FR3147751A1 - OPTICAL BLOCK WITH INTERNAL HOLE FOR PASSING LIGHTING DEVICE CORD - Google Patents

Abstract

An optical unit (BO), for example of a vehicle, comprises a housing (BB) comprising a main wall (PP) delimiting a main housing (LP) comprising a zone (Z) in which a first lighting device (D1) is installed, and internal walls (PI) projecting from the main wall (PP) and delimiting near this zone (Z) a secondary housing (LS) in which a second lighting device (D2) is installed comprising a power supply and control cord (C2). One of these internal walls (PI) comprises a through hole (TT) communicating with the main housing (LP) while being invisible from the outside of the optical unit (BO) and through which the power supply and control cord (C2) passes to reach the zone (Z) and be coupled to the first lighting device (D1). Figure 4

Description

OPTICAL BLOCK WITH INTERNAL HOLE FOR PASSING LIGHTING DEVICE CORD Technical field of the invention

The invention relates to optical blocks which comprise at least two lighting devices, and more precisely to the masking of the power and control cords of these lighting devices.

State of the art

In some areas, such as vehicles, possibly of the automobile type, optical units are used which include at least two lighting devices providing different photometric functions.

In the following, the term "photometric function" means a photometric signaling function, a photometric lighting function or a photometric lighting effect function, possibly decorative.

The invention relates more specifically to optical blocks which comprise a housing comprising, in particular:

- a main wall delimiting a main accommodation comprising an area in which a first lighting device is installed, and

- internal walls projecting from the main wall (in the main accommodation) and delimiting near this area a secondary accommodation in which a second lighting device is installed.

Generally, the optical block also includes at least one mask (possibly a style mask) making it possible to mask (or conceal) the technical parts located in the housing, and in particular the fixing means and power and control cords of the first and second lighting devices.

However, it may happen that it is not desired or impossible for the mask to perform its masking function in front of a part of the second lighting device. In this case, given that the internal walls define a secondary housing which is entirely closed except on its front face facing outwards, there is no possibility of leading the power and control cord of the second lighting device out of the secondary housing for the purpose of connecting it to the main connector of the optical unit, unless it passes through this open front face. However, such a passage is unthinkable because it would make this power and control cord visible from the outside, which would detract from the style of the optical unit and the system comprising this optical unit (for example a vehicle) and would be considered a design error detrimental to the reputation of the manufacturer of this system.

It would certainly be possible to significantly modify the internal layout of the optical unit (and therefore its style) to make the power and control cord of the second lighting device invisible, but this would be very expensive due to the studies and new mold(s) to be produced.

The invention is therefore intended in particular to improve the situation.

Presentation of the invention

For this purpose, it offers in particular an optical unit comprising a housing comprising:

- a main wall delimiting a main accommodation comprising an area in which a first lighting device is installed, and

- internal walls projecting from the main wall (in the main housing) and delimiting near this area a secondary housing in which a second lighting device is installed comprising a power and control cord.

This optical block is characterized by the fact that one of the internal walls of its housing includes a through hole communicating with the main housing while being invisible from the outside of the optical block and through which the power and control cord passes to reach the area and be coupled to the first lighting device.

Thanks to this through hole, defined in one of the internal walls participating in the delimitation of the secondary housing, the second power and control cord is prevented from exiting through the open front face of the secondary housing, which prevents damage to the style of the optical block (or the system that includes it) and the reputation of the manufacturer of this system.

The optical unit according to the invention may include other characteristics which may be taken separately or in combination, and in particular:

- it may include a mask installed in the main housing and masking a portion of the power and control cord which is located between the through hole and the area so that it is invisible from the outside;

- in the presence of the first option, the mask can be arranged so as to hide technical parts of the first lighting device;

- its first lighting device may comprise a first electronic card comprising electrical and electronic components and/or circuits coupled to a main connector passing through the main wall and to some of which the power and control cord is connected;

- in the presence of the last option, some of the electrical and electronic components and/or circuits may be dedicated to the power supply and control of the second lighting device;

- its second lighting device may comprise a second electronic card comprising electrical and electronic components and/or circuits to some of which the power and control cord is connected;

-its first lighting device may be capable of providing a first photometric signaling function;

- its second lighting device may be capable of providing a second photometric signaling function.

The invention also proposes a vehicle, possibly of the automobile type, and comprising at least one optical unit of the type presented above.

For example, this vehicle may also include a bumper having a sub-portion installed in front of a portion of the power and control cord of the second lighting device located between the through hole and the area and intended to mask this portion so that it is invisible from the outside.

Brief description of the figures

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear on examining the detailed description below, and the attached drawings (obtained in CAD/CAM (“Computer Aided Design/Computer Aided Drawing”)), in which:

schematically illustrates, in a perspective view from the front side, part of an exemplary embodiment of an optical unit according to the invention,

schematically illustrates, in a sectional view in a longitudinal and vertical plane at the level of the second lighting device and the secondary housing, a part of the optical block of the ,

schematically illustrates, in a perspective view from the front side, the second lighting device of the optical unit of figures 1 and 2, before its installation in the housing,

schematically illustrates, in a perspective view from the front side, the optical block of the before installation of the mask but after installation of the first and second electronic boards and the second power and control cord, and

schematically illustrates, in a sectional view in a horizontal plane at the level of the secondary housing, part of the optical block of the before installing the second lighting device.

Detailed description of the invention

The invention aims in particular to propose an optical block BO comprising at least first D1 and second D2 lighting devices, one of which is installed in a secondary housing LS communicating with a main housing LP.

It is considered in the following, as a non-limiting example, that the optical unit BO is intended to be part of a vehicle of the automobile type, such as for example a car. However, the invention is not limited to this application. Indeed, the optical unit BO can be equipment that can be added and used in many systems or that can be part of other equipment that is itself part of a system. Thus, the optical unit BO can be part of any system, and in particular a vehicle (land, sea (or river), or air), an installation (possibly industrial), a device (possibly general public), or a building.

Furthermore, it is considered in the following, as a non-limiting example, that the optical unit BO constitutes a headlight (or projector) of a vehicle. But it could constitute a front light or a rear light of a vehicle.

In the above and the following, the notion of "front" is defined in relation to the place where the photons participating in the (a) photometric function exit, and the notion of "back" is defined in relation to the place which is opposite to that where the photons participating in the (a) photometric function exit. Consequently, the front face of an element is oriented towards the outside, while the back face of this element is oriented towards the inside and opposite the front face.

In Figures 1 to 5, the X direction is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, which is substantially parallel to the lateral (or longitudinal) sides comprising the side doors, the Y direction is parallel to the transverse direction of the vehicle and perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X, and the Z direction is parallel to the vertical direction of the vehicle and perpendicular to the longitudinal X and transverse Y directions.

We have schematically illustrated on the a part of an exemplary embodiment of an optical unit BO according to the invention, here intended to equip a front part of a vehicle.

As illustrated at least partially on the , an optical block BO, according to the invention, notably comprises a housing BB and first D1 and second D2 lighting devices.

The BB housing has a PP main wall and PI internal walls projecting from the PP main wall.

The main wall PP delimits a main housing LP which includes a zone Z in which a first lighting device D1 is installed, capable of ensuring a first photometric function.

For example, this first photometric function may be a photometric signaling function. As an illustrative example, in the case of an application to a motor vehicle, it may be a daytime running light (or DRL) function. But the first photometric signaling function could be a direction indicator (or turn signal) function or a position light function.

It should be noted, however, that the first photometric function could be a lighting function or a light effect (possibly decorative).

The first photometric function is provided by first photons which are generated by a first photon source forming part of the first lighting device D1.

For example, this first photon source can be installed on a first CE1 electronic card (illustrated on the ). Also for example, this first CE1 electronic card can be of the PCB type (“Printed Circuit Board”).

Although it does not appear in the figures, the first electronic card CE1 may also include electrical and electronic components and/or possibly integrated circuits, in particular for the power supply and the control of the first photometric function.

The first lighting device D1 also comprises a first power and control cord C1 having a first connector connected to its first electronic card CE1 and a second connector coupled to a main connector CP passing through the main wall PP (see ). It will be understood that this first connector is connected to some of the electrical and electronic components and/or circuits of the first electronic card CE1.

Also for example, the first photon source may comprise at least one light emitting diode (or LED) or at least one laser diode or a gas laser or even a bulb (possibly xenon).

The internal walls PI of the BB housing protrude from the main wall PP into the main housing LP and delimit, near the zone Z, a secondary housing LS in which a second lighting device D2 is installed, capable of providing a second photometric function different from the first photometric function.

For example, this second photometric function may be a photometric signaling function. As an illustrative example, in the case of an application to a motor vehicle, it may be a direction indicator (or turn signal) function. But the second photometric signaling function could be a daytime running light (or DRL) or position light function.

It should be noted, however, that the second photometric function could be a lighting function or a light effect (possibly decorative).

The second photometric function is provided by second photons which are generated by a second photon source forming part of the second lighting device D2.

For example, this second photon source can be installed on a second CE2 electronic card (illustrated in figures 2 to 4). Also for example, this second CE2 electronic card can be of PCB type.

Although it does not appear in the figures, the second electronic card CE2 may also include electrical and electronic components and/or possibly integrated circuits, in particular for the power supply and the control of the second photometric function.

The second lighting device D2 also comprises a second power and control cord C2 having a first connector CN1 connected to its second electronic card CE2 and a second connector CN2 coupled to the main connector CP. In fact, as illustrated non-limitingly in the , the second connector CN2 is here connected to some of the electrical and electronic components and/or circuits of the first electronic card CE1, and therefore some of the electrical and electronic components and/or circuits of the first electronic card CE1 are dedicated to the power supply and control of the second lighting device D2. As a result, part of the first power supply and control cord C1 is also dedicated to the power supply and control of the second lighting device D2. But this is not an obligation, the important thing being that the second power supply and control cord C2 joins the zone Z for the purpose of coupling it to the first lighting device D1.

Also for example, the second photon source may comprise at least one light-emitting diode (or LED) or at least one laser diode or a gas laser or even a bulb (possibly xenon).

As illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, one of the internal walls PI comprises a through hole (internal) TT which communicates with the main housing LP and the secondary housing LS, being invisible from the outside of the optical block BO (and therefore when placed in front of its glass G). As illustrated in the , this through hole TT is arranged so as to allow the passage of the second power and control cord C2 so that it joins the zone Z and can be coupled to the first lighting device D1 (and more precisely here to its first electronic card CE1).

It will be understood that this through hole (internal) TT, defined in one of the internal walls PI participating in the delimitation of the secondary housing LS, very advantageously makes it possible to prevent the second power supply and control cord C2 from exiting through the open front face of the secondary housing LS. As will be seen later, the portion PC of the second power supply and control cord C2 located between the through hole TT and the zone Z can then be easily masked by a mask M or by a sub-part of the vehicle bumper which borders the optical unit BO, so that it is invisible from the outside. Thus, there is neither degradation of the style of the optical unit BO (or here of the vehicle), nor degradation of the reputation of the manufacturer (here) of the vehicle.

It should be noted that the definition of the through hole TT can be obtained by means of a dedicated drawer installed in the mold of the BB housing. This mold includes a fixed die for producing the main wall PP (and therefore the external shape of the BB housing), and a movable punch for producing the internal shape of the BB housing (and therefore the internal walls PI). This punch has a drawer (or a cam) for producing via another demolding direction a shape in undercut for the demolding direction of the punch. At the through hole TT, the faces of the drawer and the punch are in contact (joint plane) so as not to inject material. Sequentially, the drawer is first moved laterally inside a dedicated cavity of the punch, then, once the drawer is sufficiently clear, the entire punch is opened, allowing the injected part constituting the BB housing to be ejected.

As indicated above, in a first embodiment, the optical block BO may comprise a mask M installed in its main housing LP and masking the portion PC of the power and control cord C2 which is located between the through hole TT and the zone Z so that it is invisible from the outside. It will be noted that this mask M may be the only mask used in the optical block BO (and possibly participating in its style), or may be used to mask the technical parts of the first lighting device D1 (possibly participating in the style), and in this case it comprises an extension EM up to the internal wall PI comprising the through hole TT and masking the portion PC of the power and control cord C2 (as illustrated in the ), or can be dedicated to hiding the PC portion of the C2 power and control cord (possibly contributing to the style).

In a second embodiment, the bumper (here front) of the vehicle may comprise a sub-part installed in front of the portion PC of the second power and control cord C2 so that it is invisible from the outside. It will be understood that here this sub-part is placed in front of the portion of the window G which is located opposite the portion PC.

Claims (10)

Optical block (BO) comprising a housing (BB) comprising i) a main wall (PP) delimiting a main housing (LP) comprising a zone (Z) in which a first lighting device (D1) is installed, and ii) internal walls (PI) projecting from said main wall (PP) and delimiting near said zone (Z) a secondary housing (LS) in which a second lighting device (D2) is installed comprising a power supply and control cord (C2), characterized in that one of said internal walls (PI) comprises a through hole (TT) communicating with said main housing (LP) while being invisible from the outside of said optical block (BO) and through which said power supply and control cord (C2) passes to reach said zone (Z) and be coupled to said first lighting device (D1). Optical block according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a mask (M) installed in said main housing (LP) and masking a portion (PC) of said power and control cord (C2) located between said through hole (TT) and said zone (Z) so that it is invisible from the outside. Optical unit according to claim 2, characterized in that said mask (M) is arranged so as to mask technical parts of said first lighting device (D1). Optical unit according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said first lighting device (D1) comprises a first electronic card (CE1) comprising electrical and electronic components and/or circuits coupled to a main connector (CP) passing through said main wall (PP) and to some of which said power supply and control cord (C2) is connected. Optical unit according to claim 4, characterized in that some of said electrical and electronic components and/or circuits are dedicated to the power supply and control of said second lighting device (D2). Optical unit according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said second lighting device (D2) comprises a second electronic card (CE2) comprising electrical and electronic components and/or circuits to some of which said power supply and control cord (C2) is connected. Optical unit according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said first lighting device (D1) is capable of providing a first photometric signaling function. Optical unit according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said second lighting device (D2) is capable of providing a second photometric signaling function. Vehicle, characterized in that it comprises at least one optical unit (BO) according to one of claims 1 to 8. Vehicle according to claim 9, characterized in that it comprises a bumper comprising a sub-part installed in front of a portion (PC) of said power and control cord (C2) located between said through hole (TT) and said zone (Z) and intended to mask this portion (PC) so that it is invisible from the outside.