LIGHT MODULE FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE

Abstract

A motor vehicle signaling device light module includes a substrate on which a matrix arrangement of elementary light sources is mounted, a connector fixed to the substrate having a rectangular footprint with a long side and a narrow side, and a support designed to hold the substrate in position in the signaling device. The substrate is curved around an axis of curvature, and the light sources are arranged to produce a convex display from the point of view of a user outside of the vehicle, so that the long side of the connector is substantially parallel to the axis of curvature.

Claims

1. A lighting module for a motor-vehicle signaling device, comprising: a substrate comprising an electronic circuit, a matrix array of elementary light sources arranged uniformly with a spacing interval of less than 1 mm, the light sources being mounted on the electronic circuit of the substrate, a connector able to receive an instruction for controlling said elementary light sources, a part of said connector being fixed to the substrate, that part of said connector that is fixed to the substrate having a footprint of rectangular overall shape with a long side and a narrow side, a support designed to hold the substrate in position in the signaling device, wherein said substrate is curved about an axis of curvature, so that the light sources are positioned so as to create a convex display from the viewpoint of an observer external to the vehicle, and so that the long side of the footprint of the connector is substantially parallel to the axis of curvature.

2. The lighting module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support is configured to hold the substrate in a convex shape.

3. The lighting module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the substrate has an interior face oriented toward the interior of the vehicle, the module being configured so that said interior face of the substrate is held against the support.

4. The lighting module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support comprises a heat sink member in thermal contact with the substrate.

5. The lighting module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connector comprises a flexible printed circuit board.

6. The lighting module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connector comprises an anisotropic conductive adhesive.

7. The lighting module as claimed in claim 6, wherein the module comprises a control unit designed to power and control the light sources, said control unit being mechanically and electrically mounted on the flexible circuit board.

8. The lighting module as claimed in claim 3, wherein the control unit is held on the support.

9. The lighting module as claimed in claim 3, wherein the support is designed to be concealed from any viewpoint of an observer external to the vehicle, so long as said viewpoint is situated at a height above ground level that is at least equivalent to that of the device.

10. The lighting module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the arrangement of light sources is uniform and covers more than 90% of one face of the substrate, which face faces toward the exterior.

11. The lighting module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the substrate has an exterior face facing toward the exterior of the vehicle, the connector and/or a control unit being mounted on a zone of the exterior face of the substrate that is concealed from a viewpoint of an observer external to the vehicle, said viewpoint being situated at a height that is at least equivalent to that of the device with respect to ground level.

12. The lighting module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the substrate has passing through it holes making it possible to establish an electrical connection and in that the connector is located on a face of the substrate that does not have elementary light sources.

13. The lighting module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the substrate has floating edges without any means of electrical connection and/or of mechanical retention that is visible from a viewpoint of an observer external to the vehicle, and just one edge comprising mechanical-retention and/or electrical-connection means.

14. The lighting module as claimed in claim 12, wherein the substrate has only floating edges, without any means of electrical connection and/or of mechanical retention that is visible from a viewpoint of an observer external to the vehicle.

15. The lighting module as claimed in claim 2, wherein the substrate has an interior face oriented toward the interior of the vehicle, the module being configured so that said interior face of the substrate is held against the support.

16. The lighting module as claimed in claim 2, wherein the support comprises a heat sink member in thermal contact with the substrate.

17. The lighting module as claimed in claim 2, wherein the connector comprises a flexible printed circuit board.

18. The lighting module as claimed in claim 2, wherein the connector comprises an anisotropic conductive adhesive.

19. The lighting module as claimed in claim 7, wherein the control unit is held on the support.

20. The lighting module as claimed in claim 4, wherein the support is designed to be concealed from any viewpoint of an observer external to the vehicle, so long as said viewpoint is situated at a height above ground level that is at least equivalent to that of the device.

Description

[0054] The present invention will now be described by way of examples that are merely illustrative and that in no way limit the scope of the invention, and with reference to the accompanying illustrations, in which:

[0055] [FIG. 1] schematically and partially depicts a view of a lighting module according to a first embodiment of the invention;

[0056] [FIG. 2A] schematically and partially depicts a view of a lighting module according to a second embodiment of the invention, in section on a plane of section AA;

[0057] [FIG. 2B] schematically and partially depicts a view of the lighting module according to a second embodiment of the invention, in section on a plane of section BB;

[0058] [FIG. 2C] schematically and partially depicts a view of the lighting module according to a second embodiment of the invention, in section on a plane of section CC;

[0059] [FIG. 3A] schematically and partially depicts a view of a lighting module according to a third embodiment of the invention, in section on a plane of section AA;

[0060] [FIG. 3B] schematically and partially depicts a view of the lighting module according to a third embodiment of the invention, in section on a plane of section BB;

[0061] [FIG. 3C] schematically and partially depicts a view of the lighting module according to a third embodiment of the invention, in section on a plane of section CC;

[0062] [FIG. 3D] schematically and partially depicts a view of a lighting module according to a third embodiment of the invention, from an opposite viewpoint to that of [FIG. 3C].

[0063] In the following description, elements that are identical in terms of structure or in terms of function and that appear in various figures have been designated with the same reference sign, unless otherwise indicated.

[0064] [FIG. 1] depicts a partial view of a lighting module 1 according to a first embodiment of the invention. The lighting module 1 forms part of a tail light of a motor vehicle. The figure depicts only a substrate 2 having a convex curvature from a viewpoint of an observer external to the vehicle and comprising an electronic circuit, not depicted, a matrix array of light sources 4 arranged on the electronic circuit of the substrate, and a connector 6 placed on the electronic circuit. The footprint of the connector 6 on the substrate 2 has a rectangular overall shape with a long side and a short side.

[0065] The substrate has a radius of curvature that evolves about parallel axes. In this case, the axis of curvature is an axis XX to which the axes of curvature of part of the substrate are parallel. The long side is oriented along the axis of curvature XX of the substrate.

[0066] [FIG. 2A], [FIG. 2B], and [FIG. 2C] depict a partial view of a lighting module 1 according to a second embodiment of the invention. The lighting module 1 forms part of a tail light of a motor vehicle and comprises a substrate 2. Said substrate 2 is a flexible glass substrate, and has a convex curvature from a viewpoint of an observer external to the vehicle.

[0067] The substrate 2 comprises an electronic circuit, not depicted. A matrix array of light sources 4 is placed on the substrate and the light sources 4 are mounted on the electronic circuit.

[0068] The substrate 2 has an exterior face facing toward the exterior of the vehicle and an interior face facing toward the interior of the vehicle. A connector 6 placed on the interior face is mounted on the electronic circuit of the substrate. The connector comprises a flexible printed circuit board 61 and an anisotropic conductive adhesive 62 designed to mechanically and electrically connect the printed circuit board 61 to the electronic circuit of the substrate. The footprint of the connector 6 on the substrate 2 has a rectangular overall shape with a long side and a short side. The long side is oriented along an axis of curvature XX of the substrate.

[0069] The module 1 also comprises a glass substrate 3. The substrate 3 is flexible. The substrate is held in position in the signaling device by a support 3 which also holds the substrate in a convex shape. The means for fixing the substrate to the support have not been depicted.

[0070] The module 1 also comprises a control unit 7 designed to power and control the light sources 4. Said control unit 7 is mechanically and electrically mounted on the flexible circuit board 61. Moreover, the control unit comprises several faces and is also fixed by that one of its faces on which the control unit is not mounted. In that way, the control unit is concealed from an observer external to the vehicle when it is in use.

[0071] The module 1 comprises a support 3 fitted with an aluminum heat sink member comprising cooling fins 81. A malleable thermal conductor 82 ensures thermal contact between the substrate 2 and the heat sink member of the support 3. The substrate 2 is bonded on the support 3 which holds it in position in the signaling device as well as maintaining its curvature. In that way, the support 3 lends its rigidity to the substrate 2.

[0072] The support 3 is produced in such a way that it is not visible to an external observer situated at least at the height of the signaling device when the vehicle is in use. Non-depicted elements of the signaling device conceal the support from any customary viewpoint of an external observer.

[0073] [FIG. 3A], [FIG. 3B], [FIG. 3C] and [FIG. 3D] depict various sections of a partial view of a lighting module 1 according to a third embodiment of the invention. The lighting module 1 forms part of a tail light of a motor vehicle and comprises a substrate 2. Said substrate 2 is a rigid metal substrate, and has a convex curvature from a viewpoint of an observer external to the vehicle.

[0074] The substrate 2 comprises an electronic circuit, not depicted. A matrix array of light sources 4 is placed on the substrate. The light sources 4 are mounted on the electronic circuit of the substrate 2.

[0075] The substrate 2 is held in position in the signaling device by a support 3. The means for fixing the substrate to the support have not been depicted.

[0076] The substrate 2 has an exterior face facing toward the exterior of the vehicle and an interior face facing toward the interior of the vehicle. A control unit 7 and a connector 6 are situated on the exterior face of the substrate. The connector comprises a printed circuit board 61 and an anisotropic conductive adhesive 62 designed to mechanically and electrically connect the printed circuit board 61 to the electronic circuit of the substrate. The footprint of the connector 6 on the substrate 2 has a rectangular overall shape with a side and a short side. The long side is oriented along an axis of curvature XX of the substrate.

[0077] The support 3 is produced in such a way that the substrate and elements of the signaling device or of the vehicle conceal the support from any customary viewpoint of an external observer, and it is therefore not visible to this observer.

[0078] The above description clearly explains how the invention makes it possible to achieve the stated objectives, in particular by proposing a lighting module that is curved, and notably has floating edges.

[0079] In any event, the invention should not be regarded as being limited to the embodiments specifically described in this document, and extends, in particular, to any equivalent means and to any technically operative combination of these means.