FOLDED HEAT SINK WITH ELECTRICAL CONNECTION PROTECTION

• US 20180283665A1
• Filed: 03/30/2017
• Published: 10/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Valeo North America Incorporated (Valeo SE)
• Original Assignee: Valeo North America Incorporated (Valeo SE)
• Inventors: Roth, Frederick Allen, Hemon, Julien
• Granted Patent: US 10,641,473 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/141 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/192 Details of lamp holders, terminals or connectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/24 Light guides
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/29 Attachment thereof for achieving variable light distribution F21S41/63
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/14 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/195 Details of lamp holders, terminals or connectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/237 rod-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/27 Attachment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 45/47 Passive cooling, e.g. using fins, thermal conductive elements or openings
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/0015 Fastening arrangements intended to retain light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/002 Arrangements of cables or conductors inside a lighting device, e.g. means for guiding along parts of the housing or in a pivoting arm
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/74 with fins or blades
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A lighting module having a heat sink and at least one light source supported by the heat sink. A printed circuit board is also supported on the heat sink and electrically coupled to the at least one light source with at least one conductor. The heat sink is folded or formed to define a conductor protector for protecting the at least one conductor and has at least one wall that is situated in operative relationship with the at least one conductor in order to shield or protect the at least one conductor.

Claims

1. A lighting module comprising:

a heat sink;

at least one light source supported by said heat sink;

a printed circuit board also supported on said heat sink and electrically coupled to said at least one light source with at least one conductor;

said heat sink comprising a conductor protector for protecting said at least one conductor.

2. The lighting module as recited in claim 1 wherein said heat sink is folded or formed to define said conductor protector.

3. The lighting module as recited in claim 1 wherein said heat sink comprises at least one wall situated in operative relationship with said at least one conductor in order to shield or protect said at least one conductor.

4. The lighting module as recited in claim 1 wherein said heat sink comprises a plurality of walls situated in operative relationship with said at least one conductor in order to shield or protect said at least one conductor.

5. The lighting module as recited in claim 4 wherein said plurality of walls comprises a first wall portion and a generally opposing second wall portion, said at least one conductor being located between said first and second wall portions.

6. The lighting module as recited in claim 5 wherein said at least one light source and said printed circuit board are also located between said first and second wall portions.

7. The lighting module as recited in claim 5 wherein said first wall portion is situated on a first side of said heat sink and said second wall portion is situated on a second side of said heat sink.

8. The lighting module as recited in claim 4 wherein said heat sink comprises a body that is folded in a plurality of areas to define said plurality of walls, respectively.

9. The lighting module as recited in claim 4 wherein said plurality of walls comprise a height that is greater than either a height of either said printed circuit board after it is mounted on the heat sink or a height of said at least one light source after it is mounted on said heat sink.

10. The lighting module as recited in claim 4 wherein said plurality of walls are not angled with respect to a support area of said heat sink where said printed circuit board is mounted.

11. The lighting module as recited in claim 1 wherein said lighting module comprises a light guide for mounting on said heat sink in operative relationship with said at least one light source.

12. The lighting module as recited in claim 11 wherein said heat sink and said light guide comprises a mount that causes an input surface of said light guide to become registered with respect to said at least one light source.

13. The lighting module as recited in claim 4 wherein said plurality of walls each comprise at least one aperture adapted to receive at least a portion of a flexible arm of a cover when the cover is mounted on the heat sink.