JP2000340021A - Automobile headlight with improvement means for reducing dew condensation phenomenon - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automobile headlight allowing easy and economical reduction of a dew condensation phenomenon in a position allowing easy condensation such as a cavity or corner of the automobile headlight. SOLUTION: This automobile headlight includes a case 10 and a glass 20 combined with each other such that one closed enclosure is configured, and lamps 31-34 interlocking with optical means 41, 42 and the like for the purpose of satisfying a lighting function. The headlight has a low-temperature zone 11 apart from the lamps 31-34 and the optical means 41, 42 and the like, having possibility to generate a dew condensation phenomenon when the lamps 31-34 are turned on. The headlight also has at least one functional component 50 (e.g. a discharge lamp ballast) capable of generating heat in itself in design except a lamp. The functional component 50 is mounted near the low- temperature zone 11, such that the component 50 increases a temperature in the low-temperature zone 11 in operation to reduce the dew condensation in the zone 11.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to automotive headlights, and more particularly to addressing the problem of condensation within headlights.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Automobile headlights generally include a housing and glass defining a closed enclosure to prevent water or mud from entering the enclosure by ventilating means including labyrinths, baffles or the like. While allowing fresh air to circulate within this enclosure.

[0003] The circulation of the air is achieved, in particular, by renewing the air inside the headlight and reducing the humidity so that the water contained as steam in the air is heated when one or more lamps in the headlight are turned on. The purpose is to prevent condensation on the relatively cold surface of the headlight.

However, such ventilation arrangements are clearly inadequate, especially when the housing of the headlight has a complicated shape with corners, cavities and the like. In corners, cavities, etc., where air circulation is poor and away from the light source or the optical components to be coupled, the temperature is much lower than in the area of these light sources and optical components.
In this case, since additional ventilation passages communicating with the outside must be provided in these areas, the configuration of the headlight becomes complicated and the price increases.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to reduce the dew condensation phenomenon extremely easily and economically at a position where dew condensation is likely to occur, such as the above-mentioned cavity or corner of a headlight.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION To this end, the present invention is directed to a housing and glass interconnected to define a closed enclosure, and at least one for generating a light flux in cooperation with the optical means. And one lamp
One or more areas of the lamp and at least one cold zone, which is usually remote from the optical means to be coupled and which can cause a condensation event when the lamp is lit, and which itself can generate heat; At least one functional component other than the lamp is included, and the functional component is arranged adjacent to the cold air zone so as to increase the temperature of the cold air zone when the functional component is operated. Suggest car headlights.

Thus, according to the present invention, it is possible to reduce or even eliminate the condensation phenomenon in the cool air zone without having to equip the headlights with additional means specially configured to increase the temperature of the cool air zone.

[0008] The preferred, but not limiting, features of the headlight according to the present invention are as follows. The lamp of the headlight is a gas discharge lamp, and the functional component is a supply module for said gas discharge lamp.

The supply module is a high-voltage supply module.

[0010] The cold air zone is arranged in an extension of the headlight substantially in the lateral direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.

The extension is a side extension.

The cool air zone accommodates a decorative component provided in the extension, and the functional component is disposed behind the decorative component.

An air circulation space is provided between the decorative component and the functional component.

The functional component is attached to an opening formed in the housing of the headlight so as to face the cold air zone.

The opening is formed in the rear wall of the housing.

The functional component has a support plate which can cooperate with a peripheral support zone of the opening to hermetically close the opening when mounted on the headlight;

The headlight housings are respectively arranged at predetermined distances from the cold air zone;
It has at least two ventilators.

Other features, objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, given by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION As shown in the figures, a headlight according to the present invention includes a housing 10 cooperating with a front glass 20 to define a closed enclosure.

This enclosure has several lights and
A signal beacon function is provided. That is, the lamp 3
1 and an optical plate 41, a turn signal lamp (assembly L1), a filament lamp 32 and a high beam lamp (assembly L2) including a parabolic mirror 42, a mirror 4 having a high beam function at a non-focusing position
So-called "low beam" lamp 3 mounted on 2
3 (assembly L3) and an elliptical crossing or passing headlight (lamp L) that includes a lamp 34 cooperating with an elliptical mirror 44a and a plano-convex lens 44b.
4). This configuration, which is known per se, is of course only given by way of example, and many other configurations can be employed.

The lamp 34 of the low beam headlight is
Here, it is a gas discharge lamp. Accordingly, a high voltage supply module 50, ie a ballast or ballast, is coupled to the lamp in a unique manner, and the ballast or ballast is housed in a shielded housing, as shown, and the Is joined to.

In addition, the housing 10 has two conventional ventilators 70 here with baffles (shown here without external terminal plugs). The two devices are located approximately at opposite ends of the diagonal of the area of the housing that collects the various lighting functions L1-L4 and allow sufficient ventilation air for these lighting functions.

The enclosure defined by the headlight housing together with the glass also has an inward (right side in FIG. 1) side extension 11 forming a kind of corner, and the ventilation device 70 Considering its position, it can be seen that in this region no air circulation can be apparently caused. Also, since this extension 11 is relatively far from each lighting function, it is at a relatively lower temperature than the main part of the enclosure when one or more lamps L1 to L4 are turned on.

As can be clearly seen from FIG. 1, in order to give the headlight sufficient features in terms of aesthetics, the decorative part, which is composed of a molded plastic part which is subjected to a decorative treatment on the front, has a full width of the headlight and In particular, it extends to the extension 11.

According to the invention, the moisture contained in the air present in the enclosure is condensed in the cool air zone located in the extension 11 and, in particular, in the part of the decorative part extending to the extension 11. To reduce fear,
In this area of the extension 11, a high-voltage supply module 50 which is connected to the lamp 34 is arranged.

Therefore, during operation, the heat generated by the supply module 50 is dissipated in the extension 11, especially in the decorative part 60.
The temperature rise causes the dew condensation phenomenon on the decorative component or the glass 20 in this area to be eliminated or significantly reduced.

In this embodiment, the module 50 is arranged on the wall of the housing behind the extension 11 so as to come to the back of the decorative component 60, so that it cannot be seen from the outside. Also, access to the module 50 is still easy, even after lifting the engine cover of the vehicle.

In particular, it is advantageous for the module 50 to be supported by a fixed rear plate 52 which forms part of the shielded housing, with an opening 12 in the rear wall of the housing facing the extension 11. The dimensions of this opening are substantially the same as the dimensions of the module 50. This opening is bordered by a peripheral support zone 13 for the periphery of the support plate 52.

A packing (not shown) is provided between the plate 52 and the support zone 13 at this level to avoid any unwanted communication between the headlight enclosure and the outside.

Furthermore, there is an air space between the module 50 and the decorative component 60, and due to the geometrical configuration of each component and the relative spacing of the ventilation device 70, this space has a very high air circulation. Restricted or nonexistent location.

Therefore, the heat generated at the module 50 can be transmitted particularly effectively to the decorative component 60 and the adjacent portion of the glass 20 by convection.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described and illustrated above, but those skilled in the art
Many modifications or changes can be made.

In particular, in order to achieve the object of the invention, the above-mentioned high-voltage supply module is not only provided in the headlight, but instead or additionally, a switching electronic circuit of the lamp, a luminous flux adjustment at that point Any other heat generating device, such as an automatic reduction device, can be provided and utilized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of a headlight according to the present invention in which a cross section is shifted.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of a housing of the headlight of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a rear surface of the housing of FIG. 2;

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 gas discharge lamp 11 cold air zone or extension 12 opening 13 peripheral support zone 15 groove 16 shielding means 20 glass 31, 34 lamp 32 filament lamp 41, 44 optical means or optical plate 42 parabolic mirror 50 functional component or supply Module 51 Shielded wire 52 Support plate 60 Decorative component 70 Ventilation device

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. To define a closed enclosure,
The housing (10) and the glass (2)
0) and at least one lamp (31-34) for producing a light beam in cooperation with the optical means (41-44), the headlight of one or more lamps. A region other than the lamp, which has at least one cold air zone (11), which is usually remote from the optical means to be coupled, which can cause condensation when the lamp is turned on, and which can itself generate heat At least one functional component (50), the functional component (50)
The headlight, wherein the functional component (50) is arranged adjacent to the cool air zone so as to increase the temperature of the cool air zone during the operation of (1). 2. The head according to claim 1, wherein the headlight lamp is a gas discharge lamp and the functional component is a supply module for the gas discharge lamp. Light. 3. The headlight according to claim 2, wherein the supply module is a high-voltage supply module. 4. The head according to claim 1, wherein the cold air zone is arranged in an extension of the headlight in a direction substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. Light. 5. The headlight according to claim 4, wherein the extension is a side extension. 6. The cold air zone contains a decorative component (60) provided on the extension, and the functional component (50) is arranged behind the decorative component. The headlight according to claim 4 or 5, wherein 7. The headlight according to claim 6, wherein an air circulation space is provided between the decorative component (60) and the functional component (50). 8. The headlight according to claim 1, wherein the functional component is mounted in an opening (12) formed in the housing (10) of the headlight facing the cool air zone. Headlight according to any of the above. 9. The housing (1) is provided with an opening (12).
9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the second member is formed on a rear wall.
The headlight according to. 10. A support plate (52) cooperable with a peripheral support zone (13) of said opening for airtightly closing said opening (12) when mounted on a headlight. 10. The headlight according to claim 8, wherein 11. A headlight housing (10).
Headlight according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least two ventilators (70), each located at a predetermined distance from the cold air zone.