LIGHTING OR SIGNALLING DEVICE WITH DEPTH EFFECT

• US 20070247862A1
• Filed: 04/23/2007
• Published: 10/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Valeo Vision (Valeo SE)
• Original Assignee: Valeo Vision (Valeo SE)
• Inventors: GASQUET, Jean-Claude, TANGHE, Alcina, THIERRY, Benjamin
• Application Number:
  US11/738,593
• Publication Number:
  US 20070247862A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/498
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/24 Light guides
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/239 plate-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/243 emitting light from one or more of its extremities
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/249 with two or more light sources being coupled into the light guide

Abstract

A lighting or signalling device in which a particular output unit of the device in question is formed, the output unit consisting of a stack of screens, independent of one another; each screen comprises a plurality of optical patterns produced in its thickness, able to divert light signals emitted by a light source; the spread of the light beam emerging from the device in question is thus adjustable in a first diffusion direction (OX), corresponding, for each screen in question, to a direction parallel to a plane defined by the screen and containing the optical patterns, and in a second diffusion direction (OZ), corresponding to a direction parallel to a plane roughly perpendicular to the planes defined by the screens, the spread on the second diffusion plane depending on the relative positions of the various screens. In this way in particular a “block of illuminated material” effect is obtained.

Claims

1. A lighting or signalling device for a motor vehicle, comprising:

at least one light source emitting a light beam, comprising a plurality of light signals, in the direction of an output block of the lighting or signalling device, wherein the output block comprises a stack of screens, said stack of screens comprising at least a first screen and a second screen, each of said first and second screens comprising an entry face receiving said plurality of light signals and an exit face, said entry face and said exit face of each screen being joined by a top face and a bottom face defining between them a screen thickness, at least one of said first or second screens comprising at least one optical pattern produced in the thickness of the screen in question, comprising a through cavity produced in the screen that comprises it.

2. A lighting or signalling device according to the claim 1, wherein said top face and said bottom face are planar or regulated.

3. A lighting or signalling device according to the claim 1, wherein said top face and said bottom face are parallel.

4. A lighting or signalling device according to the claim 1, wherein said top face and said bottom face are planar and form an angle to each other.

5. A lighting or signalling device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one optical pattern on one and the same screen are disposed on at least one curve.

6. A lighting or signalling device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one optical pattern defines a curve that is parallel to said entry face of the screen.

7. A lighting or signalling device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one optical pattern comprises two optical patterns on one and the same screen are disposed according to at least a first curve and a second curve.

8. A lighting or signalling device according to claim 7, wherein said first curve and said second curve are parallel to each other.

9. A lighting or signalling device according to claim 5, wherein said at least one optical pattern comprises a plurality of optical patterns disposed on a given curved row and are either exclusively convergent on the first level or convergent or divergent on the other levels.

10. A lighting or signalling device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one optical pattern is disposed, progressing from said entry face to said exit face of each screen, on a first curve comprising exclusively convergent optical patterns, then on a second curve comprising exclusively convergent optical patterns, and then on a third curve comprising exclusively divergent optical patterns.

11. A lighting or signalling device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one optical pattern comprises two optical patterns on one and the same screen that are offset with respect to each other, the two optical patterns not intercepting the same light signal.

12. A lighting or signalling device according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of light signals are distributed in light planes parallel to the top face of each screen, the optical patterns of one of the screens intercepting all the light signals on a light plane.

13. A lighting or signalling device according to claim 5, wherein the light signals enter the screens perpendicular to the entry face of each screen in question.

14. A lighting or signalling device according to claim 1, wherein any pair of optical patterns comprises a first optical pattern on a first screen and a second optical pattern on a second screen in contact with the first screen disposed so that the first optical pattern and the second optical pattern have an offset in a direction (OX) perpendicular to the exit face.

15. A lighting or signalling device according to claim 1, which comprises between three and seven stacked screens.

16. A lighting or signalling device according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of each screen is between two and six millimeters.

17. A lighting or signalling device according to claim 1, wherein said exit face of each screen is curved.

18. A lighting or signalling device according to claim 1, wherein the curved character of the screens creates an overall rounded exit face of the stack of screens.

19. A lighting or signalling device according to claim 1, wherein two entry faces of two consecutive screens in the stack of screens are aligned.

20. A lighting or signalling device according to claim 1, wherein two entry faces of two consecutive screens in the stack of screens are offset in a direction perpendicular to the exit face.

21. A lighting or signalling device according to claim 1, wherein the screens constituting the stack of screens are identical in shape.

22. A lighting or signalling device according to claim 1, wherein the screens are produced from a transparent material.

23. A lighting or signalling device according to claim 1, wherein the screens are produced from polymethyl methacrylate or polycarbonate.

24. A lighting or signalling device according to claim 1, wherein two consecutive screens in the stack of screens are fixed to each other by means of an ink placed between the two screens in question and heated by laser.

26. A motor vehicle equipped with a lighting or signalling device according to claim 1.

25. A screen for use in a lighting or signalling device wherein said screen comprises:

an entry face and an exit face, said entry face and said exit face of said screen being joined by a top face and a bottom face defining a screen thickness, wherein the screen comprises at least one optical pattern produced in the thickness of the screen.