Light device for automobile overhead lights

• US 7,025,483 B2
• Filed: 06/24/2003
• Issued: 04/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Valeo Vision (Valeo SE)
• Original Assignee: Valeo Vision (Valeo SE)
• Inventors: Albou, Pierre
• Primary Examiner(s): Ward, John Anthony
• Assistant Examiner(s): Choi, Jacob Y.
• Application Number:
  US10/603,288
• Publication Number:
  US 20040001343A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,022 Days
• Field of Search: 362/538, 362/539, 362/520, 362/522, 362/509, 362/328
• US Class Current: 362/538
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/255 Lenses with a front view of circular or truncated circular outline
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/275 Lens surfaces, e.g. coatings or surface structures
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/00 Simple or compound lenses

Abstract

The present invention relates to a projection device in which a projection lens has undergone arrangements at its exit surface, and more particularly side areas of this exit surface. The arrangements are intended to divert certain light rays emitted by a light source of the light in order to illuminate overhead lights without interfering with the homogeneity of the light beam of said light. The arrangements made may consist of protuberances in the form of serrations.

Claims

1. A projection device for a motor vehicle, comprising

a reflector,

a light source producing a set of light signals which can be reflected by the reflector,

an exit lens, comprising an entry surface and an exit surface, for producing a light beam, and

a shield disposed between the reflector and the exit lens in order to produce a cutoff in the light beam produced,

wherein the exit lens comprises a central part of the exit surface which encompasses a region of the exit surface intersected by a vertical plane defined by an optical axis of the projection device, and first and second side parts of the exit surface laterally disposed on opposing sides of the central part, and a set of protuberances produced in at least one side part of the exit surface of the exit lens, each protuberance diverting in a given direction a part of the light signals encountering the protuberance, the protuberances being produced solely on the side parts of the exit surface of the exit lens.

2. A projection device according to claim 1, wherein the diversion directions are directions situated above the cutoff.

3. A projection device according to claim 1, wherein each protuberance is able to divert some of the light signals encountering the protuberance in a direction corresponding to a gantry point.

4. A projection device according to claim 1,

wherein the protuberance has a thickness of between 0.2 millimeters and 3 millimeters.

5. A projection device according to claim 4, wherein the protuberance has a thickness of between 0.2 millimeters and 2 millimeters.

6. A projection device according to claim 5, wherein the protuberance has a thickness of between 0.5 millimeters and 1 millimeter.

7. A projection device according to claim 1, wherein the exit lens comprises at least two distinct protuberances diverting some of the light signals in distinct given directions.

8. A projection device according to claim 1, wherein the exit lens comprises at least two distinct protuberances in each of the first and the second side parts.

9. A projection device according to claim 8, wherein the exit lens comprises at least four distinct protuberances in each of the first and the second side parts.

10. A projection device according to claim 9, wherein the exit lens comprises at least six distinct protuberances in each of the first and the second side parts.

11. A projection device according to claim 1, wherein the exit lens comprises four, six or twelve distinct protuberances.

12. A projection device according to claim 1, wherein the exit lens comprises several protuberances diverting some of the light signals in the same given direction.

13. A projection device according to claim 1, wherein each protuberance produced in the exit surface of the exit lens has an end situated at a periphery of the exit lens.

14. A projection device according to claim 1, wherein the protuberances produced in the exit surface of the exit lens are disposed on the exit surface of the exit lens symmetrically with respect to a vertical axis of the exit lens.

15. A projection device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the protuberances is produced in the form of a flute.

16. An automobile equipped with a projection device according to claim 1.

17. A projection device according to claim 1, wherein each of the protuberances produced in the exit surface of the exit lens has an end situated in an immediate vicinity of a periphery of the exit lens.

18. A projection device adapted to produce a set of light signals, the device comprising:

a light source adapted to emit light;

a reflector disposed to receive and reflect light generated by the light source to form a light beam having an optical axis;

an exit lens disposed in the path of the light beam, the lens having an entry surface facing the light source and an opposing exit surface, the exit surface having a central part which encompasses a region of the exit surface intersected by a vertical plane defined by the optical axis, and first and second side parts, the side parts being laterally disposed on opposing sides of the central part, and

a shield disposed between the reflector and the exit lens in order to produce a cutoff in the light beam produced,

wherein the exit lens further comprises a plurality of modified surface regions having tangent planes that differ from adjacent surfaces of the lens, the modified surface regions being produced solely on the side parts of the exit surface of the lens, each of the modified surface regions diverting in a given direction a part of the light signals encountering the modified surface region.

19. A projection device according to claim 18, wherein the modified surface regions are produced on at least one of the first and second side parts of the exit surface of the lens.

20. A projection device according to claim 19, wherein the modified surface regions are produced on both the first and second side parts of the exit surface of the lens.