JP-7855789-B2 - Lighting module for autonomous vehicles

JP7855789B2JP 7855789 B2JP7855789 B2JP 7855789B2JP-7855789-B2

Inventors

リン、チェン
パイ、ルー
イブ、グロムフェルド

Assignees

ヴァレオビジョン
ヴァレオ、ライティング、フーペイ、テクニカル、センター、カンパニー、リミテッド

Dates

Publication Date: 20260508
Application Date: 20220818

Claims (9)

a. A first light source and a second light source, b. A first light condenser having a first reflective surface configured to collect and reflect light rays emitted by the first light source, and a second light condenser having a second reflective surface configured to collect and reflect light rays emitted by the second light source, c. An automatic vehicle light-emitting module comprising: an optical system configured to project a ray arriving from the first light condenser as a first light beam, wherein the optical system is configured to form an image of the first reflecting surface, the first reflecting surface is configured such that the first light beam has an upper cutoff; the optical system is also configured to project a ray arriving from the second light condenser as a second light beam, the optical system is configured to form an image of the second reflecting surface, the second reflecting surface is configured such that the second light beam spreads at least partially above the upper cutoff; The first light condenser and the second light condenser are formed from a single component, and this single component includes a light-shielding element that extends between the first light condenser and the second light condenser. A light-emitting module wherein the first reflective surface has a trailing edge, the optical system has a focal region located near this trailing edge, the upper cutoff in the first light beam is defined by the trailing edge of the first reflective surface, and the light-shielding body extends rearward from the trailing edge of the first reflective surface toward the leading edge of the second reflective surface .
The light-emitting module according to claim 1 , wherein the light-shielding material is generally spread out in a plane.
The light-emitting module according to claim 1, wherein the trailing edge portion has a stepped portion intended to form part of the upper cutoff, and the stepped portion extends along the entire length of the light-shielding body to the leading edge portion of the second reflective surface.
The light-emitting module according to claim 1, wherein the first light source and the second light source are arranged on the same substrate and can each emit light rays in the same direction.
The light-emitting module according to claim 1, comprising a third light-emitting element having a third reflective surface configured to collect light rays emitted by the first light-emitting element and reflect them toward the first light-emitting element.
The light-emitting module according to claim 5, wherein the third reflective surface has an elliptical profile configured to focus light rays arriving from the first focal point to the second focal point, the first focal point is located on the first light source, and the second focal point is located on the focal range of the optical system.
The light-emitting module according to claim 1, wherein the optical system is a lens having the same incident surface for both the light rays of the first light beam and the light rays of the second light beam.
The light-emitting module according to claim 1, wherein the first light beam constitutes part or all of the low-beam function, and the second light beam constitutes part or all of the high-beam function.
A lighting device for an automatic vehicle, comprising a light-emitting module according to any one of claims 1 to 8 .

Description

This invention relates to the field of lighting and signaling for automated vehicles. More specifically, it relates to a light-emitting module adapted to achieve at least two lighting or signaling functions. In the field of lighting and signaling for automated vehicles, there is currently a need for light-emitting modules that can achieve at least two light-emitting functions, such as low-beam and high-beam functions. In other words, such modules should be able to emit at least two different light beams from the same light-emitting surface. Optical modules that meet this need are known, combining several light sources and several light concentrators. In these modules, an intermediate light shield or bender is placed in the optical path of the light rays emitted by one of the light sources, defining an upward cutoff in the light beam projected by the lens from these rays. However, such light-emitting modules have the drawback of requiring high precision in the positioning of the light shield or bender to ensure that the upward cutoff meets the regulatory requirements of this light beam. This precision means that the projection lens must be a thick lens due to its short focal length, which increases its weight and complicates its manufacture. Patent Document 1 (US2021010653) discloses the aforementioned dual-function module. The module comprises two light sources, each associated with a condenser and combined with a projection lens. The projection lens is configured to form an emitted image of the reflective surfaces of each condenser when illuminated by its associated light source. While this solution effectively addresses the aforementioned needs by increasing the positioning tolerances of the module's elements, it requires the projection lens to be specifically designed to image both reflective surfaces. Therefore, the lens of the module is essentially a lens divided into many regions, each optimized for one of the condensers. This design may affect adaptability to achieve a specific aesthetic appearance and presents a strong constraint on lens design. Considering the above, there is a need for a light-emitting module that can achieve at least two different light-emitting functions, has tolerances regarding the positioning of its elements, and can be easily designed regardless of the aesthetic constraints required of the projection optical system. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2021/010653 The objective of this invention is to meet this need. For this purpose, the subject matter of the present invention is a. A first light source and a second light source, b. A first light condenser having a first reflective surface configured to collect and reflect light rays emitted from a first light source, and a second light condenser having a second reflective surface configured to collect and reflect light rays emitted from a second light source, c. An automatic vehicle light-emitting module comprising: an optical system configured to project a ray arriving from a first light condenser as a first light beam, wherein the optical system is configured to form an image of a first reflecting surface, the first reflecting surface is configured such that the first light beam has an upper cutoff; and the optical system is also configured to project a ray arriving from a second light condenser as a second light beam, the optical system is configured to form an image of a second reflecting surface, the second reflecting surface is configured such that the second light beam spreads at least partially above the upper cutoff; This is a light-emitting module in which the first light-concentrator and the second light-concentrator are formed from a single component, and the single component includes a light-shielding material that extends between the first light-concentrator and the second light-concentrator. According to the present invention, each pair of first and second light sources and first and second light concentrators can generate a light beam, and each light beam can achieve a light-emitting function (either alone or in combination with further light beams). Furthermore, since the light concentrators are formed on the same surface and separated from each other by a light-shielding element, from an optical perspective, they may be considered a single reflective surface divided into two distinct areas, each clearly dedicated to one of the light-emitting functions. Therefore, the same optical system can be used to project these beams without having to divide the optical system into several areas, each dedicated to one of the light concentrators. Thus, the optical system can be freely designed to comply with the required aesthetic constraints. It is advantageous for the first and second light condensers to be oriented in the same direction with respect to the first and second light sources. In other words, each of the first and second light condensers defines a void that forms the first and second reflective surface