WIDE-APERTURE LIGHT UNIT

Abstract

A light unit configured to emit at least one wide-aperture light beam including a transmitter system, configured to emit at least one light beam, the beam(s) being emitted in an angular range of 360° around the transmitter system; a reflector system surrounding the transmitter system, arranged to receive each light beam propagating from the transmitter system and to reflect each light beam received towards the outside of the light unit. The reflector system includes a frame surrounding the transmitter system and bearing a reflecting surface extending around the transmitter system between two opposite edges of the frame, the reflector system and/or the transmitter system are mounted such that they can be moved relative to one another and such that they can be positioned relative to one another so as to modify the interception area of the beam emitted by the transmitter system along the reflecting surface of the reflector system.

Claims

1. A wide-aperture light device, configured to emit at least one light beam comprising: an emitter system configured to emit at least one light beam, the beam or beams being emitted in an angular range of 360° around said emitter system; a reflector system surrounding the emitter system, arranged to receive each light beam propagating from the emitter system and to reflect each light beam received towards the outside of the light device; the reflector system comprises a frame surrounding the emitter system and bearing a reflective surface extending around the emitter system, between two opposite edges of the frame; and the reflector system and/or the emitter system are mounted driveable in displacement with respect to one another, so that they can be positioned relatively with respect to one another in order to modify the interception zone of the beam emitted by the emitter system, along the reflective surface of the reflector system.

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises means for driving the reflector system in displacement with respect to the emitter system or the emitter system with respect to the reflector system, which are means for driving in translation, constituted by a screw and nut system, a slider system, or a rack and pinion system, actuated at least by a motor directly or using mechanical translation means such as gear, belt, friction, cam, planetary gear transmission means.

3. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that the means for driving in translation, comprising two cylinders having a circular transverse cross-section, mounted concentrically, the first being mounted held fixed in translation, the second cylinder bearing at one free end the reflector system or the emitter system, the second cylinder being mobile in translation along the central axis of the two cylinders.

4. The device according to claim 3, characterized in that the two cylinders form a screw and nut system, the nut being formed by the first cylinder mounted fixed in translation and driveable in rotation, said first cylinder comprising on its inner face a spiral groove in which is engaged a spiral groove or screw thread arranged on the outer face of the second cylinder, forming the “screw” of the screw and nut system.

5. The device according to claim 4, characterized in that the transmission means are by gear assembly, constituted by the first cylinder comprising on its outer face a ring gear which meshes with a toothed wheel driven in rotation by the motor.

6. The device according to claim 4, characterized in that a screw thread arranged on the outer face of the second cylinder is discontinuous.

7. The device according to claim 4, characterized in that a spiral trajectory arranged on the outer face of the second cylinder, complementary to the spiral groove is constituted by ball bearings.

8. The device according to claim 3, characterized in that the second cylinder has at one end linking means arranged to cooperate with complementary linking means provided on the reflector system.

9. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the emitter system comprises an optical system surrounded by the reflector system, this optical system being configured to send a light beam (f1) emitted by a light source positioned remote from the optical system, in the form of at least one light beam (f2) in a cone of light the apex of which is situated at the level of the optical system, the beam or beams (f2) being emitted in an angular range up to 360°, around said optical system.

10. The device according to claim 9, characterized in that the optical system comprises a reflective surface mounted in rotation about an axis (X) perpendicular to the plane of the mount of the light device, this reflective surface being mounted in a bearing driven in rotation by a motor.

11. The device according to claim 9, characterized in that the optical system is a fixed reflective part towards which the light beam (f1) is emitted by the light source to then be sent (f2) towards the reflector system.

12. The device according to claim 11, characterized in that this reflective part is in the form of a cone the apex of which is directed towards the light source and the wall of which has a straight, concave or convex profile.

13. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the emitter system is constituted by a light source which directly emits one or more beams towards the reflector system which surrounds it, the source and the reflector system being substantially in one and the same plane.

14. The device according to claim 13, characterized in that the emitter system also includes a mask configured so that only the light beams emitted radially by the light source are sent towards the reflector system at 360°.

15. The device according to claim 13, characterized in that the light source is associated with a reflective light guide, concentrating and redirecting the radiation from the source towards the reflector system.

16. The device according to claim 9, characterized in that the light source is constituted by a laser source, a lamp, or at least one ring of light emitting diodes (LEDs) or laser diodes.

17. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the opposite edges of the frame of the reflector system each define an outline the shapes of which are identical but having different dimensions, the reflective surface extending from one to the other of the edges.

18. The device according to claim 17, characterized in that the reflector system has a cross-section having a circular, oval or polygonal shape such as square, triangular or a star-shaped cross-section, the centre of which is the emitter system.

19. The device according to claim 17, characterized in that the reflector system has a frustoconical shape, the reflective surface extending between two edges having a circular cross-section and different diameters.

20. The device according to claim 17, characterized in that the reflective surface extends between the two edges with a profile that is straight, convex, concave or variable such as presenting several apexes.

21. A reflector module comprising a reflector system and means for driving said reflector system in translation for a device according to claim 1, characterized in that said reflector system comprises a frame bearing a reflective surface extending between two opposite edges of the frame, the frame of the reflector system being borne by a system for driving in translation of the screw and nut, slider system, rack and pinion system type.

22. An emitter module comprising an emitter system and means for driving said emitter system in translation for a device according to claim 1, characterized in that the emitter system is borne by a system for driving in translation of the screw and nut, slider system, rack and pinion system type.

Description

[0060] The invention will now be described in more detail using embodiment examples of the device according to the invention represented in the figures, which represent:

[0061] FIG. 1 a longitudinal cross-section view of a light device according to a first embodiment of the invention;

[0062] FIG. 2 a longitudinal cross-section view of a variant of an embodiment of FIG. 1;

[0063] FIG. 2A a perspective view of the fixed optical system of FIG. 2;

[0064] FIG. 2B a cross-section view of a variant of the optical system of FIG. 2A;

[0065] FIG. 2C a cross-section view of another variant of the optical system of FIG. 2A;

[0066] FIG. 3 a longitudinal cross-section view of a second embodiment of the invention;

[0067] FIG. 4 a longitudinal cross-section view of a variant of the mode of FIG. 3;

[0068] FIG. 5 a cross-section view of a variant of the mode of FIG. 3;

[0069] FIG. 6 a perspective top view of the reflector system of the device according to FIG. 1;

[0070] FIG. 7 a transverse cross-section view of a variant of the reflector system according to the invention;

[0071] FIG. 7A a view according to FIG. 7 representing the beams emitted on the reflector system;

[0072] FIG. 8 a transverse cross-section view of another variant of the reflector system according to the invention;

[0073] FIG. 9 a perspective top view of the light device of FIG. 1;

[0074] FIG. 10 a perspective top view of the light device of FIG. 5;

[0075] FIG. 11 a lateral perspective view of a second cylinder of a device according to the invention;

[0076] FIG. 12 a lateral perspective view of a variant of a second cylinder of a device according to the invention;

[0077] FIG. 13 a lateral perspective view of another variant of a second cylinder of a device according to the invention;

[0078] FIG. 14 a diagrammatic representation of a light beam emitted by an emitter system of the light device according to the invention; and

[0079] FIG. 15 a diagrammatic representation of a light beam emitted by the light device according to two relative positionings of the reflector system with respect to the emitter system.

[0080] As can be seen in FIG. 1, the light device 1 comprises an emitter system 2 positioned here in the centre of the light device 1 and a reflector system 3 completely surrounding the emitter system 2 and positioned in a similar plane. If the reflector system 3 has a circular transverse cross-section, the emitter system 2 is the centre of the circle thus formed.

[0081] The emitter system 2 is mounted on a mount of the light device. This emitter system 2 comprises an optical system positioned in a central zone of the device 1 and associated with a light source in the form of a module M. This optical system is configured to return a light beam f1 emitted by the light source, such as a laser source, or any other source of the light emitting diode or lamp type placed on the mount and emitting in the direction of the optical system.

[0082] The optical system sends the light beam f1, in the form of at least one light beam f2, in a cone of light the apex of which is situated in the central zone symbolized by the central axis X of the device 1. The beam f2 extends around the optical system at 360° and preferably in a radial zone around the optical system.

[0083] This optical system comprises a reflective surface 20 borne by sleeve 21 driven in rotation about the central axis X of the light device 1, this reflective surface 20 such as a mirror being driven in rotation using a motor 5 fixed to the sleeve 21, the motor 5 being enclosed in a casing 6 (see FIG. 9).

[0084] The reflective surface is constituted by a mirror 20 having an inclination and reflecting each light beam f1 originating from the light source so that after reflection by the reflective surface 20, each light beam f2 propagates in its cone of light in a direction that depends on an angular position of the reflective surface about the axis X. In the example shown, the mirror 20 has an inclination at 45°, the beams f2 extending radially towards the reflector system 3.

[0085] The optical system is thus arranged to send each light beam f2 from the central zone and more exactly from the reflective surface 20 situated in this central zone 9, in several possible directions contained in a plane, called “plane of light” to give it a name so as to correctly identify it, specific to this beam so that each light beam f2 propagates in its plane of light.

[0086] The plane of light of each light beam f2 is preferably radial and horizontal as can be seen in FIG. 14. The planes of light of the different light beams are preferably parallel to one another.

[0087] The optical system is arranged so that this direction of a light beam f2 explores all the orientations at 360 degrees radially around the central zone 9, i.e. around the reflective surface 20 or around the axis X, when the reflective surface 20 makes a complete turn about its axis X and this light beam f1 is emitted by its source during this complete turn.

[0088] In a variant as seen in FIG. 2, the optical system is a fixed reflective part 7 towards which is emitted a light beam f1 by a light source such as a laser source, LED source or lamp. Thus, this reflective part 7 is in the form of a cone the apex 71 of which is directed towards the light source and the wall 72 of which has a straight profile (see FIG. 2A). This reflective part in the shape of a cone can also have an apex 71a and a wall 72a having a concave profile such as part 7a represented in FIG. 2B or with an apex 71b with a wall having a convex profile 72b like the part 7b visible in FIG. 2C.

[0089] In FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, different embodiments of the emitter system 2 are represented. Thus in FIG. 3, the emitter system 2 is constituted by the light source such as a lamp 8 the light radiation of which is masked using a casing 6 so that the light beam or beams f2 are emitted at 360°, preferably principally radially in the direction of the reflector system 3 which surrounds the light source 8.

[0090] In a variant, the source 8 is associated with a reflective light guide 9 which concentrates and directs, preferably radially, the light from the source 8 towards the reflector system 3.

[0091] In another variant, the light source 10 is constituted by at least one ring of light emitting diodes (LEDs) or laser diodes emitting one or more light beams f2, in particular in the direction of the reflector system 3.

[0092] The emitter system 2, whatever it may be, thus makes it possible to create a cone of light which corresponds to the aperture angle α of the light source. In the case of a light source of the laser type, there is thus a very small angle α, and a light beam that is very narrow, which tends towards a plane of light, extending radially towards the reflector system 3 (see FIG. 14).

[0093] In the case of a source of the lamp type, there is a beam f2 with an aperture angle α that is much larger and there is thus a “cone” of light at 360° (see FIG. 14).

[0094] In addition, as can be seen in FIG. 14, the emitter system 2 can create a cone in the cone, the emitter system 2 being able to be positioned so that the aperture angle α is centred on the horizontal (B=0) for example with an optical system the reflective surface 20 of which is inclined at 45° or with an angle β that is non-zero in the case of a reflective surface which is no longer at 45° (see FIG. 14).

[0095] The reflector system 3 represented in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, has a reflective surface 31 which surrounds the emitter system 2. The reflective surface 31 returns the beams f2 in the form of output beams f3. This reflective surface 31 is borne in a frame 30 which has opposite edges 32, 33 which define two parallel faces A and B the contours of which are identical in shape but have different dimensions. In the examples shown, the reflector system 3 has a circular transverse cross-section and the reflective surface 31 forms the frustum of a cone, between the edges 32 and 33, which respectively define two faces in the form of a disc having different diameters Da and Db, Da>Db. The frustoconical reflective surface 31 surrounds the emitter system 2 with a straight continuous profile.

[0096] The reflector system 3, namely the frame or support 30, also has a wall 34 in the shape of a ring, that is concentric, extending parallel to the axis X of the device 1 (axis perpendicular to the frame) from the edge 32 defining the disc A having a larger diameter and surrounding the reflective surface 31. In FIGS. 7 and 8, it can be seen that the reflecting wall 31 which extends between the two edges 32, 33 can also have a convex profile 31a or a concave profile 31b. Consequently, a “zoom effect” variation of the angle of the output beam f3 is thus obtained.

[0097] As can be seen in FIG. 7A, the beams f2 originating from the emitter system 2 are sent by the reflector system 3 with an aperture angle which makes it possible to emit the beams f3 which thus cover a half-space above the plane PE.

[0098] The emitter system 2 and/or the reflector system 3 are mounted driveable in displacement with respect to one another in the direction of the central axis X. To this end, the light device 1 according to the invention comprises means for driving in displacement the reflector system 3 with respect to the emitter system 2.

[0099] These means for driving in displacement are constituted in particular in the example shown, by means for driving the reflector system 3 in translation along the axis X of the screw and nut type. Thus, a first cylinder 11 having a circular transverse cross-section and a second cylinder 16 which bears at one end the reflector system 3 form said screw and nut system. The first cylinder 11 has on its inner face a spiral groove 15 in which is engaged a spiral groove or screw thread 18 arranged on the outer face of the second cylinder 16.

[0100] The screw and nut system is actuated using a motor 14 and transmission means. Thus, on its outer face, the first cylinder 11 comprises a ring gear 12 which meshes with a toothed wheel 13 driven in rotation by the motor 14.

[0101] In the example shown here, visible in FIGS. 11, 12 and 13, the second cylinder 16 has means for linking with the reflector system 3. These linking means can be screwing means 17 arranged to cooperate with screwing means 36 arranged on a wall 35 of the reflector system 3. Thus, the reflector system 3 has an intermediate wall 35 extending between the reflective surface 31 and the outer ring 34, parallel to said outer ring 34, and which has linking means 17 complementary to those provided on the second cylinder 16.

[0102] Thus, when the toothed wheel 13 is driven in rotation by the motor 14, the first cylinder 11 maintained fixed in translation in the mount of the device but free in rotation, is driven in rotation by the ring gear 12 meshed with the toothed wheel 13, and as a result, the inner screw thread 15 is also driven in rotation which causes the linear displacement, along the axis X merged with the central axis of the cylinders 11, 16 of the second cylinder 16 engaged by its screw thread 18 such as a spiral groove, in the spiral groove 15 (as represented in FIG. 11). The second cylinder 16 is thus driven in translation and in rotation or even only in translation (blocked in rotation).

[0103] In order to promote the driving of both cylinders 11, 16, while reducing in particular the friction between these two cylinders 11, 16, it is possible to anticipate that a screw thread 18a corresponding to the spiral groove arranged on the outer face of the second cylinder is discontinuous, which makes it possible to limit the friction, as is visible in FIG. 12.

[0104] In a variant, it is possible to anticipate placing along a spiral trajectory 18b, equivalent to a spiral groove that is complementary to the spiral groove 15, ball bearings 19 as can be seen in FIG. 13.

[0105] As can be seen with the light device of FIG. 1, a light is emitted in the form of a cylinder (disregarding any divergence of the light beam) the diameter of which depends on the diameter of the reflective surface 31 at the intersection with the plane of light emitted by the emitter system 2. The driving in displacement of the reflective surface 31 with respect to the emitter system makes it possible to modify the interception zone of the plane of light by the reflective surface of the reflector system which causes the diameter of the cylinder of light to vary at the output of the light device (see FIG. 15).

[0106] Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples that have just been described and numerous adjustments can be made to these examples without exceeding the scope of the invention.