Vehicle lighting device and method of assembling a vehicle lighting device

• US 20040240227A1
• Filed: 05/27/2004
• Published: 12/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Inventors: Niwa, Takashi, Kitade, Takashi, Asao, Kazuhiro
• Granted Patent: US 7,033,043 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/545
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/26 the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/14 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/19 Attachment of light sources or lamp holders
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/62 Arrangements for conducting electric current to or from the semiconductor body, e.g. lead-frames, wire-bonds or solder balls
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/2433 one part of the base being movable to push the cable into the slot
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/30 Driver circuits

Abstract

LEDs (10) are used as a tail stop lamp (L1). A socket (21) for the LEDs (10) is provided at the left end of a socket base (20), and a lighting circuit (15) for the LEDs (10) including the socket (21) and a connector portion (25) is constructed on the socket base (20). Thus, electronic parts, such as resistors for luminance adjustment, are formed into control modules (30) by molding. Lead terminals (32) of the respective control modules (30) are formed by insulation-displacement terminals. On the other hand, insulated wires (40) are laid through mount bases (35) in a specified circuit pattern on the socket base (20). When the control modules (30) are mounted into the corresponding mount bases (35), the lead terminals (32) are pressed into connection to form the lighting circuit.

Claims

1. A vehicle lighting device with a light emitting element (10;

11) as a light source and constructed so that power is applied to the light emitting element (10;

11) via a lighting circuit in which at least one control electronic part (Rk;

R;

D;

ZD) is provided, comprising;

a base (20;

20A) with at least one socket (21;

22;

23) for receiving the light emitting element (10;

11);

at least one insulated wire (40) laid on the base (20;

20A) to form a specified circuit pattern and being connected with the socket (21;

22;

23); and

control modules (30Rk;

30R;

30D;

30ZD;

50Rk;

50R;

50D;

50ZD) having at least one connection terminal (32) projecting therefrom, the connection terminals (32) being connected at specified positions with the insulated wires (40) by insulation displacement, thereby forming the lighting circuit.

2. The vehicle lighting device of claim 1, wherein the control modules (30Rk;

30R;

30D;

30ZD;

50Rk;

50R;

50D;

50ZD) are formed by resin-molding the electronic and/or electric parts (Rk;

R;

D;

ZD).

3. The vehicle lighting device of claim 1, wherein each control module (30Rk;

30R;

30D;

30ZD;

50Rk;

50R;

50D;

50ZD) is formed such that the connection terminal (32) projects in a mounting direction (MD) from a side surface of a main body (31).

4. The vehicle lighting device of claim 1, wherein the base (20;

20A) further has at least one socket (21;

22;

23) configured for receiving at least one electric bulb (12).

5. The vehicle lighting device of claim 1, wherein the connection terminal (32) comprises at least one blade (33) for cutting an insulation coating (41) of the insulated wire (40).

6. The vehicle lighting device of claim 1, wherein at least one mount base (35) is provided on the base (20;

20A) for mounting the control module (30Rk;

30R;

30D;

30ZD;

50Rk;

50R;

50D;

50ZD).

7. A method of assembling a vehicle lighting device, comprising the following steps:

providing a base (20;

20A) including a socket (21;

22;

23) into which a light emitting element (10;

11) is mountable;

laying at least one insulated wires (40) on the base (20;

20A) to form a specified circuit pattern for connection with the socket (21;

22;

23); and

arranging at least one control module (30Rk;

30R;

30D;

30ZD;

50Rk;

50R;

50D;

50ZD) having at least one connection terminal (32) of insulation-displacement type projecting therefrom thereby connecting the control modules (30Rk;

30R;

30D;

30ZD;

50Rk;

50R;

50D;

50ZD) with the insulated wires (40) at specified positions of the insulated wires (40) by insulation displacement by means of the connection terminals (32), thereby forming the lighting circuit.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising a step of forming the control modules (30Rk;

30R;

30D;

30ZD;

50Rk;

50R;

50D;

50ZD) by resin-molding at least one electronic and/or electric parts (Rk;

R;

D;

ZD) such as a resistor, a diode or the like.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein each control module (30Rk;

30R;

30D;

30ZD;

50Rk;

50R;

50D;

50ZD) has the connection terminal (32) projecting in a mounting direction (MD) from a side surface of a main body (31).

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising providing a socket (21;

22;

23) on the base (20;

20A) for at least one LED (11) or at least one electric bulb (12).