LIGHT MODULE, LIGHT ASSEMBLY AND REAR VIEW DEVICE FOR A VEHICLE

• US 20170066380A1
• Filed: 09/03/2016
• Published: 03/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SMR Patents Sarl (SMR Patents)
• Original Assignee: SMR Patents Sarl (SMR Patents)
• Inventors: Shah, Nitesh, Panchal, Sandeep, Rudi, Artem, Herrmann, Andreas, Wieczorek, Romeo, Fritz, Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 10,836,320 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2665 on rear-view mirrors lighting devices for vehicle interior on or for rear-view mirrors B60Q3/258
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/06 mounted on vehicle exterior B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/1207 with lamps; with turn indicators
• 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: F21S 45/47 Passive cooling, e.g. using fins, thermal conductive elements or openings
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 45/50 Waterproofing
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/06 the elements being coupling devices , e.g. connectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 31/005 Sealing arrangements therefor

Abstract

A light module for a light assembly of an exterior rear view device comprises a light source unit with at least one wire for an electric connection with a printed circuit board of the rear view device, in particular of the light assembly. The light module further comprises a housing unit supporting the light source unit and being provided with connecting and/or holding means for the attachment to at least one part, in particular a housing part, of the rear view device. The light module also includes sealing means for water and dustproof of the connection between the light module and the at least one part. A light assembly includes at least one of such a light module, and an exterior rear view device includes such a light assembly.

Claims

1. A light module for a light assembly of an exterior rear view device, comprising:

a light source unit with at least one wire, but not comprising a printed circuit board,

a housing unit supporting the light source unit and being provided with connecting and/or holding means, and

sealing means.

2. The light module of claim 1, wherein

the light source unit comprises:

an optoelectronic component electrically connected with the wire or wires,

a radiation surface, preferably provided by a transparent and/or translucent resin embedding the optoelectronic component, and

a light source housing, either comprised by the housing unit or attached to the housing unit.

3. The light module of claim 1, wherein

the housing unit is formed together with the light source housing and/or the sealing means, in particular by hot embossing or 2-K injection moulding.

4. The light module of claim 1, wherein

the housing unit is formed with a through hole for each wire, and/or the housing unit is formed with a receiving structure for the light source unit, and/or the housing unit is formed with the connecting and/or holding means, in particular for a plug or snap connection.

5. The light module of claim 1, wherein

the connecting and/or holding means comprises at least 2 snaps, preferably each snap being provided with a stop element.

6. The light module of claim 1, wherein

the sealing means is placed around the perimeter of the housing unit or forms the perimeter of the housing unit in the region supporting the light source unit.

7. The light module of claim 1, wherein

at least two light source units are supported by the housing unit, and/or each light source unit comprises an LED unit with one or more LEDs.

8. A light assembly of an exterior rear view device, in particular providing a side turn indicator, a blind spot detection, a logo lamp, a door handle light and/or an approach light, with at least one light module according to claim 1, and at least one printed circuit board remote from the light module, to which the wire or wires is/are soldered.

9. The light assembly of claim 8, comprising:

a soldering pad pattern with at least 1 pad, preferably 2 pads, for each light module.

10. The light assembly of claim 9, wherein

each pad has an area of 3 to 5 mm², and/or

the 2 pads have a distance of at least 0.5 mm or an extension of a length and/or width of at least 0.5 mm.

11. The light assembly of claim 9, wherein

outside the pad or pads a solder resistant is provided on the printed circuit board.

12. The light assembly of claim 10, comprising:

outside the pad or pads a solder resistant is provided on the printed circuit board,

one electronic circuit board unit connected to each light module and a power supply, and/or

one electronic circuit board unit connected to two or more light source units, in particular the light source units being connected in a serial or the light source units being connected in parallel.

13. The light assembly of claim 12, wherein

the electronic circuit board unit comprises at least one driver circuit for directly or indirectly connecting to the power supply and at least one printed circuit board, preferably one printed circuit board for all light modules of a plurality of light modules or one printed circuit board for each light module.

14. The light assembly of claim 13, wherein

at least one plug connection for electronically and physically connecting the printed circuit board(s) and/or the driver circuit is provided.

15. An exterior rear view device for a vehicle, comprising

at least one light module according to claim 1 and/or

at least one light assembly according to claim 8.

16. The exterior rear view device of claim 15, wherein

the connecting and/or holding means of the light module is attached to one part, in particular a housing part, of the rear view device and the sealing means provides a water and dustproof connection between the light module and said part.

17. The exterior rear view device of claim 15, wherein

the radiation surface of the light module flushes with the exterior surface of at least one housing part of which the light module is attached via its connecting and/or holding means.