PICTOGRAM-DISPLAYING SIGNALING DEVICE FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE, AND SIGNAL LIGHT EQUIPPED WITH SUCH A LIGHTING DEVICE

• US 20170305332A1
• Filed: 09/15/2015
• Published: 10/26/2017
• 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
• Granted Patent: US 10,309,608 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 adapted to display pictograms, notably for a motor vehicle, the device being configured to implement at least one signaling function of a motor vehicle, the device wherein 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.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the display means are configured so that the light beam emitted by a pictogram alone has the statutory photometric characteristics of the signaling function.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device includes complementary signaling means including a complementary zone, the complementary means being configured to emit a complementary light beam emitted from the complementary zone, the combination of the pictogram light beam and the complementary light beam having the statutory characteristics.

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein the complementary means include 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.

5. The device according to claim 3, wherein the display zone and the complementary zone are adjacent.

6. The device according to claim 5, the complementary zone surrounds the display zone at least in part.

7. The device as according to claim 1, wherein the at least one pictogram relates to emergency situations.

8. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one pictogram relates to general traffic information.

9. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pictograms are dynamic.

10. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device includes a control unit configured to control automatically the display of the pictograms as a function of parameters of the vehicle and/or the environmental situation of the vehicle.

11. The device according to claim 10, wherein the device includes sensors disposed on the vehicle, the sensors being configured to evaluate the environmental situation of the vehicle.

12. The device according to claim 10, wherein the control unit includes programmable commands configured to set the parameters of the display of the pictograms.

13. The device according to claim 1, wherein the display means include a liquid crystal, plasma, inorganic or organic light-emitting diode type screen, the display zone being that of the screen.

14. The device according to claim 1, wherein the display means include at least one laser source adapted to form a laser beam, a transmission surface defining the display zone, and sweeping means configured to sweep the laser beam over the transmission surface.

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

16. The device according to claim 1, wherein the display means include 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.

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

18. The device according to claim 6, wherein the at least one pictogram relates to emergency situations.

19. The device according to claim 7, wherein the at least one pictogram relates to general traffic information.

20. The device according to claim 8, wherein the pictograms are dynamic.