EP1715246A1 - Automotive vehicle headlight - Google Patents

Automotive vehicle headlight Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1715246A1
EP1715246A1 EP06290649A EP06290649A EP1715246A1 EP 1715246 A1 EP1715246 A1 EP 1715246A1 EP 06290649 A EP06290649 A EP 06290649A EP 06290649 A EP06290649 A EP 06290649A EP 1715246 A1 EP1715246 A1 EP 1715246A1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
lens
motor vehicle
vehicle headlamp
reflector
refractor
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP06290649A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP1715246B1 (en
Inventor
Sébastien Casenave
Etienne Pauty
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Valeo Vision SAS
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Valeo Vision SAS
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Publication of EP1715246A1 publication Critical patent/EP1715246A1/en
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Publication of EP1715246B1 publication Critical patent/EP1715246B1/en
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    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
    • F21S41/00—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps
    • F21S41/60—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by a variable light distribution
    • F21S41/62—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by a variable light distribution for adaptation between right-hand and left-hand traffic
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
    • F21S41/00—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps
    • F21S41/20—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters
    • F21S41/25—Projection lenses
    • F21S41/26—Elongated lenses
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
    • F21S41/00—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps
    • F21S41/40—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by screens, non-reflecting members, light-shielding members or fixed shades
    • F21S41/43—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by screens, non-reflecting members, light-shielding members or fixed shades characterised by the shape thereof

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a compact elliptical type motor vehicle headlamp, whose front lens has a non-circular contour so that the lens responds to specific performance conditions although its outer contour is not circular, while satisfying same time to aesthetic considerations.
  • the spotlights that best meet these criteria are characterized by a lamp mounted at the first focus of an ellipsoid of revolution whose image formed at the second focus is projected on the road by a convergent lens, usually plano-convex.
  • a projector comprising a lens of any contour, for example square, or more generally rectangular, circular, oval, ovoid, ogival, or having a contour of the square or rectangular type but with rounded edges or cut sides, or any other contour, for example documents EP-A-1243846 or EP-A-1491816 .
  • the object of this document is essentially the improvement of the aesthetic appearance of a projector of generally rectangular shape, especially when it is lit, without any consideration of the photometry of the resulting light beam.
  • This elliptical type projector for a motor vehicle having a lens of non-circular shape is known from the state of the art, the aesthetic aspect has been favored at the expense of optical performance.
  • the document FR-A-2,620,984 discloses an elliptical-type projector having a converging lens, non-circular in shape, and non-coaxial with the reflector, so as to reduce the chromatic aberrations present in the vicinity of the light / dark boundary of the crossing illumination beam.
  • the present invention is based on the fact that, in an elliptical module for lighting projector for a motor vehicle, the different parts of the lens do not all participate in the same way in the development of the emerging beam. Parts of the lens through which only light rays having a participation lower than a predetermined threshold can pass can thus be eliminated.
  • FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the motor vehicle headlight according to the invention.
  • FIG. 2 illustrates, by a set of isolux curves, the distribution of the luminous flux in the plane of a circular exit pupil of a reflector of a projector according to the invention.
  • Figures 3a, 3b and 3c are front views of projectors refractors according to the invention having, respectively, a square, hexagonal and triangular contour.
  • Figure 1 shows the general principle of the invention, in the form of a wire representation of the main elements of the projector 1.
  • the reflector 2 is substantially an ellipsoid of revolution of axis of symmetry XX '.
  • this axis of symmetry XX ' is the intersection of a first vertical plane V1 and a first horizontal plane H1, approximately corresponding to the preferred arrangement of the projector 1 in a vehicle.
  • the convergent lens 4 may conventionally be constituted by a convex plane lens, whose input face is plane and the convex exit face, for example spherical or quasi-spherical. It may also consist of a biconvex lens, or a converging meniscus.
  • the entrance pupil of the lens 4 will be in the following description assimilated to the exit pupil of the mirror 2.
  • the lens 4 of circular contour is usually placed so that its plane entry face is located in the pupillary plane P, and that its object focus coincides with the second focus F of the mirror 2, so as to project on the road the image of the light source S formed by the elliptical reflector 2 at its second focus F.
  • the light rays R1, R2 from the source S then form a lighting beam, these rays being in first approximation substantially parallel to the axis XX '.
  • the simulated distribution of the luminous flux at the level of the entrance pupil of the lens 4 or the exit pupil of the reflector 23, 70 mm in diameter in the example considered, represented in FIG. 2, shows in particular that certain peripheral parts 5 of the lens, having no significant E1, E2, E3, E4, E5 isolux curve, contribute less than 5% to the transmitted flux (E1 is the isolux corresponding to the strongest illumination, E5 corresponding to the weaker.).
  • peripheral portions 5, in particular the upper segment corresponding to an upper layer of the bundle, participate only to a very small extent in the development of the final bundle, and can be suppressed without the overall efficiency of the projector 1 being affected. , which can thus make it possible to modify the general outline of the refractor 6, and thus to act on the general aesthetic appearance of the refractor 6.
  • the term "refractor” is an optical device that imparts a controlled deviation to the light rays that pass through it, whose input face is flat, the spherical exit face, and whose external contour is arbitrary. Such a “refractor” is obtained, for example, using a conventional elliptical type projector lens, from which peripheral zones have been removed.
  • the refractor thus obtained constitutes what will be called in the present description the "useful portion" of the original lens. It is easy to understand that the overall volume of the useful portion of the original lens, constituting the final refractor, will be different depending on the proportion of luminous flux passing through the pupil. input of the original lens that is desired to keep the output of the refractor obtained.
  • a first example of a projector according to the invention comprises a portion of a plano-convex lens, of a diameter substantially equal to 60 mm, forming a refractor 6 square of substantially 36 mm side, shown in Figure 3a.
  • the contour 7 of the lens 6 does not correspond to the square which would be inscribed in the periphery of the lens 4. Its side is smaller than the value which would be deduced from the diameter of the lens 4 by dividing it by ⁇ 2, so that the center B of the square 7 is offset with respect to the optical center O of the lens 4.
  • a second embodiment is that implementing a plano-convex lens portion, whose diameter is substantially 66 mm, to form a refractor 6 whose contour 7 is a regular hexagon of substantially 26 mm side, shown in FIG. 3b.
  • the hexagonal contour 7 also does not correspond to that of the hexagon which would be inscribed in the pupil 3, so that the centroid B of the contour 7 is also offset with respect to the optical center O.
  • the contour 7 of the refractor 6 of the projector 1 is an isosceles triangle whose base is substantially 60 mm and the height 50 mm; the lens is also a plano-convex lens, whose diameter is substantially 72 mm.
  • This isosceles triangle does not correspond to the equilateral triangle that would be inscribed in the pupil 3: the center B of the triangle is also offset with respect to the optical center O.
  • the contour 7 can be of any kind provided that it preserves a minimum part of the lens 4.
  • the refractor 6 must comprise at least the rectangular refractor 6 shown in FIG. 1, delimited on either side of the first horizontal plane H1 and the first vertical plane V1. respectively, by second and third horizontal planes H2, H3 and by second and third vertical planes V2, V3.
  • the second horizontal plane H2 is spaced upwards from the first horizontal plane H1 by a distance equal to 1/6 of the diameter of the circular exit pupil 3; the third plane H3 is located down to a distance equal to 1/3 of this diameter.
  • the second and third vertical planes V2, V3 are straddling the first vertical plane V1, at a distance from each other equal to 2/3 of the diameter of the pupil 3.
  • the ray casting method has also shown that the contribution to the beam R1, R2 of certain peripheral parts of the lens 4, which must absolutely be eliminated, could be reduced by modifying the nominal shape of the reflector 2.
  • Figure 1 shows that a light beam R3 reflected at a point I on the surface of the mirror 2 in the form of an ellipsoid, and passing through the pupil 3 outside the contour 7, can be deflected in a new radius R3 ' , passing through the interior of the contour 7, by modifying the surface of the mirror in the vicinity of the point I.
  • examples given of square, hexagonal or triangular contours may be practiced with original lenses of any desired or appropriate diameter.
  • Other shapes are also possible, in particular a contour 7 in the shape of a diamond, or a parallelogram, or in the form of an "inclined" square, that is to say one of which is neither vertical nor horizontal, is possible by correctly identifying the really useful part of the lens 4.
  • the barycenter of a refractor can be shifted to the right or to the left with respect to a vertical plane passing through the trace O of the axis of symmetry XX 'in the plane P, if it is desired to realize left headlights and right of different aspects.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Non-Portable Lighting Devices Or Systems Thereof (AREA)

Abstract

The headlight has a reflector (2) with a refractor (6) placed in a pupillary plane of the reflector, where the refractor is a relevant portion of a convex lens (4). The lens having an optical axis comprises a focus (F) merged with another focus of the reflector. A contour (7) of the lens has a baric center (B) shifted to a preset distance with respect to an optical center (O) of the lens. Luminous rays (R2, R3`) crossing the portion are equal to a predetermined fraction of luminous rays (R1, R2, R3, R3`), where the rays come from a light source (S).

Description

DOMAINE TECHNIQUE DE L'INVENTION.TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

La présente invention concerne un projecteur de véhicule automobile de type elliptique compact, dont la lentille frontale présente un contour non circulaire de telle manière que cette lentille réponde à des conditions de rendement déterminées bien que son contour extérieur ne soit pas circulaire, tout en satisfaisant en même temps à des considérations esthétiques.The present invention relates to a compact elliptical type motor vehicle headlamp, whose front lens has a non-circular contour so that the lens responds to specific performance conditions although its outer contour is not circular, while satisfying same time to aesthetic considerations.

ARRIÈRE PLAN TECHNOLOGIQUE DE L'INVENTION.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION.

Sur un plan technique, il existe une demande forte de la part des constructeurs automobiles pour des projecteurs compacts ayant un bon rendement, c'est-à-dire capables de récupérer une proportion importante du flux lumineux émis par la source, tout en présentant transversalement à l'axe optique des dimensions réduites.On a technical level, there is a strong demand from car manufacturers for compact projectors with a good efficiency, that is to say capable of recovering a significant proportion of the luminous flux emitted by the source while presenting transversely to the optical axis of reduced dimensions.

Les projecteurs répondant le mieux à ces critères sont caractérisés par une lampe montée au premier foyer d'un ellipsoïde de révolution dont l'image formée au second foyer est projetée sur la route par une lentille convergente, habituellement plan-convexe.The spotlights that best meet these criteria are characterized by a lamp mounted at the first focus of an ellipsoid of revolution whose image formed at the second focus is projected on the road by a convergent lens, usually plano-convex.

Ces projecteurs dits « elliptiques » révèlent en général, lorsqu'ils sont éteints, à travers une glace lisse, seulement la face externe sphérique convexe de la lentille, de contour extérieur circulaire, souvent entourée d'un enjoliveur approprié.These so-called "elliptical" projectors generally reveal, when they are extinguished, through a smooth glass, only the convex spherical outer surface of the lens, of circular outer contour, often surrounded by a suitable hubcap.

Sur un plan esthétique, il existe également de nos jours des demandes sans cesse croissantes de la part des stylistes concernant l'apparence finale des projecteurs des véhicules, pour leur conférer par exemple un aspect caractéristique. Ceci explique par exemple l'utilisation des enjoliveurs autour des lentilles de modules elliptiques.From an aesthetic point of view, there are also nowadays ever-increasing demands from stylists regarding the final appearance of vehicle headlamps, to give them, for example, a characteristic appearance. This explains for example the use of hubcaps around the lenses of elliptical modules.

On connaît par ailleurs un projecteur comportant une lentille de contour quelconque, par exemple carrée, ou plus généralement rectangulaire, circulaire, ovale, ovoïde, ogivale, ou encore ayant un contour de type carré ou rectangulaire mais à bords arrondis ou à pans coupés, ou tout autre contour, par exemple des documents EP-A-1.243.846 ou EP-A-1.491.816 .Also known is a projector comprising a lens of any contour, for example square, or more generally rectangular, circular, oval, ovoid, ogival, or having a contour of the square or rectangular type but with rounded edges or cut sides, or any other contour, for example documents EP-A-1243846 or EP-A-1491816 .

Mais il s'agit dans ces documents d'une lentille dont la face avant, c'est-à-dire faisant face à un observateur placé devant le véhicule, est plane, et dont la face arrière est cylindrique à génératrices verticales associée à un réflecteur à profil parabolique, le but de cette lentille étant de pouvoir proposer un projecteur qui, tout en appartenant techniquement à la famille des projecteurs « du genre parabolique » présente, éteint, un aspect extérieur semblable à celui d'un projecteur « du genre elliptique ». Une telle lentille répond donc à d'autres caractéristiques et objectifs que ceux de la présente invention.But it is a question in these documents of a lens whose front face, that is to say, facing an observer placed in front of the vehicle, is flat, and whose rear face is cylindrical with vertical generators associated with a reflector with parabolic profile, the purpose of this lens being to be able to propose a projector which, while technically belonging to the family of projectors "of the parabolic kind" present, extinguished, an external appearance similar to that of a projector "of the elliptical kind". Such a lens therefore meets other characteristics and objectives than those of the present invention.

Un projecteur elliptique présentant une face avant rectangulaire étroite est décrit dans le document US-B2-6.435.703 , qui divulgue une lentille de focalisation plan-convexe circulaire modifiée par la suppression de deux segments latéraux. Ce document prévoit que les portions du réflecteur situées en regard des portions de lentille supprimées sont également supprimées.An elliptical projector having a narrow rectangular front face is described in the document US B2-6.435.703 , which discloses a circular plano-convex focusing lens modified by the removal of two lateral segments. This document provides that the portions of the reflector located opposite the deleted lens portions are also deleted.

Cependant l'objet de ce document est essentiellement l'amélioration de l'aspect esthétique d'un projecteur de forme générale rectangulaire, notamment quand celui-ci est allumé, sans aucune considération de la photométrie du faisceau lumineux résultant.However, the object of this document is essentially the improvement of the aesthetic appearance of a projector of generally rectangular shape, especially when it is lit, without any consideration of the photometry of the resulting light beam.

Ce projecteur de type elliptique pour véhicule automobile comportant une lentille de forme non circulaire est donc connu de l'état de la technique, l'aspect esthétique ayant été privilégié au détriment des performances optiques.This elliptical type projector for a motor vehicle having a lens of non-circular shape is known from the state of the art, the aesthetic aspect has been favored at the expense of optical performance.

Le document FR-A-2 620 984 divulgue un projecteur de type elliptique comportant une lentille convergente, de forme non circulaire, et non coaxiale au réflecteur, de manière à réduire les aberrations chromatiques présentes au voisinage de la limite clair/obscur du faisceau d'éclairage de croisement.The document FR-A-2,620,984 discloses an elliptical-type projector having a converging lens, non-circular in shape, and non-coaxial with the reflector, so as to reduce the chromatic aberrations present in the vicinity of the light / dark boundary of the crossing illumination beam.

On peut également citer le document FR 0 721 270 qui décrit des projecteurs à réflecteurs elliptiques ou hyperboliques, associés à des demi-lentilles convergentes ou divergentes.We can also mention the document FR 0 721 270 which describes elliptical or hyperbolic reflector projectors associated with convergent or divergent half-lenses.

DESCRIPTION GÉNÉRALE DE L'INVENTION.GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

La présente invention repose sur la mise en évidence du fait que, dans un module elliptique pour projecteur d'éclairage pour véhicule automobile, les différentes parties de la lentille ne participent pas toutes de la même façon à l'élaboration du faisceau émergeant. Les parties de la lentille par lesquelles ne passent que des rayons lumineux ayant une participation inférieure à un seuil prédéterminé peuvent ainsi être supprimées.The present invention is based on the fact that, in an elliptical module for lighting projector for a motor vehicle, the different parts of the lens do not all participate in the same way in the development of the emerging beam. Parts of the lens through which only light rays having a participation lower than a predetermined threshold can pass can thus be eliminated.

Il est ainsi possible de réaliser un projecteur de type elliptique, dont le flux lumineux émergeant de la lentille possède les caractéristiques photométriques requises par la réglementation, cette lentille ayant simultanément un contour extérieur autre que circulaire. Une telle lentille répond donc à la fois aux exigences photométriques réglementaires et aux desiderata des stylistes.It is thus possible to produce an elliptical type projector whose luminous flux emerging from the lens has the required photometric characteristics. by the regulation, this lens simultaneously having an outside contour other than circular. Such a lens therefore meets both the regulatory photometric requirements and the desiderata of the stylists.

La présente invention a donc pour objet de réaliser un projecteur de véhicule automobile du type de ceux comportant :

  • un réflecteur, au moins en partie sensiblement de la forme d'un ellipsoïde d'axe de symétrie déterminé par l'intersection d'un premier plan vertical et d'un premier plan horizontal,
  • une source lumineuse placée au voisinage d'un premier foyer dudit réflecteur,
  • une pupille de sortie circulaire dudit réflecteur traversée par un premier flux lumineux issu de ladite source,
  • un réfracteur placé dans le plan pupillaire du réflecteur,
  • le réfracteur étant une portion utile d'une lentille convergente
  • possédant un foyer sensiblement confondu avec un second foyer dudit réflecteur,
  • possédant un contour qui présente un barycentre décalé d'une distance prédéterminée par rapport au centre optique de ladite lentille.
    Selon la présente invention,
  • l'axe optique du réfracteur est confondu avec ledit axe de symétrie, et le second flux lumineux traversant ladite portion utile est égal à une fraction prédéterminée du premier flux.
The present invention therefore has the object of producing a motor vehicle headlamp of the type of those comprising:
  • a reflector, at least in part substantially of the shape of an ellipsoid of axis of symmetry determined by the intersection of a first vertical plane and a first horizontal plane,
  • a light source placed in the vicinity of a first focus of said reflector,
  • a circular exit pupil of said reflector traversed by a first luminous flux coming from said source,
  • a refractor placed in the pupillary plane of the reflector,
  • the refractor being a useful portion of a converging lens
  • having a focus substantially coincident with a second focus of said reflector,
  • having a contour that has a centroid shifted by a predetermined distance from the optical center of said lens.
    According to the present invention,
  • the optical axis of the refractor coincides with said axis of symmetry, and the second luminous flux passing through said useful portion is equal to a predetermined fraction of the first flux.

Selon d'autres caractéristiques de l'invention, considérées isolément ou en combinaison,

  • le barycentre du contour est décalé d'une distance prédéterminée vers le bas dans ledit premier plan vertical par rapport au centre optique de ladite lentille ;
  • le barycentre du contour est décalé d'une distance prédéterminée latéralement par rapport au premier plan vertical ;
  • la fraction prédéterminée du premier flux traversant le réfracteur est au moins égale à 75% du premier flux ;
  • la fraction prédéterminée du premier flux traversant le réfracteur est d'environ 95% du premier flux ;
  • le réflecteur présente au moins un élément de surface s'écartant de la surface nominale de l'ellipsoïde et un rayon lumineux réfléchi par ledit élément traverse la portion utile de la lentille ;
  • la portion utile de la lentille s'étend de part et d'autre du premier plan horizontal entre un second plan horizontal et un troisième plan horizontal situés à une distance du premier plan horizontal comprise entre 1/3 et au 1/6 du diamètre de la pupille de sortie circulaire du réflecteur ;
  • ladite portion utile s'étend de part et d'autre du premier plan vertical entre un second plan vertical et un troisième plan vertical, situés chacun à une distance du premier plan vertical comprise entre 1/3 et au 1/6 du diamètre de la pupille de sortie circulaire du réflecteur ;
  • les distances entre le premier plan vertical et le deuxième plan vertical ou le troisième plan vertical sont différentes selon qu'il s'agit d'un projecteur droit ou gauche ;
  • ledit contour est choisi parmi le groupe comprenant le carré, l'hexagone, le triangle, le losange, le parallélogramme ;
  • un cache est disposé entre le réflecteur et la pupille de sortie circulaire du réflecteur ;
  • le cache intercepte une partie des rayons lumineux avant qu'ils n'atteignent le réfracteur pour éviter qu'ils ne se retrouvent dans le faisceau émergeant du réfracteur ;
  • le cache est disposé au second foyer du réflecteur, un bord de ce cache passant par l'axe de symétrie du réflecteur pour déterminer une coupure dans le faisceau émergeant du réfracteur ;
  • la lentille convergente est une lentille plan convexe ;
  • la lentille plan convexe est une lentille plan convexe sphérique.
  • la lentille convergente est une lentille biconvexe.
  • la lentille convergente est un ménisque convergent.
According to other features of the invention, taken alone or in combination,
  • the centroid of the contour is offset by a predetermined distance downward in said first vertical plane with respect to the optical center of said lens;
  • the centroid of the contour is offset by a predetermined distance laterally from the first vertical plane;
  • the predetermined fraction of the first flux passing through the refractor is at least 75% of the first flux;
  • the predetermined fraction of the first flux passing through the refractor is about 95% of the first flux;
  • the reflector has at least one surface element deviating from the nominal surface of the ellipsoid and a light beam reflected by said element passes through the useful portion of the lens;
  • the useful portion of the lens extends on either side of the first horizontal plane between a second horizontal plane and a third horizontal plane situated at a distance from the first horizontal plane between 1/3 and 1/6 of the diameter of the circular exit pupil of the reflector;
  • said useful portion extends on either side of the first vertical plane between a second vertical plane and a third vertical plane, each located at a distance from the first vertical plane between 1/3 and 1/6 of the diameter of the circular exit pupil of the reflector;
  • the distances between the first vertical plane and the second vertical plane or the third vertical plane are different depending on whether it is a right or left projector;
  • said contour is chosen from the group comprising the square, the hexagon, the triangle, the diamond, the parallelogram;
  • a cover is disposed between the reflector and the circular exit pupil of the reflector;
  • the cache intercepts a portion of the light rays before they reach the refractor to prevent them from ending up in the emerging beam of the refractor;
  • the cover is disposed at the second focus of the reflector, an edge of this cover passing through the axis of symmetry of the reflector to determine a cut in the beam emerging from the refractor;
  • the convergent lens is a convex plane lens;
  • the convex plane lens is a spherical convex plane lens.
  • the convergent lens is a biconvex lens.
  • the convergent lens is a convergent meniscus.

Ces quelques spécifications essentielles auront rendu évidents pour l'homme de métier les avantages apportés par le dispositif selon l'invention par rapport à l'état de la technique antérieur.These few essential specifications will have made obvious to the skilled person the advantages provided by the device according to the invention compared to the state of the prior art.

Les spécifications détaillées de l'invention sont données dans la description qui suit en liaison avec les dessins ci-annexés. Il est à noter que ces dessins n'ont d'autre but que d'illustrer le texte de la description et ne constituent en aucune sorte une limitation de la portée de l'invention.The detailed specifications of the invention are given in the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that these drawings have no other purpose than to illustrate the text of the description and do not constitute in any way a limitation of the scope of the invention.

BRÈVE DESCRIPTION DES DESSINS.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

La Figure 1 est un schéma de principe du projecteur de véhicule automobile selon l'invention.Figure 1 is a block diagram of the motor vehicle headlight according to the invention.

La Figure 2 illustre par un ensemble de courbes isolux la répartition du flux lumineux dans le plan d'une pupille de sortie circulaire d'un réflecteur d'un projecteur selon l'invention.FIG. 2 illustrates, by a set of isolux curves, the distribution of the luminous flux in the plane of a circular exit pupil of a reflector of a projector according to the invention.

Les Figures 3a, 3b et 3c sont des vues de face de réfracteurs de projecteurs selon l'invention ayant, respectivement, un contour carré, hexagonal et triangulaire.Figures 3a, 3b and 3c are front views of projectors refractors according to the invention having, respectively, a square, hexagonal and triangular contour.

DESCRIPTION DES MODES DE RÉALISATION PRÉFÉRÉS DE L'INVENTION.DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

La Figure 1 montre le principe général de l'invention, sous forme de représentation filaire des principaux éléments du projecteur 1.Figure 1 shows the general principle of the invention, in the form of a wire representation of the main elements of the projector 1.

Le réflecteur 2 est sensiblement un ellipsoïde de révolution d'axe de symétrie XX'. Par simplification, on considère que cet axe de symétrie XX' est l'intersection d'un premier plan vertical V1 et d'un premier plan horizontal H1, correspondant approximativement à l'agencement préférentiel du projecteur 1 dans un véhicule.The reflector 2 is substantially an ellipsoid of revolution of axis of symmetry XX '. For simplicity, it is considered that this axis of symmetry XX 'is the intersection of a first vertical plane V1 and a first horizontal plane H1, approximately corresponding to the preferred arrangement of the projector 1 in a vehicle.

La lumière émise par une lampe S placée au premier foyer du miroir 2 traverse un plan P perpendiculaire à l'axe de symétrie XX'. On ne considèrera dans la suite de la description qu'une surface circulaire 3 de ce plan, centrée sur la trace O de l'axe de symétrie XX' dans ce plan, et correspondant à la face d'entrée plane d'une lentille convergente 4 de contour circulaire placée en aval du miroir 2 dans le sens de la progression des rayons lumineux.The light emitted by a lamp S placed at the first focus of the mirror 2 passes through a plane P perpendicular to the axis of symmetry XX '. We will consider in the remainder of the description only a circular surface 3 of this plane, centered on the trace O of the axis of symmetry XX 'in this plane, and corresponding to the plane entry face of a converging lens 4 circular contour placed downstream of the mirror 2 in the direction of the progression of light rays.

La lentille convergente 4 peut être constituée classiquement d'une lentille plan convexe, dont la face d'entrée est plane et la face de sortie convexe, par exemple sphérique ou quasi sphérique. Elle peut également être constituée d'une lentille biconvexe, ou encore d'un ménisque convergent.The convergent lens 4 may conventionally be constituted by a convex plane lens, whose input face is plane and the convex exit face, for example spherical or quasi-spherical. It may also consist of a biconvex lens, or a converging meniscus.

La pupille d'entrée de la lentille 4 sera dans la suite de la description assimilée à la pupille de sortie du miroir 2.The entrance pupil of the lens 4 will be in the following description assimilated to the exit pupil of the mirror 2.

La lentille 4 de contour circulaire est habituellement placée de manière à ce que sa face d'entrée plane soit située dans le plan pupillaire P, et à ce que son foyer objet coïncide avec le second foyer F du miroir 2, de façon à projeter sur la route l'image de la source lumineuse S formée par le réflecteur 2 elliptique à son second foyer F.The lens 4 of circular contour is usually placed so that its plane entry face is located in the pupillary plane P, and that its object focus coincides with the second focus F of the mirror 2, so as to project on the road the image of the light source S formed by the elliptical reflector 2 at its second focus F.

Les rayons lumineux R1, R2 issus de la source S forment alors un faisceau d'éclairage, ces rayons étant en première approximation sensiblement parallèle à l'axe XX'.The light rays R1, R2 from the source S then form a lighting beam, these rays being in first approximation substantially parallel to the axis XX '.

Des programmes informatiques permettent, après leur avoir indiqué les caractéristiques physiques des différents constituants d'un système catadioptrique de projecteur, de tracer le trajet des rayons lumineux issus de la source lumineuse jusqu'à la scène à illuminer, ou au contraire de connaître le trajet inverse d'un rayon lumineux venant illuminer un point précis de la scène éclairée par le projecteur. De telles méthodes sont appelées des « lancers de rayons ».Computer programs make it possible, after having indicated to them the physical characteristics of the various constituents of a catadioptric projector system, to trace the path of the light rays coming from the light source to the scene to be illuminated, or on the contrary to know the path inverse of a ray of light coming to illuminate a precise point of the scene illuminated by the projector. Such methods are called "ray shots".

De tels programmes permettent de constater que toutes les parties de la lentille 4 ne contribuent pas de la même manière à la formation du faisceau R1, R2.Such programs show that all parts of the lens 4 do not contribute in the same way to the formation of the beam R1, R2.

La répartition simulée du flux lumineux au niveau de la pupille d'entrée de la lentille 4 ou de la pupille de sortie du réflecteur 2 3, de 70 mm de diamètre dans l'exemple considéré, représentée sur la Figure 2, montre notamment que certaines parties périphériques 5 de la lentille, ne présentant aucune courbe isolux E1, E2, E3, E4, E5 importante, contribuent pour moins de 5% au flux transmis (E1 est l'isolux correspondant à l'éclairement le plus fort, E5 correspondant au plus faible.).The simulated distribution of the luminous flux at the level of the entrance pupil of the lens 4 or the exit pupil of the reflector 23, 70 mm in diameter in the example considered, represented in FIG. 2, shows in particular that certain peripheral parts 5 of the lens, having no significant E1, E2, E3, E4, E5 isolux curve, contribute less than 5% to the transmitted flux (E1 is the isolux corresponding to the strongest illumination, E5 corresponding to the weaker.).

Ces parties périphériques 5, notamment le segment supérieur correspondant à une nappe supérieure du faisceau, ne participent que dans une très faible mesure à l'élaboration du faisceau final, et peuvent être supprimées sans que le rendement global du projecteur 1 n'en soit affecté, ce qui peut permettre ainsi de modifier le contour général du réfracteur 6, et ainsi d'agir sur l'aspect esthétique général du réfracteur 6.These peripheral portions 5, in particular the upper segment corresponding to an upper layer of the bundle, participate only to a very small extent in the development of the final bundle, and can be suppressed without the overall efficiency of the projector 1 being affected. , which can thus make it possible to modify the general outline of the refractor 6, and thus to act on the general aesthetic appearance of the refractor 6.

Un avantage supplémentaire à une telle suppression réside dans le fait que le réfracteur ainsi obtenu est de manière très sensible moins lourd que la lentille à contour circulaire qu'il remplace, ce qui permet de simplifier d'autres problèmes, tels que par exemple le maintien du réfracteur 6 par rapport au réflecteur 2.An additional advantage to such a deletion lies in the fact that the refractor thus obtained is very significantly less heavy than the lens with a circular contour that it replaces, which makes it possible to simplify other problems, such as, for example, maintaining of the refractor 6 with respect to the reflector 2.

Dans la présente description, on appelle « réfracteur » un dispositif optique imprimant une déviation contrôlée aux rayons lumineux qui le traversent, dont la face d'entrée est plane, la face de sortie sphérique, et dont le contour extérieur est quelconque. Un tel « réfracteur » est obtenu par exemple à l'aide d'une lentille classique de projecteur de type elliptique, de laquelle on a enlevé des zones périphériques.In the present description, the term "refractor" is an optical device that imparts a controlled deviation to the light rays that pass through it, whose input face is flat, the spherical exit face, and whose external contour is arbitrary. Such a "refractor" is obtained, for example, using a conventional elliptical type projector lens, from which peripheral zones have been removed.

Le réfracteur ainsi obtenu constitue ce qui sera dénommé dans la présente description la « portion utile » de la lentille originelle. On comprend aisément que le volume global de la portion utile de la lentille originelle, constituant le réfracteur final, sera différent en fonction de la proportion de flux lumineux traversant la pupille d'entrée de la lentille originelle que l'on désire conserver en sortie du réfracteur obtenu.The refractor thus obtained constitutes what will be called in the present description the "useful portion" of the original lens. It is easy to understand that the overall volume of the useful portion of the original lens, constituting the final refractor, will be different depending on the proportion of luminous flux passing through the pupil. input of the original lens that is desired to keep the output of the refractor obtained.

Un premier exemple de projecteur selon l'invention comporte une partie d'une lentille plan-convexe, d'un diamètre valant sensiblement 60 mm, formant un réfracteur 6 carré de sensiblement 36 mm de côté, représenté sur la Figure 3a.A first example of a projector according to the invention comprises a portion of a plano-convex lens, of a diameter substantially equal to 60 mm, forming a refractor 6 square of substantially 36 mm side, shown in Figure 3a.

Le contour 7 de la lentille 6 ne correspond pas au carré qui serait inscrit dans le pourtour de la lentille 4. Son côté est plus petit que la valeur qui serait déduite du diamètre de la lentille 4 en le divisant par √2, de sorte que le centre B du carré 7 est décalé par rapport au centre optique O de la lentille 4.The contour 7 of the lens 6 does not correspond to the square which would be inscribed in the periphery of the lens 4. Its side is smaller than the value which would be deduced from the diameter of the lens 4 by dividing it by √2, so that the center B of the square 7 is offset with respect to the optical center O of the lens 4.

Cela revient à conserver en priorité les nappes inférieures du faisceau R2, comme le montre bien la Figure 1 où le barycentre B d'un réfracteur 6 rectangulaire, placé dans le plan pupillaire P, est décalé vers le bas dans le premier plan vertical V1.This amounts to keeping priority the lower layers of the beam R2, as shown in Figure 1 where the barycenter B of a rectangular refractor 6, placed in the pupil P, is shifted downwards in the first vertical plane V1.

Un deuxième exemple de réalisation est celui mettant en oeuvre une partie de lentille plan-convexe, dont le diamètre vaut sensiblement 66 mm, pour former un réfracteur 6 dont le contour 7 est un hexagone régulier de sensiblement 26 mm de côté, représenté sur la Figure 3b.A second embodiment is that implementing a plano-convex lens portion, whose diameter is substantially 66 mm, to form a refractor 6 whose contour 7 is a regular hexagon of substantially 26 mm side, shown in FIG. 3b.

Le contour 7 hexagonal ne correspond pas non plus à celui de l'hexagone qui serait inscrit dans la pupille 3, de telle manière que le barycentre B du contour 7 est aussi décalé par rapport au centre optique O.The hexagonal contour 7 also does not correspond to that of the hexagon which would be inscribed in the pupil 3, so that the centroid B of the contour 7 is also offset with respect to the optical center O.

Dans un troisième exemple, représenté sur la Figure 3c, le contour 7 du réfracteur 6 du projecteur 1 est un triangle isocèle dont la base vaut sensiblement 60 mm et la hauteur 50 mm ; la lentille est aussi une lentille plan-convexe, dont le diamètre vaut sensiblement 72 mm.In a third example, shown in Figure 3c, the contour 7 of the refractor 6 of the projector 1 is an isosceles triangle whose base is substantially 60 mm and the height 50 mm; the lens is also a plano-convex lens, whose diameter is substantially 72 mm.

Ce triangle isocèle ne correspond pas au triangle équilatéral qui serait inscrit dans la pupille 3 : le centre B du triangle est aussi décalé par rapport au centre optique O.This isosceles triangle does not correspond to the equilateral triangle that would be inscribed in the pupil 3: the center B of the triangle is also offset with respect to the optical center O.

Les lancers de rayons évoqués plus haut ont montré que le contour 7 pouvait être quelconque pourvu qu'il préserve une partie minimale de la lentille 4.The spoke casts mentioned above have shown that the contour 7 can be of any kind provided that it preserves a minimum part of the lens 4.

La forme et l'étendue de cette partie minimale dépendent de la fraction du flux lumineux issu de la source S à transmettre à travers la pupille de sortie 3.The shape and the extent of this minimum part depend on the fraction of the luminous flux coming from the source S to be transmitted through the exit pupil 3.

Dans le cas où on désire que 95% du flux soit transmis, le réfracteur 6 doit comprendre au minimum le réfracteur 6 rectangulaire représenté sur la Figure 1, délimité de part et d'autre du premier plan horizontal H1 et du premier plan vertical V1, respectivement, par des second et troisième plans horizontaux H2, H3 et par des second et troisième plans verticaux V2, V3.In the case where it is desired that 95% of the flux is transmitted, the refractor 6 must comprise at least the rectangular refractor 6 shown in FIG. 1, delimited on either side of the first horizontal plane H1 and the first vertical plane V1. respectively, by second and third horizontal planes H2, H3 and by second and third vertical planes V2, V3.

Le second plan horizontal H2 est écarté vers le haut du premier plan horizontal H1 d'une distance égale au 1/6 du diamètre de la pupille de sortie circulaire 3 ; le troisième plan H3 est situé vers le bas à une distance égale au 1/3 de ce diamètre.The second horizontal plane H2 is spaced upwards from the first horizontal plane H1 by a distance equal to 1/6 of the diameter of the circular exit pupil 3; the third plane H3 is located down to a distance equal to 1/3 of this diameter.

Les deuxième et troisième plans verticaux V2, V3 sont à cheval sur le premier plan vertical V1, à une distance l'un de l'autre égale au 2/3 du diamètre de la pupille 3.The second and third vertical planes V2, V3 are straddling the first vertical plane V1, at a distance from each other equal to 2/3 of the diameter of the pupil 3.

D'autres valeurs pourront être choisies selon la quantité de flux que l'on désire transmettre à travers le réfracteur, la valeur minimale à ne pas dépasser pour que le faisceau final réponde toujours à la réglementation étant de l'ordre de 75%.Other values may be chosen according to the amount of flux that is desired to transmit through the refractor, the minimum value not to exceed so that the final beam always meets the regulation being of the order of 75%.

La méthode des lancers de rayons a également montré que la contribution au faisceau R1, R2 de certaines parties périphériques de la lentille 4, devant absolument être supprimées, pouvaient être diminuée en modifiant la forme nominale du réflecteur 2.The ray casting method has also shown that the contribution to the beam R1, R2 of certain peripheral parts of the lens 4, which must absolutely be eliminated, could be reduced by modifying the nominal shape of the reflector 2.

Par exemple, la Figure 1 montre qu'un rayon lumineux R3 réfléchi en un point I sur la surface du miroir 2 en forme d'ellipsoïde, et traversant la pupille 3 en dehors du contour 7, peut être dévié selon un nouveau rayon R3', traversant l'intérieur du contour 7, en modifiant la surface du miroir au voisinage du point I.For example, Figure 1 shows that a light beam R3 reflected at a point I on the surface of the mirror 2 in the form of an ellipsoid, and passing through the pupil 3 outside the contour 7, can be deflected in a new radius R3 ' , passing through the interior of the contour 7, by modifying the surface of the mirror in the vicinity of the point I.

Une adaptation précise de la forme du réflecteur 2 au contour du réfracteur 6, dictée par la méthode du lancer de rayons, permet donc d'augmenter la fraction du flux lumineux transmis par ce réfracteur 6, quelle que soit sa forme.A precise adaptation of the shape of the reflector 2 to the contour of the refractor 6, dictated by the ray tracing method, therefore makes it possible to increase the fraction of the luminous flux transmitted by this refractor 6, whatever its shape.

Comme il va de soi l'invention ne se limite pas aux seuls modes d'exécution préférentiels décrits ci-dessus. Elle embrasse au contraire toutes les variantes possibles de réalisation.It goes without saying that the invention is not limited to the only preferred embodiments described above. On the contrary, it embraces all the possible variants of embodiment.

C'est ainsi par exemple que les exemples qui ont été donnés de contours carré, hexagonal ou triangulaire peuvent être mis en pratique avec des lentilles originelles de tout diamètre désiré ou approprié. D'autres formes sont également possibles, notamment un contour 7 en forme de losange, ou de parallélogramme, ou encore en forme de carré « incliné », c'est-à-dire dont un côté n'est ni vertical, ni horizontal, est possible en identifiant correctement la partie réellement utile de la lentille 4.For example, examples given of square, hexagonal or triangular contours may be practiced with original lenses of any desired or appropriate diameter. Other shapes are also possible, in particular a contour 7 in the shape of a diamond, or a parallelogram, or in the form of an "inclined" square, that is to say one of which is neither vertical nor horizontal, is possible by correctly identifying the really useful part of the lens 4.

Le remplacement des parties périphériques 5 de la lentille 4 qui ont été supprimées par des portions de verre dépoli, ou coloré, afin de créer des effets visuels, et qui n'altère pas le rendement du projecteur 1 puisque la contribution de ces parties au faisceau R2, R3' est faible, ne sortirait pas du cadre de la présente invention. dans la mesure où les caractéristiques de ce projecteur 1 résulte des revendications ci-après.The replacement of the peripheral portions 5 of the lens 4 which have been removed by portions of frosted glass, or colored, in order to create visual effects, and which does not affect the performance of the projector 1 since the contribution of these parts the beam R2, R3 'is weak, would not be outside the scope of the present invention. to the extent that the features of this projector 1 result from the claims below.

De même, le barycentre d'un réfracteur peut être décalé vers la droite ou vers la gauche par rapport à un plan vertical passant par la trace O de l'axe de symétrie XX' dans le plan P, si on désire réaliser des projecteurs gauche et droit d'aspects différents.Similarly, the barycenter of a refractor can be shifted to the right or to the left with respect to a vertical plane passing through the trace O of the axis of symmetry XX 'in the plane P, if it is desired to realize left headlights and right of different aspects.

Claims (20)

Projecteur (1) de véhicule automobile du type de ceux comportant un réflecteur (2), au moins en partie sensiblement de la forme d'un ellipsoïde d'axe de symétrie (XX') déterminé par l'intersection d'un premier plan vertical (V1) et d'un premier plan horizontal (H1), une source lumineuse (S) placée au voisinage d'un premier foyer dudit réflecteur (2), une pupille de sortie circulaire (3) du réflecteur (2) traversée par un premier flux lumineux (R1, R2, R3 ,R3') issu de la source (S), un réfracteur (6) placé dans le plan pupillaire (P) du réflecteur (2), le réfracteur (6) - étant une portion utile (6) d'une lentille convergente (4) - possédant un foyer (F) sensiblement confondu avec un second foyer du réflecteur (2), et - possédant un contour (7) qui présente un barycentre (B) décalé d'une distance prédéterminée par rapport au centre optique (O) de la lentille (4), caractérisé en ce que l'axe optique du réfracteur (6) est confondu avec l'axe de symétrie (XX'), et en ce que le second flux lumineux (R2, R3') traversant la portion utile (6) est égal à une fraction prédéterminée du premier flux (R1, R2, R3, R3').Motor vehicle headlamp (1) of the type of those comprising a reflector (2), at least partly substantially in the shape of an ellipsoid of axis of symmetry (XX ') determined by the intersection of a first vertical plane (V1) and a first horizontal plane (H1), a light source (S) placed in the vicinity of a first focus of said reflector (2), a circular exit pupil (3) of the reflector (2) traversed by a first luminous flux (R1, R2, R3, R3 ') from the source (S), a refractor (6) placed in the pupillary plane (P) of the reflector (2), the refractor (6) - being a useful portion (6) of a converging lens (4) having a focus (F) substantially coincident with a second focus of the reflector (2), and having an outline (7) having a centroid (B) offset by a predetermined distance from the optical center (O) of the lens (4), characterized in that the optical axis of the refractor (6) coincides with the axis of symmetry (XX '), and in that the second luminous flux (R2, R3') passing through the useful portion (6) is equal to a predetermined fraction of the first stream (R1, R2, R3, R3 '). Projecteur (1) de véhicule automobile selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que le barycentre (B) du contour (7) est décalé d'une distance prédéterminée vers le bas dans le premier plan vertical (V1) par rapport au centre optique (O) de la lentille (4).Motor vehicle headlamp (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the barycentre (B) of the contour (7) is offset by a predetermined distance downwards in the first vertical plane (V1) with respect to the optical center ( O) of the lens (4). Projecteur (1) de véhicule automobile selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que le barycentre (B) du contour (7) est décalé d'une distance prédéterminée latéralement par rapport au premier plan vertical (V1).Motor vehicle headlamp (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the barycentre (B) of the contour (7) is offset by a predetermined distance laterally with respect to the first vertical plane (V1). Projecteur (1) de véhicule automobile selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 3, caractérisé en ce que la fraction prédéterminée du premier flux (R1, R2, R3, R3') traversant le réfracteur est au moins égale à 75% du premier flux (R1, R2, R3, R3').Motor vehicle headlamp (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the predetermined fraction of the first flow (R1, R2, R3, R3 ') passing through the refractor is at least 75% of the first flow (R1, R2, R3, R3 '). Projecteur (1) de véhicule automobile selon la revendication 4, caractérisé en ce que la fraction prédéterminée du premier flux (R1, R2, R3, R3') traversant le réfracteur est d'environ 95% du premier flux (R1, R2, R3, R3').Motor vehicle headlamp (1) according to Claim 4, characterized in that the predetermined fraction of the first flow (R1, R2, R3, R3 ') passing through the refractor is approximately 95% of the first flow (R1, R2, R3 , R3 '). Projecteur (1) de véhicule automobile selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 5, caractérisé en ce que le réflecteur (2) présente au moins un élément de surface (I) s'écartant de la surface nominale de l'ellipsoïde et en ce qu'un rayon lumineux (R3') réfléchi par ledit élément (I) traverse la portion utile (6) de la lentille convergente (4). Motor vehicle headlamp (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the reflector (2) has at least one surface element (I) deviating from the nominal surface of the ellipsoid and in that a light beam (R3 ') reflected by said element (I) passes through the useful portion (6) of the converging lens (4). Projecteur (1) de véhicule automobile selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 6, caractérisé en ce que la portion utile (6) de la lentille (4) s'étend de part et d'autre du premier plan horizontal (H1), entre un second plan horizontal (H2), et un troisième plan horizontal (H3), situés à une distance du premier plan horizontal (H1) comprise entre 1/3 et au 1/6 du diamètre de la pupille de sortie circulaire (3) du réflecteur (2).Motor vehicle headlamp (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the useful portion (6) of the lens (4) extends on either side of the first horizontal plane (H1) between a second horizontal plane (H2) and a third horizontal plane (H3) located at a distance from the first horizontal plane (H1) of between 1/3 and 1/6 of the diameter of the circular exit pupil (3 ) of the reflector (2). Projecteur (1) de véhicule automobile selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 6, caractérisé en ce que la portion utile (6) de la lentille (4) s'étend de part et d'autre du premier plan vertical (V1), entre un second plan vertical (V2), et un troisième plan vertical (V3), situés chacun à une distance du premier plan vertical comprise entre 1/3 et au 1/6 du diamètre de la pupille de sortie circulaire (3) du réflecteur (2).Motor vehicle headlamp (1) according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the useful portion (6) of the lens (4) extends on either side of the first vertical plane (V1) between a second vertical plane (V2) and a third vertical plane (V3), each located at a distance from the first vertical plane between 1/3 and 1/6 of the diameter of the circular exit pupil (3) of the reflector (2). Projecteur (1) de véhicule automobile selon la revendication 8, caractérisé en ce que les distances entre le premier plan vertical (V1) et le deuxième plan vertical (V2) ou le troisième plan vertical (V3) sont différentes selon qu'il s'agit d'un projecteur droit ou gauche.Motor vehicle headlamp (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the distances between the first vertical plane (V1) and the second vertical plane (V2) or the third vertical plane (V3) are different depending on whether it is is a right or left projector. Projecteur (1) de véhicule automobile selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que le contour (7) est choisi parmi le groupe comprenant le carré, l'hexagone, le triangle, le losange, le parallélogramme.Projector (1) of a motor vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contour (7) is selected from the group comprising the square, the hexagon, the triangle, the diamond, the parallelogram. Projecteur (1) de véhicule automobile selon la revendication 10, caractérisé en ce que le diamètre de la lentille (4) vaut sensiblement 60 mm et en ce que le contour (7) est un carré de sensiblement 36 mm de côté.Motor vehicle headlamp (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that the diameter of the lens (4) is substantially 60 mm and in that the contour (7) is a square of substantially 36 mm side. Projecteur (1) de véhicule automobile selon la revendication 10, caractérisé en ce que le diamètre de la lentille (4) vaut sensiblement 66 mm et en ce que le contour (7) est un hexagone régulier de sensiblement 26 mm de côté.Motor vehicle headlamp (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that the diameter of the lens (4) is substantially 66 mm and in that the contour (7) is a regular hexagon of substantially 26 mm side. Projecteur (1) de véhicule automobile selon la revendication 10, caractérisé en ce que le diamètre de la lentille (4) vaut sensiblement 72 mm et en ce que le contour (7) est un triangle isocèle dont la base vaut sensiblement 60 mm et la hauteur 50 mm.Motor vehicle headlamp (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that the diameter of the lens (4) is substantially 72 mm and in that the contour (7) is an isosceles triangle whose base is substantially 60 mm and the height 50 mm. Projecteur (1) de véhicule automobile selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce qu'un cache est disposé entre le réflecteur (2) et la pupille de sortie circulaire (3) du réflecteur (2).Motor vehicle headlamp (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a cover is arranged between the reflector (2) and the circular exit pupil (3) of the reflector (2). Projecteur (1) de véhicule automobile selon la revendication 11, caractérisé en ce que le cache intercepte une partie des rayons lumineux avant qu'ils n'atteignent le réfracteur (6) pour éviter qu'ils ne se retrouvent dans le faisceau émergeant du réfracteur (6).Motor vehicle headlamp (1) according to claim 11, characterized in that the cover intercepts a portion of the light rays before they reach the refractor (6) to prevent them from being in the emerging beam of the refractor (6). Projecteur (1) de véhicule automobile selon la revendication 12, caractérisé en ce que le cache est disposé au second foyer du réflecteur (2), un bord de ce cache passant par l'axe de symétrie (XX') du réflecteur pour déterminer une coupure dans le faisceau émergeant du réfracteur (6).Motor vehicle headlamp (1) according to Claim 12, characterized in that the cover is arranged at the second focus of the reflector (2), an edge of this cover passing through the axis of symmetry (XX ') of the reflector to determine a cut in the beam emerging from the refractor (6). Projecteur (1) de véhicule automobile selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que la lentille convergente (4) est une lentille plan convexe.Motor vehicle headlamp (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the convergent lens (4) is a convex plane lens. Projecteur (1) de véhicule automobile selon la revendications précédente, caractérisé en ce que la lentille convergente (4) est une lentille plan convexe sphérique.Motor vehicle headlamp (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the convergent lens (4) is a spherical convex plane lens. Projecteur (1) de véhicule automobile selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 16, caractérisé en ce que la lentille convergente (4) est une lentille biconvexe.Motor vehicle headlamp (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 16, characterized in that the convergent lens (4) is a biconvex lens. Projecteur (1) de véhicule automobile selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 16, caractérisé en ce que la lentille convergente (4) est un ménisque convergent.Motor vehicle headlamp (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 16, characterized in that the converging lens (4) is a convergent meniscus.
EP06290649.0A 2005-04-22 2006-04-20 Automotive vehicle headlight Not-in-force EP1715246B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR0504092A FR2884898B1 (en) 2005-04-22 2005-04-22 MOTOR VEHICLE PROJECTOR.

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1715246A1 true EP1715246A1 (en) 2006-10-25
EP1715246B1 EP1715246B1 (en) 2016-03-23

Family

ID=34955193

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP06290649.0A Not-in-force EP1715246B1 (en) 2005-04-22 2006-04-20 Automotive vehicle headlight

Country Status (5)

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US (1) US20060250810A1 (en)
EP (1) EP1715246B1 (en)
JP (1) JP2006302903A (en)
ES (1) ES2575904T3 (en)
FR (1) FR2884898B1 (en)

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP5571516B2 (en) * 2010-03-24 2014-08-13 スタンレー電気株式会社 Vehicle signal lights
FR3002303B1 (en) * 2013-02-21 2015-03-20 Valeo Vision UNIT OF LIGHTING AND / OR SIGNALING IN PARTICULAR OF A MOTOR VEHICLE
US9676320B2 (en) * 2013-07-19 2017-06-13 North America Lighting Inc. Vehicle lamp

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FR721270A (en) 1930-08-16 1932-03-01 Automotive headlight refinements
FR2620984A1 (en) 1987-09-29 1989-03-31 Koito Mfg Co Ltd PROJECTOR TYPE HEADLAMP FOR AUTOMOBILE
US6435703B2 (en) 2000-01-12 2002-08-20 Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Vehicular headlamp
EP1243846A1 (en) 2001-03-21 2002-09-25 Valeo Vision Motor vehicle headlamp projector having a mirror and a conjugated deflection element, and a method of manufacturing the same
EP1302719A1 (en) * 2001-10-15 2003-04-16 Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Projector headlamp
EP1491816A1 (en) 2003-06-27 2004-12-29 Valeo Vision Vehicle headlamp comprising a reflector and an optical deflection element

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US3497687A (en) * 1967-08-30 1970-02-24 Donald W Hermann Lens attachment for automobile headlights
US4743929A (en) * 1984-12-25 1988-05-10 Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha Flash device for use in photography
JPH0731921B2 (en) * 1988-01-20 1995-04-10 市光工業株式会社 Projector headlight
US5159491A (en) * 1990-02-20 1992-10-27 Eastman Kodak Company Combination collimating lens and correcting prism
IT1307677B1 (en) * 1999-02-08 2001-11-14 Magneti Marelli Spa MOTOR VEHICLE PROJECTOR

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR721270A (en) 1930-08-16 1932-03-01 Automotive headlight refinements
FR2620984A1 (en) 1987-09-29 1989-03-31 Koito Mfg Co Ltd PROJECTOR TYPE HEADLAMP FOR AUTOMOBILE
US6435703B2 (en) 2000-01-12 2002-08-20 Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Vehicular headlamp
EP1243846A1 (en) 2001-03-21 2002-09-25 Valeo Vision Motor vehicle headlamp projector having a mirror and a conjugated deflection element, and a method of manufacturing the same
EP1302719A1 (en) * 2001-10-15 2003-04-16 Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Projector headlamp
EP1491816A1 (en) 2003-06-27 2004-12-29 Valeo Vision Vehicle headlamp comprising a reflector and an optical deflection element

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US20060250810A1 (en) 2006-11-09
FR2884898B1 (en) 2007-08-31
ES2575904T3 (en) 2016-07-04
JP2006302903A (en) 2006-11-02
EP1715246B1 (en) 2016-03-23
FR2884898A1 (en) 2006-10-27

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