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EP-4739528-A1 - SURFACE LIGHT GUIDE FOR A VEHICLE

EP4739528A1EP 4739528 A1EP4739528 A1EP 4739528A1EP-4739528-A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a surface light guide (1) for a vehicle (3), the surface light guide comprising at least one group (10) of light injection elements (100) and a light guide layer (11), the group (10) being intended to be coupled to at least one light source (20), characterised in that the light guide layer (11) comprises: - at least one light-emitting zone (111); and - at least one zone (115) configured to arrange a human-machine physical interface (25).

Inventors

  • SBIHI, Ghani
  • SINGH, SHIVI
  • Tassy, Pierre-Louis
  • TALEB, Rabih

Assignees

  • Valeo Vision

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20240703

Claims (13)

  1. Surface light guide (1) for a vehicle, said light guide (1) comprising at least one group (10) of light injection elements (100) and a light guide sheet (11), said group (10) being intended to be coupled with at least one light source (20), characterized in that said light guide sheet (11) comprises: at least one light emitting zone (111), and at least one zone (115, 116) configured to provide a physical human-machine interface (25).
  2. Light guide (1) according to claim 1, wherein said human-machine physical interface (25) is a rotary button, or a window regulator, or a push button.
  3. Light guide (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said light guide (1) comprises capacitive detection means (16) which define a capacitive detection zone (116) in the light guide sheet (11) to realize the physical human-machine interface (25).
  4. Light guide (1) according to claim 3, wherein the light emitting zone (111) comprises a light pattern and wherein the capacitive detection means (16) are arranged opposite or in the immediate vicinity of said capacitive detection means.
  5. Light guide (1) according to claim 1, wherein the light guide sheet (11) comprises: a cutting area (115) dedicated to a physical human-machine interface of the rotary button, or window lifter, or push button type, called a mechanical interface; a capacitive detection zone (116) where capacitive detection means (16) are arranged, called a capacitive interface; and a light pattern (1110), said capacitive detection means (16) being arranged opposite or in the immediate vicinity of said capacitive detection means.
  6. Light guide (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein: the light guide comprises a plurality of light emitting areas each having a light pattern to have multiple light patterns; and among said several light patterns, a light pattern (1110) is associated with the capacitive detection means and the remaining light patterns provide a decorative function.
  7. Light guide (1) according to one of claims 3 to 6, according to which said capacitive detection means (16) comprise at least one antenna (160), at least one dielectric (161) and a plurality of electrodes (162).
  8. Light guide (1) according to one of claims 3 to 7, according to which said capacitive detection means (16) are printed on said light guide sheet (11).
  9. Light guide (1) according to one of claims 3 to 7, according to which said capacitive detection means (16) are in the form of a film glued to said light guide sheet (11).
  10. Light guide (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein said film is transparent or non-transparent.
  11. Light guide (1) according to one of claims 3 to 10, according to which said light guide further comprises a decorative mask configured to mask said capacitive detection means (16).
  12. Light device (2) for a vehicle, said light device (2) comprising at least one light guide (1) according to any one of the preceding claims and at least one associated light source (20).
  13. Interior element (8) for a vehicle comprising at least one light guide (1) according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 11 and at least one associated light source (20).

Description

Surface light guide for vehicle The present invention relates to a surface light guide for a vehicle. It finds a particular but non-limiting application in motor vehicles. A surface light guide known to those skilled in the art comprises at least one group of light injection elements and a light guide sheet, said group being configured to be coupled to at least one light source. The light injection elements are folded to form a stack. The stack has an entry surface configured to receive light rays emitted by said at least one light source. The light guide makes it possible to illuminate surfaces of interior elements of the vehicle such as for example the dashboard or the central console of the vehicle. A disadvantage of this state of the art is that when the interior element also comprises physical human-machine interfaces such as rotary knobs or push buttons for example, a fairly large surface area is required to integrate both the functions performed by the physical human-machine interfaces and the illumination function of the interior element performed by the light guide. In this context, the present invention aims to provide a light guide which makes it possible to solve the mentioned drawback. For this purpose, the invention proposes a surface light guide for a vehicle, said light guide comprising at least one group of light injection elements and a light guide sheet, said group being intended to be coupled with at least one light source, characterized in that said light guide sheet comprises: at least one light emitting zone, and at least one area configured to provide a physical human-machine interface, otherwise known as a human-machine interface area. Thus, as will be seen in detail later, said at least one zone makes it possible to reduce the surface area of the interior element which accommodates both the light guide and the physical human-machine interfaces since the physical human-machine interface(s) are superimposed on the light guide at the level of the zone(s) dedicated to this purpose in the light guide sheet. This reduces the size and cost of the interior element. According to non-limiting embodiments, said light guide may further comprise one or more additional characteristics taken alone or in all technically possible combinations, among the following. According to a non-limiting embodiment, said light emitting zone may comprise a light pattern. According to a non-limiting embodiment, said physical human-machine interface is a rotary button, a window regulator, a push button. According to a non-limiting embodiment, said light guide comprises capacitive detection means which define a capacitive detection zone in the light guide sheet to produce the physical human-machine interface. Thus, this makes it possible, using a finger, to activate a function such as the activation of the air conditioning, the heating, the volume adjustment of the radio, the air conditioning, the heating, etc. According to the preceding paragraph and in the example where the light-emitting zone comprises a light pattern, the capacitive detection means are arranged opposite or in the immediate vicinity of the capacitive detection means and the light pattern may have the form of a pictogram or a symbol representing a function of the dashboard. An example of a pictogram that may be used is the double arrow arranged vertically or horizontally indicating the directions for reducing or increasing the volume of the enclosure or the intensity of the air conditioning inside the vehicle. Of course, other examples of pictograms associated with other vehicle adjustment controls may be envisaged. Thus, the presence of the light pattern next to the capacitive detection means makes it possible to indicate the capacitive detection zone and therefore to control the function associated with it by touching the finger. According to a non-limiting embodiment, said capacitive detection means comprise at least one antenna, at least one dielectric and a plurality of electrodes. The dielectric makes it possible to obtain a segmentation of the capacitive detection zone into several detection zones. According to a non-limiting embodiment, said capacitive detection means are printed on said light guide sheet. According to a non-limiting embodiment, said capacitive detection means are in the form of a film glued to said light guide sheet. According to a non-limiting embodiment, said film is transparent or non-transparent. The transparent film makes it possible to superimpose the capacitive function with a light pattern which is illuminated. The non-transparent film is less expensive than the transparent film. According to a non-limiting embodiment, when the film is transparent, said light pattern is arranged opposite said capacitive detection zone. According to a non-limiting embodiment, when the film is non-transparent, said light pattern is arranged in the immediate vicinity of said capacitive detection zone. According to a non-limiting emb