阅读说明：本技术 具有照明长度根据需要可变的光导的照明装置 (Lighting device with light guide having a variable lighting length as required ) 是由 奥罗尔·邦让 纪尧姆·罗耶 于 2019-09-06 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种照明装置(DE),包括：产生光子的源(SP)；光导(GL),光导在第一区域(Z1)中接收该光子以将该光子引导至第二区域(Z2),以使得该光子参与光度功能,并且在选定位置包括横向凹槽(RT),该横向凹槽在光导的几乎全部厚度和整个宽度上延伸,以便将光导分为相邻的两个部分(PG1-PG2)；以及不透明板(PO),其具有与横向凹槽(RT)的尺寸类似的尺寸,并且被容纳在横向凹槽(RT)中以允许光子照射属于光导(GL)的部分(PG1-PG2)中的一个的第二区域(Z2)的一个区段,或者不被使用以允许光子照射第二区域(Z2)的整体。(An illumination Device (DE) comprising: a Source (SP) generating photons; a light Guide (GL) receiving the photons in a first region (Z1) to guide the photons to a second region (Z2) so that the photons participate in photometric functions, and comprising, at selected locations, lateral grooves (RT) extending over almost the entire thickness and the entire width of the light guide so as to divide the light guide into two adjacent portions (PG1-PG 2); and an opaque Plate (PO) having dimensions similar to those of the lateral groove (RT) and housed in the lateral groove (RT) to allow photons to irradiate a section of the second region (Z2) belonging to one of the portions (PG1-PG2) of the light Guide (GL) or not used to allow photons to irradiate the whole of the second region (Z2).)

1. An illumination Device (DE) comprising a Source (SP) generating photons and a light Guide (GL) receiving the generated photons in a first region (Z1) to guide them to a second region (Z2) so that they participate in a selected photometric function, wherein the light Guide (GL) comprises, in at least one selected position, a lateral groove (RT) extending over almost the entire thickness and the entire width of the light guide so as to divide the light guide into two adjacent portions (PGj), and comprises an opaque Plate (PO) having dimensions similar to those of the lateral groove (RT) and being accommodated in the lateral groove (RT) so as to allow a section of the second region (Z2) belonging to one of the portions (PGj) of the light Guide (GL) to be illuminated by the generated photons, or not used so as to allow said generated photons to irradiate the whole of said second region (Z2), said device being characterized in that said photon Source (SP) comprises N light emitting diodes (DLj), where N ≧ 2, a first group of K light-emitting diodes (DLj) generating photons directed to a first one (PG1) of the portions (PGj) of the light Guide (GL), wherein K < N and a second set of N-K further light emitting diodes (DLj) generates photons for a second portion (PG2) of the portions (PGj) of the light Guide (GL), and in that the lighting device comprises an electronic Control Circuit (CC) which operates only the first group when the opaque Plate (PO) is housed in the transverse groove (RT), or when said opaque Plate (PO) is not used, said electronic control circuit makes said first and second groups operate.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a circuit board (CE) on which the photon Source (SP) is mounted.

3. The device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said circuit board (CE) comprises said electronic Control Circuit (CC).

4. A device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the circuit board (CE) is mounted in front of the first area (Z1) of the light Guide (GL).

5. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first region (Z1) of the light Guide (GL) is at least a part of a rear surface (FR) of the light Guide (GL), which is opposite to a front surface (FV) constituting at least the second region (Z2) of the light Guide (GL).

6. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the photometric function is selected from the group consisting of a turn signal function and a daytime running light function.

7. Optical unit (BO) for vehicles, characterized in that it comprises a lighting Device (DE) according to any one of the preceding claims.

8. Vehicle, characterized in that it comprises at least one lighting Device (DE) according to any one of claims 1 to 6 and/or at least one optical unit (BO) according to claim 7.

Technical Field

The invention relates to a lighting device comprising a photon source and a light guide that should participate in a photometric function.

Background

In the following, the term "photometric function" refers to an illumination photometric function, also to a signal photometric function or a light effect photometric function, possibly with decorative properties.

In certain fields, for example in the field of vehicles, optionally of the motor vehicle type, lighting devices are used comprising a source which generates photons and a light guide which receives the generated photons in a first region in order to direct them towards a second region so that the photons participate in a selected photometric function. It should be noted that such lighting devices usually constitute headlight lamps, however they may also form part of an optical unit ensuring multiple photometric functions.

In the case of a vehicle, the photometric function of the lighting device may be selected, for example, from the functions of a turn signal (or flashing Light) and a Daytime running Light (or DRL ("Daytime running Light)") -a Light signal device that is automatically turned on during Daytime running of the vehicle.

Currently, when a plurality of lighting devices are required, each comprising a second lighting area having a plurality of lengths, it is necessary to use light guides of different lengths and to associate these to light emitting diodes having different numbers and possibly different lengths, and sometimes also to housings and protective transparent covers of different lengths. This need arises, by way of example and not limitation, when there is a country-or region-specific specification relating to the length of the second illumination area. This is currently the case in particular with the illumination length of the different turn signal functions in europe and in the usa.

The aforementioned requirements result in a wide variety of components having to be designed, produced and stored, and the supply of components having to be managed, which proves to be expensive and time consuming. In addition, when lighting devices having second lighting areas of different lengths have to be assembled on the same assembly station, the assembly station becomes very crowded and increases the possibility of assembly errors.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention therefore aims to improve this situation.

To this end, the invention proposes in particular an illumination device comprising a source generating photons and a light guide receiving the generated photons in a first region in order to guide them to a second region so that the photons participate in a selected photometric function.

The lighting device is characterized in that:

-the light guide of which comprises, at least one selected position, a transverse groove extending over almost the entire thickness and over the entire width of the light guide, so as to divide the light guide into two adjacent portions, and

the lighting device further comprises an opaque plate having dimensions similar to those of the lateral groove and housed in the lateral groove so as to allow the generated photons to irradiate a section of the second area belonging to one of the two portions of the light guide, or not used so as to allow the generated photons to irradiate the entire second area.

An illumination device is thus provided, the illumination length of which can be configured with or without the use of opaque plates arranged in the light guide of the illumination device.

The lighting device according to the invention may comprise further features which may be employed individually or in combination, in particular:

in a first embodiment, the photon source of the illumination device may comprise K light emitting diodes, where K ≧ 1, the K light emitting diodes generating photons for one of the two portions of the light guide, or N light emitting diodes, where N > K, the N light emitting diodes generating photons for the two portions of the light guide. In this case, the lighting device may comprise an electronic control circuit which controls the operation of the light emitting diodes belonging to the photon source;

in a second embodiment, the photon source of the illumination device may comprise N light emitting diodes, where N ≧ 2, a first group of K light emitting diodes generating photons for a first of the two portions of the light guide, where K < N, and a second group of N-K other light emitting diodes generating photons for a second of the two portions of the light guide. In this case, the lighting device may comprise an electronic control circuit which operates only the first group when the opaque plate is housed in the lateral recess, or operates the first and second groups when the opaque plate is not used;

the lighting device may comprise a circuit board on which the photon source is mounted;

the circuit board may include electronic control circuitry;

the circuit board may be mounted in front of the first region of the light guide;

the first region of the light guide may be at least a portion of a rear surface of the light guide opposite a front surface constituting at least the second region of the light guide;

the photometric function may be selected from the turn signal function and the daytime running light (or DRL) function.

The invention also proposes an optical unit for equipping a vehicle and comprising a lighting device of the type described above.

The invention also proposes a vehicle, optionally of the motor vehicle type, comprising at least one lighting device of the above-mentioned type and/or at least one optical unit of the above-mentioned type.

Drawings

Other features and advantages of the present invention will appear from a review of the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings (obtained by CAO/DAO ("Conception Assist e par Ordinateur/Defission Assist par Ordinateur") so that certain lines appear discontinuous), in which:

figure 1 schematically shows, in a longitudinal plan sectional view, an example of an optical unit comprising a first embodiment of a lighting device according to the invention, arranged in a first configuration;

fig. 2 schematically shows the optical unit of fig. 1 and its lighting device according to the invention arranged in a second configuration, in a longitudinal plan sectional view; and is

Figure 3 schematically shows, in a longitudinal plan sectional view, an example of an optical unit comprising a second embodiment of the lighting device according to the invention, arranged in a first configuration.

Detailed Description

The invention is particularly intended to propose a configurable lighting device DE for ensuring a selected photometric function.

In the following, as a non-limiting example, the lighting device DE is considered to form part of a vehicle of the motor vehicle type, such as a car. However, the invention is not limited to this application. In practice, the lighting device DE may be a device associable and applicable to many systems or may form part of another device which itself forms part of a system. Thus, the lighting device DE may form, for example, any vehicle (land, sea (or river) or air), any installation including industrial type installations, any equipment (or system) including large utility type installations, and any part of a building.

Furthermore, as a non-limiting example, the lighting device DE is considered hereinafter to form part of an optical unit BO which constitutes a headlight (or headlight) of a motor vehicle and ensures at least two photometric functions. However, the optical unit may constitute, for example, a front signal lamp of a vehicle.

In addition, in view of the above options, the lighting device DE is considered hereinafter, as a non-limiting example, for ensuring a signalisation function. This relates, for example, to a turn signal (or blinker) function. But this may also relate to daytime running light (or DRL) functionality. However, the invention is not limited to this application. In fact, the lighting device DE according to the invention is a lighting device capable of ensuring a photometric function of a signal, lighting or light effect (optionally decorative).

Fig. 1 and 2 schematically show a part of an optical unit BO of a vehicle, which includes a first exemplary embodiment of a lighting device DE according to the invention, which is arranged in different first and second configurations, which are described below. Fig. 3 also schematically shows a part of an optical unit BO of the same vehicle, which comprises a second exemplary embodiment of a lighting device DE according to the invention, which is arranged in a first configuration.

The optical unit BO (here, the headlight) comprises in particular a housing BB which delimits a cavity with a protective transparent cover GP, which cavity in particular accommodates the lighting device DE according to the invention.

The housing BB is here intended to be fastened to the front part of the body of the vehicle. The housing BB is made of a rigid material such as plastic or a synthetic material. In this case, the housing BB may be manufactured by molding.

The protective transparent cover GP may be made of glass or plastic. The protective transparent cover GP is firmly integrated with the front part of the housing BB, for example by gluing, welding or screw fastening. In addition, the protective transparent cover GP may optionally have one or more colors selected from crystal white, red and orange (or amber).

As shown (at least partially) in fig. 1 and 2, the illumination device DE according to the invention comprises at least a photon source SP, a light guide GL and an opaque plate PO.

It should be noted that when the lighting device DE is itself an apparatus, it further comprises a housing delimiting with a protective transparent cover a cavity housing in particular the photon source SP of the lighting device DE, the light guide GL of the lighting device DE and the opaque plate PO of the lighting device DE.

The photon source SP is arranged to generate photons defining light of e.g. white, orange or amber color.

For example, as non-limitingly shown in fig. 1 to 3, the photon source SP may comprise a light emitting diode DLj. The Light Emitting Diode (DLj) may be a conventional type Light Emitting Diode (or LED ("Light-Emitting Diode") or an Organic type Light Emitting Diode (or OLED ("Organic Light-Emitting Diode"), or a laser Diode.

As also shown in non-limiting manner in fig. 1 to 3, the light emitting diodes DLj may be mounted on a Circuit Board CE, for example with an integrated or Printed Circuit and optionally of the PCB ("Printed Circuit Board") type. The circuit board CE thus forms part of the lighting device DE. In the example shown, the circuit board CE is fixedly integrated with the inner surface of the housing BB.

The operation of the photon source SP is controlled by an electronic control circuit CC, which, for example and as non-limitingly shown in fig. 1 to 3, may form part of the circuit board CE and thus of the lighting device DE, which will be described hereinafter.

The light guide GL is arranged to receive photons generated by the photon source SP in the first zone Z1 so as to guide the photons towards the second zone Z2 so that the photons participate in a selected photometric function.

In addition, the light guide GL comprises, in at least one selected position, a transverse groove RT extending over almost the entire thickness of the light guide GL and over the entire width of the light guide GL, so as to divide the light guide GL into two adjacent portions PGj (j ═ 1 or 2).

In fig. 1 to 3, the directions x1, x2 and x3 are the directions of the length, thickness and width, respectively, of the light guide GL.

The opaque plate PO has dimensions similar to those of the lateral grooves RT so as to be able to be housed inside in the first configuration shown in fig. 1 and 3. In addition, the opaque plate PO is housed in the lateral groove RT to allow the generated photons to irradiate one section PZj of the second zone Z2 belonging to one of the two portions PGj of the light guide GL (as shown in fig. 1 and 3), or not to allow the generated photons to irradiate the whole of the second zone Z2 (PZ1+ PZ 2).

The lighting device DE is configurable, since only one section PZj of the second zone Z2 is illuminated (this constitutes the first configuration) when the opaque plate PO is used (fig. 1 and 3), and the entire second zone Z2 is illuminated (this constitutes the second configuration) when the opaque plate PO is not used (fig. 2). In other words, in the second configuration (without using the opaque plate PO) illumination is obtained over the entire length of the light guide GL (along x1), whereas in the first configuration (with the opaque plate PO) illumination is obtained over a reduced length compared to the total length of the light guide GL (along x 1).

It is to be understood that the opaque plate PO prevents photons that have entered the first portion PG1 of the light guide GL from entering the second portion PG2 of the light guide GL and thus from illuminating the second section PZ2 of the second region Z2 of the light guide GL.

It should be noted that a plurality (at least two) of lateral grooves RT may be defined at a plurality of selected positions of the light guide GL in order to increase the number of selectable illumination lengths of the same illumination device DE. Thus, with two lateral grooves RT, three different illumination lengths (short, medium and full length) are obtained.

At least two embodiments of the illumination device DE can be considered.

In a first embodiment shown in fig. 1 and 2, the photon source SP comprises a number of light emitting diodes DLj which varies according to the configuration (with or without opaque plate PO). More precisely, as shown in fig. 1 (first configuration), this number is equal to K, where K ≧ 1, and in this case K light emitting diodes DL1(j ═ 1) generate photons directed to one of the sections PGj of the light guide GL (PG1) to obtain a reduced illumination length over the section PZ1 of the second region Z2, or as shown in fig. 2 (second configuration), this number is equal to N, where N > K, and in this case N light emitting diodes DL1 and DL2(j ═ 2) generate photons directed to the two sections PG1 and PG2 of the light guide GL to obtain a complete illumination length over the whole of the second region Z2 (PZ1+ PZ 2).

In the non-limiting example shown in fig. 1, K is 10, and in the non-limiting example shown in fig. 2, N is 14. Here, K light emitting diodes located at the left side of the opaque plate PO are labeled DL1(j ═ 1), and N-K other light emitting diodes located at the right side of the opaque plate PO are labeled DL2(j ═ 2). However, the quantities K and N may take any value, so long as K is greater than or equal to one (1) and N is strictly greater than K. Thus, for example, there may be: k-1 and N-2, or K-2 and N-3.

It will therefore be appreciated that in this first embodiment the number (N or K) of light emitting diodes DLj of the photon source SP is selected in dependence on the required illumination length. For this purpose, for example and as non-limitative shown, two identical circuit boards CE may be used, but they respectively comprise a different number (N or K) of light emitting diodes DLj.

Furthermore, in this first embodiment, the lighting device DE comprises an electronic control circuit CC which controls the operation of the light emitting diodes DLj belonging to the photon source SP. In this case, the same electronic control circuit CC may be used for both configurations with N or K light emitting diodes DLj, and thus on both optional circuit boards CE.

In a second embodiment, shown in FIG. 3, the photon source SP comprises a fixed number N of light emitting diodes DLj, where N ≧ 2 for both configurations. The N light emitting diodes DLj are divided into first and second groups. The first group comprises K light emitting diodes DL1(j ═ 1), generating photons for a first section PG1 of two sections PGj of the light guide GL, where K < N. The second group comprises N-K further light emitting diodes DL2(j ═ 2) generating photons for a second part PG2 of the two parts PGj of the light guide GL.

Thus, the first group of K leds DL1 produces photons allowing to obtain a reduced illumination length on the first section PZ1 of the second zone Z2, while the second group of N-K leds DL2 produces photons allowing to obtain a reduced illumination length on the second section PZ2 of the second zone Z2.

Furthermore, in this second embodiment, the lighting device DE comprises an electronic control circuit CC which operates only the first group when the opaque plate PO is housed in the lateral recess RT (first configuration shown in fig. 3), or operates both the first and second groups when the opaque plate PO is not used (second configuration identical to that shown in fig. 2). Thus, in the first configuration, a reduced illumination length is obtained over the first section PZ1 of the second zone Z2, whereas in the second configuration, a full illumination length is obtained over the entirety of the second zone Z2 (i.e. the first section PZ1 and the second section PZ2 of the second zone Z2).

Thus, in this second embodiment, for example and as non-limitative shown, a single unique circuit board CE may be used comprising N light emitting diodes DLj and an electronic control circuit CC configured to control the operation of only the first group K of light emitting diodes DL1, or the first group K of light emitting diodes DL1 and the second group N-K of other light emitting diodes DL2, according to the desired configuration.

It should be noted that in an implementation variant of the second embodiment, it is possible to consider: when the opaque plates PO are housed in the lateral grooves RT, the electronic control circuit CC operates only the first group (DL1) to obtain a first reduced illumination length on the first section PZ1 of the second zone Z2; or when the opaque plate PO is not used, the electronic control circuit CC operates the first and second groups (DL1+ DL2) to obtain the full illumination length over the whole of the second zone Z2 (i.e. the first section PZ1 and the second section PZ2 of the second zone Z2); or when the opaque plates PO are housed in the lateral grooves RT, the electronic control circuit CC operates only the second group (DL2) to obtain a second reduced illumination length on the second section PZ2 of the second zone Z2.

It should also be noted that the circuit board CE may be mounted in front of the first zone Z1 of the light guide GL, as illustrated without limitation in fig. 1 to 3. This allows, if desired, to place the N light-emitting diodes DLj in front of this first zone Z1, for example by spacing them substantially constantly from one another, so as to obtain a uniform illumination (of substantially constant intensity) irrespective of the position of the sector PZj of the second zone Z2 considered to be desired to be illuminated.

It should also be noted that, as shown in non-limiting manner in fig. 1 to 3, the first region Z1 of the light guide GL may be at least a portion of a rear surface FR of the light Guide (GL), opposite a front surface FV constituting at least the second region Z2 of the light guide GL. This allows a more direct transfer of photons from the first region Z1 to the second region Z2 of the light guide GL. However, it is contemplated that the first region Z1 of the light guide GL is located at one of the two (longitudinal) ends of the light Guide (GL).

In the two examples shown without limitation in fig. 1 to 3, the first zone Z1 extends over the entire rear surface FR and the second zone Z2 extends over the entire front surface FV. The first zone Z1 may extend over a portion of the rear surface FR and/or the second zone Z2 may extend over a portion of the front surface FV.

It should also be noted that, as shown in non-limiting manner in fig. 1 to 3, the rear surface FR may comprise a three-dimensional (or 3D) structure suitable for introducing photons into the light guide GL along a preferred direction, so that the photons preferably reach the second region Z2 in a position correlated to the position of the first region Z1 through which the photons enter. Such 3D structures may be, for example, prisms, fins, elliptical fins (classification of fins) or posts.

It should also be noted that an optional electronic control circuit CC may be provided to operate the light emitting diodes DLj one after the other in order to produce a scrolling effect (from right to left or from left to right) as desired. But this is not essential. In fact, the electronic control circuit CC may operate the light emitting diodes DLj all together (DL1, DL1+ DL2, even optionally only DL2 (in variants)).

For example, the light guide GL may be manufactured by moulding of a material such as polycarbonate (or PC) or polymethylmethacrylate (or PMMA). Furthermore, the light guide GL may optionally be of the so-called "flat" type (or "flat conductor").

Also for example, the optical plate PO may be manufactured by molding of a material such as polyethylene (or PE), polypropylene (or PP), or polycarbonate (or PC).