FR3104680A1 - Vehicle lighting device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides a vehicle lighting device (10) comprising a housing (1), a light source (2) installed in the housing (1), a support barrel (3), a support member (4) and a plurality of lenses (5). The support barrel (3) comprises a first contact zone (31) to be fixed on the support member (4) and further comprises at least a second contact zone (32) which is in thermal contact with a second zone contact (42) of the support element (4) Figure for the abstract: Figure 1

Description

vehicle lighting device

This invention is related to the field of the internal design of vehicle lighting devices, to avoid an excessive increase in temperature therein.

Current lighting devices are primarily based on solid-state light sources, such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs). These light sources are generally arranged in a matrix and the lighting device comprises a plurality of lenses to project the light pattern produced by the light sources.

These lenses are housed in a metal barrel that provides structural support and dimensional stability. However, the position of the lens close to the light source causes the absorption of light to increase the temperature of the lenses, thus reaching a temperature very close to, or even above, the operating limit temperature of the lens. This overheating can deteriorate the optical properties of the lenses, which is why a solution to this problem is sought.

• un boitier ;
• une source de lumière installée dans le boîtier, configurée pour émettre un motif lumineux ;
• un barillet de support, avec une surface de canon et une première zone de contact du barillet dépassant de la surface de canon ;
• un élément de support comprenant une première zone de contact de l’élément de support, la première zone de contact de l'élément de support étant agencée pour relier la première zone de contact du barillet au boîtier ; et
• une pluralité de lentilles supportées dans le barillet de support, les lentilles étant configurées pour projeter le motif lumineux ;

dans lequel le barillet de support comprend en outre au moins une deuxième zone de contact du barillet qui est en contact thermique avec une deuxième zone de contact de l'élément de support.In a first inventive aspect, the invention provides a solution to the aforementioned technical problem by means of a vehicle lighting device comprising:

• a housing ;
• a light source installed in the housing, configured to emit a light pattern;
• a support barrel, with a barrel surface and a first barrel contact area protruding from the barrel surface;
• a support element comprising a first contact zone of the support element, the first contact zone of the support element being arranged to connect the first contact zone of the barrel to the housing; And
• a plurality of lenses supported in the support barrel, the lenses being configured to project the light pattern;

wherein the support barrel further comprises at least one second contact zone of the barrel which is in thermal contact with a second contact zone of the support element.

In a preferred version, the light source comprises a plurality of solid state light sources.

The term "solid state" refers to light emitted by solid state electroluminescence, which uses semiconductors to convert electricity into light. Compared to incandescent lighting, solid state lighting creates visible light with reduced heat generation and less energy dissipation. The generally low mass of a solid state electronic lighting device provides greater resistance to shock and vibration than brittle glass tubes/bulbs and long thin filament wires. They also eliminate filament evaporation, which can increase the life of the lighting device. Some examples of these types of lighting include solid-state light-emitting diodes (LEDs), organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), or polymer light-emitting diodes (PLEDs) as lighting sources rather than electric filaments, plasma or the gas.

The support barrel is a part that is commonly used in some solid state light source devices. This cylinder serves as a support for a plurality of lenses which project the light pattern emitted by the light sources. This barrel tends to overheat due to absorption of light and this invention provides a means to avoid this overheating.

In certain particular cases, the surface of the second contact zone of the barrel is larger than the surface of the first contact zone of the barrel.

This allows for greater heat exchange between the barrel and the support member, so heat dissipation is more efficient.

In certain particular models, at least part of the second zone of contact with the barrel is in direct contact with the second zone of contact with the support element.

This direct contact ensures good thermal contact, and saves space inside the lighting device.

In certain particular models, at least part of the second contact zone of the barrel is in thermal contact with the second contact zone of the support element by the interposition of an additional conductive element.

The interposition of an additional conductive element is useful when the geometry of the lighting device does not allow direct contact, or when the additional conductive element has a higher thermal conductivity than the support element itself.

In some special cases, the additional conductive element is a conductive glue. In other cases, the additional conductive element is a metal ring.

These solutions are interesting because it is not necessary to modify the existing support element, and the mere interposition of one of these two additional conductive elements makes it possible to increase the dissipation of the heat.

In some special cases, at least a part of the second contact zone of the barrel forms between 2º and 5º with at least a part of the second contact zone of the support element.

This is useful to allow regulating movements between the barrel and the support element.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used in this document should be interpreted in accordance with the usages of the profession. It is also understood that terms in common use are to be construed as customary in the relevant art and not in an idealized or overly formal sense, unless expressly defined as such herein.

In this text, the term "includes" and its derivatives (such as "comprising", etc.) should not be understood in an excluding sense, i.e. these terms should not be interpreted as excluding the possibility that what is described and defined may include other elements, steps, etc.

To complete the description and to allow a better understanding of the invention, a set of drawings is provided. These drawings form an integral part of the description and illustrate an embodiment of the invention, which should not be interpreted as limiting the scope of the invention, but simply as an example of how the invention may be carried out. The drawings include the following figures:

shows a sectional view of a particular embodiment of a vehicle lighting device according to the invention.

shows a sectional view of a particular variant of a vehicle lighting device according to the invention.

shows a perspective view of some of the elements of the particular embodiment of Figure 2.

shows a thermal analysis of the embodiment of Figure 2.

In these figures, the following reference numbers have been used:

1 box

2 LEDs

3 Barrel

30 Barrel area

31 Barrel first contact zone

32 Second barrel contact area

4 Support element

41 First area of contact with the support element

42 Second zone of contact with the support element

5 Lenses

6 Thermal Ring

10 Lighting device

100 Motor vehicle

The example works are described in sufficient detail to enable those of ordinary skill in this art to embody and implement the systems and processes described herein. It is important to understand that these examples may be provided in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the examples presented here.

Accordingly, although the embodiment may be varied in various ways and take various alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown in the drawings and described in detail below by way of example. There is no intention to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the scope of the appended claims are to be included.

• un boitier 1 ;
• une pluralité de LEDs 2 installées dans le boîtier 1 ;
• un barillet de support 3 ;
• un élément de support 4 ; et
• une pluralité de lentilles 5 supportées dans le barillet de support 3.

Figure 1 shows a sectional view of a particular embodiment of a vehicle lighting device 1 according to the invention. In this figure, the vehicle lighting device 10 comprises

• a box 1;
• a plurality of LEDs 2 installed in the housing 1;
• a support barrel 3;
• a support element 4; And
• a plurality of lenses 5 supported in the support barrel 3.

The plurality of LEDs 2 are installed in the housing and are configured to emit a light pattern, due to their particular arrangement. This light pattern is received and projected by the plurality of lenses 5, which are arranged to provide a final pattern to achieve a particular lighting functionality.

The support barrel 3 is intended to serve as a support for the plurality of lenses 5. This support barrel 3 comprises a barrel surface 30 and a first contact zone 31 which protrudes from the barrel surface 30. This first contact surface 31 is used to fix the support barrel to the first contact surface 41 of the support element 4, which is in turn fixed to the housing 1. The first contact surface 31 is therefore the fixing point of the support barrel 3 to housing 1, via support element 4.

The support barrel 3 further comprises a second contact zone 32, the surface of which is greater than the surface of the first contact zone 31. This second contact surface 32 is in thermal contact with a second contact surface 42 of the support element 4, thus creating a thermal path for the dissipation of heat between the barrel 3 and the support element 4.

The heat coming from the absorption of the light carried out by the barrel 3 is conducted along the conductive surface of the barrel, then dissipated by the support element 4, due to the thermal contact between the second contact surface of the barrel 32 and the second contact surface of the support element 42, so that the lenses 5 do not reach a dangerous temperature.

In this figure, the second contact zone of the barrel 32 is in contact with the second contact zone of the support element 42, by the simple interposition of a layer of conductive glue. This contact saves space and provides barrel 3 with a good heat dissipation path. The shape and size of the contact area can be designed according to the heat dissipation needs of the lighting device.

At least part of the second contact zone 32 to the barrel forms between 2º and 5º with at least part of the second contact zone 42 to the support element.

Figure 2 shows a sectional view of a variant of a lighting device according to the invention.

This figure also illustrates an embodiment with a housing 1, a plurality of LEDs 2 installed in the housing 1, a support barrel 3, a support element 4 and a plurality of lenses 5, with the same operating functionalities as in the embodiment of Figure 1.

In this case, there is a difference between the thermal conduction between the support barrel 3 and the support element 4. The second contact zone of the barrel 32 and the second contact zone of the support element 42 are not not in direct contact, but are thermally connected by an additional metal ring 6. This metal ring 6 is interposed between the two contact surfaces 32 and 42 and ensures good heat dissipation for the support barrel 3.

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of some of the elements of the particular embodiment of Figure 2.

In this figure, the barrel 3 and the support element 4 are shown. The contact surfaces are hidden by the support element 4 itself, since the contact surfaces are present on the inside face of the support element 4. This figure is presented only to give a complete view of certain elements involved in the present invention.

Figure 4 shows a thermal analysis of the embodiment of Figure 1.

In this figure, it can be seen how the heat is transferred from the support boa 3 to the support element 4, so that the final temperature in the lenses 5 is below the risk threshold temperature.

Claims (8)

Vehicle lighting device (10) comprising:

• a box (1);
• a light source (2) installed in the casing (1), configured to emit a light pattern;
• a support barrel (3), with a barrel surface (30) and a first barrel contact area (31) protruding from the barrel surface (30);
• a support member (4) comprising a first support member contact area (41), the first support member contact area (41) being arranged to provide a physical connection between the first contact area of the barrel (31) and the housing (1); And
• a plurality of lenses (5) supported in the support barrel (3), the lenses (5) being configured to project the light pattern;
• wherein the support barrel (3) further comprises at least one second barrel contact area (32) which is in thermal contact with a second contact area (42) of the support member (4).

A vehicle lighting device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the area of the second barrel contact area (32) is larger than the area of the first barrel contact area (31). Vehicle lighting device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, in which at least a part of the second contact zone of the barrel (32) is in direct contact with the second contact zone of the support element (42). Vehicle lighting device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, in which at least a part of the second contact zone of the barrel (32) is in thermal contact with the second contact zone of the support element. (42) by the interposition of an additional conductive element. A vehicle lighting device (10) according to claim 4, wherein the additional conductive element is conductive glue. A vehicle lighting device (10) according to claim 4, wherein the additional conductive element is a metal ring. Vehicle lighting device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, in which at least a part of the second contact surface of the cylinder (32) forms between 2º and 5º with at least a part of the second contact surface of the support element (42). Vehicle lighting device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a plurality of solid-state light sources (2).