LIGHTING DEVICE FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE

Abstract

The invention relates to a luminous device of a motor vehicle, the device including a first luminous module with first and second sub-modules each provided with a light source, and a collector, the first module including a lens which is designed to project the light reflected by the collectors in light beams with a upper cut-off offset vertically from each other.

Claims

1. A luminous device of a motor vehicle, the device comprising a first luminous module including a first sub-module provided with a first light source, and a first collector including a reflective surface which is designed to collect and reflect light emitted by the first light source, a lens which is designed to project the light reflected by the first collector in a first light beam with a first upper cut-off, the first light beam being formed by an image of the reflective surface of the first collector formed by the lens; the first luminous module comprising a second sub-module provided with a second light source and a second collector including a reflective surface which is designed to collect and reflect light emitted by the second light source, the lens being designed to project the light reflected by the second collector in a second light beam with a second upper cut-off, the second light beam being formed by an image of the reflective surface of the second collector formed by the lens; with the first and second sub-modules being designed such that the first upper cut-off is offset vertically in relation to the second upper cut-off.

2. The luminous device as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the first and second collectors has a rear edge, wherein the lens is designed such that the first light beam has an upper cut-off formed by the image of the rear edge of the first collector formed by the lens, and such that the second light beam has an upper cut-off formed by the image of the rear edge of the second collector formed by the lens, the rear edge of the first collector being offset vertically in relation to the rear edge of the second collector.

3. The luminous device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first and second light sources are fitted on a same support.

4. The luminous device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the lens has a focal area situated in the vicinity of the rear edge of the second collector.

5. The luminous device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first luminous module includes a plurality of first sub-modules; each provided with a first light source, and a first collector including a reflective surface which is designed to collect and reflect light emitted by the first light source; and wherein the first luminous module includes a plurality of second sub-modules, each provided with a second light source and a second collector including a reflective surface which is designed to collect and reflect light emitted by the second light source, the first and second sub-modules being arranged in a manner which is adjacent to, and alternating with, one another.

6. The luminous device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a control unit which is designed to control selectively each of the first and second light sources, the control unit being designed to light one of the first and second light sources only when the other one of the first and second light sources is switched off.

7. The luminous device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a second luminous module which can emit a third light beam including a third upper cut-off with at least one flat portion, the first and second luminous modules being designed such that the flat portion of the third upper cut-off is aligned with the second upper cut-off.

8. The luminous device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the second luminous module includes a third light source, and wherein the first, second and third light sources are fitted on a same support.

9. The luminous device as claimed in the claim 8, further comprising a third luminous module, which is arranged below the first luminous module, and includes a third sub-module identical to the first sub-module of the first luminous module, a fourth sub-module identical to the second sub-module of the first luminous module, and a lens which is designed to project the light emitted by the third luminous module in a fourth light beam with a fourth upper cut-off, and to project the light emitted by the fourth luminous module in a fifth light beam with a fifth upper cut-off, the third and fourth sub-modules being arranged such that the fourth upper cut-off is aligned with, and/or superimposed on, the first upper cut-off, and such that the fifth upper cut-off is aligned with, and/or superimposed on, the second upper cut-off.

10. The luminous device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a fourth luminous module which can emit a sixth light beam extending at least partly above the second upper cut-off.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0033] The present invention will now be described by means of examples, which merely illustrate and in no way limit the scope of the invention, and by the appended drawings, in which the various figures represent:

[0034] FIG. 1 represents schematically and partly a view in perspective of a luminous device according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0035] FIG. 2 represents schematically and partly a rear view of the luminous device of FIG. 1;

[0036] FIG. 3 represents schematically and partly a view in cross-section of the luminous sub-modules of the device of FIG. 1;

[0037] FIG. 4 represents isoluxes of a light beam emitted by one of the luminous sub-modules of the luminous device of FIG. 1;

[0038] FIG. 5 represents isoluxes of a light beam emitted by another one of the luminous sub-modules of the luminous device of FIG. 1;

[0039] FIG. 6 represents isoluxes of a light beam of the low-beam type obtained by means of the light beam of FIG. 4;

[0040] FIG. 7 represents isoluxes of a light beam of the low-beam type obtained by means of the light beam of FIG. 5;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0041] In the following description, elements which are identical in terms of structure or function appearing in different figures retain the same references, unless otherwise specified.

[0042] FIG. 1 represents a view in perspective of a luminous device 1 according to an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 2 represents the luminous device 1 in a rear view.

[0043] The luminous device 1 comprises a first luminous module 2, a second luminous module 3, a third luminous module 4, and a fourth luminous module 5.

[0044] The first luminous module 2 comprises two first sub-modules 21 and two second sub-modules 22, these first and second sub-modules 21 and 22 being arranged in an adjacent manner, along a transverse axis Y of the luminous device 1, and alternating with one an-other. One of the second luminous modules 22 is thus surrounded by the two first luminous modules 21, and one of the first luminous modules 21 is thus surrounded by the two second luminous modules 22.

[0045] Each of these first and second sub-modules 21 and 22 is provided with a first, and respectively with a second light source 31 and 32, and with a first, and respectively with a second collector 41 and 42 comprising a reflective surface to collect and reflect light emitted by this light source. It will be noted that each of the first and second collectors 41, 42 comprises at least one lateral edge, at least one portion of which is common to one of the second, and respectively the first collectors 41.

[0046] The first luminous module 2 also comprises a lens 51 which is designed to project the light reflected by each of the first and second collectors in a first, and respectively a second light beam.

[0047] FIG. 3 represents a view in cross-section, on a vertical plane XZ, of a sub-module 21 and a sub-module 22 of the first luminous module 2.

[0048] Each of the first and second collectors 41, 42 has vertically a truncated parabolic or elliptical profile, defining a cavity in which the first light source 31, and respectively the second light source 32 are arranged. The first and second light sources 31, 32 are light-emitting diodes fitted on a single printed circuit board 6, which can thus emit rays of light in the same direction Z. The printed circuit board 6 is flat, such that the first and second light sources 31, 32 are positioned at the same distance from an optical axis X-X of the lens 51.

[0049] The light-emitting diode 31 is positioned at a focal point of the collector 41, such that the rays of light emitted by this light-emitting diode 31 are reflected by the reflective surface of the collector 41 according to an angle of inclination, in relation to the optical axis X-X of the lens 51, equal to 250 or less, and preferably less than 10?. Similarly, the light-emitting diode 32 is positioned at a focal point of the collector 42, such that the rays of light emitted by this light-emitting diode 32 are reflected by the reflective surface of the collector 42 according to an angle of inclination, in relation to this optical axis X-X of the lens 51, equal to 25? or less, and preferably less than 25?.

[0050] The reflective surface of each collector 41 and 42 collects and reflects the light emitted by the light-emitting diodes 31, and respectively 32, towards the lens 51, which is de-signed to project this light onto the road. The first luminous sub-module 21 thus forms a first light beam F11, whereas the second luminous sub-module 22 forms a second light beam F12. FIG. 4 represents a projection, on a vertical screen positioned at 25 m from the luminous device 1, and provided with an orthogonal reference system, of the light beam F11. FIG. 5 represents a projection, on a vertical screen positioned at 25 m from the luminous device 1, and provided with an orthogonal reference system, of the light beam F12, with the regulations of the first and second sub-modules 21 and 22 remaining unchanged in relation to those of FIG. 4.

[0051] Each of the first and second collectors 41, 42 thus has a rear edge 41a, and respectively 42a. It will be noted that the rear edges 41a are positioned at the same height in relation to the optical axis X-X of the lens 51, whereas the rear edges 42a are positioned at the same height of this optical axis X-X, while being offset vertically relative to the rear edges 41a. It can be envisaged that these rear edges 42a are on the optical axis X-X.

[0052] The lens 51 has a focal area, for example a focal line 51a, which passes horizontally via all the rear edges 41a, 42a of the first and second collectors 41 and 42 (this line thus being curved), and passing vertically only via the rear edges 42a of the second collectors 42, while remaining in the vicinity of the rear edges 41a of the first collectors 41.

[0053] The lens 51 thus projects onto the road the image of the reflective surface of each collector 41, 42, such that the light beams F11, and respectively F12, resulting from this projection, have a first upper cut-off LB11, and respectively a second upper cut-off LB12, delimiting a lit area of an unlit area, formed by the rear edges 41a, and respectively 42a, of this collector. The rear edges 41a, 42a each have a substantially elliptical profile, such that the first and second upper cut-offs LB11 and LB12 are substantially flat.

[0054] As a result of the relative positioning of the rear edges 41a and 42a, the first cut-offs LB11 of the light beams F11 are thus aligned with one another, as are the second cut-offs LB12 of the light beams F12, whereas the second cut-offs LB12 are offset vertically upwards in relation to the first cut-offs LB11. In the example described, each first upper cut-off LB11 is thus positioned at 0.57? below the horizontal axis H-H of said reference system, whereas each second upper cut-off LB12 is superimposed substantially on this horizontal axis H-H of said reference system.

[0055] The second luminous module 3 comprises a plurality of luminous sub-modules 23, each provided with a light source 33 and a collector 43, as well as with a lens 52.

[0056] Each sub-module 23 is similar to the sub-modules 21 and 22 of the first luminous module 2, with the exception of the form of the collector 43 of this sub-module, and in particular the profile of its rear edge 43a, which has a substantially elliptical profile positioned substantially at an identical height, in relation to the optical axis of the lens 52, as that of the rear edges 42a of the second collectors 42 in relation to the optical axis of the lens 51. As represented in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the upper cut-off of the light beam, resulting from the projection by the lens 52 of an image of each collector of each sub-module 4, thus has a flat upper portion LB13 which is designed to be aligned with the horizontal axis H-H, and thus with the second cut-off LB12 of the beam F12, or to extend above the first cut-off LB11 of the beam F11.

[0057] In other words, when the light sources 31 and 33 are lit simultaneously, and the light sources 32 are switched off, the combination of the light beams as represented in FIG. 6 makes it possible to provide a lighting function of the low-beam type according to the regulation ECE R112. On the other hand, when the light sources 32 and 33 are lit simultaneously and the light sources 31 are switched off, the combination of the light beams as represented in FIG. 7 makes it possible to provide a lighting function of the low-beam type according to the regulations FMVSS 108 or SAE.

[0058] It will be noted that the second luminous module 3 is arranged in a manner adjacent to the first luminous module 2 along a transverse axis Y of the device 1, and that the sub-modules 23 of this second luminous module 3 are themselves arranged in an adjacent manner along this transverse axis Y. in addition the collectors 43 are arranged in the same direction as the collectors 41 and 42. Thus, the light sources 31, 32 and 33 can be arranged on a single printed circuit board 6, and the collectors 41, 42 and 43 can be formed by a single part of the luminous device in which cavities are formed, each defining one of these collectors, with each cavity being provided with a reflective coating forming the reflective surface of the collector which it defines.

[0059] In the examples of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the third luminous module 4 is in every respect identical to the first luminous module 2, and comprises a plurality of luminous sub-modules 24 and 25, each provided with a light source 34, and respectively 35, and with a collector 44, and respectively 45, as well as with a lens 53. The third luminous module 4 is thus designed to form the same light beams F11 and F12 as this first luminous module 2. It will be noted only that the alternation of the first and second luminous sub-modules of this third luminous module 4 is inverted with respect to that of the first luminous module 2.

[0060] Finally, the fourth luminous module 5 comprises a plurality of luminous sub-modules 26, each provided with a light source 36 and a collector 46, as well as with a lens 54. The fourth luminous module 4 is designed to project a segmented or pixelized light beam, extending at least partly above the second upper cut-off LB12 of the light beam F12.

[0061] It will be noted that the lenses 51, 52, 53 and 54 of these luminous modules 2, 3, 4 and 5 are formed by different portions of a single lens 7 of the luminous device 1.

[0062] The luminous device comprises a control unit (not represented), which can receive an instruction for emission of a given photometric function, and is designed, in response to this instruction, to control the light sources 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 and 36, so that they emit light.

[0063] For example, during receipt of an instruction for emission of a function of a European low-beam type, the control unit activates the first light sources 31, 33 and 34, with the luminous device then providing said function of the European low-beam type. During receipt of an instruction for emission of a function of the American low-beam type, the control unit activates the light sources 32, 33 and 35, with the luminous device then providing said function of the American low-beam type.

[0064] Also, during the receipt of an instruction for emission of a function of the high-beam type, the control unit activates the light sources 31, 33, 34 and 36.

[0065] The foregoing description explains clearly how the invention makes it possible to achieve the objectives which it had set out, i.e. of obtaining a luminous device which can provide a lighting function of low-beam type which complies with the requirements of a plurality of specific regulations, and the lit appearance of which remains identical, irrespective of its operating mode.

[0066] In any event, the invention is not limited to the embodiments specifically described in this document, and extends in particular to all equivalent means and to any technically work-able combination of these means. It is for example possible to envisage using types of optical device other than the one described, and in particular any optical device comprising one or a combination of a plurality of the following optical elements: reflector, lens, collimator, optical guide, shield. It will also be possible to envisage other profiles and/or other dimensions and/or other positioning of the light beams.