Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G02—OPTICS
  • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
  • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
  • G02B6/0001—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings specially adapted for lighting devices or systems
  • G02B6/0011—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings specially adapted for lighting devices or systems the light guides being planar or of plate-like form
  • G02B6/0033—Means for improving the coupling-out of light from the light guide
  • G02B6/0058—Means for improving the coupling-out of light from the light guide varying in density, size, shape or depth along the light guide
  • G02B6/006—Means for improving the coupling-out of light from the light guide varying in density, size, shape or depth along the light guide to produce indicia, symbols, texts or the like
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G02—OPTICS
  • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
  • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
  • G02B6/0001—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings specially adapted for lighting devices or systems
  • G02B6/0011—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings specially adapted for lighting devices or systems the light guides being planar or of plate-like form
  • G02B6/0033—Means for improving the coupling-out of light from the light guide
  • G02B6/0035—Means for improving the coupling-out of light from the light guide provided on the surface of the light guide or in the bulk of it
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G02—OPTICS
  • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
  • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
  • G02B6/0001—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings specially adapted for lighting devices or systems
  • G02B6/0011—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings specially adapted for lighting devices or systems the light guides being planar or of plate-like form
  • G02B6/0065—Manufacturing aspects; Material aspects
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
  • H01Q1/00—Details of, or arrangements associated with, antennas
  • H01Q1/36—Structural form of radiating elements, e.g. cone, spiral, umbrella; Particular materials used therewith
  • H01Q1/364—Structural form of radiating elements, e.g. cone, spiral, umbrella; Particular materials used therewith using a particular conducting material, e.g. superconductor
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
  • H01Q1/00—Details of, or arrangements associated with, antennas
  • H01Q1/40—Radiating elements coated with or embedded in protective material
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
  • H01Q1/00—Details of, or arrangements associated with, antennas
  • H01Q1/44—Details of, or arrangements associated with, antennas using equipment having another main function to serve additionally as an antenna, e.g. means for giving an antenna an aesthetic aspect
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
  • H01Q9/00—Electrically-short antennas having dimensions not more than twice the operating wavelength and consisting of conductive active radiating elements
  • H01Q9/04—Resonant antennas
  • H01Q9/0407—Substantially flat resonant element parallel to ground plane, e.g. patch antenna
  • H01Q9/045—Substantially flat resonant element parallel to ground plane, e.g. patch antenna with particular feeding means

Definitions

• the present invention improves the situation.
• a first aspect concerns a light module comprising:
• each flexible guide sheet of the assembly being able to receive light rays through at least one edge of said flexible guide sheet and to return the light rays in a substantially normal direction to a surface of the flexible guide sheet according to at least one pattern engraved in said flexible guide sheet, in which the assembly is capable of returning light according to at least one pattern engraved in said assembly;
• At least one light injection element capable of receiving light and distributing the light throughout at least one flexible guide sheet
• At least one light source capable of injecting light into said at least one light injection element
• a metallic nanometric mesh forming an antenna and arranged on at least one surface of at least one flexible guide sheet of the assembly.
• the light module according to the invention makes it possible to perform both a light function and a function using an antenna, such as a detection and/or telecommunications function, while being easy to integrate into any type of equipment. Because in the form of a flexible tablecloth.
• the use of a flexible guide sheet allows the display of a light pattern over a large surface. What's more, the light function is not degraded by the antenna because it is in the form of a nanometric mesh, therefore invisible to the naked eye, regardless of the surface of the light module on which it is arranged.
• the metallic nanometric mesh may comprise metallic strips with a width of less than 100 nanometers.
• the antenna is indistinguishable to the naked eye, which means that the light function performed by the light module is not impacted.
• the module may further comprise a device connected to the metallic nanometric mesh and capable of transmitting and/or receiving radio frequency signals via said metallic nanometric mesh.
• the light module is able to perform a detection and/or telecommunications function, using an antenna integrated with the light function.
• Such a light module can thus be integrated into equipment with significant space constraints.
• the device may be a cellular telecommunications transmitter/receiver.
• Such a variant is advantageous when the light module is integrated into equipment requiring a telecommunications function.
• each flexible guide sheet may comprise a flexible film on which a pattern is engraved, and at least one protective layer covering said flexible film, said metallic nanometric mesh being arranged on a surface of said protective layer of at least one flexible guide sheet.
• the protective layer on which the metallic nanometric mesh is arranged can be arranged so as to be penetrated by light rays emitted by the flexible film.
• the metallic nanometric mesh can be arranged on an external surface of the protective layer, so that the protective layer is between the flexible film and the metallic nanometric mesh.
• a pattern is engraved in each flexible guide sheet, which makes it possible to multiply the patterns, without reducing their size, for the same flexible guide sheet format.
• first and second flexible guide layers can be superimposed in the light module, in order to project the first and second patterns in a common area of the light module.
• the light module may further comprise a control element capable of controlling said at least one source in order to selectively project light according to said at least one pattern.
• a single element is capable of controlling the injection of light selectively into one or more light injection elements of the light module, which improves the synchronization of the display of the light pattern(s) relative to each other.
• each flexible guide sheet of the assembly may comprise a film made of polycarbonate, PC, polymethyl methacrylate, PMMA, thermoplastic polyurethane, TUP, or polyethylene terephthalate, PET.
• each flexible guide sheet may comprise a film comprising microstructures, in which each pattern among the first and second patterns are engraved by ultraviolet printing of the microstructures of the film.
• microstructures make it possible to produce patterns of good resolution while maintaining a high level of transparency of the flexible guide sheet.
• a second aspect of the invention relates to exterior equipment for a motor vehicle comprising a light module according to the first aspect of the invention.
• the equipment may be a front lighting device for a motor vehicle.
• the light module can also have the function of repeating a signal so as to facilitate its detection.
• FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the steps of a method of manufacturing a light module according to one embodiment of the invention.
• the light module 100 comprises a flexible guide sheet 110 capable of receiving light rays through an edge 116 and of returning the light rays in a direction Z substantially normal to a surface of the flexible guide sheet which thus extends in a plane XY on the .
• the flexible guide sheet 110 may comprise a flexible film 111 at its heart comprising at least one edge 116 capable of guiding the light rays in an overall direction flexible 111 outside the flexible guide sheet 110, in particular in one or more directions substantially along the Z axis.
• microstructures 113 we mean structures, or irregularities of the flexible film, the dimensions of which are less than a few micrometers. Microstructures thus also cover nanometric structures. Such sizes of microstructures 113 make it possible to ensure high transparency of the flexible film 111. In particular, a transparency of the order of 97% can be obtained in practice by the use of microstructures 113.
• the guide sheet flexible can be semi-transparent or opaque.
• the microstructures 113 can be distributed along the axis 120.
• Such a distribution advantageously makes it possible to ensure a homogeneous distribution along the X axis of the light intensity of the pattern emitted by the flexible guide sheet 110.
• the flexible film 111 and the protective layers 112.1 and 112.2 are shown spaced apart on the , for illustrative purposes only. It will be understood, however, that the protective layers 112.1 and 112.2 can be attached to the flexible film, in particular by lamination.
• the light module 100 may include only one of the protective layers 112.1 and 112.2 represented on the .
• At least one of the protective layers 112.1 and 112.2 comprises a metallic nanometric mesh 114 forming an antenna.
• a metallic nanometric mesh 114 forming an antenna.
• Such an antenna in an X-Y plane is also called a patch antenna.
• Such an antenna may belong to a wireless telecommunications device, such as a cellular transmitter/receiver, for example 3G, 4G, 5G or any subsequent generation, or may belong to a detection device such as a radar.
• Such a metallic nanometric mesh 114 is invisible to the naked eye, which allows the protective layer 112.1 or 112.2 on which the mesh is deposited to be transparent. As shown on the , the mesh 114 can be arranged on the protective layer 112.1 which is crossed by the light rays reflected by the flexible film 111.
• the protective layer comprising the mesh 114 can be flexible, and can thus be made of a material such as PMMA, PET, PC.
• the protective layer may be of the same material as the flexible film 111.
• the material of the protective layer may be rigid and may be any plastic or glass-based material.
• the mesh 114 can also make it possible to perform a defrosting function, by circulation of an electric current in the mesh 114, which is particularly advantageous when the light module is exposed to weather conditions which may vary, in particular when the light module is installed in motor vehicle equipment, such as a lighting device.
• the guide sheet 110 being flexible, it is not necessarily included in a plane but can be curved, depending on the position in which it is placed and the mechanical constraints applied to it.
• the light injection element 120 is of rectangular or square section on the . However, the light injection element 120 may have a round, oval, or polygonal section.
• the light source 130 is not arranged directly facing the entrance surface 121 of the injection element 120, but the light module 100 further comprises an optical fiber placed between the source 130 and the injection element 120, which makes it possible to offset the source 130 relative to the assembly formed by the injection element 120 and the flexible guide sheet 110.
• the mesh 114 can have a thickness along the Z axis of the order of one micron, for example between 1 and 5 microns, in particular equal to 3 microns.
• the 114 mesh metal which can be copper, silver, platinum, aluminum or nickel.
• the light module 100 may further comprise a device 115 capable of receiving and/or transmitting signals via the antenna formed by the mesh 114.
• the device 115 may for example be a radar or a telecommunications transmitter/receiver, for example a cellular transmitter/receiver.
• the device 115 is an interface between the mesh 114 and a module capable of receiving and/or transmitting signals via the antenna, and not shown on the .
• the injection element 120 may comprise a plurality of injection guides 123 capable of receiving light from the source 130 via the entrance surface 121 and of guiding the light to a longitudinal position of the exit surface 122, the longitudinal positions of the light guides being distinct so as to distribute the light to at least several longitudinal positions of the exit surface 122.
• Each longitudinal position of the edge 116 can correspond to a guide line of the flexible film 111, capable of guiding the light along the 'X axis along such a guide line.
• such a light module can make it possible to emit a pattern with a brightness of between 100 and 1000 Candelas per square meter, with a light extraction efficiency of between 25% and 80%.
• a light module comprises: - a set of at least one guide sheet, such as the flexible guide sheet 110 illustrated in the , the assembly being capable of returning light in at least one pattern; - at least one light injection element which may be the injection element 120 described with reference to Figures 1a and 1b; And - at least one light source such as the light source 130 previously described with reference to the , capable of injecting light selectively into said at least one injection element; - a metallic nanometric mesh forming an antenna, such as the mesh 114 arranged at least partially on a surface of a flexible guide sheet 110.
• such a light module 100 can be easily integrated into any type of equipment, including automotive equipment comprising non-flat and difficult to access surfaces, while also performing an antenna function without degrading the pattern. displayed by the flexible guide sheet.
• the compactness associated with the equipment in which the light module 100 is integrated is thus improved.
• Signaling and telecommunications modules are currently difficult to install in the same space due to the quantity of cables required.
• the light module 100 according to the invention thus allows a significant gain in compactness.
• pattern we mean any distribution or predefined spatial distribution of the light intensity emitted by the light module.
• a pattern can thus be a two-dimensional shape or symbol obtained by contrast between the light intensities of different positions in the X-Y plane of the flexible guide sheet 110.
• the pattern can also include several shapes or symbols.
• a pattern covers a predefined, or intentional, spatial distribution of light intensity that does not reveal a general shape, such as a distribution inducing a cloud of light points.
• a pattern is formed by injecting light into an injection element which is arranged relative to a flexible guide sheet so as to form the pattern on the flexible guide sheet.
• the light module 200 comprises a flexible guide sheet 210, an injection element 220 and a light source 230, similar to the flexible guide sheet 110, the injection element 120 and the light source 130 previously described with reference to Figures 1a and 1b.
• the flexible guide sheet 210 comprises a mesh 114 as previously described, although it is not visible on the .
• FIG. 300 There illustrates a light module 300 according to a second embodiment of the invention.
• a first injection element 320.1 and a second injection element 320.2 are arranged so as to inject light into an edge 314 of a flexible guide sheet 310.
• the first and second injection elements 320.1 and 320.2 may be similar to the injection element 120 described with reference to Figures 1a and 1b.
• the flexible guide sheet 310 can correspond to the flexible guide sheet 110 previously described.
• the flexible guide sheet 310 comprises a mesh 114 as previously described, although it is not visible on the .
• a first source 330.1 is arranged facing an entrance surface of the first injection element 320.1 so as to propagate light rays inside the first injection element 320.1 and therefore towards the first part 315.1 of the flexible guide sheet 310.
• a second source 330.2 is arranged opposite an entrance surface of the second injection element 320.2 so as to propagate light rays inside the second injection element 320.2 and therefore towards the second part 315.2 of the flexible guide sheet 310.
• a single source can be provided and the light module 300 comprises a first optical fiber capable of routing the light from the single source towards the input surface of the first injection element 320.1 and a second optical fiber is capable of routing the light from the single source to the entrance surface of the second injection element 320.2.
• the first and second sources 330.1 and 330.2 can selectively inject into the first injection element 320.1 and/or into the second injection element 320.2.
• Such selective injection can be controlled by a control element 340 connected to the two sources 330.1 and 330.2, or controlling the supply of the two sources 330.1 and 330.2.
• a first pattern 316.1 is engraved in the first part 315.1 while a second pattern 316.2 is engraved in the second part 315.2.
• the selective injection of light into the first injection element 320.1 and/or into the second injection element 320.2 thus makes it possible to project the first pattern, the second pattern, none of the patterns or both patterns at the same time, thus making possible, by dynamic control, the production of an animation from at least the first and second patterns.
• the first and second patterns 316.1 and 316.2 have distinct shapes.
• the patterns can be any intentional, or predetermined, spatial variation of light intensity.
• the first and second patterns 316.1 and 316.2 may have identical shapes.
• the animation is then enabled by the spatial movement of the pattern from the first part 315.1 to the second part 315.2, or vice versa.
• the colors projected respectively for each pattern may vary, when the sources 330.1 and 330.2 produce light of different colors.
• the second embodiment also covers a light module with a flexible guide sheet with three or more parts, each part comprising an engraved pattern, and with at least three injection elements, each injection element being placed facing each other. of one of the parties.
• Sources dedicated to each injection element can be provided for this purpose, or a single source with several optical fibers can be provided for this purpose.
• the first and second flexible guide sheets 410.1 and 410.2 have the same dimensions in the X-Y plane, and completely overlap.
• the guide layers may not be flat but can be curved. There thus presents the light module 400 when the guide layers are flat, for example stacked on a flat support.
• Such superposition is particularly advantageous due to the fact that the flexible guide layers are preferably transparent as detailed previously.
• first and second flexible guide sheets 410.1 and 410.2 are capable of respectively projecting a first pattern 416.1 and a second pattern 416.2 in a common area.
• a first injection element 420.1 is arranged to inject light into an edge of the first flexible guide sheet 410.1 and a second injection element 420.2 is capable and arranged to inject light into an edge of the second sheet of guidance 410.2.
• the first and second injection elements 420.1 and 420.2 may be similar to the injection element 120 described with reference to Figures 1a and 1b.
• at least one of the flexible guide sheets 410.1 and 410.2 may correspond to the flexible guide sheet 110 previously described.
• only one of the flexible guide sheets 410.1 and 410.2 comprises a mesh 114 forming an antenna as previously described, although it is not visible on the .
• the flexible guide sheet located towards the top, or towards the outside of the light module comprises the mesh 114, that is to say the second flexible guide sheet 410.2.
• the reception/transmission function of signals by the antenna formed by the mesh 114 is optimized.
• a first source 430.1 is arranged facing an entrance surface of the first injection element 420.1 so as to propagate light rays inside the first injection element 420.1 and therefore towards the first flexible guide sheet 410.1 .
• a second source 430.2 is arranged opposite an entrance surface of the second injection element 420.2 so as to propagate light rays inside the second injection element 420.2 and therefore towards the second flexible guide sheet 410.2 .
• a single source can be provided and the light module comprises a first optical fiber capable of routing the light from the single source towards the input surface of the first injection element 420.1 and a second optical fiber is capable of routing the light from the single source towards the entrance surface of the second injection element 420.2.
• the first and second sources 430.1 and 430.2 can inject selectively into the first injection element 420.1 and/or into the second injection element 420.2.
• Such selective injection can be controlled by a control element 440 connected to the two sources 430.1 and 430.2, or controlling the supply of the two sources 430.1 and 430.2.

Landscapes

• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Optics & Photonics (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
• Planar Illumination Modules (AREA)
• Details Of Aerials (AREA)
• Light Guides In General And Applications Therefor (AREA)
• Illuminated Signs And Luminous Advertising (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=84370081

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (5)

Families Citing this family (1)

Family Cites Families (3)

• 2022
  • 2022-09-09 FR FR2209076A patent/FR3140415A1/fr active Pending
• 2023
  • 2023-08-08 JP JP2025514349A patent/JP2025530827A/ja active Pending
  • 2023-08-08 WO PCT/EP2023/071958 patent/WO2024052030A1/fr not_active Ceased
  • 2023-08-08 EP EP23750637.3A patent/EP4584533A1/de active Pending
  • 2023-08-08 CN CN202380063499.8A patent/CN119816686A/zh active Pending

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