US-12624814-B2 - Motor-vehicle lighting device

US12624814B2US 12624814 B2US12624814 B2US 12624814B2US-12624814-B2

Abstract

The present invention is a lighting device configured to project a light beam. The lighting device includes a light-emitting module configured to generate the light beam mainly along a longitudinal optical axis and a screen having a main region through which the light beam is projected. The lighting device includes a system for rotating the light-emitting module that is able to make the light-emitting module move from a first position to a second position about an axis of rotation. The axis of rotation of the light-emitting module is at distance from the light-emitting module, in a space bounded longitudinally by the screen and the light-emitting module.

Inventors

REMI MONNIER
Sebastien ROELS

Assignees

VALEO VISION

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20230517
Priority Date: 20220530

Claims (10)

1 . A lighting device configured to project a light beam, the lighting device comprising a luminous module configured to generate the light beam mainly along a longitudinal optical axis and a screen having a main area through which the light beam is projected when the luminous module is in a first position, a system for rotational movement of the luminous module adapted to make the luminous module movable from the first position to a second position by a movement involving at least one rotation about an axis of rotation, the axis of rotation of the luminous module is at a distance from the luminous module, passing through a space delimited longitudinally by the main area of the screen and the luminous module.
2 . The lighting device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the luminous module includes a light source and an optical element, the light source being configured to emit light rays toward the optical element which is configured to generate the light beam toward the screen.
3 . The lighting device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the axis of rotation is perpendicular to the optical axis and intersects the screen.
4 . The lighting device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the screen has at least one curvature about a direction perpendicular to the optical axis, the space being delimited by vertical and transverse planes passing through edges delimiting the screen.
5 . The lighting device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the screen includes a peripheral area that is peripheral to the main area and configured to at least partially diffuse additional light rays.
6 . The lighting device as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a controllable liquid crystal screen constituting at least the main area of the screen, the controllable liquid crystal screen being adapted to take on different states of transparency, including at least a projection state and a diffusion state.
7 . The lighting device as claimed in claim 6 , further comprising a control member for controlling the controllable liquid crystal screen, for changing the controllable liquid crystal screen from a projection state to a diffusion state and vice versa.
8 . The lighting device as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the controllable liquid crystal screen includes at least two portions, the control member being adapted to change the state of one and/or the other of the portions of the controllable liquid crystal screen.
9 . The lighting device as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a housing to which is attached to the screen and to the system for movement of the luminous module.
10 . An automotive vehicle equipped with at least one lighting device including a luminous module configured to generate the light beam mainly along a longitudinal optical axis and a screen having a main area through which the light beam is projected when the luminous module is in a first position, a system for rotational movement of the luminous module adapted to make the luminous module movable from the first position to a second position by a movement involving at least one rotation about an axis of rotation, the axis of rotation of the luminous module is at a distance from the luminous module, passing through a space delimited longitudinally by the main area of the screen and the luminous module.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The invention relates to the field of lighting and/or light-based signaling in the automotive field and, more particularly, to the systems for adjusting the position of luminous modules of a lighting device for an automotive vehicle. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The field of lighting and/or light-based signaling in automotive vehicles is subject to regulations which dictate that each automotive vehicle must be equipped with luminous modules adapted to generate illumination beams performing specific safety functions, notably including a low beam function. Low beam allows an automotive vehicle to be seen by other road users and allows its driver to see the roadway properly out to a distance of 30 meters, without dazzling other users on the road. To this end, the luminous modules generating the low beam, and in particular an assembly formed of at least one light source, a reflective surface and a projection lens, are arranged in a precise theoretical position so that the illumination beam generated when the light source is switched on remains below a predetermined horizon line. The luminous module is housed in a headlamp closed by a protective outer lens through which the illumination beam is made to pass in order to illuminate the road setting, and this protective outer lens may have a shape specifically associated with the automotive manufacturer offering this lighting device, this specific shape forming a signature of the manufacturer which is recognizable to road users. When the automotive vehicle is carrying a heavy load and the rear of the vehicle is lower than usual, the inclination of the luminous modules is modified in line with the general inclination of the vehicle, and the illumination beam may be directed differently to what is intended, in particular above the predetermined horizon line, something which may dazzle other road users. It is known practice to associate the luminous module with a device for adjusting the inclination of the luminous module in order either to lower the low beam of the automotive vehicle when it is transporting a heavy load or, conversely, to raise the low beam once the automotive vehicle has been unloaded. The adjustment device is arranged within the housing of the headlamp and acts on the position of the luminous module within this housing, in particular to pivot the luminous module about an axis of rotation, which has the effect of varying the inclination of the luminous module relative to the housing of the headlamp. In this context, automotive manufacturers or equipment suppliers are forced to provide protective outer lenses that are wider than necessary so that the illumination beam generated by the luminous module passes through the protective outer lens and is not projected against a wall that contributes toward delimiting the opening in which the protective outer lens is inserted, regardless of the inclination of the luminous module. Therefore, even though such a solution makes it possible to meet regulatory requirements, it leads to situations in which a gap appears locally between the wall that contributes toward delimiting the opening and an edge of the illumination beam in one or other of the positions of the luminous module, which is detrimental to the signature of the illumination beam. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention thus proposes an alternative to the existing solutions, having as main subject matter a lighting device configured to project a light beam, the lighting device comprising a luminous module configured to generate the light beam mainly along a longitudinal optical axis and a screen having a main area through which the light beam is projected when the luminous module is in a first position, the lighting device comprising a system for rotational movement of the luminous module adapted to make the luminous module movable from the first position to a second position by a movement involving at least one rotation about an axis of rotation, remarkable in that the axis of rotation of the luminous module is at a distance from the luminous module, passing through a space delimited longitudinally by the main area of the screen and the luminous module. Such a lighting device may be installed on a vehicle to be used for low beam lighting, for example. The lighting device generates a beam capable of illuminating the road for the vehicle in which it is fitted. More specifically, it is the luminous module that generates the light beam and the latter is projected toward the road through the screen such that the driver can see the road and be seen by other users without dazzling them. The system for rotational movement of the luminous module makes it possible to ensure that road users are not dazzled regardless of the vehicle's load and therefore its inclination with respect to the road. The movement of the luminous module by this rotational movement system is a movement involving at least one rotation about an axis of rotation, suc