EP1191280A1 - Lighting or signaling device for automotive vehicles with improved appearance - Google Patents

Abstract

The lamp unit has a housing (10) having an upper opening (12), a light source (16) and reflector (14) a protective glass (20) closes the opening (12). At least an optical neutral part of the lamp has a decorative section (24), this section, on the glass (20) is only visible from the exterior of the lamp unit after at least a reflection on the reflector (14). The decorative part (24) is produced by an adhesive motif stuck to the glass or the deposit of a material onto the glass. The material may be paint, ink, serigraphy of a metal deposit or the motif may be formed between the glass (20) walls. Alternatively a mask (18) may be inserted between the reflector and glass and the decoration is placed on an optical neutral part of the mask.

Description

The present invention relates generally to lighting or lighting devices. signaling intended to equip motor vehicles, motorized vehicles with two wheels, light commercial vehicles or heavy vehicles.

Such devices generally include, in a housing having an opening anterior, at least one light source capable of cooperating with a reflector to generate a light beam, and a protective glass closing the front opening of the housing.

For some time, the possibility has arisen of using in these devices smooth protective glass, that is to say not deviating or slightly deviating. Such smooth windows allow us to observe through them a large part of the components of the lighting or signaling device.

On the other hand, style considerations are taking on increasing importance these days, and become a major concern in the design of automotive equipment in general, and headlamps or traffic lights in particular, designers always looking for new possibilities of aesthetic integration of these devices in the vehicle.

Thus, for example, masks, first used to conceal either discontinuities between different components, such as between the reflector and the glass protection, either parts having no optical function, such as the housing itself, are now used as decorative elements, giving them aspects, for example example a reflective shade or coating, or patterns, for example reliefs or patterns, particular to obtain a new aesthetic effect.

On the other hand, the elements of the lighting or signaling device which participate in the development of the light beam, ie the optical components, do not allow such freedom of style. Indeed, the regulations in force impose that the beams light emitted by such devices respect constraints concerning their geometric extent as their photometric qualities, both in light intensity and main color. It is then only possible to give these optical components colors or very light coloring, so as to have no significant effect on the light beam emitted by the device, so that these tints or colors are practically imperceptible.

The present invention is placed in this context and it aims to provide a device lighting or signaling for a motor vehicle, the components of which in particular the reflector and / or the mask in the case where the latter is provided with a reflective coating, have a predetermined appearance, such as a color, without this aspect having a influence on the photometric qualities and performances of the light beam emitted by these devices when the light source is on, such a change in appearance in front can be obtained in a simple, reliable and inexpensive manner.

The present invention therefore relates to a lighting or signaling device for a motor vehicle comprising, in a housing having a front opening, at less a light source able to cooperate with a reflector to generate a beam luminous, and a protective glass closing the front opening of the case.

According to the present invention, at least one optically neutral part of the device lighting or signaling comprises at least one decorative element, this element of decoration only visible from the outside of the lighting or signaling device after at least one reflection on the reflector.

• l'élément de décoration est disposé sur une partie optiquement neutre de la glace de protection ;
• l'élément de décoration est obtenu par collage sur la glace de protection d'un motif adhésif ou autocollant ;
• l'élément de décoration est obtenu par dépôt d'au moins une couche de matériau sur la glace de protection ;
• le matériau est constitué par de la peinture, un encrage, une sérigraphie ou une métallisation ;
• l'élément de décoration est formé par un insert noyé dans la masse de la glace de protection entre ses faces postérieure et antérieure ;
• l'élément de décoration comporte une face avant et une face arrière qui comportent des motifs différents et/ou des couleurs différentes.
• lorsque le dispositif d'éclairage ou de signalisation comporte un masque entre le réflecteur et la glace de protection, l'élément de décoration est disposé sur une partie optiquement neutre du masque ;
• l'élément de décoration est obtenu par collage d'un motif adhésif ou autocollant sur le masque ;
• l'élément de décoration est obtenu par dépôt d'une couche de matériau sur le masque ou est constitué par la couleur de la matière du masque elle-même.

According to other advantageous and non-limiting characteristics of the invention:

• the decorative element is arranged on an optically neutral part of the protective glass;
• the decorative element is obtained by bonding to the protective glass an adhesive or self-adhesive pattern;
• the decorative element is obtained by depositing at least one layer of material on the protective glass;
• the material consists of paint, inking, screen printing or metallization;
• the decorative element is formed by an insert embedded in the mass of protective glass between its posterior and anterior faces;
• the decorative element comprises a front face and a rear face which have different patterns and / or different colors.
• when the lighting or signaling device comprises a mask between the reflector and the protective glass, the decoration element is arranged on an optically neutral part of the mask;
• the decorative element is obtained by sticking an adhesive or sticker pattern on the mask;
• the decorative element is obtained by depositing a layer of material on the mask or consists of the color of the material of the mask itself.

• La Figure 1 représente une vue de face d'un dispositif d'éclairage selon la technique antérieure ;
• La Figure 2 représente une vue en coupe d'un dispositif d'éclairage selon la présente invention ;
• La Figure 3 représente une vue de face du dispositif d'éclairage de la Figure 2 ;
• Les Figures 4A à 4E représentent des vues à plus grande échelle d'un détail de la Figure 2, selon plusieurs variantes de réalisation, et
• La Figure 5 représente une vue en coupe d'une variante de réalisation du dispositif d'éclairage de la Figure 2.

Other objects, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge clearly from the description which will now be made of an exemplary embodiment given without limitation with reference to the appended drawings in which:

• Figure 1 shows a front view of a lighting device according to the prior art;
• Figure 2 shows a sectional view of a lighting device according to the present invention;
• Figure 3 shows a front view of the lighting device of Figure 2;
• FIGS. 4A to 4E represent enlarged views of a detail of FIG. 2, according to several alternative embodiments, and
• FIG. 5 represents a sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the lighting device of FIG. 2.

By convention, in the description which follows, we will call "before" or "previous" the part of the device situated on the light exit side towards the outside of the device, and "Rear" or "posterior" the part of the device close to the light source.

FIG. 1 shows a headlamp for a motor vehicle, which comprises conventionally a housing 10, intended to be installed in this vehicle, so that that its front opening 12 is disposed towards the outside of the vehicle. Box 10 contains at least one reflector 14, two reflectors 14 and 14 'in the example shown in the Figure 1, each cooperating with a light source 16 and 16 'so as to generate a light beam to illuminate the road ahead of the vehicle. One of the reflectors can by example generate a passing beam, while the other can generate a passing beam road. A protective glass 20 is fixed on the housing 10 to isolate the interior of the projector and protect the optical components.

The projector also includes a mask 18 intended to conceal the discontinuity between the reflector 14 and the glass 20. The mask 18 can be colored, for example in black, or be reflective, with or without relief patterns. The projector can also include other devices, such as a city lantern or a direction indicator 22.

It is thus understood that the optical components, such as the light source 16 or 16 ', the reflector 14 or 14', and the protective glass 20, participating in the generation of the beam luminous, must be free of coloring for the lighting devices, or have a coloring imposed by the regulations in the particular case of signaling devices.

In accordance with the present invention, it is possible to confer on such a device lighting a given shade or coloring, perfectly visible from the outside, this coloring or this shade not involved in the photometric and / or colorimetric qualities of the light beam generated by the lighting or signaling device when the light source is on, the light beam and the lighting device that produces it thus complying with the regulations in force.

There is shown in Figure 2 a sectional view of a lighting device, comprising conventionally a housing 10, intended to be installed in a motor vehicle, so that its front opening 12 is disposed towards the outside of the vehicle, a reflector 14 cooperating with a light source 16 to generate a light beam, protective glass 20 being fixed on the housing 10 to isolate the interior of the projector and protect the optical components, and a mask 18 intended to conceal the transition between the reflector 14 and the glass 20.

The light beam generated by the reflector 14 crosses the protective glass in a central zone F thereof. Apart from the light source 16, the reflector 14 and the area F of glass 20, all the other parts of the lighting device are called herein description "optically neutral", ie they do not participate directly in the generation of the light beam emerging from the lighting device. Are also called "Optically neutral" of the marginal areas of ice 20, located inside the area central F and at the edge thereof, and whose contribution to the formation of the light beam is negligible.

It can be seen in FIG. 2 that the protective glass 20 comprises, in an optically zone neutral glass 20, a portion 24 on which are formed decorative elements.

• sur la Figure 4A, la partie de décoration 24 est formée par collage sur la face postérieure de la glace 20 d'un motif adhésif ou autocollant ;
• sur la Figure 4B, la partie de décoration 24 est formée par un dépôt d'une couche de matériau sur la face postérieure de la glace 20. Un tel matériau peut être constitué par exemple par de la peinture, un encrage, une sérigraphie ou une métallisation ;
• sur la Figure 4C, la partie de décoration 24 est formée par un insert noyé dans la masse de la glace 20 entre ses faces postérieure et antérieure ;
• sur la Figure 4D, la partie de décoration 24 est formée par un dépôt d'une couche de matériau sur la face antérieure de la glace 20. Un tel matériau peut être constitué comme sur la Figure 4B par exemple par de la peinture, un encrage, une sérigraphie ou une métallisation, et
• sur la Figure 4E, la partie de décoration 24 est formée par collage sur la face antérieure de la glace 20 d'un motif adhésif ou autocollant.

FIGS. 4A to 4E show different variant embodiments of this decoration part 24:

• in FIG. 4A, the decoration part 24 is formed by bonding to the rear face of the crystal 20 an adhesive or self-adhesive pattern;
• in FIG. 4B, the decoration part 24 is formed by depositing a layer of material on the rear face of the glass 20. Such a material can be constituted for example by paint, inking, serigraphy or a metallization;
• in FIG. 4C, the decoration part 24 is formed by an insert embedded in the mass of the glass 20 between its posterior and anterior faces;
• in FIG. 4D, the decoration part 24 is formed by depositing a layer of material on the front face of the crystal 20. Such a material can be made as in FIG. 4B for example by painting, inking , serigraphy or metallization, and
• in FIG. 4E, the decoration part 24 is formed by bonding to the front face of the crystal 20 an adhesive or self-adhesive pattern.

In all cases, the protective glass 20 being essentially of transparent material, this decorative part 24 will be visible from the outside of the glass 20, as shown in Figure 3, where we see the lighting device of Figure 1, but this time provided with the decoration part 24 on the upper part of the protective glass 20. More specifically, the decoration part 24 has a front face 26, visible to an observer exterior, and a rear face 28, facing the interior of the device and invisible from outside. The front 26 and rear 28 faces can thus play completely different roles, and therefore be different. They can, for example, have different patterns and / or different colors. In the alternative embodiment shown in Figures 4B and 4D, the front 26 and rear 28 faces may for example result from two successive and different deposits, paint, inking, screen printing or metallization, provided they are compatible with each other.

The front face 26, seen directly in the directions E by an outside observer, can contribute to the exterior aesthetics of the lighting device or motor vehicle, or include indications intended for the identification of this device, or the manufacturer of the vehicle or the manufacturer of the lighting device. She will be able to for example be metallized so as to be reflective.

On the other hand, the rear face 28 is hidden from the view of an outside observer and fills a totally different function. When the light source 16 is switched off, this rear face 28 is illuminated by ambient light prevailing outside the device lighting and entering it through the protective glass 20. As a result, it diffuses light rays in all directions I towards the interior of the lighting device. A a large part of these light rays is then received by the reflector 14 and by the mask 18 if the latter is provided with a reflective coating, these rays being reflected at least one times by these reflective elements, as shown in Figure 2. After these reflections single or multiple, these light rays are brought back through the protective glass 20 and to spread outside the lighting device, where they can be received by an observer. The latter will then perceive an image of the reflector 14 and of the mask 18 in which the rear face 28 of the decoration part 24 is reflected. For example, if the rear face 28 is uniformly blue in color, the observer will perceive an image of the reflector 14 and mask 18 as if the latter were themselves blue in color in whole or in part. It will be particularly advantageous if the color of the rear face 28 is identical to the color of the surrounding bodywork of the vehicle, so as to give the front of the vehicle an aspect in which the lighting devices appear tinted with the same tone as the bodywork surrounding them.

On the other hand, when the light source 16 is powered and emits light rays, it cooperates with the reflector 14 to form a road lighting beam in front of the vehicle, in a conventional manner. The decoration part 24 being located in an optically neutral zone of the protective glass, it has no influence on this beam or a negligible influence, since it does not or hardly participate in its development. The light beam emitted by the lighting device is therefore perfectly complies with the regulations in force, both by its light intensity and by its distribution geometric and that by its spectral distribution.

In addition, in this latter hypothesis where the light source 16 is supplied and emits of light rays, it strongly illuminates the rear face 28 of the decoration part 24. As in the previous situation, it diffuses light rays in the same way in all directions I towards the interior of the lighting device, which are then received by the reflector 14 and the mask 18, and reflected at least once by the latter to finally cross the protective glass 20 and spread outside the lighting device. The decoration part being located in an optically neutral zone of the glass 20, it follows that the rays diffused by the rear face 28 give rise to rays emerging from the device lighting which are located outside the lighting beam specifically generated by the light source 16, the reflector 14 and the glass 20, like the spokes 30, 30 'and 30 "shown in Figure 2.

As a result, an observer, whose eye is located outside the light beam, and who observes the lighting device whose light source is on, will perceive device for illuminating light rays, in which a large part comes from the rear face 28 of the decoration part 24. Thus, using the previous example, the observer will have the impression that the lighting device emits blue light, while the light beam is perfectly compliant with regulatory photometry and colorimetry, and only has white light.

On the other hand, when the lighting device comprises several projectors, such as we have shown in Figure 3, we can provide that the rear face 28 of the decoration part 24 has different patterns or colors in relation to each projector. he it will thus be possible, in the example of Figure 3, that the reflectors 14 and 14 'have different apparent colors, so as to give the lighting device an entirely new.

FIG. 5 shows an alternative embodiment of the invention. We see on This Figure shows that the decoration part 24 ′ is formed on an optically neutral zone of the lighting device, this time belonging to the mask 18. As in the embodiment above, the decoration part 24 ′ can be formed by gluing an adhesive or self-adhesive pattern, by depositing a layer of material on the mask, such as for example painting, inking, screen printing or metallization, or by the color of the material of the mask itself.

As described above, when the light source 16 is off, the part of decoration 24 'is lit by ambient light prevailing outside the device of illumination and penetrating therein through the protective glass 20, and diffuses light rays in all directions towards the interior of the lighting device, which are received by the reflector 14 and the mask 18, and reflected at least once by the latter to be brought to finally cross the protective glass 20 again and spread outside the device lighting, where they can be received by an observer. The latter will still perceive an image of the reflector 14 and of the mask 18 in which the decoration part 24 'is reflected. For example, if the latter is uniformly blue, the observer will perceive a image of the reflector 14 and of the mask 18 as if the latter were themselves colored blue, in whole or in part.

When the light source 16 emits light rays, the decoration part 24 ' being located in an optically neutral zone, it again has no influence on the beam light emitted by the lighting device, which therefore fully complies with regulations in force.

As seen above, when the light source 16 is on, it illuminates strongly the decoration part 24 ', which diffuses light rays which are received by the reflector 14 and the mask 18, and reflected at least once by the latter to pass through finally the protective glass 20 and spread outside the lighting device, so that an observer will still perceive light rays in which a significant part will come from the decoration part 24 '. So, going back to the previous example, the observer will have the impression that the lighting device emits blue light, while the light beam is perfectly compliant with regulatory photometry and colorimetry, and only has white light.

The advantage of this variant embodiment is that the lighting device then presents a configuration quite similar to that of a lighting device conventional, as shown in Figure 1. Of course, it is possible to combine the embodiments of Figures 2 and 5, the decoration parts 24 and 24 'being identical or different, depending on the appearance that one wishes to give to the lighting device thus produced.

A lighting or signaling device has therefore been produced according to the present invention for a motor vehicle whose reflector has a predetermined appearance, for example example a predetermined color depending on the color of the vehicle body, without this aspect having an influence on the photometric qualities and performances or colorimetric of the light beam emitted by these devices when the light source is on. Such a change in appearance is obtained in a particularly simple manner, since it suffices to provide an optically neutral area with protective glass or mask a part of decoration predetermined according to the aspect desired for the device lighting. Such a change in appearance is also very inexpensive.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments which have have been described, but those skilled in the art may on the contrary make numerous modifications to it that fall within its framework. Thus, for example, although having been described more particularly in relation to a lighting device, the present invention is applicable without change to a signaling device. Likewise, the present invention applies as well as lighting or signaling devices whose protective glass is smooth only to those whose protective glass has patterns, for example streaks, whether purely decorative or that they contribute to the formation of the light beam. Finally, when the invention applies to lighting devices, it also applies to those whose reflector is parabolic only to those whose reflector has a so-called complex surface and that those whose reflector is of elliptical type.

Claims (10)

Lighting or signaling device for a motor vehicle comprising, in a housing (10) having a front opening (12), at least one light source (16, 16 ') capable of cooperating with a reflector (14, 14') for generate a light beam, and a protective glass (20) closing the front opening (12) of the housing (10), characterized in that at least one optically neutral part of the lighting or signaling device comprises at least one element decoration (24, 24 '), this decoration element (24, 24') being visible from the outside of the lighting or signaling device only after at least one reflection on the reflector (14, 14 ' ). Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the decorative element (24) is arranged on an optically neutral part of the protective glass (20). Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the decorative element (24) is obtained by bonding to the protective glass (20) an adhesive or self-adhesive pattern. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the decorative element (24) is obtained by depositing at least one layer of material on the protective glass (20). Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the material consists of paint, inking, screen printing or metallization. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the decorative element (24) is formed by an insert embedded in the mass of the protective glass (20) between its posterior and anterior faces. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the decorative element (24) has a front face (26) and a rear face (28) which have different patterns and / or different colors. Device according to claim 1, comprising a mask (18) between the reflector (14) and the protective glass (20), characterized in that the decorative element (24 ') is arranged on an optically neutral part of the mask ( 18). Device according to claim 8, characterized in that the decorative element (24 ') is obtained by bonding an adhesive or self-adhesive pattern to the mask (18). Device according to claim 8, characterized in that the decorative element (24 ') is obtained by depositing a layer of material on the mask (18) or consists of the color of the material of the mask itself.

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