light beam FX1, i.e. disjoint and arranged at a non-zero distance from each other, and a reflector 4 configured to reflect the primary light beam FX1 from the primary light guide 22 towards at least a part of the primary lighting zones 31 of the screen 3.
[0029] At least one primary light source 21 is configured to emit a primary light beam FX1 towards at least one primary light guide 22. According to one embodiment, the at least one primary light source 21 is advantageously of the semiconductor type, in particular of the light-emitting diode type.
[0030] At least one primary light guide 22 is configured to transmit the primary light beam FX1, in particular at least a portion of the primary light beam FX1. According to an embodiment illustrated in Figure 1, the optical assembly 1 may comprise a plurality of distinct primary light guides 22, each of said primary light guides 22 being associated with a primary light source 21, and each of said primary light guides 22 being capable of illuminating a plurality of primary lighting zones 31 as described below. The following description refers to an optical assembly 1 comprising a primary light source 21 and a primary light guide 22; however, it is understood that the invention extends to a plurality of primary light guides 22 and primary light sources 21.
[0031] Specifically, the primary light guide 22 is made of a plastic material, such as PMMA, also known as polymethyl methacrylate. In particular, the light guide is transparent. Alternatively, the primary light guide 22 is made of a translucent plastic material.
[0032] The primary light guide 22 comprises a plurality of primary prisms 23 configured to deflect at least a portion of the primary light beam FX1. These primary prisms 23 are thus configured to divert at least a portion of the primary light beam FX1 from the path defined by the primary light guide 22 so as to direct at least a portion of said primary light beam FX1 out of the primary light guide 22. In other words, said primary prisms 23 are configured to deflect the path of the primary light beam FX1 such that a path of the primary light beam FX1 exiting the primary light guide 22 is transverse to a path of the primary light beam FX1 traveling within the primary light guide 22.
[0033] For example, the primary light guide 22 has an elongated shape, the length of which is strictly greater than its width and / or height. In particular, the primary light guide 22 has a cylindrical or substantially cylindrical shape. In this case, the primary light guide 22 extends substantially along an extension direction 200, the primary light source 21 being positioned at and / or opposite one end of the primary light guide 22, thus defining the guide along the extension direction 200. In the illustrated example, without limitation, the extension direction 200 of the primary light guide 22 extends parallel or substantially parallel to the transverse direction of the vehicle 10.
[0034] The plurality of primary prisms 23 is arranged along a portion of the length of the primary light guide 22, here defined as along the extension direction 200 of said guide. The plurality of primary prisms 23 is arranged into a plurality of subsets of primary prisms 23, each comprising at least one primary prism 23. These subsets are arranged at non-zero distances from one another along the primary light guide 22. Such positioning advantageously allows for the illumination of specific primary lighting zones 31 of the screen 3, in particular distinct and spaced-apart primary lighting zones 31, using the same primary light guide 22 and the same primary light source 21. The primary prisms 23, in particular referred to as subsets of primary prisms 23, are configured to be positioned opposite at least a portion of the reflector 4.
[0035] Additionally or alternatively, the plurality of primary prisms 23 is configured so that the size, shape, and / or depth of said primary prisms 23 varies according to the proximity of a given primary prism 23 to the primary light source 21. Such a principle is implemented in particular to allow homogeneous, or substantially homogeneous, illumination of the different primary illumination zones 31 of the screen 3 according to their proximity to at least one primary light source 21. Alternatively or additionally, the plurality of primary prisms 23 is configured so that the size, shape, and / or depth of said primary prisms 23 varies according to the proximity of a given primary prism 23 to one of the ends of the primary light guide 22 closest to the primary light source 21.Specifically, the plurality of primary prisms 23 is configured such that the size and / or depth of the primary prisms 23 increases with the distance separating a given primary prism 23 from the primary light source 21. In the illustrated example, this distance is measured along the length of the primary light guide 22, here along the extension direction 200 of the primary light guide 22. Thus, the further the primary prism 23 is from the primary light source 21, the more effectively it can deflect a significant amount of light, in this case, the primary light beam FX1. This improves the homogeneity of the primary light beam FX1 deflected by the primary prisms 23.
[0036] The reflector 4 is at least partially interposed between the primary light guide 22 and the screen 3 along the direction of propagation of the primary light beam FX1. It comprises a plurality of reflective portions 41 arranged opposite the plurality of primary prisms 23, at least a portion of said reflective portions 41 being configured to reflect the primary light beam FX1 deflected by the primary prisms 23 towards at least a portion of the primary illumination zones 31 of the screen 3. In particular, each reflective portion 41 is configured so as to reflect a portion of the primary light beam FX1 deflected by the primary prisms 23 towards one of the primary illumination zones 31 of the screen 3.
[0037] Optionally but preferably, the reflector element 4 is made of a plastic material.
[0038] Additionally or alternatively, the reflector 4 is made of a white coloured material so as to optimize the reflection of the primary light beam FX1.
[0039] The reflecting element 4 comprises a plurality of intermediate segments 42 including the reflective portions 41. Here, "segment" is understood to mean a part of a whole. The reflective portions 41, and by extension the intermediate segments 42 comprising them, are spaced and arranged at a non-zero distance from one another. Furthermore, the reflective portions 41 and the intermediate segments 42 extend at least partially opposite at least one of the primary prisms 23 of the plurality of prisms, and opposite at least one of the primary illumination zones 31, so as to transmit the primary light beam FX1 deflected by the primary prisms 23, i.e., exiting the primary light guide 22, towards the various primary illumination zones 31. Such an arrangement of the reflective portions 41 advantageously allows illumination by the primary light beam FX1 at specific predetermined positions on the screen 3.Such a principle makes it possible, in particular, but not limited to, to ensure the implementation of a specific light signature for different vehicle models without requiring the integration of a bulky optical assembly 1 including a specific light source dedicated to each area to be illuminated.
[0040] Optionally, but preferably, the reflector 4 includes a structure that is at least partially curved and / or parabolic. For example, the reflective portions 41, namely the intermediate segments 42, are curved and / or parabolic so as to direct the primary light beam FX1 exiting the primary light guide 22 towards the primary illumination zones 31. Additionally, such a curved and / or parabolic structure can, in particular, help to capture unwanted light leakage from the primary light guide 22 in order to redirect it.
[0041] Additionally or alternatively, the reflector 4 is at least partially configured to surround at least partially the primary light guide 22 so as to capture unwanted light leakage from the primary light guide 22 and redirect it back to the guide. For example, as illustrated, the reflector 4 includes a primary segment 43, configured to surround at least partially the light guide. The primary segment 43 has an elongated structure extending along all or part of the length of the primary light guide 22. The primary segment 43 of the reflector 4 has a curved and / or parabolic profile, for example, at least partially concave. Such a profile is shown here in a plane orthogonal to the extension direction 200 of the primary light guide 22.
[0042] For example, the primary segment 43 of the reflector 4, in particular its profile, surrounds the primary light guide 22 over an angular sector Kx greater than or equal to 45°, or even greater than or equal to 80° or even 90°. In the illustrated example, such an angular sector Kx is defined between two half-lines passing through the endpoints of the profile of the primary segment 43 of the reflector 4, said half-lines originating from an axis extending along the extension direction 200 on which the primary light guide 22 is centered. In particular, the primary segment 43 of the reflector 4, in particular its profile, surrounds the primary light guide 22 over an angular sector Kx less than or equal to 190°, or even less than or equal to 180°.
[0043] In particular, the primary segment 43 of the reflector 4 is configured to connect the reflective portions 41 together, namely here to connect the intermediate segments 42 comprising the reflective portions 41 together. The primary segment 43 of the reflector 4 and the intermediate segments 42 form in particular a single unit, that is to say they cannot be separated from each other without resulting in the degradation, or even the destruction, of the reflector 4.
[0044] Optionally, the reflector 4 further includes a secondary segment 44 configured to reinforce the structure of the reflector 4. The secondary segment 44 has an elongated structure configured to connect the reflective portions 41, and also to connect the intermediate segments 42 comprising the reflective portions 41. The secondary segment 44 of the reflector 4 and the intermediate segments 42 form, in particular, a single unit. The secondary segment 44 thus advantageously provides rigidity to the reflector 4. The primary segment 43 and the secondary segment 44 are, in particular, arranged on either side of the intermediate segments 42, for example, at opposite ends of the intermediate segments 42.
[0045] In particular, the optical assembly 1 further includes a plurality of fastening means, not shown, such as clips, configured to retain the reflector 4, at least one primary light guide 22, and / or the screen 3 within the vehicle 10. For example, the reflector 4 is retained by means of at least one fastening means located at the primary segment 43 and / or the secondary segment 44 described previously. Optionally, at least one primary light guide 22 is secured by means of at least one fastening means located at at least one end of the primary light guide 22, in particular the end furthest from at least one primary light source 21.
[0046] The screen 3 is positioned in the path of the primary light beam FX1 so as to be downstream of the reflector 4 in the direction of propagation of the primary light beam FX1. As previously stated, the screen 3 comprises a plurality of distinct primary illumination zones 31, spaced apart and adapted to allow the passage of the primary light beam FX1. For example, the primary illumination zones 31 are formed by portions of the screen 3 made of a transparent or translucent material, in particular a plastic. Alternatively, the primary illumination zones 31 are formed by openings configured to allow the passage of the primary light beam FX1. In other words, the primary illumination zones 31 form exit zones for the primary light beam FX1 from the optical assembly 1.
[0047] According to one embodiment, illustrated in figures 1 to 4, the screen 3 is located at the level of a grille 5 of the vehicle 10 located at the front of the vehicle 10 and / or the screen 3 is coincident with at least a part of said grille 5. According to an alternative not shown, the screen 3 is located at the level of a lateral or rear area of the body of the vehicle 10.
[0048] Optionally, the screen 3 includes at least one opaque wall 32 configured to extend along at least one direction in relation to the primary light guide 22. This opaque wall 32 is thus configured to conceal at least the primary light guide 22 from the view of an observer located outside the vehicle 10. For example, the opaque wall 32 may be made of a plastic material. The screen 3 may then be formed by overmolding or bi-injection so as to combine the primary lighting areas 31 and the opaque wall 32.
[0049] Optionally, the screen 3 may include opaque intermediate walls, interposed between adjacent primary lighting zones 31.
[0050] Figures 7 to 10 illustrate an example of a second embodiment of the optical assembly 1 according to the invention, which differs from the first embodiment in that it also includes at least one secondary light source, not shown, a support 62 to be illuminated and a secondary light guide 63.
[0051] At least one secondary light source is configured to emit a secondary light beam FX2 towards the support 62 to be illuminated via at least one secondary light guide 63, so as to allow the illumination of at least one secondary lighting zone 74. In one embodiment, the at least one secondary light source is advantageously of the semiconductor type, in particular of the light-emitting diode type. The preceding description, relating to the at least one primary light source 21 and the primary light guide 22, applies here mutatis mutandis.
[0052] The support 62 to be illuminated includes in particular a first face 62a, turned towards the secondary light source and / or towards the reflector 4, i.e. here turned towards the environment inside the vehicle 10, in particular towards the front compartment of the vehicle 10. The support 62 also includes a second face 62b, opposite to the first face 62a, in this case turned towards the environment outside the vehicle 10, including at least one secondary lighting zone 74.
[0053] Optionally, the support 62 is connected to or adjacent to the screen 3. For example, the support 62 to be illuminated is a grille of the vehicle 10. In the illustrated example, this grille is connected to the screen 3, and by extension connected to the grille 5 which includes the screen 3. Optionally, but preferably, the screen 3 is positioned higher than the support 62 to be illuminated along the vertical direction Z. In other words, the screen 3 is at least partially interposed between the support 62 to be illuminated and the secondary light guide 63 along at least one direction, in particular along the vertical direction Z.
[0054] The at least one secondary light guide 63 is configured to direct the secondary light beam FX2 and reflect it towards the support 62 to be illuminated, in particular towards the at least one secondary lighting area 74 included in the second face 62b of the support 62. Similar to the primary light guide 22, the at least one secondary light guide 63 includes a plurality of secondary prisms 64 configured to direct the secondary light beam so as to illuminate, by reflection, at least a part of the support 62, in particular the second face 62b of the support 62.
[0055] As described above, according to an example of an embodiment not shown, the optical assembly 1 may comprise a plurality of distinct secondary light guides 63, each of said secondary light guides 63 being associated with a secondary light source. The following description refers to an optical assembly 1 comprising a secondary light source and a secondary light guide 63; however, it is understood that the invention extends to a plurality of secondary light guides 63 and secondary light sources.
[0056] Optionally, but preferably, the secondary light guide 63 and the secondary light guide 63 are arranged to extend on either side of a plane 500 comprising at least part of the screen 3 and / or the support 62. In particular, the secondary light guide 63 is arranged to be turned at least partially towards the second face 62b of the support 62. In this case, the secondary light guide 63 is arranged upstream of the primary light guide 22 along the longitudinal direction X when the optical assembly 1 is arranged within the vehicle 10. In particular, the secondary light guide 63 is arranged upstream of at least part of the support 62 along at least one direction, here along the longitudinal direction X, when the optical assembly 1 is arranged within the vehicle 10.The primary light guide 22 and the secondary light guide 63 are thus advantageously configured to illuminate opposite faces of the assembly formed by the screen 3 and the support 62.
[0057] Specifically, the secondary light guide 63 is made of a plastic material, such as PMMA, also known as polymethyl methacrylate. In particular, the secondary light guide 63 is transparent. Alternatively, the secondary light guide 63 is made of a translucent plastic material.
[0058] For example, the secondary light guide 63 has an elongated shape, with a length of said shape strictly greater than its width and / or height. In particular, the secondary light guide 63 has a cylindrical or substantially cylindrical shape. For example, the secondary light guide 63 extends substantially along a secondary extension direction, with the secondary light source positioned at and / or opposite an end of the secondary light guide 63 that defines said guide along the secondary extension direction. In the illustrated example, without limitation, the secondary light guide 63 extends at least partially parallel or substantially parallel to the primary light guide 22.
[0059] As indicated above, the secondary light guide 63 comprises a plurality of secondary prisms 64 configured to deflect at least a portion of said secondary light beam FX2. Said secondary prisms 64 are thus configured to divert at least a portion of the secondary light beam FX2 from the path defined by the secondary light guide 63 so as to direct at least a portion of said secondary light beam FX2 out of the secondary light guide 63, particularly towards at least one secondary lighting zone 74 of the support 62, notably the second face 62b of the support 62. In other words, said secondary prisms 64 are configured to deflect the path of the secondary light beam FX2 such that a path of the secondary light beams exiting the secondary light guide 63 is transverse to a path of the secondary light beam FX2 traveling within the secondary light guide 63.
[0060] The plurality of secondary prisms 64 is arranged over at least part of the length of the secondary light guide 63 in a continuous manner so as to illuminate all or part of the second face 62b of the support 62.
[0061] Optionally, the plurality of secondary prisms 64 is configured so that the size, shape, and / or depth of said secondary prisms 64 varies according to the proximity of a given secondary prism 64 to the secondary light source. This principle is implemented, in particular, to allow for homogeneous, or substantially homogeneous, illumination of the support 62. Specifically, the plurality of secondary prisms 64 is configured so that the size and / or depth of the secondary prisms 64 increases with the distance separating a given secondary prism 64 from the secondary light source. In the illustrated example, this distance is measured along the length of the secondary light guide 63, here along the secondary extension direction. Thus, the further the considered secondary prism 64 is from the secondary light source, the more effectively it can deflect a significant amount of light, in this case, the secondary light beam FX2.
[0062] Optionally, but preferably, and as can be seen in particular in Figure 1, the primary light guide 22 and the secondary light guide 63 are connected. This principle advantageously simplifies the assembly of the optical unit 1 within the vehicle 10. For example, the primary light guide 22 and the secondary light guide 63 are connected by at least one intermediate cable 65. This at least one intermediate cable 65 may extend over all or part of the length of the primary light guide 22 and / or the secondary light guide 63, continuously or not. The primary light guide 22 and the secondary light guide 63 thus form a single unit. This principle applies mutatis mutandis to a plurality of primary light guides 22 and secondary light guides 64, each primary light guide 22 being connected to a secondary light guide 63.
[0063] According to exemplary embodiments, the screen 3 further comprises at least one secondary aperture 7 and / or at least one secondary passage zone 71 located opposite the secondary light guide 63 and suitable for allowing the passage of the secondary light beam FX2. For example, the at least one secondary passage zone 71 is formed by a wall of the screen 3 made of a transparent or translucent material, in particular a plastic material. In other words, the at least one secondary aperture 7 or the at least one secondary passage zone 71 forms an exit zone for the secondary light beam FX2 from the optical assembly 1.
[0064] For example, at least one secondary opening 7 or at least one secondary passage zone 71 is included in one of the walls of the screen 3 extending transversely to the primary lighting zones 31. By extension, at least one secondary opening 7 or at least one secondary passage zone 71 extends at least partially transversely to the primary lighting zones 31. In particular, at least one secondary opening 7 or at least one secondary passage zone 71 extends over at least part of a length of the screen 3, here defined along a direction parallel to the extension direction 200, and by extension here to the transverse direction. In this case, at least one secondary opening 7 or at least one secondary passage area 71 extends over most of the length of the screen 3, that is to say at least 50% of the length of the screen 3 so as to allow lighting of most of the length of the support 62 to be illuminated.
[0065] The screen 3, in particular the secondary part of the screen 3, is thus at least partially positioned in the path of the secondary light beam FX2. The use of a secondary passage zone 71 made of a transparent or translucent material instead of a secondary opening 7 advantageously protects the components of the optical assembly 1 from water, dust, or projectiles from the environment outside the vehicle 10.
[0066] Optionally, at least one opaque wall 32 of the screen 3, described previously, is at least partly configured to conceal the secondary light guide 63 from the view of an observer present in the environment outside the vehicle 10. For example, the screen 3 delimits a cavity of which at least one wall is made of an opaque material, in particular the opaque wall 32 described previously, while a separate wall includes at least one secondary opening 7 or at least one secondary passage zone 71 suitable for allowing the passage of the secondary light beam FX2 to the support 62 to be illuminated.
[0067] The use of separate light guides and light sources for illuminating the screen 3 and the support 62 advantageously allows for independent illumination of these elements. For example, the support 62 can be illuminated during welcome or greeting sequences performed by the vehicle 10, respectively when the vehicle 10 is switched on or off.
[0068] Thus, the present invention proposes an optical assembly comprising a primary light guide, a primary light source, and a reflector capable of illuminating a plurality of distinct and spaced-apart lighting zones with the same primary light guide and the same primary light source in a vehicle, particularly at the front grille of the vehicle. The invention advantageously enables the illumination of a plurality of distinct, spaced-out, or disjoint, lighting zones while limiting the number of components required and, consequently, reducing the cost and size of the optical assembly.
[0069] The present invention is not limited to the means and configurations described and illustrated herein, and also extends to any equivalent means or configuration and to any technically operative combination of such means insofar as they ultimately fulfill the functionalities described and illustrated in this document.
Claims
Optical assembly (1) for motor vehicle (10) comprising: - at least one primary light source (21) configured to emit a primary light beam (FX1); - at least one primary light guide (22) configured to transmit the primary light beam (FX1) and comprising a plurality of primary prisms (23) configured to deflect at least a part of said primary light beam (FX1); - a screen (3) comprising a plurality of distinct primary lighting zones (31) spaced apart from each other and suitable for allowing the passage of the primary light beam (FX1);- a reflector (4), at least partially interposed between at least one primary light guide (22) and the screen (3) according to the direction of propagation of the primary light beam (FX1), comprising a plurality of reflective portions (41) arranged opposite the plurality of primary prisms (23), at least a part of the reflective portions (41) being configured to reflect the primary light beam (FX1) deflected by the primary prisms (23) towards at least a part of the illumination areas of the screen (3). Optical assembly (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the reflecting element (4): - comprises a curved and / or parabolic structure; and / or - is configured to surround at least in part at least one primary light guide (22). Optical assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the reflecting element (4) is made of a plastic material and / or is at least partly white. Optical assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: - the plurality of primary prisms (23) is arranged over a portion of a length of at least one primary light guide (22), defined along an extension direction (200) of said guide, subsets of primary prisms (23) each comprising at least one primary prism (23) being arranged at a non-zero distance from each other along at least one primary light guide (22); and / or - a size, shape and / or depth of the primary prisms (23) of the plurality of primary prisms (23) varies as a function of the proximity of a particular prism to at least one primary light source (21). Optical assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the screen (3) comprises at least one opaque wall (32) configured to extend in relation to at least one primary light guide (22). Optical assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising: - at least one secondary light source configured to emit a secondary light beam (FX2); - a support (62) to be illuminated comprising a first face (62a), turned towards the at least one secondary light source and / or the reflector member (4), and a second face (62b), opposite to the first face (62a); and - at least one secondary light guide (63) configured to direct the secondary light beam (FX2) and comprising a plurality of secondary prisms (64) configured to direct the secondary light beam so as to illuminate, by reflection, at least one secondary lighting zone (74) of the second surface of the support (62). Optical assembly (1) according to the preceding claim, in which: - the screen (3) and the support (62) are connected or adjacent; and / or - at least one primary light guide (22) and at least one secondary light guide (63) are connected. Optical assembly (1) according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the screen (3) includes a secondary opening (7) or a secondary passage zone (71) transparent or translucent disposed opposite at least one secondary light guide (63) and suitable for permitting the passage of the secondary light beam (FX2). Optical assembly (1) according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein: - the secondary prisms (64) are arranged continuously along at least a part of a length of at least one secondary light guide (63); and / or - at least one secondary light guide (63) and at least one primary light guide (22) extend on either side of a plane (500) comprising at least part of the screen (3) and / or the support (62). Motor vehicle (10) comprising an optical assembly (1) according to one of the preceding claims.