LIGHTING DEVICE FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE, IN PARTICULAR A VEHICLE HEADLIGHT OR HEADLAMP

Abstract

A lighting device for a motor vehicle includes a housing having a front lighting surface, a substantially planar plate and at least one lighting module mounted on the plate. The plate has a general plane of extension that is horizontal when the housing is mounted in the vehicle, and has a surface referred to as a lower surface and a surface referred to as an upper surface. The plate includes a first control system which comprises a first male element and is arranged to cause translation of the first male element in an axis parallel to the plate, the plate being provided with a first recess receiving the first male element, and a second control system that includes a second male element and is arranged to cause translation of the second male element in an axis perpendicular to the plate, the plate being provided with a second recess on its upper or lower surface that receives the second male element. The housing thus takes up less space above the modules, which can easily be raised.

Claims

1. A lighting device for a motor vehicle comprising a housing having a lighting front face, a substantially planar plate and at least one lighting module mounted on the plate, characterized in that the plate has a lower face and an upper face, and in that it comprises, on the one hand, a first adjustment system which comprises a first male element and is arranged to cause a translation of said first male element along an axis parallel to the plate, the plate being provided with a first recess receiving said first male element and, on the other hand, a second adjustment system which comprises a second male element and is arranged to cause a translation of said second male element along an axis perpendicular to the plate, the plate being provided, at the level of its upper or lower face, with a second recess receiving said second male element.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the plate comprises two lateral axles, each lateral axle being received in a slideway provided in the housing.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the first recess forms a slideway whose opening is located in a plane perpendicular to the general plane of extent of the plate.

4. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the first and second recesses form capsules in which the male elements of the first and second adjustment systems are received by snap-fitting.

5. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the second adjustment system comprises a motor situated in a plane lower than the plate, and a rod carrying the second element which preferably is a sphere, the motor being arranged to cause a translation of the rod along said axis perpendicular to the plate.

6. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the second adjustment system comprises a motor, a rod and a movement transformation member supporting the second element, the motor being arranged to cause a translation of the rod along an axis parallel to the plate, and the rod being connected to the transformation member so that the translation of the rod along said axis parallel to the plate causes the translation of said second element along said axis perpendicular to the plate.

7. The device as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the transformation member comprises a bracket comprising two arms, a first arm perpendicular to the plate and connected by one of these ends to the rod, and a second arm connected orthogonally to the first arm and at the end of which is arranged said second element, the bracket being mounted on the housing of the lighting device by a ball joint.

8. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the second recess of the plate forms a slideway in which the second element of the second adjustment system is mounted, said second element being in the form of a sphere.

9. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the plate is attached to the housing by a ball joint which defines, with the first and second recesses, the axes of rotation for adjusting the plate.

10. The device as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the second recess of the plate forms a slideway in which the second element of the second adjustment system is mounted, the slideway extending tangentially to the arc of a circle, the center of this circle being the ball joint, and its radius being the distance from the ball joint to said second recess.

11. The device as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the first recess defines a ball joint between the first element and the plate, and the second recess defines a ball joint between the second male element and the plate, the first and second recesses defining the axis of rotation for the lateral adjustment of the plate, while the second recess and the lateral axles together define the axis of rotation for adjustment in a direction perpendicular to the plate.

12. The device as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the second recess has a female shape matching the shape of the male element which is in the form of a sphere.

13. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the first adjustment system comprises an adjustment screw.

14. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the plate and the movement transformation member, when present, comprise at least one ribbed face.

15. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a lighting module of the segmented high-beam type, the module being mounted on the plate and being adjustable in height by means of a vertical adjustment screw inserted into a vertical orifice of the plate.

16. The device as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the first recess forms a slideway whose opening is located in a plane perpendicular to the general plane of extent of the plate.

17. The device as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the first and second recesses form capsules in which the male elements of the first and second adjustment systems are received by snap-fitting.

18. The device as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the second adjustment system comprises a motor situated in a plane lower than the plate, and a rod carrying the second element which preferably is a sphere, the motor being arranged to cause a translation of the rod along said axis perpendicular to the plate.

19. The device as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the second adjustment system comprises a motor, a rod and a movement transformation member supporting the second element, the motor being arranged to cause a translation of the rod along an axis parallel to the plate, and the rod being connected to the transformation member so that the translation of the rod along said axis parallel to the plate causes the translation of said second element along said axis perpendicular to the plate.

20. The device as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the second recess of the plate forms a slideway in which the second element of the second adjustment system is mounted, said second element being in the form of a sphere.

Description

[0027] The present invention is now described with the aid of examples that are only illustrative and in no way limit the scope of the invention, and with reference to the accompanying illustrations, in which:

[0028] FIG. 1 represents a front perspective view of a lighting device according to the invention with regard to a first embodiment.

[0029] FIG. 2 represents a front perspective view of a lighting device according to the invention with regard to a second embodiment.

[0030] FIG. 3 is a perspective view from above of the lower face of the plate, the plate being common to the first two embodiments of the device of FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0031] FIG. 4 is a partially exploded perspective view of FIG. 1.

[0032] FIG. 5 is a horizontal sectional view from below of the device of FIG. 1.

[0033] FIG. 6 is a vertical and side sectional view of the device of FIG. 1.

[0034] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the movement transformation member constituting an interface part between the housing and the plate of the first embodiment of FIG. 1.

[0035] FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of a lighting device of the invention according to a third embodiment.

[0036] FIG. 9 is a perspective view from below of the plate and the lighting modules of the device of FIG. 8.

[0037] FIG. 10 is a front perspective view of the inside of the housing of the device of FIG. 8, before mounting the plate and the lighting modules.

[0038] The motor-vehicle lighting device 1 illustrated in the figures is in particular intended to constitute a vehicle headlight or headlamp.

[0039] The lighting device 1 comprises at least one lighting module 2 for lighting, in this case two lighting modules 20 and 21 being illustrated, a plate 3 designed to be movable and serving to support the lighting modules, a housing 10 accommodating the assembly of the plate and of the lighting modules, and having a front face 11 from which the light of the lighting modules is emitted, as well as means 4, 5 for adjusting the height and the depth of the plate in the housing in order to adjust the angular orientation of the lighting modules vertically in the Z direction (bottom to top or top to bottom) and laterally in the Y direction (left to right or right to left).

[0040] The plate 3 is substantially planar; it has a lower face 3A and an upper face 3B. According to the invention, the plate 3 is arranged in the housing 10 so as to extend in a single dimensional extent corresponding to a horizontal plane in the position of use of the device.

[0041] In addition, the plate 3 comprises, on each of its lateral sides, an axle 60, 61, respectively, which extends in a direction parallel to the general plane of the plate and in a direction parallel to the back 12 of the housing (perpendicular to the direction connecting the front face 11 to the back 12 of the housing). These axles 60 and 61 are received in respective slideways 70 and 71 provided in the body of the housing 10. The axles 60 and 61 make it possible to react the forces in the Z direction, in the context of the vertical vibrations experienced by the plate.

[0042] The adjustment means 4 are capable of moving the plate 3 in a direction parallel to the plate and depth-wise in the housing (horizontal direction X). The adjustment means 5 are capable of moving the plate 3 along a plane perpendicular to the plate (vertical direction Z).

[0043] More specifically, the adjustment means comprise a first adjustment system 4 supported by the body of the housing 10 and cooperating with the plate 3 to translate it in parallel, and a second adjustment system 5 supported by the body of the housing 10 and cooperating with the plate 3 in at least one other location thereof to translate it perpendicularly to its plane of extent.

[0044] FIGS. 1, 2 and 8 illustrate two embodiments with regard to the design of the plate 3, and to the design of the adjustment means 4 and 5 and of their connection with the housing 10, respectively.

[0045] In the first two embodiments (FIGS. 1 and 2), the plate 3 illustrated in FIG. 3 and the adjustment means 4 (FIGS. 4 and 5) for the horizontal translation of the plate 3 are common. On the other hand, the adjustment means 5 for the vertical translation of the plate 3 differ between these two embodiments.

[0046] These first two embodiments are described below.

[0047] According to the invention, the plate 3 (FIG. 3) comprises at least two recesses 30 and 31 that are intended to cooperate with male elements 40 and 50 of the respective adjustment systems 4 and 5, and a connection point 32, here a female shape, that is intended to cooperate with a fixed link 13 integral with the back 12 of the housing 10 to form a ball joint between the plate and the housing.

[0048] With reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the first adjustment system 4 comprises an adjustment screw 40 which is arranged in the back 12 of the housing and whose front distal end corresponds to the male element 40. The screw 4 extends in a plane parallel to the plate 30, along a horizontal plane. Preferably, the male element 40 has a spherical head. The recess 30 of the plate forms a blind orifice whose entry is located in a plane perpendicular to the general plane of the plate. This first recess 30 can be located at the level of the lower face 3A of the plate as illustrated here, or on the edge of the plate in its thickness, or even on its upper face 3B. The screw 4 whose head 40 is engaged in the recess 30 is intended to be screwed or unscrewed to bring about the translation of the plate 3 according to the arrow F1 in a plane parallel to the general plane of the plate (horizontal plane) between the front face 11 of the housing and the back 12. The recess 30 is advantageously in the form of a slideway whose axis coincides with the direction of the axles 60 and 61 of the plate.

[0049] According to the first embodiment of the lighting device, the second adjustment system 5, which generates a vertical translational movement of the plate 3 and is illustrated in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5 to 7, comprises a motor M capable of exerting a horizontal pull or push, and angle transmission means to generate a vertical translation on the plate.

[0050] In particular, the adjustment system 5 comprises the motor M and a movement transformation member 51 which is arranged as an interface between the motor M and the plate 3 so as to transform a horizontal movement produced by the motor M into a vertical movement of the plate 3, as well as the male element 50 that is integral with the member 51 and is received in the second recess 31 of the plate.

[0051] The movement transformation part 51 is in this case in the form of a bracket (FIGS. 6 and 7). The bracket 51 has two arms, a vertical arm 51A and a perpendicular horizontal arm 51B, and three connection points, a first connection point (top point) 52 which is arranged in the upper part of the vertical arm 51A and forms a cavity, preferably in the form of a vertical slideway, the entrance to which is located in a vertical plane, a second connection point 53 (bottom point) located opposite the first point, at the lower end of the vertical arm 51A, and a third connection point which consists of the male element 50. The three connection points 52, 53 and 50 form a trihedral. The connection points 52 and 53 are coplanar, while the male element 50 is offset. The third connection point/male element 50 is arranged in a plane located above the low point 53. When the bracket 51 is mounted on the housing 10 and the plate 3, the rear of the plate cooperates with the adjustment systems 4 and 5, while the male element 50 is projected towards the front of the plate.

[0052] The motor M is arranged in the back of the housing and at the rear of the bracket 51, that is to say opposite the plate 3. The adjustment system 5 comprises a rod 54 which is connected to the motor M and is designed to be driven in translation by the motor, parallel to its longitudinal axis, and parallel to the general plane of the plate.

[0053] The first connection point, or the cavity 52 of the bracket 51, is connected to the motor M via the rod 54. Preferably, the free end of the rod 54 is domed. The head of rod 54 is received in the top connection point/cavity 52 of bracket 51; driving the rod 54 exerts on the bracket 51 a horizontal translational movement parallel to the general plane of the plate 3 (arrow F2 in FIG. 6).

[0054] The second connection point 53 is integral with the housing at a fixed point 55 with a spherical head to form a ball joint. The second connection point 53 forms a cavity which accommodates the ball shape 55 of the housing. The fixed arrangement of the second ball joint connection point 53, 55, opposite the first connection point 52 which is mobile, causes the bracket 51 to rotate around the ball joint 55.

[0055] The third connection point consisting of the male element 50 is arranged at the free end of the horizontal arm 51B of the bracket, and in a plane situated higher than the second connection point/the ball joint connection 53, 55 (and lower than the first connection point 52). The rotation of the second connection point 53 around the ball joint 55 generates the vertical translation of the third connection point/the male element 50 (arrow F3 in FIG. 6). The male element 50 is remote from the ball joint 53, 55 in an appropriate manner to provide a radius of curvature in relation to the desired pivot angle of the lighting modules. Preferably, the male element 50 is in the shape of a sphere. The cooperation of the male element 50 with the second recess 31 of the plate generates the vertical translation of the plate 3. The recess 3 has its opening in a plane parallel to the plate (horizontal plane).

[0056] Advantageously, with regard to FIG. 3, the second recess 31 of the plate 3 forms a slideway which extends tangentially to the arc of a circle, the center of this circle being the connection point 32, and its radius being the distance between the connection point 32 and the center of the slideway 31. The slideway 31 has a longitudinal axis that is inclined with respect to the vertical and in the direction of the first adjustment system 4.

[0057] According to the second embodiment of the adjustment system 5, illustrated in FIG. 2, said adjustment system 5 generates a direct movement of vertical translation of the plate 3. To that end, the adjustment system 5 comprises a motor M1 capable of exerting a vertical pull or push at the level of the lower face 3A of the plate 3 in order to translate the plate vertically and make it go up or down. In addition, the adjustment system 5 comprises the male element 50 cooperating with the second recess of the plate, the male element 50 in this case being formed by the end—preferably spherical—of a rod connected to the motor M1.

[0058] In the first two embodiments described above, the plate 3 is also attached by its third recess 32 to the fixed point 13 of the housing. This fixed connection point 13 is off-center in the back 12 of the housing, and located in the upper part opposite the first adjustment system 4 with respect to the vertical plane containing the motor M or M1. The connection point 13 is in the form of a ball joint (FIG. 4) to ensure rotation of the plate around this point.

[0059] According to a third embodiment of the lighting device of the invention, illustrated in FIGS. 8 to 10, the device 1 comprises the same adjustment system 4 in horizontal translation as that described above for the two other embodiments (adjustment screw whose end 40 is received in the first recess 30 of the plate). On the other hand, as illustrated in FIG. 10, the device 1 does not include the fixed connection point 13 of the first two embodiments. The plate 3 is carried by the housing via its lateral axles 60, 61 and by the adjustment systems 4 and 5 respectively via its recesses 30 and 31.

[0060] Moreover, although the adjustment system 5 which generates a vertical translational movement of the plate 3 is identical to that of the first embodiment via the motor M and the movement transformation member (bracket) 51, the second recess 31 of the plate 3 which accommodates the second male element 50 of the bracket differs in its geometry. The second recess 31 of the plate has a female shape matching the shape of the male element 50. Here, the second recess 31 has a spherical female shape.