Illuminating device for vehicles

• US 8,337,061 B2
• Filed: 07/24/2008
• Issued: 12/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hella KGaA Hueck & Company
• Original Assignee: Hella KGaA Hueck & Company
• Inventors: Kaak, Oliver, Higgen, Juergen, Johannsmann, Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): ALLEN, DANIELLE NICOLE
• Application Number:
  US12/672,903
• Publication Number:
  US 20100202151A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,615 Days
• Field of Search: 362 37- 60, 362459-549, 362/317, 362/327, 362/328, 362/341, 362/609, 362/623, 362/624, 362/625, 362/627, 362/215, 362/217.05, 362/235, 362/241, 362/243, 362/245, 362/247, 362/296.01
• US Class Current: 362/516
• 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 43/33 characterised by their material, surface treatment or coatings
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/001 the light sources being semiconductors devices, e.g. LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/00 Arrangement of electric circuit elements in or on lighting devices characterised by cooling arrangements F21V29/508
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2103/00 Exterior vehicle lighting devices for signalling purposes

Abstract

An illuminating device for vehicles, in particular a tail light, with a housing containing at least one light source, a support accommodating the light source, and a reflector, and with a diffusion lens for covering an opening of the housing. The reflector, which is provided with an electrically conductive coating, is assigned charge dissipation path in such a manner that, when electrostatic charging of the reflector occurs, a dissipation current flows along the dissipation path to a connection to earth of the illuminating device.

Claims

1. An illuminating device for a vehicle, with

at least one light source,

a housing containing the at least one light source,

a reflector,

a support accommodating the light source and the reflector, and

a diffusion lens for covering an opening of the housing,

wherein the reflector is provided with an electrically conductive coating and is assigned a charge dissipation path in such a manner that, when electrostatic charging of the reflector occurs, a dissipation current flows via the charge dissipation path to an earth connection of the illuminating device.

2. An illuminating device for a vehicle, with

at least one light source,

a housing containing the at least one light source,

a reflector,

a support accommodating the light source and the reflector, and

a diffusion lens for covering an opening of the housing, wherein the reflector is provided with an electrically conductive coating and is assigned a charge dissipation path in such a manner that, when electrostatic charging of the reflector occurs, a dissipation current flows via the charge dissipation path to an earth connection of the illuminating device,

wherein the charge dissipation path is a charge dissipation path having a first end electrically connected to a wall section of the reflector and a second end in electrical communication with an earth connection of a carrier or an earth connection of a central plug connector arrangement of the illuminating device.

3. The illuminating device according to claim 2, wherein a first end of the charge dissipation path is electrically and mechanically coupled to said wall section of the reflector via a spring contact connector element or a plug connector element.

4. The illuminating device according to claim 2, wherein the charge dissipation path is an electric charge dissipator which forms a pressed screen together with further electric conductors that are integrated in a support in the form of a lamp carrier for at least one incandescent bulb.

5. The illuminating device according to claim 3, wherein the charge dissipation path is an electric charge dissipator which forms a pressed screen together with further electric conductors that are integrated in a support in the form of a lamp carrier for at least one incandescent bulb, and wherein the spring contact connector element comprises a U-shaped section for detachable connection with the reflector on one hand and a V-shaped section for communication with a first end of a charge dissipation path of a lamp carrier on the other hand.

6. The illuminating device according to claim 2, wherein the charge dissipation path is a charge dissipating track which extends on a printed board fitted with a plurality of LEDs as light sources.

7. The illuminating device according to claim 6, wherein a first end of the charge dissipating track is a land extending around a fixing bore of the printed board for accommodating a fixing means to attach the printed board to the reflector wherein a fixing element of said reflector is contacting said land at least partially.

8. The illuminating device according to claim 6, wherein the printed board is fitted with a plurality of electronic components on a side facing away from the LEDs.

9. The illuminating device according to claim 6, wherein the charge dissipation path is an electrically conductive cable which extends between a plug connector element detachably fixed to the reflector and the earth connection of the electric connection of the printed board or the earth connection of the central plug connector arrangement of the illuminating device.

10. The illuminating device according to claim 9, wherein at least one of the central plug connector arrangement of the illuminating device and the electric connection of the lamp carrier is arranged on a rear face of the housing.

11. A tail light for a vehicle, with

at least one light source,

a housing containing the at least one light source,

a reflector,

a support accommodating the light source and the reflector, and

a diffusion lens for covering an opening of the housing,

wherein the reflector is provided with an electrically conductive coating and is assigned charge dissipation path in such a manner that, when electrostatic charging of the reflector occurs, a dissipation current flows via the dissipation path to a ground connection of the illuminating device.