Patent Publication Number: US-9885454-B2

Title: Optical module of an illuminating and/or signaling device of a motor vehicle

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/811,977 filed Jan. 24, 2013, which is the U.S. National Phase application of PCT/EP2011/062618 filed Jul. 22, 2011, which claims priority to French Application No. 1056095 filed Jul. 26, 2010, which applications are incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an optical module of a lighting and/or signaling device of a motor vehicle. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     It is known practice, for example from documents U.S. Patent Publication No. 2009/0303742, which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,256,944, and WO 2005/116 520, to produce lighting devices in which the light source is mounted on a radiator onto which an air stream is directed, so that a portion of the heat produced by the light source is dissipated by the radiator into the air stream. This is particularly the case when the light source is of the light-emitting diode type. This makes it possible to obtain powerful lighting devices. However, such devices have drawbacks. They have complex structures and are therefore complicated to assemble. Moreover, it is necessary to put in place tolerances on many parts that have to be assembled together. The chains of dimensions of the various parts are therefore equally complex in these devices. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The object of the invention is to provide an optical module of a lighting and/or signaling device that remedies the aforementioned drawbacks and that improves the known optical modules of the prior art. In particular, the invention proposes an optical module of simple structure and in which the chains of dimensions are equally simple. 
     According to one embodiment of the invention, the optical module of a lighting and/or signaling device of a motor vehicle comprises a support, an optical lens and a heat exchanger. The optical lens and the heat exchanger are attached to the support and the support connects the optical lens to the heat exchanger. Preferably, the support directly supports the lens and directly supports the heat exchanger. Thus, it is possible to produce an optical module that is simple and easy to assemble, the chains of dimensions of the various components also being simple. 
     The support can be designed to be mounted directly or indirectly on the casing of the lighting and/or signaling device and on the inside of this casing. 
     The support can also support a fan and/or at least one light reflector and/or a folder and/or a means for channeling air. Preferably, the support directly supports the fan and/or the at least one light reflector and/or the bending element and/or the means for channeling air. Thus, the optical module is further simplified and its assembly is made easier. 
     The support may comprise means for positioning the optical lens and/or the fan and/or the at least one light reflector and/or the folder and/or the heat exchanger, these means interacting with positioning means provided on the optical lens and/or on the fan and/or on the at least one light reflector and/or on the folder and/or on the heat exchanger. 
     The optical module may comprise a first and a second light sources designed to perform two distinct functions of lighting and/or of signaling. The first and the second sources may together be designed to perform a lighting function of the high beam type and the second source may be designed to perform alone a lighting function of the low beam type. 
     The optical module may comprise a light source designed to perform a fog light function. 
     The support may be capable of being rotatably mounted in a casing of a lighting and/or signaling device of a motor vehicle. Thus, it is possible to orient the axis of the optical module according to the curves negotiated by the vehicle. 
     The optical module may comprise a base designed to be attached to the casing of the lighting and/or signaling device of the motor vehicle and comprising first articulation means designed to be secured to the support so as to allow the support to rotate relative to the casing. 
     For example, the support may comprise a tenon designed to interact with an orifice of the base, for example one tenon at the top of the support and one underneath, the axis passing through these tenons corresponding to the rotation axis of the module relative to the casing. 
     The base may comprise a maneuvering mechanism designed to orient the support relative to the casing. According to one embodiment, the base may comprise a driving mechanism from which a drive shaft emerges interacting with an orifice of the module, preferably of the support, so as to rotate the support. As a variant, and as illustrated, the support may be indirectly connected to the base via an intermediate part, for example a frame. The support may then comprise fastening lugs attached to the frame. The frame in this case comprises the means interacting with the first articulation means of the base, for example a tenon at the top and an orifice at the bottom, the tenon turning in the top orifice of the base and the orifice receiving the drive shaft. 
     The optical lens may be positioned on and attached to the support in the front portion of the latter and the heat exchanger may be positioned on and attached to the support beneath the latter. 
     The optical module may comprise a first and a second light source which are positioned on and attached to the heat exchanger. 
     The optical module may comprise a first reflector positioned relative to the support and attached to the support, beneath the support, between the support and the heat exchanger. 
     The optical module may comprise a second reflector positioned relative to the support and attached to the support, beneath the support and the heat exchanger. 
     The optical module may comprise a folder positioned on and attached to the support. 
     The optical module may comprise a fan positioned on and attached to the support, for example above the support and/or behind the latter. 
     The lighting and/or signaling device may comprise a casing in which the support is mounted. 
     In one aspect, one embodiment comprises an optical module of a lighting and/or signaling device of a motor vehicle comprising a support, an optical lens, and a heat exchanger wherein the optical lens and the heat exchanger are attached to the support and the support connects the optical lens to the heat exchanger 
     This invention, including all embodiments shown and described herein, could be used alone or together and/or in combination with one or more of the features covered by one or more of the following list of features:
         The optical module wherein a first light source is designed to perform a lighting function of a high beam type in interaction with a second light source and in that the second light source is designed to perform alone one lighting function of a low beam type.   The optical module wherein the support is rotatably mounted in a casing of the lighting and/or signaling device.   The optical module wherein the optical module further comprises a first reflector and a second reflector, the second reflector having an airstream guide that is secured to or formed with the second reflector.   The optical module wherein a reflective surface of a first reflector has a first portion and a second portion in the form of an ellipsoid with a first light-emitting diode and a second light-emitting diode at a focal point of each ellipsoid.   The optical module wherein the support comprises means for positioning the optical lens and a fan and at least one light reflector and a folder and a heat exchanger, these means interacting with positioning means provided on the optical lens and on the fan and on the at least one light reflector and on the folder and on the heat exchanger.   The optical module wherein the support is attached to a base that forms a frame in which the support is articulated.   The optical module wherein the support directly supports the optical lens and the heat exchanger.   The optical module wherein the support is rotatably mounted in a casing of the lighting and/or signaling device.   The optical module wherein the optical module further comprises a first reflector and a second reflector, the second reflector having an airstream guide that is secured to or formed with the second reflector.   The optical module wherein the optical module further comprises a first reflector and a second reflector, the second reflector having an airstream guide that is secured to or formed with the second reflector.   The optical module wherein a reflective surface of a first reflector has a first portion and a second portion in the form of an ellipsoid with a first light-emitting diode and a second light-emitting diode at a focal point of each ellipsoid.   The optical module wherein a reflective surface of a first reflector has a first portion and a second portion in the form of an ellipsoid with a first light-emitting diode and a second light-emitting diode at a focal point of each ellipsoid.   The optical module wherein a reflective surface of a first reflector has a first portion and a second portion in the form of an ellipsoid with a first light-emitting diode and a second light-emitting diode at a focal point of each ellipsoid.   The optical module wherein the support comprises means for positioning the optical lens and a fan and at least one light reflector and a folder and a heat exchanger, these means interacting with positioning means provided on the optical lens and on the fan and on the at least one light reflector and on the folder and on the heat exchanger.   The optical module wherein the support comprises means for positioning the optical lens and a fan and at least one light reflector and a folder and a heat exchanger, these means interacting with positioning means provided on the optical lens and on the fan and on the at least one light reflector and on the folder and on the heat exchanger.   The optical module wherein the support is attached to a base that forms a frame in which the support is articulated.   The optical module wherein the support is attached to a base that forms a frame in which the support is articulated.   The optical module wherein the support directly supports the optical lens and the heat exchanger.   The optical module wherein the support directly supports the optical lens and the heat exchanger.       

     These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims. 
     The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising a lighting and/or signaling device as defined above. 
     The appended drawing represents, as examples, two embodiments of an optical module of a motor vehicle according to the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a first embodiment of an optical module according to one embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a longitudinal section of the first embodiment of the optical module according to one embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a longitudinal section of the first embodiment of the optical module according to one embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded view of a second embodiment of the optical module according to another embodiment of the invention; and 
         FIG. 5  is a view in perspective of the second embodiment of the optical module according to another embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     A first embodiment of an optical module  1  of a lighting and/or signaling device is described below with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 3 . In this example, the optical module of a lighting and/or signaling device is an optical module  1  with two functions:
         function of lighting of the low beam type, and   function of lighting of the high beam type.       

     The optical module  1  comprises mainly a support  2 , an optical lens  3 , a fan  5 , a heat exchanger, such as a radiator  4 , a first reflector  6 , a second reflector  7  and a folder  8 . 
     The support  2  comprises means  30  for positioning the optical lens  3  on and attaching it to the support  2 . These means  30  interact with means  31  of positioning and of attachment provided on the optical lens  3 . The optical lens  3  is thus supported by the support  2 . Preferably, the optical lens  3  is directly supported by the support  2 . 
     The support  2  comprises means  32  for positioning the radiator  4  on and attaching it to the support  2 . These means  32  interact with positioning and attachment means  33  provided on the radiator  4 . The radiator  4  is thus supported by the support  2 . Preferably, the radiator  4  is directly supported by the support  2 . 
     The support  2  comprises means  34  for positioning the fan  5  on and attaching it to the support  2 . These means  34  interact with positioning and attachment means  35  provided on the fan  5 . The fan  5  is thus supported by the support  2 . Preferably, the fan  5  is directly supported by the support  2 . 
     The support  2  comprises means  36  for positioning the first reflector  6  on and attaching it to the support  2 . These means  37  interact with positioning and attachment means provided on the first reflector  6 . Alternatively, the support  2  may only have means for attaching the first reflector  6  to the support  2 . Positioning means may be provided on the first reflector  6  in order to interact with means of positioning on the radiator  4  or on a first light source, so as to position the first reflector  6  relative to the first light source. The first reflector  6  is thus supported by the support  2 . Preferably, the first reflector  6  is directly supported by the support  2 . Again alternatively, the first reflector  6  may be positioned on the radiator  4  and supported by the radiator  4 . 
     The support  2  comprises means  38  for positioning the second reflector  7  on and attaching it to the support  2 . These means  38  interact with positioning and attachment means  39  provided on the second reflector  7 . Alternatively, the support  2  may only have means for attaching the second reflector  7  to the support  2 . Positioning means may be provided on the second reflector  7  in order to interact with positioning means on the radiator  4  or on a second light source, so as to position the second reflector  7  relative to the second light source. The second reflector  7  is thus supported by the support  2 . Preferably, the second reflector  7  is directly supported by the support  2 . Again alternatively, the second reflector  7  may be positioned on the radiator  4  and supported by the radiator  4 . 
     The support  2  comprises means for positioning the folder  8  on and attaching it to the support  2 . These means interact with positioning and attachment means provided on the folder  8 . Alternatively, the support  2  may only have means for attaching the folder  8  to the support  2 . Positioning means may be provided on the folder  8  in order to interact with positioning means on the radiator  4  or on the first light source, so as to position the folder  8  relative to the first light source. The folder  8  is thus supported by the support  2 . Preferably, the folder  8  is directly supported by the support  2 . Again alternatively, the folder  8  may be positioned on the radiator  4  and supported by the radiator  4 . 
     The support  2  comprises means  38  for positioning an air-stream guide  13  on and attaching it to the support  2 . These means  38  interact with positioning and attachment means  39  provided on the air-stream guide  13 . Alternatively, the air-stream guide  13  may be secured to the second reflector  7 , as in  FIGS. 1 to 5 . The air-stream guide  13  is thus supported by the support  2 . Preferably, the air-stream guide  13  is directly supported by the support  2 . 
     Preferably, the first light source comprises a first light-emitting diode  9   a  mounted on a first printed circuit  9  and a second light-emitting diode  10   a  mounted on a second printed circuit  10 . These first and second printed circuits  9  and  10  are preferably positioned on and attached to the radiator  4 . The light beams emitted by the first source are reflected by a reflective surface  11  of the first reflector  6  before being partially reflected by the folder  8  and diverted by the optical lens  3 . These various elements form a first optical system making it possible to generate a light beam with cut-off of the low beam type. Preferably, the reflective surface  11  has a first portion  11   a  in the form of an ellipsoid and a second portion  11   b  in the form of an ellipsoid, the first diode  9   a  being at least substantially at the first focal point of the first ellipsoidal portion  11   a , the second diode  10   a  being at least substantially at the first focal point of the second ellipsoidal portion  11   b  and the folder  8  being at least substantially at the second focal points of the first and second ellipsoidal portions  11   a ,  11   b . The folder  8  is preferably also at the focal point of the optical lens  3 . 
     Preferably, the second light source comprises a third light-emitting diode mounted on a third printed circuit  19  ( FIGS. 2 and 3 ). This printed circuit  19  is preferably positioned on and attached to the radiator  4 . The light beams emitted by the second source are reflected by a reflective surface  12  of the second reflector  7  before being diverted by the optical lens  3 . These various elements form a second optical system making it possible to generate a complementary portion of the light beam generated by the first optical system so that the first and second beams produce complementarily a light beam of the high beam type. Preferably, the reflective surface  12  is in the form of an ellipsoid. The third diode is at least substantially at the first focal point of the reflective surface  12  and the focal point of the optical lens  3  is at least substantially at the second focal point of the reflective surface  12 . 
     Because of the structure of the optical systems described above, it is understood that it is important for the various components of the optical systems, namely light sources, reflectors  6 ,  7 , folder  8  and optical lens  3 , to be positioned precisely relative to one another. In order to do this, there are several solutions. Notably, it is possible to position the lens  3  relative to the support  2 , position the reflectors  6 ,  7  relative to the support  2 , position the light sources relative to the radiator  4  and position the radiator  4  relative to the support  2 . In this example, the chain of dimensions positioning the light sources relative to the reflectors  6 ,  7  or relative to the optical lens  3  passes through the radiator  4  and the support  2 . Alternatively, it is possible to position the lens  3  relative to the support  2 , position the reflectors  6 ,  7  relative to the radiator  4 , position the light sources relative to the radiator  4  and position the radiator  4  relative to the support  2 . In the latter example, the chain of dimensions positioning the light sources relative to the reflectors  6 ,  7  now passes only through the radiator  4 . 
     Advantageously, in all the variants, the various components of the optical systems are supported by the support indirectly or preferably directly. 
     The fan  5  makes it possible to create an air stream  22  flowing between the fins  18  of the radiator  4  and channeled by a guide  13  in order to optimize the heat exchange between the air and the radiator  4 . 
     Preferably, the various printed circuits supporting the light-emitting diodes are attached to the radiator  4  and positioned relative to the radiator  4 . They are therefore indirectly supported by the support  2 , the radiator  4  being attached to the support  2 . 
     The support  2  furthermore has attachment means allowing it to be attached to a structure of the motor vehicle. Preferably, the attachment means allow it to be attached in a casing of a lighting and/or signaling device, this casing furthermore having means for attachment to the structure of the motor vehicle. The support  2  is preferably produced by molding. It is, for example, made of metal or of plastic, notably of composite. 
     A second embodiment of the optical module  1  according to the invention is described below with reference to  FIGS. 4 and 5 . It differs from the first embodiment only in the structure of the support  2 . Specifically, in this second embodiment, the support  2  comprises first articulation means  2   c  which interact with second articulation means on a base  2   b  designed to be attached in a casing of the lighting and/or signaling device. Thus, the support  2  and hence the optical module  1  can be oriented relative to the casing. The base  2   b  forms, for example, a frame in which the support  2  is articulated. This articulation is, for example, achieved along a vertical axis, for example by a pivot link. Thus, a function of modification of the direction of the optical axis of the lighting and/or signaling device can be achieved when the motor vehicle negotiates a curve. The base  2   b  may also comprise a maneuvering means such as a gear motor making it possible to control the orientation of the support  2  and hence that of the optical module  1 . 
     For example, the support  2  may comprise, as first articulation means, a tenon (not shown), for example one tenon at the top of the support  2  and one tenon beneath, the axis passing through these tenons corresponding to the rotation axis of the module  2  relative to the casing. The base  2   b  may comprise, as second articulation means, orifices designed to interact with the tenons. 
     According to one variant, the base  2   b  comprises a drive mechanism, from which there emerges a drive shaft  2   d  interacting with an orifice of the module  1 , preferably of the support  2 , so as to rotate the support  2 . As a variant, and as illustrated, the support  2  may be indirectly connected to the base  2   b  by an intermediate part (not shown for reasons of clarity), for example a frame. The support may then comprise fastening lugs  2   e  attached to the frame. The frame then comprises means interacting with the second articulation means of the base  2   b , for example a tenon at the top and an orifice at the bottom, the tenon turning in the top orifice  2   c  of the base  2   b  and the orifice receiving the drive shaft  2   d.    
     Throughout this document, “supporting a component” means the action of absorbing the forces exerted on the component and of transmitting them to the structure of the motor vehicle, the forces being notably those, at a distance, due to forces of acceleration such as weight. Moreover, a part “directly” supporting a component directly absorbs the forces exerted on the component and transmits them to the structure of the motor vehicle, that is to say that there is no intermediate part transmitting the forces between the component and the part. Alternatively, an intermediate part may be provided if its sole function is an interface function. In the latter case, despite the intermediate part, it is considered that the part directly supports the component. 
     In the various embodiments, the optical module  1  performs a first, low-beam function and a second, high-beam function. However, the optical module  1  according to the invention may perform any other function as a replacement of one and/or the other of the first and second functions. The optical module according to the invention may also perform only one function of lighting and/or signaling, such as a fog lamp function. 
     Throughout this text, the term “at least substantially” used with various adjectives means: “adjective” or “substantially adjective”, for example “at least substantially perpendicular” means “perpendicular” or “substantially perpendicular”. 
     This invention, including all embodiments shown and described herein, could be used alone or together and/or in combination with one or more of the features covered by one or more of the claims set forth herein, including but not limited to one or more of the features or steps mentioned in the Summary of the Invention and the claims. 
     While the system, apparatus, process and method herein described constitute preferred embodiments of this invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this precise system, apparatus, process and method, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.