VEHICLE HEADLIGHT

• US 20110051448A1
• Filed: 09/03/2010
• Published: 03/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stanley Electric Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Stanley Electric Company Limited
• Inventors: OWADA, Ryotaro
• Granted Patent: US 8,100,569 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/520
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0683 Adjustable by rotation of a screw
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/141 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/19 Attachment of light sources or lamp holders achieving variable light distribution by movable light sources F21S41/657
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 45/47 Passive cooling, e.g. using fins, thermal conductive elements or openings
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 17/02 with provision for adjustment F21V17/04 - F21V17/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/51 using condensation or evaporation of a fluid, e.g. heat pipes
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/70 characterised by passive heat-dissipating elements, e.g. heat-sinks
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A vehicle headlight can include an LED optical unit with a high cooling efficiency. The LED optical unit can include a projector lens, a lens holder including a frame that has a tapered portion, and an LED light source mounted on a base member. The base member can be located in the tapered portion of the frame to define an air flow space between the frame and the base member. The projector lens can be attached to the lens holder so as to face the light source. Cool air can flow from the air flow space towards the light source, and heat generated from the light source can flow toward the upward air flow space. The LED light source can be efficiently radiated even when it is located close to the projector lens. Thus, the vehicle headlight can be used for various vehicles including a small size car.

Claims

1. An LED optical unit, comprising:

a lens holder having a first portion and a frame extending from the first portion, the frame defining a first opening, a second opening and including an inner surface, the frame being located between the first opening and the second opening, tapering from the first opening towards the second opening so that the first opening and the second opening become substantially parallel with respect to each other, and the frame including at least one slit, at least one contact plate and at least one hook, the at least one slit being substantially cup-shaped, the at least one contact plate surrounded by the at least one slit and having an elasticity in an inner direction of the frame, and the at least one hook being located on the inner surface of the contact plate of the frame and being located adjacent the at least one slit;

a base member having a front surface and a peripheral surface, the front surface being positioned substantially parallel to the first opening of the lens holder, the peripheral surface including a plurality of ribs that contact with the inner surface of the lens holder, and the plurality of ribs configured to attach the base member to the lens holder by locking at least one of the ribs with the at least one contact plate and the at least one hook in order to define an air flow space between the peripheral surface of the base member and the inner surface of the lens holder;

a projector lens having an optical axis and a light incoming surface, and the projector lens attached to the lens holder so that the frame of the lens holder is located between the peripheral surface of the base member and the projector lens; and

an LED light source having an optical axis and attached on the front surface of the base member so that the optical axis of the LED light source substantially aligns with the optical axis of the projector lens, wherein the LED light source is configured to be spaced from the light incoming surface of the projector lens at a prescribed interval.

2. The LED optical unit according to claim 1, further comprising:

a heat pipe connected to the base member; and

a heat sink connected to the heat pipe.

3. The LED optical unit according to claim 1, wherein each of the first opening and the second opening of the lens holder and the front surface of the base member is formed in a rectangular shape, and the frame is tubular in shape between the first opening and second opening.

4. The LED optical unit according to claim 2, wherein each of the first opening and the second opening of the lens holder and the front surface of the base member is formed in a rectangular shape.

5. The LED optical unit according to claim 1, further comprising:

a flexible printed circuit board having the LED light source mounted thereon, wherein the LED light source is attached to the front surface of the base member via the flexible printed circuit board.

6. The LED optical unit according to claim 2, further comprising:

a flexible printed circuit board having the LED light source mounted thereon, wherein the LED light source is attached to the front surface of the base member via the flexible printed circuit board.

7. The LED optical unit according to claim 1, wherein the LED light source includes at least one blue LED chip.

8. The LED optical unit according to claim 2, wherein the LED light source includes at least one blue LED chip.

17. A vehicle headlight including the LED optical unit according to claim 1, further comprising:

a housing;

a fulcrum shaft having a fulcrum point located in the housing and configured such that the LED optical unit is pivotable about the fulcrum point;

an adjustment assembly configured to rotate the LED optical unit in a first direction about the fulcrum point and configured to rotate the LED optical unit in a second direction about the fulcrum point, the first direction being substantially normal to the second direction; and

an outer lens located adjacent the housing.

18. A vehicle headlight including the LED optical unit according to claim 2, further comprising:

a housing;

a fulcrum shaft having a fulcrum point located in the housing and configured such that the LED optical unit is pivotable about the fulcrum point;

an adjustment assembly configured to rotate the LED optical unit in a first direction about the fulcrum point and configured to rotate the LED optical unit in a second direction about the fulcrum point, the first direction being substantially normal to the second direction; and

an outer lens located adjacent the housing.

9. An LED optical unit, comprising:

a lens holder having a first portion and a frame extending from the first portion, the frame defining a first opening, a second opening and including an inner surface, the frame being located between the first opening and the second opening, and the frame tapering from the first opening towards the second opening so that the first opening and the second opening become substantially parallel with respect to each other;

a base member having a front surface, a rear surface and a peripheral surface, the front surface being positioned substantially parallel to the first opening of the lens holder, and the peripheral surface including a plurality of ribs that contact with the inner surface of the lens holder;

a fixing member having an elasticity formed in a substantially rectangular shape and attaching the base member to the lens holder from the rear surface of the base member with the elasticity of the fixing member so that an air flow space is created between the peripheral surface of the base member and the inner surface of the lens holder;

a projector lens having an optical axis and a light incoming surface, and the projector lens attached to the lens holder so that the frame of the lens holder is located between the peripheral surface of the base member and the projector lens; and

an LED light source having an optical axis attached on the front surface of the base member so that the optical axis of the LED light source substantially aligns with the optical axis of the projector lens, wherein the LED light source is configured to be spaced from the light incoming surface of the projector lens at a prescribed interval.

10. The LED optical unit according to claim 9, wherein the fixing member further extends in at least one of an upward direction and an under direction of the fixing member along the lens holder while keeping the air flow space.

11. The LED optical unit according to claim 9, further comprising:

a heat pipe connected to the base member; and

a heat sink connected to the heat pipe.

12. The LED optical unit according to claim 10, further comprising:

a heat pipe connected to the base member; and

a heat sink connected to the heat pipe.

13. The LED optical unit according to claim 9, wherein each of the first opening and the second opening of the lens holder and the front surface of the base member is formed in a rectangular shape, and the frame is tubular in shape between the first opening and second opening.

14. The LED optical unit according to claim 10, wherein each of the first opening and the second opening of the lens holder and the front surface of the base member is formed in a rectangular shape.

15. The LED optical unit according to claim 9, wherein the LED light source includes at least one blue LED chip.

16. The LED optical unit according to claim 10, wherein the LED light source includes at least one blue LED chip.

19. A vehicle headlight including the LED optical unit according to claim 9, further comprising:

a housing;

a fulcrum shaft having a fulcrum point located in the housing and configured such that the LED optical unit is pivotable about the fulcrum point;

an adjustment assembly configured to rotate the LED optical unit in a first direction about the fulcrum point and configured to rotate the LED optical unit in a second direction about the fulcrum point, the first direction being substantially normal to the second direction; and

an outer lens located adjacent the housing.

20. A vehicle headlight including the LED optical unit according to claim 10, further comprising:

a housing;

a fulcrum shaft having a fulcrum point located in the housing and configured such that the LED optical unit is pivotable about the fulcrum point;

an adjustment assembly configured to rotate the LED optical unit in a first direction about the fulcrum point and configured to rotate the LED optical unit in a second direction about the fulcrum point, the first direction being substantially normal to the second direction; and

an outer lens located adjacent the housing.