LIGHTING DEVICE FOR A HEADLAMP LIGHT SOURCE

• US 20110280035A1
• Filed: 11/04/2009
• Published: 11/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Inventors: Ohsawa, Takashi, Minami, Fumihiro
• Granted Patent: US 8,235,553 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/547
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0094 Arrangement of electronic circuits separated from the light source, e.g. mounting of housings for starter circuits for discharge lamps arrangements being part of the light source holder F21V17/06, F21S43/195
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/17 Discharge light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/192 Details of lamp holders, terminals or connectors

Abstract

A lighting device for a headlamp light source includes an connector to be connected to cables for supplying power to the light source, and attached to the bottom of a headlamp case that houses a light source, wherein the output connector is formed such that when the lighting device is attached to the headlamp case, the bottom of a connection opening to which cables of the output connector are connected is disposed at a higher position than a bottom face inside the headlamp case.

Claims

1. A lighting device for a headlamp light source to be attached to an opening portion provided at a bottom of a headlamp case that houses a light source, comprising:

an output connector to which an output harness for supplying power to the light source is connected,

wherein the output connector is formed in such a manner that when the lighting device for a headlamp light source is attached to the headlamp case, the bottom of a connection opening to which the output harness of the output connector is connected is disposed at a higher position than a bottom face inside the headlamp case.

2. The lighting device for a headlamp light source according to claim 1, wherein the connection opening is opened sideways.

3. The lighting device for a headlamp light source according to claim 1, wherein the output connector has a drain groove extending from inside the connection opening towards an outer edge of the output connector.

4. The lighting device for a headlamp light source according to claim 1, wherein one end of an output wire is disposed as a terminal portion in the connection opening of the output connector, and the terminal portion is exposed inside the headlamp case.

5. The lighting device for a headlamp light source according to claim 2, further comprising:

an input connector to which an input harness for supplying power to the lighting device for a light source is connected,

wherein a connection opening of the input connector is opened in substantially the same direction as a direction in which the connection opening of the output connector is opened.

6. The lighting device for a headlamp light source according to claim 1, wherein the output connector has a vent hole running through from inside to outside the lighting device.

7. The lighting device for a headlamp light source according to claim 6, wherein an opening portion of the vent hole is provided inside the connection opening of the output connector.

8. The lighting device for a headlamp light source according to claim 6, wherein the output connector has a protrusion that protrudes at a higher position than the connection opening of the output connector, and an opening portion of the vent hole is provided at the top of the protrusion.

9. The lighting device for a headlamp light source according to claim 6, wherein a moisture-permeable filter is provided at the opening portion of the vent hole.

10. The lighting device for a headlamp light source according to claim 1, wherein the output connector is connected via an output wire to a board that outputs power to be supplied to the light source, and

the output wire has a bent portion halfway between the board and the output connector.

11. The lighting device for a headlamp light source according to claim 1, wherein the output connector is integrally formed with a case of the lighting device for a light source.

12. The lighting device for a headlamp light source according to claim 1, wherein the output connector is mounted to the case of the lighting device for a light source by way of a water-proofing member.

13. The lighting device for a headlamp light source according to claim 1, wherein the output connector comprises a terminal holding portion that holds a terminal of the output connector, and a cover portion mounted to the terminal holding portion.

14. The lighting device for a headlamp light source according to claim 9, wherein the output connector comprises a terminal holding portion that holds a terminal of the connector, and a cover portion mounted to the terminal holding portion, and

the cover portion is mounted to the terminal holding portion to cover a surface of the moisture-permeable filter.

15. The lighting device for a headlamp light source according to claim 12, wherein the output harness for supplying power to the light source comprises a power output wire and a shielding member for shielding electromagnetic emission from the power output wire, and

the output connector is mounted with a screw to a grounded case of the lighting device for a light source together with a connection terminal to which the shielding member is connected.

16. The lighting device for a headlamp light source according to claim 1, wherein the output harness has a connector that is inserted into the connection opening of the output connector, and

the position of the output connector is set such that when the lighting device for a headlamp light source is attached to the headlamp case, outer peripheries of the output connector and a connector of the output harness are disposed inward of the opening portion that is provided at the bottom of the headlamp case.

17. The lighting device for a headlamp light source according to claim 1, the device attached to the opening portion provided at the bottom of the headlamp case that houses the light source, comprising:

a board that outputs power to be supplied to the light source;

a case that houses the board; and

an output connector which is provided at the top of the case and connected to the board via an output wire, and to which an output harness for supplying power to the light source is connected,

wherein the output connector is integrally formed with the case.

18. The lighting device for a headlamp light source according to claim 1, comprising:

a plurality of output wires that connect the output connector and a board that outputs power to be supplied to the light source, such that one end portion of each of the output wires forms a terminal portion of the output connector;

a detection unit for detecting a resistance value between the terminal portions; and

a failsafe unit for discontinuing an operation of the lighting device for a headlamp light source,

wherein the failsafe unit discontinues the operation of the lighting device for a headlamp light source when the resistance between the terminal portions drops.