Pictogram-displaying signaling device for a motor vehicle, and signal light equipped with such a lighting device

• US 10,309,608 B2
• Filed: 09/15/2015
• Issued: 06/04/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Valeo Vision (Valeo SE)
• Original Assignee: Valeo Vision (Valeo SE)
• Inventors: Albou, Pierre, Boinet, Loic, Sagna, Boubacar, Morel, Xavier, El Idrissi, Hafid, Sommerschuh, Stephan
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Leon Viet Q
• Application Number:
  US15/516,334
• Publication Number:
  US 20170305332A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,358 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/26 the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2607 comprising at least two indicating lamps
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/324 for signalling that a door is open or intended to be opened
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/5035 electronic displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/535 to prevent rear-end collisions, e.g. by indicating safety distance at the rear of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/545 for indicating other traffic conditions, e.g. fog, heavy traffic
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2900/50 Arrangements to reconfigure features of lighting or signalling devices, or to choose from a list of pre-defined settings
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/16 Laser light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/14 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/16 Light sources where the light is generated by photoluminescent material spaced from a primary light generating element
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/30 characterised by reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/10 Automotive applications
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/02 by tracing or scanning a light beam on a screen

Abstract

The invention concerns a signaling device adapted to display pictograms, notably for a motor vehicle. The device is configured to implement at least one signaling function of a motor vehicle. The device includes display means including a display zone intended to be disposed on the vehicle, the display means being adapted to display pictograms in the display zone, each pictogram emitting a light beam having at least in part the statutory photometric characteristics of at least one of said at least one signaling functions.

Claims

1. A signaling device for a motor vehicle adapted to display pictograms, comprising:

a display zone disposed on the vehicle,

a complementary zone that surrounds the display zone, and

circuitry configured to

display a pictogram in the display zone, the pictogram emitting a light beam that partially meets in shape and intensity statutory photometric characteristics of at least one signaling function; and

emit a complementary light beam from the complementary zone, wherein

the complementary light beam compensates differences of shape and intensity of the pictogram, so that a combination of the display zone light beam and the complementary light beam meets in the shape and intensity statutory photometric characteristics.

2. The signaling device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a light source adapted to emit light rays and means for distributing the light rays over the complementary zone in order to form the complementary light beam.

3. The signaling device according to claim 1, wherein the pictogram relates to emergency situations.

4. The signaling device according to claim 1, wherein the pictogram relates to general traffic information.

5. The signaling device according to claim 1, wherein the pictogram is dynamic.

6. The signaling device according to claim 1, wherein the circuitry is further configured to control automatically the display of the pictograms as a function of parameters of the vehicle or the environmental situation of the vehicle.

7. The signaling device according to claim 6, further comprising:

sensors disposed on the vehicle, the sensors being configured to evaluate the environmental situation of the vehicle.

8. The signaling device according to claim 6, wherein the circuitry is further configured to set the parameters of the display of the pictograms.

9. The signaling device according to claim 1, wherein the display zone is a liquid crystal, plasma, inorganic or organic light-emitting diode type screen.

10. The signaling device according to claim 1, wherein

the display zone includes at least one laser source adapted to form a laser beam, a transmission surface defining the display zone, and

the circuitry is further configured to sweep the laser beam over the transmission surface.

11. The signaling device according to claim 1, wherein the display zone includes a surface light guide including groups of prism-type structures or cavities on one of its lateral faces.

12. The signaling device according to claim 1, wherein the display zone includes at least one light source in the form of at least one light-emitting diode, a transmission surface defining the display zone, and a matrix of micromirrors configured to reflect the light rays from the at least one light source toward the transmission surface.

13. A motor vehicle signal light including a signaling device, according to claim 1, adapted to display pictograms.

14. The signaling device according to claim 1, wherein an appearance of the pictogram evolves dynamically according to a distance between a following motor vehicle and the motor vehicle.

15. The signaling device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a second complementary zone that surrounds in part the complementary zone, the second complementary zone emitting a second complementary light beam.

16. The signaling device according to claim 15, wherein the second complementary light beam complements a turn indicator function of the pictogram.