Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60Q1/00—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor
  • B60Q1/26—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic
  • B60Q1/46—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic for giving flashing caution signals during drive, other than signalling change of direction, e.g. flashing the headlights or hazard lights
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
  • B62J—CYCLE SADDLES OR SEATS; AUXILIARY DEVICES OR ACCESSORIES SPECIALLY ADAPTED TO CYCLES AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, e.g. ARTICLE CARRIERS OR CYCLE PROTECTORS
  • B62J6/00—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices on cycles; Mounting or supporting thereof; Circuits therefor
  • B62J6/02—Headlights
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
  • B62J—CYCLE SADDLES OR SEATS; AUXILIARY DEVICES OR ACCESSORIES SPECIALLY ADAPTED TO CYCLES AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, e.g. ARTICLE CARRIERS OR CYCLE PROTECTORS
  • B62J6/00—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices on cycles; Mounting or supporting thereof; Circuits therefor
  • B62J6/05—Direction indicators

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a light signaling device intended for the prevention of collisions between vehicles, mainly with two-wheeled vehicles. Collisions are often due to an error of assessment on the part of the driver of a vehicle over the distance and movement of another vehicle. This assessment is particularly delicate in the case of two-wheeled vehicles for three main reasons.
• the front surface of a two-wheeled vehicle is less than that of other vehicles, thus giving the impression of a distance greater than the actual distance and rendering the appreciation of its axis and of its speed. movement more difficult by other vehicles, because the variations in size and perspective apply to a vehicle two or even three times narrower than other four-wheeled vehicles.
• the headlights of two-wheeled vehicles, single or twin, switched on day and night only provide an imprecise indication of their distance and their speed of approach, and therefore of their trajectory. This lighting can even hinder, by glare or by contrast between strong light and dark silhouette, the appreciation of their trajectory and their position.
• the device according to the invention improves on the three points mentioned above the perception of vehicles in space, mainly that of two-wheeled vehicles.
• a signaling device is provided to be mounted at the front of a vehicle, this device comprising in at least one housing a plurality of light sources oriented towards the front; moreover, these light sources are thus positioned so that their axes diverge progressively from the axis of the vehicle, so as to create a scrolling effect when the vehicle approaches an observer.
• the device comprises modulation means for varying the intensity of the light produced by at least one of these light sources.
• these modulation means are slaved to the central direction indicators of the vehicle.
• these modulation means are controlled by the speed of the vehicle. According to a third option, these modulation means are controlled by the speed of rotation of the vehicle engine.
• the device comprises means for reducing the maximum modulation frequency to a value compatible with the perception of the human eye.
• the light sources are provided for emitting narrow light beams.
• the housing has a transparent front face which concentrates the rays of the light sources.
• the device includes an indicator light to signal a failure in its operation.
• the device comprises means for modifying the maximum intensity produced by the light sources using a sensor C sensitive to the ambient light.
• the device comprises means for putting the light sources into service when the vehicle's position lamp or lights are switched on.
• the invention also relates to a vehicle provided with a lighting module comprising at least one headlamp and further comprising a device as defined above; then, the spacing of the light sources is greater than the width of this lighting module.
• the parts of the vehicle located at the lateral ends comprise at least some of these light sources oriented laterally and possibly arranged at different angles towards the sides of the vehicle in order to ensure its lateral-front signaling during its changes of direction, especially in roundabouts and in crossroads.
• the invention is particularly well suited to vehicles which have only two wheels.
• FIG. 1 a two-wheeled vehicle equipped with a device according to the invention seen from the front, and
• the device according to the invention consists of housings, the number of which can vary between one and three, two B1, B2 in the present case, each containing light sources which produce narrow beams of a high intensity light. These boxes are fixed here on either side of the fairing of a motorcycle, at the front.
• a vehicle is provided with a lighting module.
• this module consists of at least two headlights arranged at the ends of the grille.
• this module is reduced to a single headlamp or else consists of two twin headlamps.
• the width of the light assembly or the spacing of the boxes B1, B2, greater than the width of the lighting module, the projector P in this case, improves the accuracy of the appreciation of the distance and the speed. of this vehicle.
• the strong directivity of the light beams of the device results in a significant reduction in their brightness when the trajectory of the device deviates from an observer.
• the box B2 comprises a plurality of light sources D1,
• the light sources could be more or less numerous and they could be arranged differently, for example in several parallel rows.
• the light sources of the device can produce light of fixed or modulated intensity, the modulation being able to adopt a fixed or variable mode, with or without complete extinction phase.
• one, the other or all of the light sources can be slaved to the central direction indicators (flashing).
• variable modulation is slaved in the device to the speed of the vehicle or to the speed of rotation of its engine, this in order to give other drivers information on the speed, acceleration or deceleration of the vehicle, and attract attention by its variable nature.
• the frequency of the variation or modulation of light is controlled by a signal existing on the vehicle or supplied by a specific sensor, electromagnetic or other, to the device, which can in turn pick up a signal existing on the vehicle.
• the maximum value of this frequency is fixed by an electronic circuit to a value perceptible by the human eye, of the order of 25 Hz to 50 Hz for example.
• the shaping of the signal controlling the variable or flashing power supply of the light sources is ensured by an electronic circuit which can make it possible to select the mode of variation of the light.
• a signal supplied by an accessory specific to the invention modulation of the power of the light sources linked to the speed of the vehicle, the signal being supplied by an electromagnetic, optical or other sensor, detecting the rotation speed of a wheel or other element located between the outlet of the gearbox and a wheel; modulation of the power of light sources related to the speed of rotation of the engine, the signal being supplied by a sensor, electromagnetic or other, placed for example on the ignition wire of a candle.
• the operation of the device may be subject to the control of the position light (s) bypass, by an electromagnetic or optical sensor, or any other suitable means.
• the following embodiment concerns the fixed light version of the device according to the invention.
• the device is powered by the supply wire of the position light (s).
• a branch (Y connection) is placed on the supply wire of the position light (s).
• the lead wire is connected to a voltage regulator, which supplies from the 12 Volts present on the vehicle, a stabilized voltage suitable for the sources.
• the plus and minus (or ground) of the stabilizer output are connected to tracks + and - of a printed circuit, respectively. These tracks are drilled to allow the passage of the pins of the light sources which are here high efficiency light emitting diodes. These diodes can be sealed in a pre-drilled plate with the appropriate diameter. The pins of the diodes are soldered on the printed circuit.
• the assembly is mounted in the waterproof B2 housing in two parts, the rear part of which can be opaque while the FAV front face must be transparent.
• Light-emitting diodes produce a concentrated light beam (width of the order of 8 °) making it possible to dispense with lenses on the transparent face, but lenses may be necessary to obtain sufficiently narrow beams if light elements are used. 'another type. They can be filament bulbs or other elements based on a different technology such as that of electroluminescent or fluorescent tubes.
• the device can be accompanied by an indicator light T that lights up to indicate a failure of the device.
• an indicator light T that lights up to indicate a failure of the device.
• this indicator is placed on the front face of the housing B2
• a prism is provided to return part of the light emitted by the indicator T into the driver's field of vision, thus informing him of the failure.
• this indicator is lit during correct operation of the device and is extinguished in the event of a fault.
• the device can be equipped with a photosensitive sensor C making it possible to modify the maximum intensity produced by these sources according to the brightness ambient, so as not to disturb other users.
• a photosensitive sensor C makes it possible to modify the maximum intensity produced by these sources according to the brightness ambient, so as not to disturb other users.
• the sensor C is oriented towards the front of the vehicle so that if it detects the headlights of another vehicle coming towards it, the device will increase the level of this supply.
• the device housings can be placed on a support, on the front face of the mirrors, inside or outside the direction indicators (flashing), on the bodywork or in another location dictated by the configuration and vehicle approval.
• the device may also include lateral assemblies, which may be integral with the boxes described above, oriented towards the sides of the vehicle.
• lateral assemblies can contain several light sources arranged at progressive angles relative to the axis of the vehicle, in order to produce visible light in situations where the trajectories of two vehicles form an angle greater than that of the front visibility of the device. . These situations arise for example in roundabouts or when approaching crossroads.
• the light sources can be assembled on one or more bars. They can be fed together or separately to produce light effects, for example scrolling (chaser).

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Lighting Device Outwards From Vehicle And Optical Signal (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

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ID=28052101

Family Applications (1)

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Family Cites Families (19)

• 2002
  • 2002-04-04 FR FR0204191A patent/FR2838087B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2003
  • 2003-04-02 AU AU2003264874A patent/AU2003264874A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2003-04-02 US US10/509,632 patent/US20060181890A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2003-04-02 WO PCT/FR2003/001041 patent/WO2003093056A2/fr not_active Ceased
  • 2003-04-02 EP EP03740557A patent/EP1490245A2/de not_active Withdrawn

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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