Headlamp for vehicle

• US 7,114,837 B2
• Filed: 04/07/2004
• Issued: 10/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Company Limited
• Inventors: Inoue, Takashi, Sasaki, Masaru, Oishi, Kazutami, Yagi, Seiichiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Alavi, Ali
• Application Number:
  US10/819,122
• Publication Number:
  US 20040202007A1
• Time in Patent Office: 909 Days
• Field of Search: 362/294, 362/373, 362/545, 362/547, 362/523, 362/250, 362/372
• US Class Current: 362/523
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/148 the main emission direction of the LED being perpendicular to the optical axis
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/151 arranged in one or more lines
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/155 Surface emitters, e.g. organic light emitting diodes [OLED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/50 characterised by aesthetic components not otherwise provided for, e.g. decorative trim, partition walls or covers
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 45/43 using gas
• 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 45/60 Heating of lighting devices, e.g. for demisting
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/74 with fins or blades
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A plurality of lighting units using light emitting diodes as light sources is accommodated in a lamp housing in such a state as to be supported on a common metallic support member provided tiltably. When a part or all of the lighting units are turned on, the light emitting diodes generate heat with a light emission. These light emitting diodes are supported on the common metallic support member. Also in the case in which any of the lighting units is turned on, therefore, the heat generated by the light emitting diodes is moved to the metallic support member having a large heat capacity through boards and light source support blocks by a heat conducting function. Consequently, a rise in the temperatures of the light emitting diodes can be suppressed.

Claims

1. A headlamp for a vehicle, comprising:

a plurality of lighting units each comprising a semiconductor light emitting unit as a light source;

a lamp housing, accommodating said plurality of lighting units, comprising a lamp body, and a translucent cover attached to an opening portion on a front end of the lamp body, wherein a plurality of different light distribution patterns are formed by said plurality of lighting units; and

an adjustable metal support member that supports said plurality of lighting units.

2. The headlamp for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the adjustable metal support member comprises a plate-shaped member formed in a step configuration.

3. The headlamp for a vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of radiation fins positioned at a rear of the adjustable metal support member.

4. The headlamp for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the adjustable metal support member extends to a space external to the lamp housing.

5. The headlamp for a vehicle according to claim 4, wherein an exposing position of the metallic support member to the external space is positioned in a peripheral wall portion of the lamp body.

6. The headlamp for a vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the adjustable metal support member comprises:

a support member body;

a heat sink exposed to the external space; and

a heat pipe provided to couple the heat sink to the support member body.

7. The headlamp for a vehicle according to claim 4, wherein at least a part of the lamp body comprises the metallic support member.

8. The headlamp for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a part of the adjustable metal support member comprises at least one heat pipe extended to a vicinal position of a lower end of the translucent cover.

9. The headlamp for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the adjustable metallic support member is tiltably supported by a plurality of aiming screws, and at least one of the aiming screws comprises a heat pipe.

10. The headlamp for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of lighting units further comprising a reflector and a projection lens.

11. The headlamp for a vehicle according to claim 10, wherein:

each of the lighting units further comprise a metallic support block supporting the light source, reflector and projection lens; and

the metallic support block defines the light distribution pattern of each of the lighting units.

12. The headlamp for a vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of heat fins extending from the adjustable metal support member, wherein the heat fins are enclosed within the lamp housing.

13. The headlamp for a vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a heat pipe extending along the adjustable metal support member to a vicinal position of a lower end of the translucent cover.

14. The headlamp for a vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising:

adjustment screws connecting the adjustable metal support member to a rear side of the lamp housing; and

a heat sink, connected to the adjustable metal support member, and extending out of a bottom side of the lamp housing.

15. The headlamp for a vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising:

a heat sink on an outer rear side of the lamp housing; and

an adjustment screw connecting the adjustable metal support member to a rear side of the lamp housing and the heat sink, the adjustment screw comprising a heat pipe.

16. The headlamp for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein:

the lamp housing comprises a second opening on a rear end of the lamp body;

the adjustable metal support member is fixed to the second opening to form a rear side of the lamp housing;

the headlamp further comprises an adjustment screw connecting the rear side of the lamp housing to the vehicle.

17. An apparatus for a vehicle lighting system including a headlight having a housing that includes a translucent cover and a body, comprising:

a plurality of light emitting devices arranged in a pattern on a support positioned in said body; and

a means for removing heat generated by at least one of said light emitting devices, wherein;

said light emitting devices are configured to produce a plurality of different light distribution patterns; and

said support is adjustable.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said means for removing heat comprises a plurality of fins directly attached to said support.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said plurality of fins is positioned on one of a bottom surface of said support and a rear surface of said support.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein when said plurality of fins is positioned on said bottom surface, said support and said plurality of fins form a portion of said housing such that said fins are positioned outside of said body.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said plurality of fins is positioned inside said body.

22. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said means for removing comprises a plurality of fins connected to said support.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said plurality of fins is connected to said support via a connector attached to a lower surface of a bottom step of said support, and is sealed by a flexible seal, on an outer surface of said body.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said plurality of fins is connected to said support via a means for adjusting said support, and is on an outer surface of said body.

25. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said means for removing heat comprises a pipe device attached to a surface of said support.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising a vicinal part attached to said pipe at a lower front portion of said pipe and inside said body.

27. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising a plurality of fins connected to said pipe by a connector, wherein said fins are positioned substantially outside said body.

28. The headlamp for a vehicle according to claim 17, wherein each of the plurality of light emitting devices comprises a semiconductor light emitting unit as a light source, a reflector, and a projection lens.

29. The apparatus according to claim 28, wherein:

each of the light emitting devices further comprise a metallic support block supporting the light source, reflector and projection lens; and

the metallic support block defines the light distribution pattern of each of the lighting units.

30. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the means for removing heat comprises:

an adjustable metal support member; and

a plurality of heat fins extending from the adjustable metal support member,

wherein the heat fins are enclosed within the housing.

31. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the means for removing heat comprises:

an adjustable metal support member; and

a heat pipe extending along the adjustable metal support member to a vicinal position of a lower end of the translucent cover.

32. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein:

the means for removing heat comprises an adjustable metal support member;

the headlight further comprises an adjustment screw connecting the adjustable metal support member to a rear side of the housing; and

the headlight further comprises a heat sink, connected to the adjustable metal support member, and extending out of a bottom side of the lamp housing.

33. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein:

the means for removing heat comprises an adjustable metal support member;

the headlight further comprises a heat sink on an outer rear side of the lamp housing; and

the headlight further comprises an adjustment screw connecting the adjustable metal support member to a rear side of the lamp housing and the heat sink, the adjustment screw comprising a heat pipe.

34. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein:

the means for removing heat comprises an adjustable metal support member;

the housing comprises an opening on a rear end thereof;

the adjustable metal support member is fixed to the second opening to form a rear side of the housing; and

the headlight further comprises an adjustment screw connecting the rear side of the housing to the vehicle.