Headlamp assembly with isolated optics chamber
First Claim
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1. A headlamp assembly, comprising:
- a base member;
a transparent cover member joined to the base member;
a light engine housing including;
a light engine employing semiconductor light sources;
a lens, light from each of the semiconductor light sources operable for passing through said lens such that said lens is operable to focus light from the semiconductor light sources into a desired beam pattern;
a heat rejection structure extending outside of the housing to remove heat from the semiconductor light sources;
a mounting flange and flexible bellows moveably mounting the light engine housing with respect to the base member, wherein the base member, transparent cover member and light engine housing form an optics chamber isolated from the surrounding environment;
a lens carrier joined to said light engine housing, said lens carrier and said light engine housing forming a closed volume within said optics chamber; and
a rear member connected to the base member and the transparent cover member to define a plenum chamber about the heat rejection structure, the plenum chamber including at least one inlet to admit cooling air to the plenum chamber and at least one outlet to exhaust cooling air from the plenum chamber.
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Abstract
A headlamp assembly which employs semiconductor light sources includes an optics chamber that is isolated from the surrounding environment to prevent the ingress of water, dirt, or other foreign materials into the optics chamber. At the same time, the headlamp assembly includes a plenum chamber, separated from the optics chamber, and airflow through the plenum chamber provides the necessary cooling for the semiconductor light sources.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A headlamp assembly, comprising:
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a base member; a transparent cover member joined to the base member; a light engine housing including; a light engine employing semiconductor light sources; a lens, light from each of the semiconductor light sources operable for passing through said lens such that said lens is operable to focus light from the semiconductor light sources into a desired beam pattern; a heat rejection structure extending outside of the housing to remove heat from the semiconductor light sources; a mounting flange and flexible bellows moveably mounting the light engine housing with respect to the base member, wherein the base member, transparent cover member and light engine housing form an optics chamber isolated from the surrounding environment; a lens carrier joined to said light engine housing, said lens carrier and said light engine housing forming a closed volume within said optics chamber; and a rear member connected to the base member and the transparent cover member to define a plenum chamber about the heat rejection structure, the plenum chamber including at least one inlet to admit cooling air to the plenum chamber and at least one outlet to exhaust cooling air from the plenum chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A headlamp assembly, comprising:
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a base member; a transparent cover member joined to the base member; a light engine housing including; a light engine employing semiconductor light sources; a lens, light from each of the semiconductor light sources operable for passing through said lens such that said lens is operable to focus light from the semiconductor light sources into a desired beam pattern; a heat rejection structure extending outside of the housing to remove heat from the semiconductor light sources; and a mounting flange and flexible bellows moveably mounting the light engine housing with respect to the base member, wherein the base member, transparent cover member and light engine housing form an optics chamber isolated from the surrounding environment; a lens carrier joined to said light engine housing, said lens carrier and said light engine housing forming a closed volume within said optics chamber; and a rear member connected to the base member and the transparent cover member to define a plenum chamber about the heat rejection structure, the plenum chamber including at least one inlet to admit cooling air to the plenum chamber and at least one outlet to exhaust cooling air from the plenum chamber. - View Dependent Claims (5)
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6. A headlamp assembly for a vehicle, comprising:
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a light engine housing; a light engine mounted to said light engine housing, said light engine having a plurality of semiconductor light sources; an optics chamber surrounding said light engine housing, said optics chamber being isolated from the surrounding environment to prevent the ingress of foreign materials into said optics chamber; a lens carrier connected to said light engine housing to form a closed volume inside said optics chamber; a lens mounted on said lens carrier, light from each of the semiconductor light sources operable for passing through said lens such that said lens is operable to focus light produced by said light engine to produce a desired low beam and high beam pattern; an aiming mechanism operable for positioning said light engine and said lens in a desired position; and a plenum chamber separated from said optics chamber, wherein airflow through the plenum chamber provides cooling for said light engine. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification