Configurable lighting system with shared lens and first and second internal optics forming a first and second module configuration for providing two different lighting functions

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020200352-A1
Application number	US-202016810432-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 5, 2020
Priority date	Jun 28, 2018
Publication date	Jun 25, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

A configurable vehicle lighting module system includes a shared lens configured to provide a first light pattern for a first vehicle lighting function and a second light pattern for a second vehicle lighting function. The shared lens includes a mounting axis which provides a reference for mounting the shared lens on a vehicle. First internal optics are configured to direct light toward the shared lens to provide the first light pattern, and second internal optics are configured to direct light toward the shared lens to provide the second light pattern. A coupling system is configured to join the shared lens with either the first internal optics to form a first module configuration for providing the first vehicle lighting function, or with the second internal optics to form a second module configuration for providing the second vehicle lighting function. The shared lens conceals physical differences between the first and second internal optics such that the first and second light module configurations have the same appearance when viewed along the mounting axis of the shared lens.

First claim

1 . A configurable vehicle lighting module system comprising:
a shared lens optically configured to provide a first light pattern for a first vehicle lighting function and a second light pattern for a second vehicle lighting function, the shared lens comprising a mounting axis which provides a reference for mounting the shared lens on a vehicle; first internal optics configured to direct light toward the shared lens to provide the first light pattern for the first vehicle lighting function; second internal optics configured to direct light toward the shared lens to provide the second light pattern for the second vehicle lighting function; and a coupling system configured to join the shared lens with either the first internal optics to form a first module configuration for providing the first vehicle lighting function, or with the second internal optics to form a second module configuration for providing the second vehicle lighting function, wherein said shared lens conceals physical differences between the first and second internal optics such that the first and second light module configurations have the same appearance when viewed along the mounting axis of the shared lens, wherein the first lighting function is a supplemental lighting function for enhancing a high beam light function, and the second lighting function is a static bending lighting function for illuminating a turning path of the vehicle.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein:
said first light pattern comprises a first direction, a first horizontal spread and a first vertical spread, said second light pattern comprises a second direction, a second horizontal spread and a second vertical spread, and at least one of the first direction, first horizontal spread and first vertical spread of said first light pattern is different from a respective one of the second direction, second horizontal spread and second vertical spread of the second light pattern.

3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein said shared lens comprises a first region configured to provide said first light pattern, and a second region configured to provide said second light pattern.

4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein said first region partially overlaps with said second region.

5 . A configurable vehicle lighting module system comprising:
a shared lens configured to provide a first light pattern for a first vehicle lighting function and a second light pattern for a second vehicle lighting function, the shared lens comprising a mounting axis which provides a reference for mounting the shared lens on a vehicle; first internal optics configured to direct light toward the shared lens to provide the first light pattern for the first vehicle lighting function; second internal optics configured to direct light toward the shared lens to provide the second light pattern for the second vehicle lighting function; and a coupling system configured to join the shared lens with either the first internal optics to form a first module configuration for providing the first vehicle lighting function, or with the second internal optics to form a second module configuration for providing the second vehicle lighting function, wherein said shared lens conceals physical differences between the first and second internal optics such that the first and second light module configurations have the same appearance when viewed along the mounting axis of the shared lens, said first light pattern comprises a first direction, a first horizontal spread and a first vertical spread, said second light pattern comprises a second direction, a second horizontal spread and a second vertical spread, and wherein a first direction of the first light pattern is offset from a second direction of the second light pattern by an offset angle along a horizon direction substantially perpendicular to said reference axis.

6 . The system of claim 3 , wherein said shared lens is a blended lens.

7 . The system of claim 2 , wherein:
the first internal optics comprise a first reflector configured to direct light for the first light pattern toward the shared lens, and the second internal optics comprises a second reflector configured to direct light for the second light pattern toward the shared lens.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second internal optics comprises: an optical portion including at least one optical element, and
a holding portion configured to be attached to the optical portion such that the shared lens is joined with said optical portion to form an integral vehicle lighting module.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said coupling system comprises a first joining portion provided on said shared lens, and a second joining portion provided on each of the first and second internal optics, the first joining portion configured to engage the second joining portion such that the shared lens can be joined with either one of the first and second internal optics.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein said first joining portion comprises a plurality of tabs provided on said shared lens, and said second joining portion comprises a plurality of corresponding recesses provided on each of said first and second internal optics and configured to engage said respective plurality of tabs.

11 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a first light source configured to provide light for the first light pattern and a second light source configured to provide light for the second light pattern.

12 . A configurable vehicle lighting module system comprising:
a shared lens optically configured to provide a first light pattern for a first vehicle lighting function and a second light pattern for a second vehicle lighting function, the shared lens comprising a mounting axis which provides a reference for mounting the shared lens on a vehicle; first internal optics configured to direct light toward the shared lens to provide the first light pattern for the first vehicle lighting function; second internal optics configured to direct light toward the shared lens to provide the second light pattern for the second vehicle lighting function; and a coupling system configured to join the shared lens with either the first internal optics to form a first module configuration for providing the first vehicle lighting function, or with the second internal optics to form a second module configuration for providing the second vehicle lighting function, wherein said shared lens conceals physical differences between the first and second internal optics such that the first and second light module configurations have the same appearance when viewed along the mounting axis of the shared lens, further comprising a first light source configured to provide light for the first light pattern and a second light source configured to provide light for the second light pattern, wherein: said first light source is positioned in a first position relative to the reference axis, and said second light source is positioned in a second position offset from said first position by an X offset distance in an X direction parallel to the reference axis and a Y offset distance in a Y direction perpendicular to said X direction.

13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein said X offset amount is approximately 2 mm and said Y offset amount is approximately 6.38 mm.

14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein
the first lighting function is a supplemental lighting function for enhancing a high beam light function; and the second lighting function is a static bending lighting function for illuminating a turning path of the vehicle.

15 . The system of

Assignees

• Valeo North America Inc

Inventors

• Fritz Chadwick
• Hodnett Don
• Simons Greg

Classifications

• F21S41/29

  Attachment thereof (for achieving variable light distribution F21S41/63) · CPC title

• F21W2102/19

  for curves · CPC title

• F21S41/39

  Attachment thereof (achieving variable light distribution by movable reflectors F21S41/675) · CPC title

• F21S41/295

  specially adapted to projection lenses · CPC title

• F21S41/321

  the reflector being a surface of revolution or a planar surface, e.g. truncated · CPC title