Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F21—LIGHTING
  • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
  • F21S43/00—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights
  • F21S43/20—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights characterised by refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters
  • F21S43/27—Attachment thereof
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F21—LIGHTING
  • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
  • F21S43/00—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights
  • F21S43/10—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights characterised by the light source
  • F21S43/13—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights characterised by the light source characterised by the type of light source
  • F21S43/14—Light emitting diodes [LED]
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F21—LIGHTING
  • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
  • F21S43/00—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights
  • F21S43/20—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights characterised by refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters
  • F21S43/26—Refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters not provided in groups F21S43/235 - F21S43/255
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F21—LIGHTING
  • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
  • F21S43/00—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights
  • F21S43/30—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights characterised by reflectors
  • F21S43/33—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights characterised by reflectors characterised by their material, surface treatment or coatings
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F21—LIGHTING
  • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
  • F21S43/00—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights
  • F21S43/40—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights characterised by the combination of reflectors and refractors

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a signaling device for a motor vehicle, comprising one or more light screens uniformly illuminated.
• An organic electroluminescent diode or EO diode consists of a substrate, two electrodes for injecting charges of opposite sign and an organic layer interposed between the electrodes.
• the EO diode emits light when the electrodes pass a sufficient electric current into the organic layer. At least one electrode must be transparent for the light to diffuse outside.
• the electrodes are supplied with current via electrical connectors arranged at the periphery of the diode EO. Electrical connectors are usually concealed behind a mounting frame of a certain thickness and surrounding the EO diode. The position of the electrical connectors or the presence of the Fixing makes their arrangement difficult to form a single and continuous luminous surface.
• the homogeneous illumination surfaces obtained from the EO diodes are generally limited to the dimensions of the EO diode itself.
• EO diodes currently used in the automotive field are limited to a few square centimeters. It is therefore not possible to form homogeneous luminous surfaces of large dimensions and at low costs.
• OLED light sources are much more expensive than light sources with filament bulbs or light-emitting diodes (LEDs).
• LEDs light-emitting diodes
• the small thickness of an OLED diode relative to its light surface makes it particularly vulnerable to shocks.
• the EO diodes are thus very fragile and need to be used with care and precaution.
• the environment of a motor vehicle is not favorable to the use of an EO diode because of the many mechanical stresses, including vibrations and accelerations, and thermal stresses to which its components are subjected. This environment therefore frequently causes failures of embedded lighting devices in motor vehicles using EO diodes.
• the invention aims to solve these defects by providing a signaling device for a motor vehicle comprising at least a bright screen, illuminated homogeneously, larger, more reliable and less expensive.
• the present invention proposes a signaling device for a motor vehicle comprising at least one screen illuminated homogeneously.
• the signaling device comprises:
• a light source configured to emit a light beam whose luminous intensity decreases when approaching the periphery of the light beam; and a screen comprising a first face opposite to a second face, the screen allowing at least a portion of the light beam emitted by the light source to pass;
• the signaling device therefore comprises a means of occultation of a peripheral portion of the light beam emitted by the light source, so that only the portion of the screen illuminated by the center of the light beam is visible by an observer.
• the occulting means does not deflect and / or obscure a central portion of the light beam illuminating homogeneously the second face of the screen.
• the central portion of the light beam is surrounded by the peripheral portion mentioned above.
• homogeneous is meant a luminous surface whose appearance seems uniform for an observer.
• the means of occultation thus makes it possible to hide the parts of the screen perceived by an observer as being of different luminous intensity with respect to the center of the screen.
• a screen can be illuminated homogeneously from a lower cost light source compared to an organic light-emitting diode or EO diode.
• the light source can be a source of light commonly used in the automotive field as a filament bulb.
• the light source is a light emitting diode.
• the light source is oriented so that its light beam directly illuminates the first face of the screen. This embodiment makes it possible to limit the size of the signaling device and to facilitate its integration in or on a motor vehicle.
• the invention thus offers a more reliable and economical alternative to the use of EO diodes in signaling devices for motor vehicles.
• the dimensions of the homogeneously illuminated screen are not limited by the method of manufacturing the light source, as is currently the case for the EO diodes. Indeed, it is easy to change the dimensions of the screen by playing for example on the angle of opening of the light beam emitted by the light source and / or the distance between the screen and the light source.
• the invention also allows the production of light screens of very varied dimensions, in particular of larger dimensions than the EO diodes.
• the light source is placed behind the screen, so that its electrical connectors do not encumber the periphery of the screen as for the EO diodes and can be hidden behind said screen.
• the occulting means comprises an opaque film surrounding the portion of the screen illuminated by the light beam emitted by the light source.
• opaque film is meant that the film obscures the light beam emitted by the light source.
• the opaque film thus makes it possible to conceal from an observer the areas of the second face of the screen that would be perceived as inhomogeneous in intensity.
• the opaque film can also mask a portion of the screen, illuminated homogeneously, so as to define a luminous pattern such as a pictogram, a letter or a number.
• the opaque film is placed in front of the second face of the screen.
• the opaque film is placed in front of the first face of the screen.
• the opaque film comprises an ink covering part of the second face of the screen.
• the signaling device may comprise several opaque films superimposed and movable, so as to form light patterns of different shapes at the screen when the opaque films are shifted.
• the occulting means comprises a sheath present between the light source and the screen, the sheath being arranged to surround the light beam emitted by the light source. so that only a central part of the light beam directly illuminates the screen.
• the sheath is configured so that the most intense portion of the light beam directly illuminates the first face of the screen.
• the sheath is positioned to intercept and / or deflect the peripheral portion of the light beam.
• This embodiment may also make it possible to dispense with the use of an opaque film as described above, while obtaining a similar result, in particular to reduce the size of the signaling device.
• space is meant here a decrease in the depth of the signaling device, the depth being defined in a normal direction or substantially normal to the larger faces of the screen.
• this embodiment makes it possible to illuminate a screen in a homogeneous manner for an observer, by using a light source of less luminous intensity compared with the state of the art. By using a light source of lower light intensity, significantly reduces the size of the light source in the signaling device, including the size of the devices for dissipating the heat produced by the light source. According to another advantage, this embodiment allows also reduce the size of the light source in the signaling device.
• the inner face of the sheath is light in color, preferably white.
• This embodiment advantageously allows the sheath to reflect the peripheral portion of the light beam in the direction of the screen, in particular to increase its light intensity.
• the inner face of the sheath comprises means for diffusing the light beam.
• This embodiment advantageously makes it possible to homogenize the intensity of the beam reflected by the sheath.
• the sheath comprises a distal end, vis-à-vis the first face of the screen, defining a first opening, and the contour of the first opening is concealed behind an opaque film, preferably the opaque film is placed in front of the second face of the screen.
• the outline of the first opening defines an oval or polygonal shape.
• the opaque film delimits a shape identical or similar to the contour of the first opening.
• the sheath comprises a proximal end vis-à-vis the light source and the proximal end defines an oval contour around the light beam.
• the proximal end forms an optical reflector around the light beam.
• the screen is translucent.
• This embodiment advantageously makes it possible to attenuate the variations in light intensity at the level of the second face of the screen.
• the diffusion coefficient of the screen of the light beam decreases when it deviates from the center of the light beam.
• the diffusion coefficient of the screen varies so as to substantially compensate for the variation in light intensity at the second face of the screen when the screen is illuminated by the light beam. This embodiment advantageously makes it possible to attenuate the variations in light intensity at the level of the second face of the screen.
• the signaling device comprises at least two adjacent screens described above, and a control unit for independently turning on or off each light source independently.
• the control unit can be configured to simultaneously turn on several adjacent screens to form a larger bright screen and / or successively turn on multiple screens to create an animation.
• the invention allows the use of a light source of lower light intensity compared to the state of the art, to backlight a screen whose light intensity is perceived homogeneously by an observer.
• a larger overall luminous screen can be formed.
• the depth of the light device does not vary according to the dimensions of the overall light screen. Indeed, the depth of the light device is identical or substantially identical for one or more adjacent screens. Therefore, the invention advantageously allows the realization of global light screens larger areas, perceived uniform luminous intensity by an observer, for a much smaller footprint in depth compared to the state of the art.
• the occultation means comprises a sheath arranged between the source of light and the screen, each sheath being configured to surround the light beam emitted by each light source so that only a central portion of the light beam directly illuminates the screen and in that the sheath is translucent.
• This embodiment makes it possible to create a gradient of luminous intensity around a lit screen, while preserving the homogeneous appearance of the screen in intensity.
• the adjacent screens have their sheath in contact to promote the diffusion of the light emitted by the lit screen into the unlit and adjacent screens.
• the signaling device can display light gradations around one or more lit screens whose intensity is homogeneous.
• the occulting means comprises a sheath arranged between the light source and the screen, each sheath being configured to surround the light beam emitted by each source of light. light so that only a central portion of the light beam directly illuminates the screen, and in that the inner face of each sheath is dark in color, preferably black in color.
• This embodiment allows conversely to confine the light of each screen so that the signaling device can display more distinct patterns.
• the screen placed in front of the light source comprises at least two distinct superposed layers: a translucent layer and a metallized layer at least partially covering the translucent layer.
• the metallized layer is in contact with the second face of the translucent screen and configured to reflect ambient outside light.
• the metallized layer completely covers the translucent layer so that the elements opposite the first face of the translucent layer are not visible through the screen when the light source is extinguished.
• the metallized layer is made from one of the following materials: chrome, stainless steel, bronze, aluminum or tungsten.
• the metallized layer may be colored.
• the translucent layer is non-uniformly colored, with one or more colors to form visible patterns by an observer facing the signaling device.
• the translucent layer has through passages said layer, whose dimensions are configured to form areas illuminated by the light source more intensely at the metallized layer.
• This embodiment aims at forming patterns on the surface of the metallized layer when the light source is turned on.
• the smallest dimension of a passage is between 1 mm and 5 cm, preferably between 1 cm and 3 cm.
• the realization of these passages can allow both to meet aesthetic wishes and regulatory constraints.
• the translucent layer is screen printed on at least one of its faces, so as to locally modify its transmittance when it is illuminated by light source.
• the signaling device comprises a transparent layer placed in front of the metallized layer, so that the metallized layer is present between the translucent layer and the transparent layer.
• the transparent layer is in contact with the metallized layer. This embodiment is particularly advantageous when it is desired that the screen forms an outer shell or a light of a traffic light.
• the transparent layer is colored, preferably red.
• the invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising a signaling device as described above.
• FIG. 1 illustrates a longitudinal section of a first embodiment of a signaling device according to the invention
• FIG. 2 illustrates a longitudinal section of a second embodiment of a signaling device according to the invention
• FIG. 3 illustrates a longitudinal section of a third embodiment of a signaling device according to the invention
• FIG. 4 illustrates a longitudinal section of a fourth embodiment of a signaling device according to the invention
• FIG. 5 illustrates a longitudinal section of a fifth embodiment of a signaling device according to the invention
• FIG. 6 illustrates a longitudinal section of a sixth embodiment of a signaling device according to the invention.
• the invention aims to propose a signaling device for a motor vehicle comprising at least one luminous screen, illuminated homogeneously, of larger dimensions, more reliable and less expensive compared to the state of the technical.
• FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a signaling device 2A according to the invention.
• This signaling device comprises a light source 4 mounted on a support 6.
• the support comprises unrepresented conducting tracks, connecting the light source to a control unit 8 by means of conducting wires 10.
• the control unit 8 is configured to control the operation of the light source 4, that is to say turn it on or off.
• the light source is a light emitting diode.
• the light source 4 is positioned vis-à-vis a screen 12 through a frame holding the support 6 to the screen 12, so as to directly illuminate a first face 14 of the 'screen.
• the screen is chosen so as to transmit the light emitted by the light source 4 to a second face 16 opposite to the first face.
• the frame 18 holds the light source at a distance D from the first face of the screen, so that its light beam 20 is circumscribed to the first face 14 of the screen.
• the screen is flat.
• the light beam 20 emitted by the light source decreases in intensity when approaching its periphery.
• the light beam 20 decreases in intensity when it deviates from its optical axis (OO '), the intensity of the light beam being maximum at its center.
• the control unit 8 turns on the light source 4
• the first face 14 is illuminated non-uniformly by the light beam 20.
• the second face 16 of the screen appears brighter at the level of the light source 4.
• the optical axis (OO ') of the light source is
• the invention aims to overcome this defect by proposing to position in front of the second face 16 of the screen an opaque film 22, masking the areas of the second face appearing of less intensity when they are illuminated by the light beam 20.
• the opaque film 22 has a passage 24 whose shape and dimensions are adapted so as to leave only an area of the second face visible, for an observer to appear to be illuminated homogeneously by the light beam 20.
• the inventor has found that for an observer, a surface is perceived as uniformly or evenly illuminated when the difference in luminous intensity between the brightest area of the screen and another area of the screen , divided by the intensity value of the brightest area of the screen, is equal to or not greater than 60%, or equal to or less than 40%, or equal to or less than 20%.
• the opaque film 22 is sized and placed in front of the second face 16 of the screen, so as to let only a central portion 26 of the light beam 20, and mask another so-called peripheral part of which the intensity, at the level of the second face of the screen, is equal to or less than 80% with respect to the center of the light beam 20, preferably equal to or less than 60% with respect to the center of the light beam 20.
• the intensity, at the level of the second face of the screen is equal to or less than 80% with respect to the center of the light beam 20, preferably equal to or less than 60% with respect to the center of the light beam 20.
• the passage 24 formed through the opaque film 22 may delimit one or more pictograms and / or letters and / or numbers.
• FIG. 2 now illustrates a second embodiment of a signaling device 2B according to the invention.
• This embodiment differs from the previous one in that the opaque film 22 is no longer present.
• the opaque film 22 is replaced by a sheath 30 positioned between the light source 4 and the first face 14 of the screen 12. More specifically, the sheath 30 is arranged around the light beam 20.
• the sheath comprises a proximal end 32 to the light source 4 and a distal end 34 in contact with the screen 12.
• the distal end 34 is configured to intercept the peripheral portion 28 of the light beam defined above, so that only the central portion 26 of the light beam directly illuminates the first face 14 of the screen.
• the distal end 34 is configured to absorb the light emitted by the light source 4 in order to preserve, for an observer, the impression of homogeneity of the light diffusing through the second face 16 of the light 12.
• This embodiment achieves substantially the same result as the previous embodiment, while avoiding the use of an opaque film placed in front of the screen. This embodiment is therefore advantageous when it is desired to preserve the appearance of the second face and / or to reduce the size of the signaling device.
• the distal end 34 may be configured to reflect in the direction of the screen 12, the light emitted by the light source 4. This embodiment advantageously makes it possible to increase the luminous intensity of the light.
• the surface of the distal end 34 is configured to diffuse light diffusely, to increase the homogeneous illumination of the screen 12 when it is backlit by the light source.
• the inner face of the sheath 30 is light in color or substantially clear.
• FIG. 3 illustrates a third embodiment of a signaling device 2C according to the invention.
• a plurality of light sources 4A, 4B and 4C are placed on the same support 6.
• the support comprises unrepresented conducting tracks, connecting each light source to a control unit 8 via conducting wires. 10.
• the control unit 8 is configured to control the operation of each light source 4A, 4B and 4C, simultaneously or alternately.
• the light sources 4A, 4B and 4C are positioned vis-à-vis a screen 12 through a frame 18 holding the support on the screen 12, so as to illuminate a first face 14 of the screen.
• the screen is chosen so as to transmit the light emitted by the light sources 4 to a second face 16 opposite to the first face.
• each light beam 20 emitted by a light source is surrounded by a dedicated sheath 30.
• each sheath is configured to intercept the peripheral portion 28 of the light beam, so that only the central portion 26 of the light beam directly illuminates the first face 14 of the screen.
• the sheaths 30 are opaque to the light beams 20 and configured to allow the central portions 26 of the light beams to cross before or at the second face 16 of the screen, so that said face is illuminated so that uniform.
• the dimensions of the signaling screen can be easily increased and exceed the larger dimensions of current EO diodes. This embodiment therefore makes it possible to obtain signal screens of uniform intensity of large dimensions for a low manufacturing cost.
• the signaling device 2C comprises three light sources 4A, 4B and 4C, so that the display device can display three pixels 17A, 17B, X17C light at the second face 16 of the screen.
• the invention is not limited to this number of light sources so that the bright screen can display a larger number of pixels.
• control unit 8 can be configured to alternately or complementarily light each light source 4A, 4B and 4C, in order to form pixelated images or information, the dimensions and the shapes of which can be modified at will.
• FIG. 4 illustrates a fourth embodiment of a 2D signaling device according to the invention.
• This embodiment is distinguished from the third mode in that the sheaths 30 are made of a material allowing the passage of part of the light emitted by the light sources 4A, 4B and 4C in the adjacent ducts.
• This embodiment makes it possible to display at the level of the second face 16 of the screen one or more luminous pixels 13 of the same intensity, surrounded by a luminous halo whose intensity decreases when one deviates from said one or more luminous pixels.
• the screen 12 displays a brightness pixel 17B that is uniform in intensity, illuminated by the central portion 26B of the light beam 20B emitted by the light source 4B, and two luminous pixels 17A and 17C of intensity. inhomogeneous when the light sources 4A and 4B are not lit.
• FIG. 5 illustrates a fifth embodiment of a signaling device 2E according to the invention.
• This signaling device is a hybrid mode between the first and third embodiments described above. More specifically, an opaque film 22 is placed in front of the second face 16 of the screen 12 of the signaling device 2C so as to conceal the contour of each opening delimited by the distal end 34A, 34B and 34C of a sheath. Unlike the first embodiment, the opaque film 22 here comprises several passages 24, each passage forming a pattern of different shapes and sizes. The invention thus makes it possible to produce a large luminous screen formed of different pixels 17A, 17B, 17C and 17C ', for simultaneously or alternately displaying different light information.
• FIG. 6 illustrates a sixth embodiment of a signaling device 2F according to the invention.
• This embodiment is similar to the third embodiment described above, with the difference that the screen 12 is curved. So that the screen can be illuminated uniformly by the light sources 4A, 4B and 4C, they are placed on separate supports 36. Each support is connected to the control unit 8 via a plate 38. The plate 38 also serves to hold each support frame 18, so that each light source 4A, 4B and 4C is substantially the same. distance as the screen 12.
• the light source is preferably a light emitting diode to limit the depth of the signaling devices.
• the light-emitting diodes may be identical or different.
• each light source may comprise several light-emitting diodes of different colors.
• the signaling device can display one or more pixels of different colors.
• the screens 12 mentioned above are made from PMMA plastic materials. They can include one or more layers of these materials. Preferably, they are configured to diffuse the light emitted by the light source (s) 4A, 4B and 4C, so as to accentuate the effect of homogeneous illumination of the screen 12. For this, the surface of the screen can be grained and / or contain inclusions.
• the opaque films 22 described above can also be made from the same plastic materials. They can in this case be tinted to accentuate their opacity.
• the opaque films 22 may comprise a metallic material, in the form of a metallized layer.
• the opaque films may comprise several layers of the materials mentioned above.
• the sheaths mentioned above may comprise the same materials as the opaque films.
• the inner face of the sheaths is preferably grained at their distal end 34, so as to substantially homogeneously diffuse in the direction of the screen the light reflecting on its inner face.
• the sheaths can be translucent. In this case, it will be possible to favor sheaths of light colors, for example white, in order to illuminate the screen more intensely with the same light sources.
• the inner face of the proximal portion 32 of the sheaths is covered with a light reflecting material, and configured to reflect light toward the display 12 of the display, as shown in FIG. 2.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Microelectronics & Electronic Packaging (AREA)
• Optics & Photonics (AREA)
• Illuminated Signs And Luminous Advertising (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

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ID=61750279

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Cited By (1)

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Family Cites Families (9)

• 2017
  • 2017-12-05 FR FR1761648A patent/FR3074563B1/fr active Active
• 2018
  • 2018-12-04 PL PL18830912.4T patent/PL3721135T3/pl unknown
  • 2018-12-04 EP EP18830912.4A patent/EP3721135B1/de active Active
  • 2018-12-04 WO PCT/FR2018/053106 patent/WO2019110919A1/fr not_active Ceased

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