ANTELLINI, Barbara (Via Sabina 26, MENTANA, I-00013, IT)
ANTELLINI, Barbara (Via Sabina 26, MENTANA, I-00013, IT)
| CLAIMS 1. External lighting system (150) for transportation vehicles (1,21) comprising: - at least one first complete or partial lighting device (5; 20,27) intended to perform a specific external lighting function; - a first power supply circuit (A, 151) for said first lighting device; a control unit (C_P) connected to or at least partially integrating said first power supply circuit (A, 151); - at least one complete or partial lighting device (5; 20', 27') intended to perform the same specific function as said first lighting device; - an auxiliary power supply circuit (A' ,. 151' ) for said auxiliary lighting device, at least partially distinct from said first power supply circuit and connected to or at least partially integrated in said control unit (C_P) ; - an electronic operation verification system (155), operatively connected to or integrated in said control unit, suitable for detecting a failure/malfunction of said first lighting device and/or of said first power supply circuit and for indicating a failure/malfunction state to the control unit (C U) , said station being programmed to: automatically deactivate said first lighting device and said first power supply circuit; and - activating said auxiliary lighting device and said auxiliary power supply circuit following said indication of failure/malfunction. 2. External lighting system (150) according to claim 1, wherein said electronic operation verification system (155) is such as to continuously or at least periodically verify the correct operation of the auxiliary lighting device (5') and/or of said auxiliary power supply circuit (A' . 151') even in the absence of failure/malfunction of said first lighting device and/or of said first power supply circuit and to indicate a failure/malfunction state to the control unit (C_P) , said station being programmed, following said indication of failure/malfunction, to produce a light/sound . signal inside the driving compartment of the vehicle in order to inform the driver. 3.' Lighting system according to any one of the previous claims, wherein said at least one first lighting device comprises a first pair of front dipped lights or parking lights, each comprising a reflector, a lamp and a lamp-holding support, integrated in the front end (3) of the vehicle (1) and wherein said at least one auxiliary lighting device comprises a further pair of front dipped lights or parking lights, each comprising a reflector, a lamp and a lamp-holding support, also integrated in the front end of the vehicle. 4. Lighting system according to any one of the previous claims, wherein said at least one first lighting device comprises a first pair of rear dipped lights or parking lights, each comprising a lamp and a lamp-holding support, integrated in the rear end of the vehicle and wherein said at least one auxiliary lighting device comprises a further pair of rear dipped lights or parking lights, each comprising a lamp and' a lamp-holding support, also integrated in the rear end of the vehicle. 5. Lighting system according to claims 1 or 2, wherein said first lighting device and said auxiliary lighting device are partial lighting devices, wherein said first lighting device comprises a first lamp-holding support and a first lamp and wherein said auxiliary lighting device comprises at least one second lamp- holding support and at least one second respective lamp, said first support and said second support being mounted on a rotary device (70) suitable for being rotated by an actuation device controlled by said station (C_P) , said first lighting device and said auxiliary lighting device selectively and mutually exclusively sharing a common reflector to form a complete lighting device. 6. Lighting system according to claim 5, wherein, said rotary device (70) is able to rotate around an axis parallel or substantially parallel to the axis of longitudinal extension (L_L) of the vehicle. 7. Lighting system according to claim 6, wherein said rotary device is able to rotate around an axis perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the axis of longitudinal extension (L-L) of the vehicle. 8. Lighting system according to claim 5, wherein said first lighting device comprises a first reflector- portion associated with said first lamp-holder and wherein said auxiliary lighting device comprises at least one second respective reflector portion associated with said second lamp-holder, the first and the second portion having an identical shape and being fixedly connected to said rotary device, said first lighting device and said auxiliary lighting device sharing a common reflector portion matching said first and second reflector portion, to selectively and mutually exclusively form a complete lighting device. 9. Lighting system according to claim 8, wherein said common reflector portion comprises a reflector eguipped with a through opening and wherein said first and -second reflector portion are such as to selectively and mutually exclusively block off said through opening. 10. Lighting system according to claims 8 or 9, wherein said complete lighting device comprises a protective water-tight housing fixed to a rear part of said common reflector portion and suitable for housing said rotary device, said first lighting device and said auxiliary lighting device. 11. Transportation vehicle characterised in that it comprises a lighting system according to any one of the previous claims. |
DESCRIPTION
The present invention refers to an external lighting system for transportation vehicles.
As known, transportation vehicles are equipped with an external lighting system comprising one or more lighting devices, one or more respective power supply circuits for said lighting devices, a control unit intended to control the power supply circuits, for example to allow a driver to manually control the lighting system from inside the driving compartment. In some cases the power supply circuit (one or more) is integrated, or at least partially integrated, inside the control unit.
The lighting devices are equipped with a lamp- holding support, with a respective lamp and with a protective front screen transparent to the optical radiation emitted by the lamps, at least in relation to some optical frequencies. At least in the case in which a lighting device is arranged on the front side of the vehicle, it is generally also equipped with a respective reflector adapted to suitably shape the optical beam to be emitted.
In the case in which many lighting devices are spatially adjacent and for example share the same common protective front screen, the set of such lighting devices including the aforementioned common screen forms a so- called optical group.
Lighting " systems for vehicles are intended for different . important functions, such as: indicating the presence of the vehicle itself, lighting up the road, indicating manoeuvres of the vehicle or the driver's intended manoeuvres.
It is known that the aforementioned lighting systems are subject to failure/malfunction, which is generally due to the failure of one or more lighting devices due, for example, to one or more lamps burning out, to the contacts of the lamp-holder supports oxidising or breaking, to the interruption of possible fuses, or to the interruption of the power supply circuits for example due to a conducting cable being severed.
It is clear that the aforementioned failures/malfunctions greatly affect the operation of the lighting system, for which reason when such failures occur the vehicle is unable to completely perform the important functions indicated above. In these cases the driving safety of the vehicle involved is put at great risk, which can also bring serious consequences for pedestrians or for other moving or stopped vehicles. Recently vehicles have been equipped with systems for verifying the correct operation of the lighting systems of the vehicle, intended to indicate possible malfunctions for example through a pilot light foreseen on the instrument panel of the vehicle or in general on the dashboard. The operation of the aforementioned operation verification systems is generally limited to the specific main functions of the external lighting system, like for example the dipped lights, the stop lights, the "parking lights and possibly the driving beam.
Despite the provision of the aforementioned operation verification system, for various reasons transportation vehicles drive around for a certain amount of time, at least relatively brief but in some cases relatively long, in a condition in which the lighting system does not work correctly. This can occur both due to it being temporarily impossible to get repairs carried out (for example in the case of a dipped lamp blowing out on a road away from the city centre and during the evening/night) and due to laziness of the vehicle owner who, underestimating the dangerousness of the situation, often puts off repairing the lighting system for a long time.
The present invention has the purpose of providing an external lighting system for vehicles that also in the case of failure ensures, as far as is possible, continuous functionality of one or more associated lighting devices.
Such a purpose is accomplished through a lighting system as defined in general in the attached first claim in its most general form and in the dependent claims in some particular embodiments.
The invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, given as an example and therefore in no way limiting in relation to the attached drawings, in which:
- figure 1 schematically shows a perspective view of a transportation vehicle comprising a lighting system in accordance with a first embodiment;
- figure 2 schematically shows an enlarged part of figure 1 ; and
- figure 3 schematically shows a variant embodiment of the enlarged part of figure 2;
- figure 4 schematically shows a partial perspective view of a second transportation vehicle comprising a lighting system analogous to that of the vehicle of figure 1;
- figure 5 schematically shows an enlarged part of figure 4;
- figure 6 schematically shows a further enlarged part of figure 4; - figures 7 and 8 show two examples of lighting devices able to be used in a first variant - embodiment of the lighting system;
- figures 9 and 10 show two further examples of lighting devices able to be used in a further variant embodiment of the lighting system;
- figures 11-13 show a further example of the lighting device able to be used in a further variant embodiment of the lighting system;
- figure 14 shows a further example of a lighting device able to be used in a further variant embodiment of the lighting system;
figure 15 shows a simplified block diagram of a lighting system.
In the figures, elements that are the same or similar are indicated with the same reference numerals.
With reference to figures 1 and 2, reference numeral 1 globally indicates a transportation vehicle that in the particular embodiment is in the form of an automobile. The automobile 1 comprises a body 2 that extends along an axis of prevailing - longitudinal extension L-L, equipped with a front part 3.
The automobile 1 comprises an external light system or unit, comprising a plurality of lighting devices, a control unit and a plurality of power supply circuits. Some lighting devices can be grouped, in a per se known way in one or more optical groups. In figure 1 . it is possible in particular to see a right front optical group A_d and a left front optical group A_s . Such optical groups A-d, A_s will be presumed to be identical or substantially similar and hereafter, for ' the sake of brevity, we will describe just the left optical group A_s .
Such an optical group A_s comprises a common screen 8, for example made from glass or resin and comprises the following lighting devices:
- a first lighting device 4 suitable for performing the specific function of a parking light (or first parking light) ;
- a first lighting device 5 suitable for performing the specific function of a dipped light (or first dipped light);
a lighting device 6 suitable for performing the specific function of a driving light (or full beam) .
Each of the aforementioned ' lighting devices comprises a respective reflector 9, a respective lamp 20, and a respective lamp-holding support (not shown in figures 1 and 2) .
The front left optical group A_s also comprises:
- an auxiliary lighting device A' suitable for performing the specific function of a parking light (or auxiliary parking light) , equipped with a reflector 9 and with a dedicated lamp 20; and/pr
- an auxiliary lighting device 5' suitable for performing the specific function of a dipped light (or auxiliary dipped beam) and also having a reflector 9 and a dedicated lamp 20.
Figure 3 shows a variant embodiment of the optical group of figure 2, in which there is, in addition to the lighting devices 4,5,6 already described with reference to figure 2, a single auxiliary " lighting device 4' that is, for example, suitable for performing the specific function of a dipped light.
With reference to .figure 15, keeping in mind what has already been described with reference to figures 1 and 3 and limiting ourselves for the sake of simplicity to the example of figure 3, an external lighting system of the automobile 1 of figure 1 is schematically represented, comprising two front optical groups A_s and A_d, each of which comprises a first dipped light 5, and an auxiliary beam of dipped light 5' .
The lighting system 150 comprises a control unit C_P (which, for example, is the same control unit of the automobile 1) and two at least partially separate power " - supply circuits 151, A and 151', A' (which can even optionally be completely separate) respectively intended to supply power to the first dipped lights 5, and the auxiliary dipped lights 5'. Since the power supply circuits are considered to be widely known to the man skilled in the art they will not be detailed any further in the present 'description.
In normal operating conditions, the station C_P is such as to control the power supply of the first dipped lights 5 and keep the auxiliary dipped beams 5' turned off. The lighting system is equipped with an electronic operation verification system 155 (suitable for detecting, for example, anomalous variations in voltage or variations/interruptions of current) , operatively connected to or integrated · in the control unit C_P, suitable for detecting a failure/malfunction of the first dipped lights and/or of the associated power supply circuit A, 151 and for indicating a failure/malfunction state to the station C_P. The station C_P is programmed, following said indication of failure/malfunction, to:
- automatically deactivate both the first dipped lights 5 and the associated power supply circuit A, 151; and
- activate the auxiliary dipped lights 5' and the associated auxiliary power supply circuit A' 151' .
What has been described above can be exte ' nded without difficulty to external lighting systems of vehicles of a different type to automobiles and/or to lighting systems that can be equipped with different additional lighting devices with respect to the parking lights or dipped lights described above or to vehicles, like for example motorcycles, which can, instead of having a pair of symmetrical lights for each specific function, also have single lights, front and/or rear, along the longitudinal axis of symmetry of the motorcycle.
With reference to figures 4,5,6 an off-road vehicle 21 is illustrated comprising an external lighting system of which in the figures it is possible to see a left rear optical group P_s, a right rear optical group P_d fixed to (or rather integrated in) the rear part 22 of. the off- road vehicle 21, and a right side optical group F_d. For example, the rear optical groups P_d and P_s are identical to one another or substantially similar and for example each one comprises, in addition to a common screen 8 :
a first lighting device 21 suitable for performing the specific function of a reversing light (or reverse headlight) ;
- a first lighting device 24 suitable for performing the specific function of a parking light (or "first" rear parking light); '
- a first lighting device 25 suitable for performing the specific function of a dipped light (or "first" rear dipped light) ;
an auxiliary lighting device 25' suitable for performing the specific function of a dipped light (or rear "auxiliary" dipped light) . In this way, as already described with reference to figures 1-3 and 15, it is advantageously possible to always ensure the full specific function of rear dipped lighting even in the case of failure/malfunction.
Similarly, the same thing can be applied to other optical groups, like for example to the side optical group F_d, comprising in addition to a common screen 8:
- a first lighting device 35, for example comprising an incandescent bulb 35, suitable for performing the specific function of a turning indicator light;
an auxiliary lighting device, for example comprising a row of LEDs 35' , suitable for performing the specific function of a turning indicator light.
It is also possible without distinction to foresee for the "first" lighting device and the associated "auxiliary" lighting device, to be, as described up to now, complete and self-dependent lighting devices (therefore making the -device totally redundant) or, as will be described hereafter, for them to be parts of lighting devices that when associated with a matching common part are such as to form a complete lighting device.
With reference to what has been outlined up to now, it should be observed that we have generally described an external lighting system 150 for transportation vehicles 1,21 comprising:
- at least one first complete or partial lighting device 5 intended to perform a specific external lighting function;
- a first power supply circuit A, 151 for said first lighting device 5; . ^
a control unit C_P connected to or at least partially integrating said first power supply circuit A, 151;
- an auxiliary complete or . partial lighting device 5' intended to perform the same specific function as said first lighting device 5;
- an auxiliary power supply circuit A', 151' for said auxiliary lighting device 5' , at least partially distinct from said first power supply circuit . A, 151 and connected to or at least partially integrated in said control unit C_P;
- an electronic system 155 for verifying operation, operatively connected or at least partially integrated in said control unit C_P, suitable for detecting a failure/malfunction of said first lighting device 5 and/or of said iirst power supply circuit A, 151 and for indicating a failure/malfunction state to the station C_U, said station being programmed to: -
- - automatically deactivate said first lighting- device 5 and said first power supply circuit A, 151; and
- activate said auxiliary lighting device 5' and said auxiliary power supply circuit A' , 151' following said indication of failure/malfunction.
In accordance with an embodiment, the electronic system 155 for verifying operation is such as to continuously or at least periodically verify the correct operation of the aforementioned auxiliary lighting device 5' and/or of said auxiliary power supply circuit A' , 151' even in correct operation conditions of the -first lighting device 5 and/or of the first power supply circuit A, 151 and to indicate a failure/malfunction state to the station C_U, said station being programmed, following said indication of failure/malfunction, to produce a light/sound " signal 156 inside the driver' s compartment of the vehicle in order to inform the driver.
In vehicles in which ignition of the -propulsion system is subordinated to the correct operation of at least one lighting device 5, the station C_P can be advantageously programmed to allow the vehicle to start up in the case of correct operation of the associated auxiliary power supply device 5' .
With reference to what has already been described in figures 1-3, in accordance with an embodiment, the aforementioned at least one first lighting device 5 comprises a first pair of front dipped and/or parking lights, each comprising a reflector, a lamp 20 and a lamp-holding support 9, integrated in the front end 3 of the vehicle 1 and in which said at least one auxiliary lighting device comprises a further pair of front dipped lights or parking lights, each comprising a reflector, a lamp and a lamp-holding support, also integrated in the front end 3 of the vehicle 1.
With reference to what has already been described in figures 4-5, in accordance with an embodiment, the first lighting device comprises a first pair of rear dipped lights or parking lights, each comprising a lamp 20 and a lamp-holding support, integrated in the rear end 22 (or in the hatchback rear door) of the vehicle and in which said at least one auxiliary lighting device comprises a further pair of rear dipped lights or parking lights, each comprising a lamp 20 and a lamp-holding support, also integrated in the rear end 22 of the vehicle 21 (or in the hatchback rear door) .
With reference to figures 5-13, the "first" lighting device and the "auxiliary" lighting device can . be partial- lighting devices, in which the first partial lighting device 20, 27 comprises a first lamp-holder 27 and an associated . first lamp 20 and in which the auxiliary partial lighting device 20', 27' comprises at least one second lamp-holder 27' and at least one second associated lamp 20', the aforementioned lamp-holders 27, 27' being mounted on a common rotary device 70 suitable for being rotated by an actuation device (not shown in the figures) controlled by the station C_P, the first lighting device and auxiliary lighting device selectively and mutually exclusively sharing a common reflector 9 (and in this case also a common screen 8) to form a complete lighting device.
In the embodiments represented in .figures 7 and 8, the common rotary device 70 is able to rotate around an axis R-R parallel or substantially parallel to the axis of longitudinal extension of the vehicle L-L, or coinciding or substantially coinciding with it for example in the case of a motorcycle.
In the embodiments represented in figures 9-13, the common rotary device 70, on the other hand, is able to rotate around an axis T-T perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the axis of longitudinal extension L-L of the vehicle.
In the embodiment represented in figure 9, the common rotary device 70 supports two arrays of LEDs .20 and 20' that selectively and mutually exclusively share a common reflector 9.
In the embodiment represented in figure 10, the common rotary device 70 is in the form of a drum able to rotate around an axis perpendicular to the axis of longitudinal extension L-L of the vehicle and that can house a number of lamp-holders 27-27''' and of lamps 20- 20''' equal to or greater than 4.
In the embodiment represented in figures 11 to 13, a further example is shown in which the first lighting device and the auxiliary lighting device are partial devices that selectively and mutually exclusively share a remaining common portion. In particular, the first lighting device comprises a first reflector portion 80 associated with a first- lamp-holder 27 and the auxiliary lighting device comprises at least one second respective reflector portion 80' associated with a second lamp- holder 27', the first and second reflector portion 80, 80' having an identical shape and being fixedly connected to the common rotary device 70, the first lighting device and the auxiliary lighting device sharing a common reflector portion 9 matching said first 80 and second 80' reflector portion, to selectively and mutually exclusively form a complete lighting device with a substantially continuous reflective surface, for example shaped like a paraboloid. As represented in figure 12, it is possible to foresee for the complete lighting device to comprise a water-tight protective housing 90 fixed to a rear part of said common reflector portion 9 and suitable for housing the common rotary device 70, the first lighting device 20, 80, 27 and the auxiliary lighting device 20', 80', 27'.
In accordance with an . embodiment, as shown in figures 11-13, the common reflector portion 9 comprises a reflector equipped with a through opening 81 and in which said first and second reflector portion 80, 80' comprise walls with a reflective surface, for example mirrored, such as to selectively and mutually exclusively block off said through opening.
From the description that has just been made it is therefore possible to understand how a lighting system of the type described above fully achieves the preset purposes .
Of course, a man skilled in the art can bring numerous modifications and variants to a lighting system of the type described above, in order to satisfy contingent and specific requirements, all of which are in any case covered by the scope of protection of the invention, as defined by the attached claims.
For example, with reference to the variant embodiment represented in figure 13, it should be observed how. an auxiliary lighting device 5 Λ in the case in which it is of the "complete" type can optionally retractable going from a rest configuration PI where it is hidden from view (which the auxiliary device takes up when the "first device" operates correctly) to a visible operating configuration.
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