Light-emitting, notably lighting and/or signaling, module for motor vehicles

Abstract

Light-emitting module, notably motor vehicle lighting and/or signaling module, including at least two sub-modules each including at least two light sources activatable selectively to each produce a segment of a partial light beam. Also included is a projection optic common to the two sub-modules for projecting said light-emitting segments. The sub-modules and the projection optic being adapted to produce a homogeneous segmented beam.

Claims

1. A light emitting module including: at least two sub-modules each including at least two light sources activatable selectively so that each produces a segment of a partial light beam; a projection optic common to the at least two sub-modules for projecting light emitting segments, the at least two sub-modules being adapted to be adjusted in rotation and/or in translation to produce a homogeneous segmented beam; and a field lens disposed between the at least two sub-modules and the projection optic, the field lens being divided into a plurality of portions that are disposed on a same side of a base of the field lens, each portion defining an optical aberration correction lens associated with one of the at least two sub-modules, the optical aberration correction lenses projecting perpendicularly from the same side of the base of the field lens, wherein each sub-module of the at least two sub-modules includes at least two microlenses positioned in a vicinity of the at least two light sources and forming a primary optic adapted to cooperate with the projection optic to form the homogeneous segmented beam, each of the at least two microlenses facing a respective light source of the at least two light sources of each sub-module, and wherein the field lens is arranged so to as to be closer to the projection optic than the primary optics.

2. The light emitting module according to claim 1, wherein each sub-module includes a separate support for its light sources.

3. The light emitting module according to claim 2, wherein the light emitting module includes a plate disposed to support the at least two sub-modules and the projection optic.

4. The light emitting module according to claim 3, wherein the separate support of at least one sub-module includes a front face carrying the at least two light sources and a rear face configured to be in contact with a wall of the plate.

5. The light emitting module according to claim 4, wherein the plate includes at least one orifice cooperating with a bore produced in the separate support, to receive a fixing screw.

6. The light emitting module according to claim 3, wherein the plate includes at least one orifice cooperating with a bore produced in the separate support, to receive a fixing screw.

7. A method of assembling a light emitting module according to claim 3, wherein at least one sub-module is adjusted in position to obtain a homogeneous segmented beam when all of the at least two light sources are lit, the method comprising: assembling the at least two sub-modules on the plate in a theoretical position, notably by partially tightening to fix each sub-module, determining, by a first test phase, when the segmented beam is homogeneous, fixing at least one sub-module that is partially loosened, defining a new recomputed position of at least one sub-module, causing, by a holding finger, the sub-module to pivot and/or to move in translation, and determining, by a second test phase, when the segmented beam is homogeneous, and fixing each sub-module that is tightly clamped to a plate of a light-emitting segment.

8. The light emitting module according to claim 3, wherein support of at least one sub-module includes a front face carrying the at least two light sources and a rear face configured to be in contact with a wall of the plate.

9. The light emitting module according to claim 2, wherein the separate support includes a holding finger.

10. The light emitting module according to claim 9, wherein the holding finger is configured to enable manipulation of the sub-module to adjust it.

11. The light emitting module according to claim 2, wherein the light emitting segments of a partial light beam emitted by a sub-module are interleaved with the light emitting segments of a partial light beam emitted by an adjacent sub-module.

12. The light emitting module according to claim 1, wherein the light emitting segments of a partial light beam emitted by a sub-module are interleaved with the light emitting segments of a partial light beam emitted by an adjacent sub-module.

13. The light emitting module according to claim 12, wherein an overlap of the light emitting segments has a width l/n, l being a width of a light-emitting segment and n being a number of sub-modules.

14. The light emitting module according to claim 1, wherein the projection optic includes a curved projection lens for projecting the light emitting segments emitted by the at least two light sources.

15. The light emitting module according to claim 1, wherein the at least two sub-modules are configured to generate a luminous intensity profile including an extinguished lighting strip corresponding to a location of an object, and one or more lighting strips adjacent to the extinguished lighting strip have a luminous intensity increasing progressively in a direction away from the extinguished lighting strip.

16. A light emitting module including: at least two sub-modules each including at least two light sources activatable selectively so that each produces a segment of a partial light beam, a projection optic common to the two sub-modules for projecting light-emitting segments, and a separator disposed between the at least two sub-modules, the separator extending from the at least two sub-modules to field lenses associated with each of the at least two sub-modules, the separator being configured to define distribution conduits, the sub-modules and the projection optic being adapted to produce a homogeneous segmented beam.

Description

(1) Other features, details and advantages of the invention will emerge more clearly on reading the description given hereinafter by way of example and with reference to the drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a light-emitting module according to the invention including four sub-modules and the respective plurality of light sources thereof.

(3) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a light source support included in a sub-module according to one embodiment of the invention, and

(4) FIGS. 3 and 4 are diagrammatic representations of a global light beam projected by a light-emitting module from FIG. 1 and a luminous intensity diagram of that beam when one strip forming the beam is unlit.

(5) The embodiments that are described hereinafter are in no way limiting on the invention: variants of the invention could in particular be conceived of that comprise only a selection of the features described hereinafter in isolation from the other features described if that selection of features is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to distinguish the invention from the prior art.

(6) In particular all the variants and all the embodiments described can be combined with one another if there is nothing to oppose that combination from a technical point of view. In such cases, this will be mentioned in the present description.

(7) In the figures, elements common to more than one figure retain the same reference.

(8) In the remainder of the description, the terms longitudinal, vertical and transverse are relative to an axis corresponding to the general direction of the rays emitted by the light source. The longitudinal direction corresponds to the general direction of the rays emitted by the light source. The forward direction designates the direction of emission of the light rays by the light source, the reverse direction for its part designating the opposite direction. The directions referred to above can also be seen in a trihedron L, V, T shown in the figures.

(9) The light-emitting module 1 according to the invention includes at least two sub-modules 2 each including at least one light source 3 (visible in FIG. 2 in particular), together with a projection optic 4 common to the at least two sub-modules 2.

(10) In the example shown the light-emitting module it according to the invention more particularly includes four sub-modules 2. Two sub-modules 2 include five light sources 3, the other two sub-modules 2 including seven light sources 3 in the FIG. 1 example the sub-modules including five light sources alternate with those including seven light sources.

(11) The light-emitting module 1 further includes a plate 6 that has a first face 60 on which are disposed the various elements constituting the light-emitting module 1. The sub-modules 2 are disposed at a first longitudinal end of the plate 6 whereas the projection optic 4 of the light-emitting module 1, which is common to each of the sub-modules, is disposed at an opposite longitudinal end of the plate 6, opposite the sub-modules 2.

(12) Here the projection optic 4 consists in a curved projection lens with an entry face 41 facing toward the light sources 3 and the associated sub-modules and an exit face 42. The projection optic 4 is common to each sub-module 2 and for controlled projection of the light rays emitted by the light sources 3 it collaborates with the light sources 3 and the optical elements associated with the light sources and forming primary optics 22.

(13) The plate 6 includes at the first longitudinal end, for fixing the sub-modules 2, a vertical wall 61 extending the plane base of the plate. The sub-modules 2 are disposed on a front face 62 of this vertical wall 61, i.e. the face facing the projection optic 4. The front face 62 of the vertical wall 61 of the plate 6 is plane or substantially plane.

(14) The plate 6 further includes a heatsink 7 on a rear face 64 of the vertical wall 61 of the plate 6, said rear face 64 being disposed opposite the front face 62 on which are disposed the sub-modules 2. The heatsink 7 is adapted to dissipate effectively the heat generated by the light sources 3 and the electronic components carried by the sub-modules 2. In the FIG. 1 example, the heatsink 7 comprises a multitude of fins disposed vertically, but it can advantageously be differently arranged.

(15) In the example shown, the light-emitting module further includes a field lens 8 and a separator 9 also arranged on the plate 6 of the module between the plurality of sub-modules 2 and the projection optic common to each of the sub-modules in such a manner as to deflect, segment and conform the rays emitted by the light sources carried by the sub-modules to direct them in an appropriate manner to the common projection optic at the exit of the module.

(16) The sub-modules 2 each include a support 21 which, as can be seen in FIG. 2 in particular, has a front face 211 and a rear face 212, defining between them the thickness of the plate forming the support 21, as well as a lower part and an upper part defined in the vertical direction as a function of the final arrangement in the vehicle. The light sources 3 of the sub-modules are disposed on the front face 211 of the support 21 and these light sources 3 are aligned transversely in the upper part of the support 21.

(17) Each sub-module 2 further includes an optical element 22 facing the light sources and configured to cooperate with the projection optic common to all the sub-modules, this common projection optic then forming a secondary optic cooperating with the optical element forming a primary optic 22 carried by the sub-modules to generate a lighting and/or signaling light beam. The primary optic 22 is disposed facing each of the light sources 3, between the light sources 3 and the projection optic 4 forming the secondary optic. The primary optic 22 includes at least one microlens 23, and preferably one microlens 23 per light source 3. The microlenses 23 can in particular have a hemispherical or essentially hemispherical shape. They are made of a transparent or translucent material or alloy. For controlled projection of the light rays emitted by the light sources 3 in the direction of the secondary optic in such a manner as to produce segmented partial light beams 5 they are shaped and arranged to collaborate with the light sources 3.

(18) Controlled projection of the rays means that a beam made up of rays is produced at the exit of the module that conforms to the specifications and to the regulations in terms of shape, color and power. The rays projected in a controlled manner have few or no chromatic aberrations.

(19) In the assembled module, the rear face 212 of a support 21 is pressed against the front face 62 of the vertical wall 61 of the plate 6.

(20) Each support 21 of a light source 3 has a threaded bore 215 passing through it, essentially at the center of the support 21. Each threaded bore 215 is more particularly substantially at the center of the support 21 and extends from one face of the support 21 to the other.

(21) In a corresponding manner, the plate 6 further comprises an orifice configured on the vertical wall 61 for each support 21, the orifices being disposed in transverse series. By disposed in series is meant that the orifices are aligned or essentially aligned along a transverse axis, in such a manner as to correspond to the threaded bores 215 in the supports 21 of the light sources 3.

(22) When the support 21 of a light source 3 is mounted on the plate 6, the threaded bore 215 in the support 21 and the orifice in the plate are aligned, in such a manner as to allow fixing means 26 to pass through them. In the situation shown in FIG. 1, the fixing means 26 consists in a clamping screw, the shank diameter of which is substantially equal to that of the threaded bores 215. Clearly the diameter of the orifices formed in the vertical wall is slightly greater than that of the threaded bores 215 in order to be sure not to block the passage of the fixing screw 26 through the bores. In the FIG. 1 example, all the threaded bores 215 have the same diameter, but the diameter of one or more threaded bores 215 can be different from the others. Likewise, although all the orifices formed on the vertical wall 61 can have the same diameter, it can be envisaged that the diameter of one or more of these orifices is different from the others.

(23) The fixing screws 26 are inserted through the rear face 64 of the vertical wall 61 of the plate, and they pass through the orifices in the plate to be inserted in the threaded bores 215 of the supports 21, the screwheads therefore remaining on the side of the rear face 64 of the vertical wall 61.

(24) The supports 21 each include at least one holding finger 24 that perpendicularly extends the support by virtue of projecting on the rear face 212 of the latter, being arranged at one end of this support, here in the vicinity of the upper edge. Each holding finger 24 comprises at least one gripping hole 25, arranged to allow gripping and manipulation of the supports 21 by an operator or a machine in order to produce the rewired orientation of each support before fixing them in the light-emitting module. In the example shown, the holding finger includes two gripping holes 25, configured to collaborate with any machine tool useful for the manufacture, assembly or adjustment of the light-emitting module 1.

(25) As described above, the field lens 8 is disposed on the plate 6, between the sub-modules 2 and the projection optic 4. The field lens 8 is divided into a plurality of portions 81 each defining an optical aberration correction lens specifically associated with one of the sub-modules and projecting substantially perpendicularly from a base 83 of the field lens 8, in such a manner as to be located on the path of the rays emitted by the light sources in the direction of the projection lens 4. Therefore, each portion 81 of the field lens 8 collaborates with a sub-module 2 and with the projection optic 4 to project in a controlled manner the light rays emitted by the light sources 3.

(26) The light-emitting module 1 according to the invention also comprises a separator 9 configured to divide the rays emitted by the light sources into a plurality of successive strips, and notably to intercept unwanted rays emitted by the sub-modules 2. These unwanted rays are light rays emitted by the light sources 3 of a sub-module 2 with a trajectory that deviates significantly from the general axis of the light rays, the unwanted rays being liable to interfere with the optimum operation of the adjacent sub-modules 2. The separator 9 is formed of or covered with an opaque material able to absorb light rays.

(27) The separator 9 for its part is also disposed on the plate 6, between the sub-modules 2 and the field lens 8. The separator 9 comprises longitudinal walls 91 arranged in transverse series and that respectively extend between the portions 81 of the field lens 8 and between the sub-modules 2. The separator therefore makes it possible to define light distribution conduits 92, leading from a sub-module 2 disposed at one longitudinal end of the separator to a field lens disposed at the opposite longitudinal end. Unwanted rays emitted by the light sources 3 of a sub-module 2 are absorbed by the longitudinal walls 91 of the distribution conduits 92, and the majority of the light rays emitted by each sub-module 2 are directed toward the corresponding portion 81 of the field lens and then projected in a controlled manner toward the projection optic 4, common to each distribution conduit 92.

(28) This results in the production of a segmented light beam at the exit of the light-emitting module as can be seen in FIG. 3 in particular.

(29) Each sub-module 2 (designated 2A to 2D in FIG. 1) therefore participates in the creation of a partial light beam (designated 5A to 5D in FIG. 3) projected at the exit of the common projection lens, and each partial light beam is segmented because of the series arrangement of a plurality of light sources in each sub-module.

(30) In the example shown, two non-consecutive sub-modules 2A and 2C include seven light sources and seven associated microlenses and the partial light beams 5A and 5C that they participate in projecting include seven segments, whereas the other two sub-modules 2B and 2D, consequently also non-consecutive, include five light sources and five associated microlenses so that the partial light beams 5B and 5D that they participate in projecting include five segments.

(31) The light-emitting segments of a partial light beam are side by side two by two, and these various partial light beams 5A, . . . , 5D projected at the exit from the common projection optic are interleaved, so that in the global light beam 5, constructed by the addition of the partial beams, a lighting strip 51 can be constituted, notably at the center of the global beam, by the superposition of a plurality of light-emitting segments respectively belonging to one of the partial light beams. In other words, the light-emitting segments of one sub-module are interleaved with the light-emitting segments of another sub-module.

(32) A light strip 51 can therefore be illuminated or not as a function of the lighting or not of such or such a segment, and the luminous intensity of this lighting strip can be varied as a function of the number of light-emitting segments that constitute it that are lit.

(33) In the example shown in FIG. 3, each strip 51 is therefore constituted of a part of four different light-emitting segments, each resulting from a partial light beam 5 produced by the cooperation of a specific sub-module and the common projection optic and separate sub-module.

(34) In normal operation, when the vehicle is the only one traveling, all of the light sources 3 are lit. The light-emitting module 1 therefore lights the road taken by the vehicle to the maximum of its capacities. In the event of another user arriving, whether that be a pedestrian, a vehicle arriving in the opposite direction or a vehicle preceding that of the user, it is possible selectively to deactivate certain light sources 3 in such a manner as no longer to project certain light-emitting segments of the partial light beam. This has the effect of deactivating certain strips 51, notably those that it has been possible to identify as participating in lighting the user detected on the road scene, and to modify the lighting contour of the global light beam projected by the user's vehicle, in order not to dazzle the other users.

(35) By way of nonlimiting example, it is possible to detect a vehicle arriving in the opposite direction in a straight line, substantially at the center of the lighting beam, and it is then necessary to extinguish the lighting strip 51 shown in FIG. 3. Each of the light sources 3, in a light-emitting sub-module 2, corresponding to the lighting of this lighting strip is then extinguished. In the example shown, there is therefore extinguished the fourth source of the first sub-module 2A, generating the first partial light beam 5A, and there are simultaneously extinguished the second source of the second sub-module 2B, generating the second partial light beam 5B, the third source of the third sub-module 2C, generating the third partial light beam 5C, and the second source of the fourth sub-module 2D, generating the fourth partial light beam 5D.

(36) There has been shown in FIG. 4 the luminous intensity profile of the resulting global light beam. It can be seen that the lighting strip 51 in which the third party vehicle has been detected is completely extinguished and that the lighting strips in the vicinity thereof have a luminous intensity increasing progressively in the direction away from the extinguished lighting strip. This prevents excessively strong contrast between the extinguished strip and the rest of the lighting beam, which could compromise the view of the driver.

(37) In the example shown, it is clear that the light-emitting strip 51′ directly in the vicinity of the extinguished lighting strip 51 is formed by the same second source of the second sub-module 2B, the third source of the third sub-module 2C, and the second source of the fourth sub-module 2D, which are therefore extinguished, as well as by the third source of the first sub-module 2A, generating the first partial light beam 5A, which for its part has remained lit, selectively relative to the fourth source of the first sub-module 2A. The result of this is that the light-emitting strip 51′ directly in the vicinity of the extinguished light strip 51 is lit with a luminous intensity substantially corresponding to one quarter of the maximum luminous intensity.

(38) Likewise, the second light-emitting strip 51″ disposed directly in the vicinity of the partially lit light-emitting strip 51′ is formed by the same second source of the second sub-module 2B and the third source of the third sub-module 2C as the extinguished lighting strip, as well as by the third source of the first sub-module 2A, generating the first partial light beam 5A, and the first source of the fourth sub-module 2D, which for their part have remained lit, selectively relative to the fourth source of the first sub-module 2A and the second source of the fourth sub-module 2D. The result of this is that this second light-emitting strip 51″ is lit with a luminous intensity substantially corresponding to half the maximum luminous intensity.

(39) This progressive evolution of the luminous intensity of the lighting strips is made possible by the segmentation of each of the partial light beams 5A, . . . , 5D, and the selective activation of the light sources generating these partial light beams, by the superposition of all the partial light beams in a homogeneous global light beam when all the segments are lit together, and by the angular offsetting of each partial light one relative to one another so that the segments of one sub-module are interleaved with the segments of the adjacent sub-module.

(40) It is clear that the segmentation of each of the partial light beams is notably made possible by the presence of a plurality of light sources in each sub-module, these light sources being activatable independently of one another.

(41) The superposition of all the partial light beams in a homogeneous segmented global light beam is made possible by the presence of a projection optic common to each of the sub-modules, the projection optic being configured to have on the path of the rays emitted by each sub-module a section adapted to correct the rays to obtain a homogeneous output beam. As it has been possible to describe, it can be interesting to provide between the sub-modules and the common projection optic optical elements participating in correctly dividing the rays in order to prevent unwanted rays that could degrade the homogeneous character of the global light beam projected at the exit of the light-emitting module.

(42) And the angular offsetting of each partial light beam one relative to the other is made possible by a specific angular positioning of each of the sub-modules 2 relative to the plate 6 and notably relative to the vertical wall 61. There is described hereinafter a method of adjusting the position of the sub-modules in the light-emitting module. The aim will notably be to position each sub-module correctly relative to the others so that the overlapping of the light-emitting segments of one sub-module by those of an adjacent sub-module has a required width, the width being equal to l/n, with l the width of the light-emitting segment and n the number of sub-modules.

(43) In the example shown in which the aim is to extinguish in the global light beam one or more successive light-emitting strips so as not to dazzle a third party vehicle, it is clear that the position of the light-emitting strip or strips that it is wished to extinguish could be made to evolve: as the distance between the vehicles decreases, the vehicle approaching from in front will move toward the outside of the global light beam projected by the user's vehicle. It is then required to extinguish successively the first light-emitting strip 51′ then the second light-emitting strip 51″, and to this end each of the light sources participating in the formation of that light-emitting strip is extinguished, leaving the other light sources lit.

(44) The example described here of lighting and extinguishing light sources to generate a dark strip that does not dazzle a vehicle approaching in the opposite direction is in no way limiting on the invention and the module according to the invention can be used effectively in numerous situations.

(45) There has been mentioned hereinabove the benefit in accordance with the invention of being able to adjust the angular position of the sub-modules 2 relative to one another and there is described hereinafter one example of assembly and adjustment of the light-emitting module 1.

(46) There is effected on the one hand the assembly of the sub-modules 2, by assembling together the components of the sub-modules 2, notably by fixing the light sources 3 to the support 21 in a transverse series and then fixing the optical element 22 to the support 21 so that the microlenses 23 are disposed facing the light sources.

(47) On the other hand, all of the components of the light-emitting module 1 are positioned on the plate 6, in particular placing from one longitudinal end of the plate to the other, in particular the projection lens 4, the field lens 8 and the separators 9.

(48) Each of the sub-modules 2 is then placed on the vertical wall 61 of the plate 6, and these sub-modules are fixed independently of one another with a fixing screw 26 specific to each sub-module. As it has been possible to describe hereinabove, a sub-module is placed against the vertical wall, notably by manipulating the sub-module by means of the holding finger 24, pressing the rear face 212 of a support 21 against the front face 62 of the vertical wall 61 and lining up the threaded bore 215 in the support 21 with the corresponding orifice produced in the vertical wall 61. In particular indexing means can be provided to facilitate the positioning of the support 21 and the lining up of the orifices.

(49) Once each sub-module has been mounted on the plate 6, a test is carried out on a photometry bench to verify that the segments are correctly superposed relative to one another.

(50) If the position of one of the sub-modules must be modified as a function of the results of this test, the fixing means 26 are partially unscrewed to enable the sub-module to move relative to the vertical wall of the plate and a robot is controlled to manipulate the sub-module in rotation about an axis substantially parallel to the vertical wall 61, using the holding finger. Alternatively, the robot can be controlled to manipulate the sub-modules 2 in translation, for example in the directions T and V. As soon as the recomputed position for each sub-module is obtained, the fixing screw 26 is tightened again to press the support 21 of the sub-modules 2 against the vertical wall 61 of the plate 6, holding the recomputed position of the sub-module by means of the holding finger. And this series of operations is repeated for each of the sub-modules the position of which is to be adjusted.

(51) It should be noted that additional steps can be provided, notably a step of adjustment of the projection optic 4, the field lens 8 or the separator 9, to improve the projection of the global light beam produced by the light-emitting module 1 according to the invention.

(52) The invention described hereinabove notably makes it possible to produce a matrix beam with a light-emitting module 1 carrying on a plate a projection optic common to a plurality of sub-modules, easy to assemble independently of the plate, and easy to adjust.