VEHICLE LIGHT ASSEMBLY WITH IMPROVED HEAT DISSIPATION

• US 20190024869A1
• Filed: 07/19/2017
• Published: 01/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Salter, Stuart C., Dellock, Paul Kenneth, Glickman, David Brian
• Granted Patent: US 10,436,416 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2603 Attenuation of the light according to ambient luminiosity, e.g. for braking or direction indicating lamps
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2611 Indicating devices mounted on the roof of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2615 mounted on the vehicle body, e.g. with magnets
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2696 Mounting of devices using LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/28 for indicating front of vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/302 mounted in the vicinity, e.g. in the middle, of a rear window
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/32 for indicating vehicle sides , e.g. clearance lights
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/112 Vehicle speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/314 Ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/30 Daytime running lights [DRL], e.g. circuits or arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/14 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/15 Strips of light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 45/47 Passive cooling, e.g. using fins, thermal conductive elements or openings
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 45/48 with means for conducting heat from the inside to the outside of the lighting devices, e.g. with fins on the outer surface of the lighting device
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 45/49 Attachment of the cooling means
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/005 by permanent fixing means, e.g. gluing, riveting or embedding in a potting compound
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/70 characterised by passive heat-dissipating elements, e.g. heat-sinks
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2107/10 for land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A vehicle light assembly is provided herein and includes a light source, an optic configured to output light emitted by the light source, and a thermal conductive member enclosing the light source and the optic. The thermal conductive member is thermally coupled to a vehicle body via a thermal transfer adhesive.

Claims

1. A vehicle light assembly comprising:

a light source disposed on a printed circuit that is enclosed by the thermal conductive member;

an optic configured to output light emitted by the light source; and

a thermal conductive member enclosing the light source and the optic and thermally coupled to a vehicle body via a thermal transfer adhesive, wherein the thermal conductive member comprises one or more inner sidewalls that surround the light source and extend at an angle relative to the printed circuit board, and wherein a gap between the one or more inner sidewalls widens vertically as the one or more sidewalls extend away from the printed circuit board.

5. The vehicle light assembly of claim 1, wherein the one or more inner sidewalls are lined with a reflector configured to redirect light emitted by the light source.

6. The vehicle light assembly of claim 1, further comprising a sealing adhesive that seals the thermal transfer adhesive between the thermal conductive member and the vehicle body.

7. The vehicle light assembly of claim 6, wherein the thermal transfer adhesive is provided at a central rear portion of the thermal conductive member and the sealing adhesive is provided about a rear peripheral region of the thermal conductive member and encloses the thermal transfer adhesive.

8. The vehicle light assembly of claim 1, wherein the light source is disposed on a printed circuit board and the optic is disposed in a barrel of the thermal conductive member that encloses the light source and extends from the printed circuit board.

9. The vehicle light assembly of claim 8, assembled by a multi-shot insert molding process comprising:

molding the thermal conductive member to the printed circuit board;

molding a reflector to one or more inner sidewalls of the barrel; and

molding the optic over the light source.

13. The vehicle light assembly of claim 1, configured as a light strip extending longitudinally across a roofline location of a vehicle.

2. (canceled)

3. (canceled)

4. (canceled)

10. (canceled)

11. A vehicle light assembly comprising:

a light source;

an optic configured to output light emitted by the light source;

a thermal conductive member enclosing the light source and the optic and thermally coupled to a vehicle body via a thermal transfer adhesive; and

a controller configured to operate the light source at varying intensity based on a vehicle speed, wherein the controller operates the light source at a first intensity so long as the vehicle speed is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, and wherein if the vehicle speed falls below the predetermined threshold, the controller operates the light source such that the intensity of the light source ramps up and down periodically with increasing magnitude and frequency as the vehicle speed decreases to zero.

12. The vehicle light assembly of claim 11, wherein the light source is operated at a second intensity when the vehicle speed reaches zero, the second intensity being a multiple of the first intensity.

14. A vehicle light assembly comprising:

a light source disposed on a printed circuit board;

a thermal conductive member having a barrel that encloses the light source; and

an optic disposed in the barrel and configured to output light emitted by the light source, wherein the thermal conductive member transfers heat produced by the light source to a vehicle body via a thermal transfer adhesive coupling the thermal conductive member to the vehicle body, and wherein the barrel is defined by one or more sidewalls extending at an angle relative to the printed circuit board.

16. The vehicle light assembly of claim 14, wherein a gap between the one or more inner sidewalls widens vertically as the one or more sidewalls extend away from the printed circuit board.

17. The vehicle light assembly of claim 14, wherein the one or more inner sidewalls are lined with a reflector configured to redirect light emitted by the light source.

18. The vehicle light assembly of claim 14, further comprising a sealing adhesive that seals the thermal transfer adhesive between the thermal conductive member and the vehicle body.

19. The vehicle light assembly of claim 18, wherein the thermal transfer adhesive is provided at a central rear portion of the thermal conductive member and the sealing adhesive is provided about a rear peripheral region of the thermal conductive member and encloses the thermal transfer adhesive.

15. (canceled)

20. (canceled)