Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F21—LIGHTING
  • F21V—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F21V29/00—Protecting lighting devices from thermal damage; Cooling or heating arrangements specially adapted for lighting devices or systems
  • F21V29/50—Cooling arrangements
  • F21V29/70—Cooling arrangements characterised by passive heat-dissipating elements, e.g. heat-sinks
  • F21V29/71—Cooling arrangements characterised by passive heat-dissipating elements, e.g. heat-sinks using a combination of separate elements interconnected by heat-conducting means, e.g. with heat pipes or thermally conductive bars between separate heat-sink elements
  • F21V29/717—Cooling arrangements characterised by passive heat-dissipating elements, e.g. heat-sinks using a combination of separate elements interconnected by heat-conducting means, e.g. with heat pipes or thermally conductive bars between separate heat-sink elements using split or remote units thermally interconnected, e.g. by thermally conductive bars or heat pipes
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60Q1/00—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor
  • B60Q1/02—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments
  • B60Q1/04—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments the devices being headlights
  • B60Q1/06—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments the devices being headlights adjustable, e.g. remotely-controlled from inside vehicle
  • B60Q1/08—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments the devices being headlights adjustable, e.g. remotely-controlled from inside vehicle automatically
  • B60Q1/10—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments the devices being headlights adjustable, e.g. remotely-controlled from inside vehicle automatically due to vehicle inclination, e.g. due to load distribution
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60Q1/00—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor
  • B60Q1/02—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments
  • B60Q1/04—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments the devices being headlights
  • B60Q1/06—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments the devices being headlights adjustable, e.g. remotely-controlled from inside vehicle
  • B60Q1/08—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments the devices being headlights adjustable, e.g. remotely-controlled from inside vehicle automatically
  • B60Q1/12—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments the devices being headlights adjustable, e.g. remotely-controlled from inside vehicle automatically due to steering position
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F21—LIGHTING
  • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
  • F21S41/00—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps
  • F21S41/10—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by the light source
  • F21S41/14—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by the light source characterised by the type of light source
  • F21S41/141—Light emitting diodes [LED]
  • F21S41/147—Light emitting diodes [LED] the main emission direction of the LED being angled to the optical axis of the illuminating device
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F21—LIGHTING
  • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
  • F21S41/00—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps
  • F21S41/10—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by the light source
  • F21S41/14—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by the light source characterised by the type of light source
  • F21S41/141—Light emitting diodes [LED]
  • F21S41/151—Light emitting diodes [LED] arranged in one or more lines
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F21—LIGHTING
  • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
  • F21S41/00—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps
  • F21S41/10—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by the light source
  • F21S41/14—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by the light source characterised by the type of light source
  • F21S41/141—Light emitting diodes [LED]
  • F21S41/151—Light emitting diodes [LED] arranged in one or more lines
  • F21S41/153—Light emitting diodes [LED] arranged in one or more lines arranged in a matrix
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F21—LIGHTING
  • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
  • F21S45/00—Arrangements within vehicle lighting devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, for purposes other than emission or distribution of light
  • F21S45/40—Cooling of lighting devices
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F21—LIGHTING
  • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
  • F21S45/00—Arrangements within vehicle lighting devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, for purposes other than emission or distribution of light
  • F21S45/40—Cooling of lighting devices
  • F21S45/47—Passive cooling, e.g. using fins, thermal conductive elements or openings
  • F21S45/48—Passive cooling, e.g. using fins, thermal conductive elements or openings with means for conducting heat from the inside to the outside of the lighting devices, e.g. with fins on the outer surface of the lighting device
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F21—LIGHTING
  • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
  • F21S45/00—Arrangements within vehicle lighting devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, for purposes other than emission or distribution of light
  • F21S45/40—Cooling of lighting devices
  • F21S45/49—Attachment of the cooling means
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F21—LIGHTING
  • F21Y—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO THE FORM OR THE KIND OF THE LIGHT SOURCES OR OF THE COLOUR OF THE LIGHT EMITTED
  • F21Y2115/00—Light-generating elements of semiconductor light sources
  • F21Y2115/10—Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a headlight unit for a motor vehicle, in particular a passenger car.
• Such a headlight unit usually comprises a housing which can be fastened to a vehicle body.
• the housing usually houses several light sources, usually light bulbs or, in modern vehicles, LEDs (light-emitting diodes), for example to generate a turn signal, a low beam, a parking light, a high beam, a rear light, a brake light or a reversing light.
• LEDs light-emitting diodes
• the invention seeks to remedy this.
• the present invention deals with the problem of an improved design for a headlight unit of the type mentioned at the beginning. Specify the form in which, in particular, an increase in temperature during operation is reduced.
• the invention is based on the general idea that the heat generated by the at least one light source during operation is at least partially removed from the housing of the headlight unit with the aid of a heat-conducting device.
• a heat-conducting bridge can thus be provided from the inside of the housing into the surroundings of the housing, which helps to avoid an undesirably high temperature rise in the housing.
• the invention proposes to connect the heat-conducting device at one end with the at least one light source or with one of the at least one light source and at the other end in the installed state of the headlight unit with a zone of the vehicle body in a heat-transferring manner, this zone of the vehicle body thus is chosen that it is particularly well suited for heat dissipation.
• this zone is formed on a metal support to which the headlight unit is attached in the installed state.
• the heat-conducting device has a stationary section, which has an outlet end section of the heat-conducting device and is arranged in the housing in a stationary manner, and a flexible section, which has an inlet end section of the heat-conducting device, is connected to the stationary section in a heat-transferring manner and has relative movements between the at least one light source and / or the reflector on the one hand and the housing on the other hand can participate or follow.
• This design allows the heat-conducting device to adapt to changing positions of the light source or of the reflector within the housing and to further ensure the dissipation of the heat generated by the light source.
• the headlight unit can be designed to implement a cornering light following the steering angle of the vehicle.
• the headlight unit can be designed in such a way that changes in inclination of the longitudinal axis of the vehicle with respect to the roadway can be compensated in order to be able to regulate the headlight range.
• the at least one light source or the associated reflector must be suitably supported or mounted in a suitable manner in the housing.
• the flexible section of the heat-conducting device is dimensioned such that it can easily follow all the relative positions that occur during normal operation, so that the desired heat dissipation is always achieved.
• FIG. 1 shows a greatly simplified longitudinal section through a headlight unit according to the invention.
• a headlight unit 1 has a housing 2.
• the headlight unit 1 is used for installation in a motor vehicle, in particular in a passenger car, and forms a front lighting or a rear lighting on a vehicle side there.
• the housing 2 can be fastened to a vehicle body 3, which is represented here only by a cross member 4.
• At least one light source 5 for generating a vehicle light, in particular a low beam, is arranged in the housing 2.
• the light sources 5 are e.g. formed by LEDs.
• a light from the headlight unit 1, e.g. The light sources 5 assigned to the low beam are actuated simultaneously to generate the respective light.
• the light sources 5 are attached to a common carrier 6 here.
• This carrier 6 is coupled to the light sources 5 in a heat-transferring manner, so that the light sources 5 at least partially emit the heat generated during operation to the carrier 6.
• the carrier 6 is pivotally mounted on a holder 7 about a horizontal pivot axis 8 standing on the drawing plane via side cheeks (not shown).
• the holder 7 is in turn mounted on a bracket 9 so as to be rotatable about a vertical axis of rotation 10 lying in the plane of the drawing.
• the console 9 enables an adjustment in a horizontal plane standing on the drawing plane.
• the carrier ⁇ has a reflector 11 assigned to the light sources 5 or merges into it. In any case, the reflector 11 is coupled to the carrier 6 in a heat-transmitting manner at 12.
• the special embodiment shown here thus enables, on the one hand, an adjustment of the light panel generated by the headlight unit 1 in normal operation, in which the carrier 6, together with its light sources 5 and the reflector 11, are moved accordingly in the adjustment plane of the console 9.
• This adjustment is carried out once in the factory and should be readjusted over a longer period as part of maintenance. With this adjustment, the relative position between the light sources 5 and the reflector 11 on the one hand and the housing 2 on the other hand changes.
• the embodiment shown here enables an inclination adjustment of the generated headlight beam in which the carrier 6 with the light sources 5 and the reflector 11 is pivoted about the pivot axis 8.
• This adjustment option is required, for example, for headlight range adjustment to compensate for a change in the inclination of the vehicle's longitudinal axis with respect to the road.
• Such a change in inclination can arise, for example, when the vehicle is loaded differently or when the vehicle is accelerating or braking.
• Modern motor vehicles or modern headlight units 1 then have a corresponding inclination adjustment device which compensates for the effects of the change in inclination on the generated light field by pivoting the light sources 5 and the reflector 11 about the pivot axis 8.
• the relative position between the housing 2 on the one hand and the light sources 5 and the reflector 11 on the other hand also changes during these pivoting movements.
• the particular embodiment shown here enables rotations of the carrier 6 with the light sources 5 and the reflector 11 about the axis of rotation 10.
• Modern motor vehicles in particular modern headlight units, can be equipped with a device for generating a cornering light, this cornering light being a steering lock of the vehicle follows.
• Corresponding actuators then drive the light sources 5 and the reflector 11 to rotate about the axis of rotation 11 depending on the steering angle.
• the relative position between the housing 2 on the one hand and the light sources 5 or the reflector 11 on the other hand also changes during this rotary movement.
• the housing 2 also comprises a frame part 13 and a disc, not shown, through which the light generated by the light sources 5 emerges from the housing 2.
• the housing 2 is now equipped with a heat-conducting device 14, which makes it possible for heat, which arises in the housing 2 during operation of the light sources 5, to be led out of the housing 2.
• a heat-conducting device 14 which makes it possible for heat, which arises in the housing 2 during operation of the light sources 5, to be led out of the housing 2.
• an input end section 15 of the heat-conducting device 14 is heat-directly coupled to the reflector 11 and thus indirectly to the carrier 6 and indirectly to the light sources 5.
• the heat-conducting device 14 has an output end section 16 which is led out of the housing 2 and is designed such that it can be connected in a heat-transferring manner to a zone 17 of the vehicle body 3.
• this zone 17 is formed on the cross member 4 and is selected so that it is particularly suitable for heat dissipation.
• the heat-conducting device 14 extends from its input end section 15 to its Output end section 16 runs within the housing 2 and is only led out of the housing 2 with its output end section 16.
• This design is advantageous if the housing 2 is exposed to other heat sources of the vehicle, in particular in the engine compartment, due to the installation situation.
• a heat conduction device running outside the housing 2 could be counterproductive if, for example, it transfers heat radiated from the engine compartment into the interior of the housing 2 and thus onto the reflector 11 and ultimately onto the light sources 5.
• the heat conducting device 14 has a stationary section 18 and a flexible section 19.
• the stationary section 18 is connected at one end to the outlet end section 16 and at the other end to the flexible section 19 in a heat-transferring manner. Furthermore, the stationary section 18 is accommodated in a stationary manner in the housing 2, in particular fastened.
• the stationary section 18 is made, for example, from a comparatively stiff band, in particular a metal band.
• the flexible section 19 is connected at one end to the input end section 15 and at the other end to the stationary section 18 in a heat-transferring manner.
• the flexible section 19 is designed such that it can follow the above-described relative movements between the light sources 5 and the reflector 11 on the one hand and the housing 2 on the other hand, without interrupting the heat-transferring coupling of the heat-conducting device 14 to the reflector 11.
• the heat can be transported from the reflector 11 out of the housing 2.
• the flexible section 19 consists, for example, of at least one flexible band, in particular a metal band.
• a band can be knitted, for example, that is, it can consist of a wire mesh.
• the band can be constructed in several parts and can therefore be spatially flexible.
• the stationary section 18 comprises at least one band 20 which is coupled to the flexible section 19 in a heat-transferring manner.
• the band 20 is laid in the housing 2 and extends to the frame part 13 and can be connected to it in a heat-transferring manner in accordance with a preferred embodiment.
• the frame part 13 then forms part of the stationary section 18 of the heat-conducting device 14.
• the band 20 is also connected to a tab 21 for heat transfer, this tab 21 being formed here by the outlet end section 16.
• the tab 21 thus penetrates the housing 2.
• the tab 21 can also be connected to the frame part 13 in a heat-transferring manner, as a result of which the band 20 can be coupled in a heat-transmitting manner indirectly via the frame part 13 or directly to the tab 21.
• the tab 21 of the heat-conducting device 14 has a double function, since with the aid of this tab 21, the housing 2 is held on the vehicle body 3 in the installed state. This means that the tab 21 effects the holding of the housing 2 on the vehicle body 3 or cooperates thereon.
• the heat conducting device 14 can have a plurality of flexible sections 19 and / or a plurality of bands 20 and / or a plurality of tabs 21. The number and dimensions of the individual components of the heat conduction device 14 are based on the expected Heat that can arise during continuous operation of the light sources 5 and unfavorable environmental conditions.
• the heat-conducting device 14 has a particularly good thermal conductivity
• its individual components are expediently made from a material that is particularly suitable for heat conduction, such as Metal, in particular made of copper or a copper alloy.
• the headlight unit 1 operates as follows:
• the light sources 5 emit not only light, symbolized by arrows 22, but also heat, symbolized by arrows 23.
• the emitted heat is thus transmitted to the reflector 11.
• heat generated during the light generation passes directly from the light sources 5 into the carrier 6 and from there into the reflector 11.
• the heat reaches the input end section 15 of the heat-conducting device 14.
• the heat then passes through the flexible section 19 and the stationary section 18 into the outlet end section 16 of the heat-conducting device 14.
• the heat that is led out of the housing 2 then finally reaches the cross member 4 via zone 17, from which it dissipates into the vehicle body 3.
• the cross member 4 expediently also consists of metal and is connected to other metal parts of the vehicle body 3.
• the undisturbed removal of the during operation is achieved for relative positions between the housing 2 and the adjustable unit comprising the carrier 6, light sources 5 and reflector 11 arising heat from the housing 2 guaranteed sufficiently.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Microelectronics & Electronic Packaging (AREA)
• Optics & Photonics (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Mathematical Physics (AREA)
• Arrangement Of Elements, Cooling, Sealing, Or The Like Of Lighting Devices (AREA)
• Non-Portable Lighting Devices Or Systems Thereof (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=32518958

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

Cited By (2)

Families Citing this family (24)

Family Cites Families (8)

• 2002
  • 2002-12-16 DE DE10258624A patent/DE10258624B3/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2003
  • 2003-11-12 EP EP03779894A patent/EP1573248A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2003-11-12 JP JP2004559681A patent/JP2006510177A/ja not_active Abandoned
  • 2003-11-12 WO PCT/EP2003/012616 patent/WO2004055433A1/de not_active Application Discontinuation

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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