FR3051886A1 - LUMINOUS DEVICE, IN PARTICULAR FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE, AND LIGHTING AND / OR SIGNALING UNIT COMPRISING SUCH A LUMINOUS DEVICE. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a light device, in particular for a motor vehicle, comprising two elongated light guides and an intermediate body, said intermediate body being arranged between said light guides and being designed to form a light emitting zone. extending in a surface manner, the light guides diverging from one another at a divergence region, the intermediate body being arranged at said divergence region. The invention further relates to a lighting and / or signaling unit for a motor vehicle comprising such a device.

Description

LUMINOUS DEVICE, IN PARTICULAR FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE, AND LIGHTING AND / OR SIGNALING UNIT COMPRISING SUCH A LUMINOUS DEVICE. The invention relates to a light device and a lighting and / or signaling unit comprising such a light device. The present invention is particularly intended to equip motor vehicles.

In this field, it is known to use light devices provided with a light source, in general a light emitting diode, and a light guide through which a light beam from said source is propagated. The light propagates within the guide by total internal reflection. The light is extracted outwards by reflection means arranged on the surface of the guide. In addition to a signaling function, these devices make it possible to improve the aesthetic appearance of a vehicle.

Light devices are known comprising two light guides connected to a light source, at a junction zone of said light guides. These light guides diverge from each other so as to form two separate branches, both light emitting. In other words, the light device then takes the form of a Y whose two branches are illuminated.

In order to improve the aesthetics of this type of luminous device, it is still known to use an intermediate body for modifying the illuminated appearance of the luminous device. The intermediate body, a part of which is able to emit light, is designed to be attached between the two arms of the device so that the emitting part of the light device no longer takes the form of a Y but is close to that of a single linear guide in the form of C. This form in C is generally more appreciated by the users.

These luminous devices make it possible to obtain linear illumination. Now, there is today a need for renewal including the aesthetic rendering of these devices. This is why the invention relates to a light device, in particular for a motor vehicle, comprising two elongate light guides and an intermediate body, said intermediate body being arranged between said light guides and being designed to form an emitting zone. of light extending in a surface manner, the light guides diverging from one another at a zone of divergence, the intermediate body being arranged at said divergence region. Said light device according to the invention thus provides a lighting whose appearance, in particular the homogeneous effect, is improved.

According to various aspects of the invention, which may be taken together or separately: the light guides are linear, the intermediate body is designed to illuminate in a lighting direction substantially orthogonal to principal directions of longitudinal extension of said guides of light, in particular considering the part of said guides lying at said intermediate body, the intermediate body comprises an emitting surface designed to be substantially perpendicular to said illumination direction, said emitting surface comprises reflection patterns, the Reflection patterns comprise reflective prisms, the reflection patterns are arranged in relief on the surface of the intermediate body, the light guides and the intermediate body are made of material, the intermediate body and the light guides are derived from molding, said luminous device further comprises at least In a light source, said light source (s) supplying the light guides with light, said light guides are designed to supply light to said intermediate body. said light guides are configured to emit light over at least part of their length, particularly in said illumination direction, the light guides comprise reflection prisms. The invention also relates to a lighting and / or signaling unit comprising such a light device. The invention will be better understood, and other objects, details, features and advantages thereof will become more clearly apparent in the following detailed explanatory description of at least one embodiment of the invention given to As a purely illustrative and non-limiting example, with reference to the attached schematic drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a light device according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the intermediate body of the device of FIG. 1. The invention relates to a light device 1, in particular for a motor vehicle, comprising two light guides 3, 4, called main guides 3, 4. main guides 3, 4 is configured to allow the propagation of light within it, that is to say in an interior volume of each of said main guides 3, 4. In other words, each of said main guides 3, 4 is designed to allow the propagation of light beams by total reflection through the material of each of said main guides 3, 4. In other words, said main guides 3, 4 are designed to allow said propagation of light beams by successive reflections, also called internal reflections, said light beams.

Advantageously, said main guides 3, 4 each comprise a linear main body, that is to say of longitudinal and substantially cylindrical shape.

Said main body of each main guide 3, 4 is advantageously formed of a single material and is monobloc. Said material is advantageously chosen so as to promote the propagation of said light beams through said material.

Said main body of each main guide 3, 4 being integral and coming from a single material, the propagation of said light beams inside the guides 3, 4 can be done without encountering obstacles, separation or discontinuity physical that could affect the propagation of said light beams. In other words, each main body 3, 4 is designed to form a uniform medium.

Each of said main bodies here has a first end 33, 43 and a second end 34, 44 and advantageously extends longitudinally between said first 33, 43 and second 34, 44 ends in the form chosen.

It is noted that the light device 1 is thus designed to respectively allow the propagation of said light beams from said first ends 33, 43 to the second ends 34, 44 of the main guides 3, 4.

Said main guides 3, 4 are also advantageously configured so as to allow the emission of said light beams from said interior volume of said main guides 3, 4 to the outside, from zones configured for this purpose.

The main body of each main light guide 3, 4 has for this purpose an outer lateral surface 30, 40 which extends from the first 33, 43 to the second end 34, 44 of said main guide 3, 4. Said lateral surface 30 Here, 40 constitutes a boundary between the interior volume of each main body and the exterior. In particular, the main body of each main guide 3, 4 is designed so that the light beams are reflected against the lateral surface 30, 40 of said main body to propagate in the body, except in selected areas from where they can to leave the body, as is further developed.

As illustrated particularly in Figure 2, advantageously, a portion 36, 46 of one of said main guides 3, 4 is located in the close vicinity or in contact, a portion 36, 46 of the other of said main guides 3 4. Said portions 36, 46 are said neighboring portions. Said adjacent portions 36, 46 extend here substantially parallel to each other.

Note that said adjacent portion 36, 46 of each main guide 3, 4 advantageously, but not necessarily, the first end 33, 43 of said main guide 3, 4.

Said two adjacent portions 36, 46 of the main guides 3, 4 together define a junction zone 60 of the light device 1. In other words, said main guides 3, 4 are in the immediate vicinity of one another along said junction zone 60, that is to say along said adjacent portions 36, 46. It will be noted that said adjacent portions 36, 46 have substantially the same, in section, the shape of an eight.

Outside of said adjacent portions 36, 46, said main light guides 3, 4 diverge from each other at a region of divergence 90. In other words, said main light guides 3, 4 separate and are spaced apart from said divergence region 90. In other words, said main guides 3, 4 deviate from each other outside their adjacent portions 36, 46.

In other words, each of the main bodies of the two main light guides 3, 4 comprises a second portion, said free portion 38, 48, said free portions 38, 48 being arranged at a distance from one another. Advantageously, but not necessarily, said free portion 38, 48 of each of said main guides 3, 4 comprises the second end 34, 44 of said main guide 3, 4.

Thus, each of said main guides 3, 4 can be divided into two portions including said adjacent portion 36, 46 and said free portion 38, 48. In each main body, the neighboring portion and the free portion follow one another longitudinally and are in continuity with each other. matter with each other.

It will be noted that said adjacent portions 36, 46 of the main guides 3, 4 each extend between one of said first ends 33, 43 of said main guides 3, 4 and said divergence region 90. In other words, said junction zone 60 extends between said first ends 33, 43 of each main guide 3, 4 and said divergence region 90.

In other words, each main guide 3, 4 is composed, from its first end 33, 43 to its second end 34, 44, successively and in that order, its neighboring portion 36, 46 and its free portion 38, 48. It will be noted that the free portion 38, 48 of each main light guide 3, 4 extends here from the divergence region 90 to its said second end 34, 44.

As illustrated in Figure 1, the two main guides 3, 4 together substantially form a Y, said Y being composed of a lower branch and two upper branches. Here, the lower branch of the Y is formed by the junction zone 60 of the light device 1. Each of the upper branches of said Y is formed by the free portion 38, 48 of one of the main guides 3, 4.

Here, only a part, said emitter zone 39, 49, of each of the main guides 3, 4 is intended to emit light beams. For each main guide 3, 4, said emitting zone 39, 49 extends from the divergence region to one of said second ends 34, 44 of the main guide 3, 4. In other words, here, the transmitting zones light 39, 49 extend along the free portions 38, 48 of each of the main light guides 3, 4.

The light device 1 is thus designed to emit light beams along said emitting zones 39, 49 of each main guide 3, 4.

Alternatively, in one embodiment not illustrated by the figures, the second ends 34, 44 of each main guide 3, 4 may be joined to each other, especially in continuity of material.

Each of said main guides 3, 4 of light advantageously comprises reflection means 5, 6. Said reflection means 5, 6 are for example prisms and / or reflection patterns. They are for example arranged continuously and / or regularly along the emitting zones 39, 49 of each main guide 3, 4, at the side surfaces 30, 40 thereof. Said reflection means 5, 6, are designed and arranged so that a portion of the light beams can be reflected on said reflection means 5, 6. The reflection of these light beams on said reflection means 5, 6 allows their exit main guides 3, 4, in particular of the main body of each of said main guides 3, 4. Said reflection means 5, 6 thus allow the light beams to be scattered from the interior volume of each main guide 3, 4 to outside of it. In other words, said reflection means 5, 6 allow the emission of said light beams by each of said main guides 3, 4.

According to the invention, said luminous device 1 comprises an intermediate body 9. Said intermediate body 9 is designed to form a light emitting area extending in a surface manner, in particular from one guide to the other. Said intermediate body 9 provides a uniform illumination at said divergence region 90. In other words, said intermediate body 9 is arranged, at least in part, between the main guides 3, 4 of light. By surface, is meant in the present application that the light emitting zone of the intermediate body 9 is not point or linear but has a certain extent. In particular, it has a substantially flat shape.

Advantageously, the intermediate body 9 is made of material with each of the main guides 3, 4. In particular, the intermediate body 9 is joined in continuity of material and / or material with the lateral surfaces 30, 40 of said main guides 3, 4 of light. Said intermediate body 9 is for example derived from molding with one and the other of the main guides 3, 4 of light.

The device according to the invention is designed to allow propagation of the light beams from each of the main light guides 3, 4 to the intermediate body 9.

Said intermediate body 9, like the main bodies of the connecting guides 3, 4, is formed of a single material, namely the same material as that constituting the main guides 3, 4. This uniqueness of material makes it possible to promote the propagation of the light beams between each of the main guides 3, 4 and said intermediate body 9.

Said intermediate body 9 is designed so as to be able to illuminate in a lighting direction substantially orthogonal to the principal directions of longitudinal extension of the main light guides 3, 4, said directions being considered at the level of said intermediate body 9.

Each of the side surfaces 30 and 40 of the light guides 3 and 4 comprises an inner portion and an outer portion. The inner portions are defined as the portions of the light guides 3, 4 arranged opposite one another. In other words, the internal portions of the side surfaces 30, 40 are substantially opposite. Said outer portions of each of the side surfaces 30, 40 are defined as the portions of each of the main light guides which, facing opposite directions, do not face each other. In other words, we distinguish in the following parts of each side surface 30, 40, said internal portions, which face the rest of the side surfaces 30, 40, said outer portions.

Here, said intermediate body 9 comprises a main portion 95, said main portion 95 being located between the two main guides 3, 4 and two secondary portions 93 and 97. Said secondary portions 93 and 97 are provided to be derived from material respectively with each external portions of the main light guides 3 and 4. In particular, each of said secondary portions 93, 97 is arranged diametrically opposite to the main portion 95 of the intermediate body 9 relative to each of the guides.

Each secondary portion 93, 97 is in the form of a strip of longitudinal material. Each of said strips of material extends in a main direction of longitudinal extension substantially parallel to the direction of longitudinal extension of the light guide from which it is derived. They have a thickness substantially identical to that of the main portion 95.

Said intermediate body 9 has here, in front view, a substantially triangular shape. In other words, said intermediate body 9 has, when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the extension directions of the main light guides 3, 4, a substantially triangular shape. One of the vertices of this triangle coincides approximately with the end of the junction zone and the beginning of the region of divergence of the luminous device 1. The two sides of said triangle coming from this vertex, said adjacent sides, correspond to the material junctions. between the intermediate body 9 and respectively each of the main light guides 3, 4. The third side of said triangle is opposite to said vertex. We note that this third side is not here rectilinear but curved, concave. In addition, it is not here in longitudinal contact with one or the other of the main light guides, except at its ends.

Advantageously, the central portion 95 and the two secondary portions 93, 97 of the intermediate body 9 are flat and extend substantially parallel to the same plane, said plane being here substantially parallel to the directions of extension of the main light guides 3 4.

The central portion of the intermediate body 9 substantially takes the form of a commissure extending from the region of divergence and towards the second ends of the light guides without reaching them. In other words, at the level of said divergence region, the central part of the intermediate body 9 physically connects the two main light guides 3, 4 together. In other words, said central portion of the intermediate body 9 is here a bridge of material between the two light guides 3, 4 and connect them to one another.

The intermediate body 9 here has a thickness, measured in a direction orthogonal to a plane in which are confused the longitudinal extension directions of each of the main guides 3, 4 at said divergence region 90. Advantageously, the thickness of the intermediate body 9 is decreasing as one moves away from said junction zone 60 of the light device.

The central portion 95 of the intermediate body 9 comprises an emitting surface 950. Similarly, the secondary portions 93 and 97 of the intermediate body are advantageously also provided with emitting surfaces 930 and 970.

Said emitting surfaces 950, 970 and 930 are designed to allow the passage of a part of the light beams from inside the intermediate body 9 to the outside thereof. In particular, said emitting surfaces 950, 970, 930 are designed to allow emission of a portion of the light beams in a direction substantially orthogonal to the directions of extension of the light guides 3 and 4. Alternatively, the emitting surfaces of the secondary portions intermediate body 9 may be designed and arranged to allow emission of light beams in a different direction.

Note that the emitting surface 950 of the central portion 95 of the intermediate body 9 is substantially flat. If we consider two parallel planes tangent to said guides, it is located between these two planes. Thus, said emitting surface 950 is so designed as to allow the formation of illumination from an area extending on the surface. For this purpose, said emitting surface 950 advantageously comprises reflection patterns 951. Said reflection patterns are configured to allow light beams to be scattered from the intermediate body 9. Said reflection patterns are, for example, reflection prisms. Said reflection patterns are arranged in relief on the surface of the intermediate body, in particular on a face opposite to its emitting face. They can then understand streaks. In other words, the reflection patterns may include shallow grooves, said grooves extending substantially parallel to each other. Note that said grooves are not necessarily straight. Here, said furrows are curved. Alternatively, they may for example have a wavy shape.

In addition, the emitting surface may be grained on all or part of the surface, in order to improve the diffusion of light and the homogeneity thereof.

The light device 1 may comprise at least one light source, here two light sources, not shown, designed to emit said light beams to the interior space of each of said main guides 3, 4. Each light source can itself include one or more electroluminescent diodes. Said light sources are for example each arranged at said first end 33, 43 of each of said main guides 3, 4 of light. In this respect, each of said main guides 3, 4 comprises, for example, an entrance surface, said inlet surface being arranged at said first end 33, 43 substantially perpendicular to said lateral surface 30, 40.

Said inlet surface of each main guide 3, 4 is advantageously arranged facing one of said light sources, close to it, so as to allow the entry of said light beams into the main guide 3, 4 through said entrance surface. The invention also relates to a lighting and / or signaling unit, such as a headlamp, a taillight or a daytime traffic light unit (DRL) comprising a light device 1 as described above, for example associated in a projector to other lighting devices such as a dipped beam module, a high beam module, a direction indicator module or others.

The device according to the invention advantageously makes it possible to obtain surface and homogeneous lighting at the level of said divergence region.

Claims (14)

A luminous device, in particular for a motor vehicle, comprising two elongate light guides and an intermediate body, said intermediate body being arranged between said light guides and being designed to form a light-emitting zone extending in a manner surface, the light guides diverging from one another at a divergence zone, the intermediate body being arranged at said divergence region. 2. Light device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the light guides are linear. 3. Light device according to the preceding claim, wherein the intermediate body is designed to illuminate in a lighting direction substantially orthogonal to principal directions of longitudinal extension of said light guides. 4. Light device according to the preceding claim, wherein the intermediate body comprises an emitting surface designed to be substantially perpendicular to said illumination direction. 5. Light device according to the preceding claim, wherein said emitting surface comprises reflection patterns. 6. Light device according to the preceding claim, wherein the reflection patterns comprise reflection prisms. 7. Light device according to any one of claims 7 or 8, wherein the reflection patterns are arranged in relief on the surface of the intermediate body. 8. Light device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the light guides and the intermediate body are made of material. 9. Light device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the intermediate body and the light guides are derived from molding. The light device according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising at least one light source, said light source (s) supplying light to the light guides. The light device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said light guides are adapted to illuminate said intermediate body. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said light guides are configured to emit light over at least part of their length. The light device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the light guides comprise reflection prisms. 14. Lighting unit and / or signaling for a motor vehicle comprising a light device according to any one of the preceding claims.