METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A VEHICLE TAIL LIGHT AND A LIGHT ASSEMBLY FOR A VEHICLE

• US 20160207450A1
• Filed: 01/14/2016
• Published: 07/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Valeo Iluminacion SA (Valeo SE)
• Original Assignee: Valeo Iluminacion SA (Valeo SE)
• Inventors: Fuentes, Manuel, Martinez, Juan-Manuel, Del Carmen Montano, Maria
• Granted Patent: US 10,023,109 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/22 for reverse drive
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2607 comprising at least two indicating lamps
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/30 for indicating rear of vehicle, e.g. by means of reflecting surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/346 with automatic actuation
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/44 for indicating braking action or preparation for braking, e.g. by detection of the foot approaching the brake pedal
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/20 Multi-color single source or LED matrix, e.g. yellow blinker and red brake lamp generated by single lamp
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/14 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/237 rod-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/243 emitting light from one or more of its extremities
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/247 with a single light source being coupled into the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/249 with two or more light sources being coupled into the light guide

Abstract

A method and tail light for controlling optical modules of the tail light, comprising the steps of

activating one or more optical modules to generate a first signaling function,

if the vehicle has reverse gear engaged, activating, according to a first mode of operation, one or more other optical modules to generate a second signaling function,

if the vehicle does not have reverse gear engaged, activating the or at least one of the other optical modules to generate a complementary beam of light distinct from the beam of light that it emits in the first mode of operation and that supplements the first signaling function.

The invention also relates to a tail light, notably for implementing this method.

Claims

1. A method for controlling optical modules of a tail light of a vehicle, said method comprising the following steps:

activating a first set of one or more optical modules, said first set

generating a first signaling function,

if the vehicle has reverse gear engaged, activating, according to a first mode of operation, a second set of one or more optical modules, so that said second set generates a second signaling function distinct from said first signaling function,

if the vehicle does not have reverse gear engaged, activating, according to a second mode of operation, said one or more optical modules of said second set, so that said one or more optical modules generates a complementary beam of light distinct from a beam of light it emits in said first mode of operation, said complementary beam of light supplementing said first signaling function.

2. The method according to claim 1, in which said first signaling function is a tail position light or a stop light.

3. The method according to claim 1, in which said second signaling function is a reversing light.

4. The method according to claim 1, in which said complementary beam of light is designed to enhance a light intensity of said first signaling function.

15. The method according to claim 2, in which said second signaling function is a reversing light.

16. The method according to claim 3, in which said complementary beam of light is designed to enhance a light intensity of said first signaling function.

5. A vehicle tail light comprising:

a first set of one or more optical modules, said one or more optical modules being able to generate one or more beams of light in such a way that said first set generates a first signaling function,

a second set of one or more optical modules, said one or more optical modules being able to generate one or more beams of light in such a way that said second set generates a second signaling function distinct from said first signaling function,

wherein at least one of said one or more optical modules of said second set, referred to as dual-function optical module, is arranged in such a way as to be able to emit two distinct beams of light alternatively, a first beam of light creating or participating in the creation of said second signaling function, and a second complementary beam supplementing said first signaling function.

6. The vehicle tail light according to claim 5, in which at least one of said one or more optical modules comprises a light guide comprising at least one input diopter and at least one illuminating surface, said light guide being arranged in such a way as to be able to receive the rays of light emitted by a light source through said at least one input diopter and guide these rays of light as far as said at least one illuminating surface, whence these rays of light exit to generate or participate in the generation of said first signaling function or said second signaling function.

7. The vehicle tail light according to claim 5, in which said dual-function optical module comprises a light guide comprising two input diopters distant from one another and an illuminating surface, said light guide, referred to as a dual-input light guide, being arranged in such a way that:

one of said two input diopters, referred to as a first input diopter, can receive the light from a light source through said first input diopter,

the other of said two input diopters, referred to as a second input diopter, can receive the light from another light source through said second input diopter,

it guides the light coming from its input diopters as far as said illuminating surface, whence this light exits to generate or participate in the generation of said second signaling function or to supplement said first signaling function.

8. The vehicle tall light according to claim 7, in which said dual-function optical module comprises two light sources of different intensities and/or different colors, one of said light sources being arranged so as to emit through said first input diopter of said dual-input light guide, the other of said light sources being arranged to emit through said second input diopter of said dual-input light guide.

9. The vehicle tail light according to claim 8, in which said light sources from which said dual-input light guide receives the light are photoemissive elements of distinct light-emitting diodes.

10. The vehicle tail light according to claim 6, in which said dual-function optical module comprises:

a light guide comprising an input diopter and an illuminating surface,

two light sources arranged to emit through said input diopter, said two light sources having different intensities and/or different colors,

said light guide being arranged to guide the light coming from said input diopter as far as said illuminating surface, whence this light exits to generate or participate in the generation of said second signaling function or to supplement said first signaling function.

11. The vehicle tail light according to claim 8, in which one of said light sources of said dual-function optical module is able to emit red light and the other of said light sources of said dual-function optical module is able to emit white light.

12. The vehicle tail light according to claim 11, in which said one or more optical modules of said first set comprise at least one light source able to emit red light, so that the light emitted by said first set is red.

13. The vehicle tail light according to claim 6, comprising a control module controlling said light sources of said dual-function optical module, said control module being able to activate one of said light sources when the vehicle is not in reverse gear and able to activate the other of said light sources when the vehicle is reversing and/or is in reverse gear.

14. A method for controlling optical modules of a tail light of a vehicle, said method comprising the following steps:

activating a first set of one or more optical modules, said first set generating a first signaling function,

if the vehicle has a reverse gear engaged, activating, according to a first mode of operation, a second set of one or more optical modules, so that said second set generates a second signaling function distinct from said first signaling function,

if the vehicle does not have reverse gear engaged, activating, according to a second mode of operation, said one or more optical modules of said second set, so that said one or more optical modules generates a complementary beam of light distinct from a beam of light it emits in said first mode of operation, said complementary beam of light supplementing said first signaling function,

wherein said method is implemented to control said one or more optical modules of the tail light according to claim 6.

17. The vehicle tail light according to claim 6, in which said dual-function optical module comprises a light guide comprising two input diopters distant from one another and an illuminating surface, said light guide, referred to as a dual-input light guide, being arranged in such a way that:

one of said two input diopters, referred to as a first input diopter, can receive the light from a light source through said first input diopter,

the other of said two input diopters, referred to as a second input diopter, can receive the light from another light source through said second input diopter,

it guides the light coming from its input diopters as far as said illuminating surface, whence this light exits to generate or participate in the generation of said second signaling function or to supplement said first signaling function.

18. The vehicle tail light according to claim 9, in which one of said light sources of said dual-function optical module is able to emit red light and the other of said light sources of said dual-function optical module is able to emit white light.

19. The vehicle tail light according claim 5, comprising a control module controlling light sources of said dual-function optical module, said control module being able to activate one of said light sources when the vehicle is not in reverse gear and able to activate the other of said light sources when the vehicle is reversing and/or is in reverse gear.

20. The vehicle tail light according claim 11, comprising a control module controlling said light sources of said dual-function optical module, said control module being able to activate one of said light sources when the vehicle is not in reverse gear and able to activate the other of said light sources when the vehicle is reversing and/or is in reverse gear.