EP3299702B1 - Luminous optical module of a motor vehicle - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an optical module for a motor vehicle, also called a light module or a lighting module.

The invention relates more particularly to an optical module designed to emit at least two light segments which can be activated selectively, for example for the production of a headlight or projector comprising at least one such optical module.

TECHNICAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

According to a known general concept, for example of the document WO-A1-2016 / 005409 , such a light module comprises a substrate, at least two light sources mounted on the substrate, each of which can be selectively activated to emit light rays, primary optical means which are arranged to form primary light beams from the light rays emitted by each light source, and secondary optical means arranged to project each of the primary light beams to form said light segments.

For example, the primary optical means are made in the form of a primary optical element such as a collector or lens, in one piece, which must be precisely positioned with respect to the light sources so that, for each source , the light rays emitted by the light source enter a light guide belonging to the primary optical element.

For example, the secondary optical means are produced in the form of a reflector element which is for example a converging mirror, which must also be positioned with precision, in particular by adding to the primary optical element.

Examples of such optical modules are illustrated in documents FR-A-2,979,971 or FR-A-2.964.724

Another example of an optical module of a motor vehicle is illustrated in the document WO-A1-2013 / 037799 .

The invention aims to provide a design of such an optical module which makes it possible to solve the problems mentioned above relating to the need to position the various optical components with precision.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

• un substrat
• au moins deux sources lumineuses montées sur le substrat dont chacune peut être activée de manière sélective pour émettre des rayons lumineux ;
• des moyens optiques primaires agencés pour former des faisceaux lumineux primaires à partir des rayons lumineux émis par chaque source lumineuse ;
• des moyens optiques secondaires agencés pour projeter chacun des faisceaux lumineux primaires pour former lesdits segments lumineux,

le module optique comportant un support unique qui porte le substrat, les moyens optiques primaires et les moyens optiques secondaires, et en ce qu'il comporte des moyens de positionnement des moyens optiques primaires par rapport au substrat;
caractérisé en ce que :

• les moyens optiques primaires :
  • comportent des moyens d'indexation en position qui coopèrent avec des moyens complémentaires du substrat ;
  • sont fixés en position indexée par serrage entre le support et le substrat.

The invention proposes an optical module for a motor vehicle for emitting at least two light segments which can be activated selectively, the module comprising:

• a substrate
• at least two light sources mounted on the substrate each of which can be selectively activated to emit light rays;
• primary optical means arranged to form primary light beams from the light rays emitted by each light source;
• secondary optical means arranged to project each of the primary light beams to form said light segments,

the optical module comprising a single support which carries the substrate, the primary optical means and the secondary optical means, and in that it comprises means for positioning the primary optical means relative to the substrate;
characterized in that:

• primary optical means:
  • comprise position indexing means which cooperate with complementary means of the substrate;
  • are fixed in an indexed position by clamping between the support and the substrate.

• les moyens optiques secondaires :
  • comportent des moyens d'indexation en position qui coopèrent avec des moyens complémentaires du support ;
  • sont fixés sur le support ;
• le module optique comporte un bloc de refroidissement qui est adjacent au substrat ;
• le bloc de refroidissement comporte des moyens d'indexation en position qui coopèrent avec des moyens complémentaires du substrat ;
• le substrat est fixé par serrage entre le bloc de refroidissement et le support ;
• le support est fixé sur le bloc de refroidissement au moyen de vis de serrage ;
• le substrat est une plaque horizontale qui est interposée verticalement entre une face supérieure du bloc de refroidissement et un plan inférieur d'appui du support ;
• le support comporte :
  • au moins deux zones inférieures d'appui délimitant ledit plan inférieur d'appui sur la face supérieure du substrat ;
  • et une patte déformable élastiquement qui est fixée sur le bloc de refroidissement en assurant le serrage des moyens optiques primaires entre le support et le substrat ;
• les moyens optiques primaires comportent :
  • une face inférieure d'appui qui coopère avec la face supérieure du substrat ;
  • et au moins une face supérieure de serrage sur laquelle agit ladite patte déformable élastiquement du support.

According to other characteristics of the module:

• secondary optical means:
  • comprise position indexing means which cooperate with complementary means of the support;
  • are fixed on the support;
• the optical module has a cooling block which is adjacent to the substrate;
• the cooling unit comprises position indexing means which cooperate with complementary means of the substrate;
• the substrate is clamped between the cooling block and the support;
• the support is fixed on the cooling block by means of clamping screws;
• the substrate is a horizontal plate which is interposed vertically between an upper face of the cooling block and a lower bearing plane of the support;
• the support includes:
  • at least two lower bearing zones delimiting said lower bearing plane on the upper face of the substrate;
  • and an elastically deformable tab which is fixed to the cooling unit by ensuring the clamping of the primary optical means between the support and the substrate;
• primary optical means include:
  • a lower bearing face which cooperates with the upper face of the substrate;
  • and at least one upper clamping face on which the said elastically deformable tab of the support acts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'un exemple de réalisation d'un module optique selon l'invention ;
• la figure 2 est une vue de côté du module optique représenté à la figure 1 ;
• la figure 3 est une vue analogue à celle de la figure 2 sur laquelle les différents composants sont représentés en section par un plan longitudinal et vertical médian ;
• la figure 4 est une vue en perspective du support unique du module optique représenté à la figure 1 ;
• la figure 5 est une vue de dessous du support unique représenté à la figure 4 ;
• la figure 6 est une vue analogue à celle de la figure 1, après avoir ôté le réflecteur optique secondaire et le support unique ;
• la figure 7 est une vue analogue à celle de la figure 6 après avoir ôté le collecteur optique primaire et les moyens électriques et électroniques de commande de l'alimentation des sources lumineuses ;
• la figure 8 est une vue analogue à celle de la figure 7 qui représente seulement bloc de refroidissement ;
• la figure 9 est une vue en perspective de dessous à plus grande échelle du support unique du module optique représenté à la figure 4 ;
• la figure 10 est une vue en perspective et en section par un plan transversal et vertical selon la ligne 10-10 de la figure 2 ;
• la figure 11 est une vue en perspective de dessous du collecteur primaire ;
• la figure 12 et une vue en perspective du collecteur primaire de la figure 11 selon un autre angle de représentation.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent on reading the detailed description which follows, for the understanding of which reference is made to the appended drawings in which:

• the figure 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of an optical module according to the invention;
• the figure 2 is a side view of the optical module shown in figure 1 ;
• the figure 3 is a view similar to that of the figure 2 on which the various components are represented in section by a longitudinal and vertical median plane;
• the figure 4 is a perspective view of the single support of the optical module shown in figure 1 ;
• the figure 5 is a bottom view of the single support shown in figure 4 ;
• the figure 6 is a view similar to that of the figure 1 , after having removed the secondary optical reflector and the single support;
• the figure 7 is a view similar to that of the figure 6 after having removed the primary optical collector and the electrical and electronic control means for supplying the light sources;
• the figure 8 is a view similar to that of the figure 7 which represents only cooling block;
• the figure 9 is a perspective view from below on a larger scale of the single support of the optical module shown in figure 4 ;
• the figure 10 is a perspective view in section through a transverse and vertical plane along line 10-10 of the figure 2 ;
• the figure 11 is a perspective view from below of the primary manifold;
• the figure 12 and a perspective view of the primary manifold of the figure 11 according to another angle of representation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

In the remainder of the description, elements having an identical structure or similar functions will be designated by the same references.

In the remainder of the description, the longitudinal, vertical and transverse orientations indicated by the trihedron "L, V, T" of the figures will be adopted without limitation. A horizontal plane is also defined which extends longitudinally and transversely.

There is shown in the figures an optical module 10 comprising, arranged vertically from bottom to top, a cooling unit 12, a substrate 14, a collector 16 constituting the primary optical means, a single support 18, and a reflector 20 constituting the means. secondary optics.

The optical module 10 and all of its components generally have a design symmetry with respect to a median vertical and longitudinal plane PVL.

In a known manner, the module is designed to emit axially forward (along the axis A corresponding to the longitudinal direction L indicated in the figures) light beams F.

Cooling block

The cooling unit 12 is here a radiator made in a single piece molded from a heat-conducting material. The cooling unit 12 is delimited by a flat horizontal upper face 22 of generally rectangular outline.

The upper face 22 of the cooling unit 12 is delimited by two longitudinal side edges 24, and by two rear transverse edges 26 and front 28.

At its front end, beyond the front transverse edge 28, the cooling unit 12 is extended by a longitudinal fixing heel 30 which is delimited by a horizontal upper face 32 parallel to the upper face 22, but vertically offset downwards with respect to to the latter.

The upper face 22 comprises four indexing pins in position 12-A which extend vertically upwards, above the plane of the upper face 22.

In the vicinity of its rear edge 26, the upper face 22 comprises, at an angle, a coding finger 34.

In its upper face 22, the cooling unit 12 has two transversely opposed fixing holes 36, each of which is able to receive a rear screw 38 for fixing the support 18.

In its upper face 32, the heel 30 has a central fixing hole 37 adapted to receive a front screw 40 for fixing and tightening the support 18.

In its upper face 22, the cooling unit 12 has two indexing holes 12-B in the position of the support 18.

Finally, at its front part and in its upper face 22, the cooling unit 12 comprises a series of three recesses 22B, the function of which will be explained later.

The substrate

As can be seen in particular at the figure 7 , the substrate 14 is a horizontal plate of rectangular outline almost identical to that of the upper face 22 of the cooling unit 12.

In the vicinity of its rear transverse edge, the substrate 14 comprises a notch 42 which receives the coding finger 34.

The substrate 14 is delimited vertically by a horizontal lower face 13 which is adjacent to the upper face 22 of the cooling unit 12, here with the interposition of a sheet 44 of thermal conductivity.

The substrate 14 comprises a series of through holes including: four indexing holes 14-B complementary to the indexing fingers 12-A for the precise positioning of the substrate 14 relative to the cooling block 12; two holes 46 aligned with the holes 36 for the passage of the rear fixing screws 38; two indexing holes 15-B for indexing in position of the support 18; and three holes and notches 48 aligned with the recesses 22B.

In the vicinity of its front transverse edge, the upper face 15 of the substrate 12 carries a series of five light sources 50 in the form of light-emitting diodes, as well as a resistor 52. These components 50 and 52 are welded to the upper face 15 of the substrate. which is for example a printed circuit board.

As can be seen from figures 3 and 6 , in the vicinity of its rear transverse edge, the upper face 15 of the substrate carries electrical and electronic components 54 for connecting the substrate 14 and the module 10 and for supplying and controlling the light sources 50.

The unique support

The support 18 is a molded plastic part which comprises a vertical back plate 56 for fixing the support 12, for example on a frame (not shown) allowing the mounting and fixing of several optical modules.

Support 18 also includes a generally horizontal lower portion 58 which extends longitudinally forward from the lower portion of rear plate 56.

The lower part 58 and a hollow part which is in particular delimited by two side wings 60.

The lower part 58 has a lower face 62.

In its central part, the lower face 62 comprises two bearing rings 64, each of which defines a flat annular bearing surface 66. The two bearing surfaces 66 are coplanar and are designed to bear vertically on annular screw portions. -à -vis 67 the upper face 15 of the substrate 14.

Each support ring 64 is centrally crossed by a hole 68 for the passage of a fixing screw 38.

During the operations of fixing by screwing the single support 18 on the cooling unit 12, each fixing screw 38 bears by its head on a portion of the upper flat surface 70 surrounding the hole 68.

In its lower 62, the lower horizontal part 58 of the support 18 comprises two vertical indexing fingers 18-A, each of which is designed to be received in a complementary indexing hole 15-B of the substrate 14, then in a hole of 12-B indexing of the cooling unit 12, so as to precisely position the support 18 relative to the substrate 14 and to the cooling unit 12.

At its front part, the horizontal lower part 58 of the support 18 comprises a fixing and clamping tab 70 with an L-profile which extends vertically downwards and then horizontally forwards.

The lower face 72 of the tab 70 comprises a support ring 74 which defines a flat annular support surface 76.

The support ring 74 is designed to bear on a corresponding portion of the upper face 32 of the front heel 30.

The support ring 74 is centrally crossed by a hole 78 for the passage of the fixing screw 40.

The design and dimensions of the fixing lug 70 are such that it is elastically deformable during the fixing and tightening operations by means of the screw 40, the head of which is supported on a portion of the upper flat surface 80 surrounding the hole 78 .

At its front part, between the indexing fingers 18-A and the fixing lug 70, the lower face 62 of the support 18 comprises two pins 77 formed projecting vertically downwards and having a profile in the form of a convex spherical cap, each of which is designed to cooperate with a corresponding portion of the collector 16 as will be explained later.

Each pin 77 is formed on a branch 79 of longitudinal orientation, which is stiffened by an upper rib.

At its upper free end, the rear fixing plate 56 has a series of three indexing fingers 56-A which extend vertically upwards as well as a fixing hole 82 surrounded by a bearing surface 84 for the mounting and fixing of the reflector 20. Among these three indexing fingers, the “central” finger performs a keying function for the correct positioning of the reflector 20.

At its front part, the horizontal lower plate 58 of the support 18 comprises a main recess 19 allowing the passage of the upper part of the collector 16.

In its central part, substantially adjacent to the upper part of the manifold 16, the support 18 comprises a bulge 100, which comprises an upper wall 102 which is delimited by a front concave circular edge 104.

The wall 102 is a protective wall to avoid the so-called “sunburn” phenomenon. This phenomenon results, in certain situations, from the accidental penetration of solar radiation inside the optical module by reflection on the reflective front face 21 of the reflector 20, then through the collector 16, thus causing a local heating phenomenon which is harmful to the light-emitting diodes 50, which may, if necessary, lead to their destruction. The wall 102 makes it possible to defocus the beam resulting from the solar radiation relative to the support 18

The collector

In known manner, the collector 16 which is illustrated in detail in figures 11 and 12 , is a molded plastic part which comprises an upper part 90 for guiding and transforming the light rays emitted by the light-emitting diodes 50 and which extends through the main opening 19 of the support 18:
The collector 16 comprises a lower fixing base which is here constituted by two side blocks 92, each of which is delimited by a flat lower bearing face 94. The two flat bearing surfaces 94 are designed to come to bear, vertically towards the front. bottom, on portions facing the upper face 15 of the substrate 14 located at the level of the recesses 22-B and the holes and notches 48.

The side blocks 92 carry three vertical indexing fingers 16-A which extend downward and which are designed to cooperate in a complementary manner with the indexing holes and notches 48 of the substrate 14.

Thus, the collector 16 can be indexed in position with a keying function, with respect to the substrate 14, to the support 18, and to the cooling unit 12.

The precise indexing in position of the collector 16 with respect to the substrate 14 is important to guarantee a good positioning of the collector 16 with respect to the light emitting diodes 50.

In fact, in its lower part, the collector 16 comprises a series of light guides 91, each of which is delimited downwards by a facet 93 which constitutes the entry surface into the collector 16 of the light emitted by the light emitting diode 50. arranged opposite the facet 93.

Each side block 92 is delimited upwards by a portion of flat surface 96.

In the mounted and assembled position of the manifold 16 and of the support 18, each side block 92 is housed inside a branch 79 of the support 18, and each portion of flat surface 96 constitutes a bearing surface for a pin 77 associate which exerts a point force of support vertically downwards in order to press the collector 16 into contact with the upper face 15 of the substrate 14.

The fixing and tightening of all the components 12, 14, 16 and 18 is carried out by stacking these components with their relative position indexes, then by screw fixing by means of the rear fixing screws 38 and the front fixing screw 40.

Due to the elastically deformable design of the fixing lug 70, during screwing and axial tightening of the screw 40, the lug 70 is elastically deformed to permanently exert a clamping force to press each side block 92 of the manifold 16 on. the upper face 15 of the substrate 14.

Reflector

The reflector is a plastic molded part which is indexed in position and which is fixed to the support 18, more precisely to the upper part of the rear plate 56 of the support 18.

For its positioning and its fixing on the support 18, the reflector 20 has a rear horizontal upper tab 86 which has three complementary indexing holes 86-B.

As seen in particular in figures 1 to 3 , in the fixed mounted position, the indexing fingers 56-A are received in the indexing holes 86-B, and the fixing bracket 56 is mounted to tighten in vertical support on the support surface 84 by a fixing screw 88.

The reflector 20 is thus indexed in position on the support 18 and, indirectly, with respect to the collector 16.

Claims (9)

1. Motor vehicle optical module (10) for emitting at least two light-emitting segments that can be activated selectively, the module including:

   - a substrate (14);

   - at least two light sources (50) mounted on the substrate (14) each of which can be activated selectively to emit light rays;

   - primary optical means (16) adapted to form primary light beams from the light rays emitted by each light source (50);

   - secondary optical means (20) adapted to project each of the primary light beams to form said light-emitting segments, the module including :

   - a single support (18) that carries the substrate (14), the primary optical means (16) and the secondary optical means (20),

   - means (16-A, 48) for positioning the primary optical means (16) relative to the substrate (14);

   characterized in that the primary optical means (16):

   - include position indexing means (16-A) that cooperate with complementary means (48) of the substrate (14);

   - are fixed in their indexed position by clamping them between the support (18) and the substrate (14).
2. Optical module according to Claim 1, characterized in that the secondary optical means (20):

   - include position indexing means (86-B) that cooperate with complementary means (56-A) of the support (18);

   - are fixed to the support (18).
3. Optical module according to Claim 1, characterized in that it includes a cooling block (12) that is adjacent to the substrate (14).
4. Optical module according to Claim 3, characterized in that the cooling block (12) includes position indexing means (12-A) that cooperate with complementary means (14-B) of the substrate (14).
5. Optical module according to Claim 4, characterized in that the substrate (14) is fixed by clamping it between the cooling block (12) and the support (18).
6. Optical module according to any one of Claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the support (18) is fixed to the cooling block (12) by means of clamping screws (38, 40).
7. Optical module according to any one of Claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the substrate (14) is a horizontal plate that is disposed vertically between an upper face (22) of the cooling block (12) and a lower bearing plane (66) on the support (18).
8. Optical module according to Claim 7, characterized in that the support (18) includes at least two lower bearing areas (66) delimiting said lower bearing plane on the upper face (22) of the substrate (14) and includes an elastically deformable lug (70) that is fixed to the cooling block (12, 30) to clamp the primary optical means (16) between the support (18) and the substrate (14).
9. Optical module according to Claim 8, characterized in that the primary optical means (16) include:

   - a lower bearing face (94) that cooperates with the upper face (15) of the substrate (14);

   - and at least one upper clamping face (96) on which said elastically deformable lug (70) of the support (18) acts.

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