Lighting and/or signalling device with light emitting diodes for motor vehicles

• US 7,371,964 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2006
• Issued: 05/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Valeo Vision (Valeo SE)
• Original Assignee: Valeo Vision (Valeo SE)
• Inventors: Chenevier, Christophe, Moisy, Eric, Albou, Pierre, Mensales, Alexandre
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Chau N.
• Application Number:
  US11/419,588
• Publication Number:
  US 20070035957A1
• Time in Patent Office: 722 Days
• Field of Search: 174/16.3, 362/545, 362/547
• US Class Current: 174/16.3
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/148 the main emission direction of the LED being perpendicular to the optical axis
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/657 by moving light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 45/33 specially adapted for headlamps
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 45/43 using gas
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 45/60 Heating of lighting devices, e.g. for demisting
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/67 characterised by the arrangement of fans
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/73 the elements being adjustable with respect to each other, e.g. hinged
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/76 with essentially identical parallel planar fins or blades, e.g. with comb-like cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/90 Heating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

The invention concerns a lighting and/or signalling device for motor vehicles comprising a housing equipped with a plurality of light emitting diodes mounted on a movable plate, at least one device for cooling the said diodes, comprising at least one first fixed heat sink, at least one second movable heat sink, and at least one means for effecting a forced air convection between the first radiator or heat sink and the second radiator or heat sink.

Claims

1. A lighting and/or signalling device for a motor vehicle, comprising a housing comprising:

a plurality of light emitting diodes mounted on a movable mounting plate and forming an orientable light source,

at least one cooling device for cooling said plurality of light emitting diodes, wherein said at least one cooling device comprises;

at least one first fixed heat sink, situated partially in the vicinity of a cold spot of the vehicle;

at least one second movable heat sink mounted in the vicinity of the diodes; and

at least one means for effecting a forced air convection between the at least one first fixed heat sink and the at least one second movable heat sink;

at least a portion of said at least one first fixed heat sink being situated in a generally opposed and spaced relationship to said at least one second movable heat sink in order to cool said at least one second movable heat sink.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one means is placed upstream of said at least one first fixed heat sink and said at least one second movable heat sink.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one means for effecting a forced air convection comprises a fan.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one first fixed heat sink comprises a part external to the housing and a part inserted in the housing.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of light emitting diodes is mounted, individually or in a module, on said at least one second movable heat sink.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one second movable heat sink is integrated to or associated to directly each of said plurality of light emitting diodes.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one second movable heat sink is fixed to said movable mounting plate.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one second movable heat sink forms said movable mounting plate.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one second movable heat sink is larger than the first heat sink.

10. A motor vehicle, comprising at least one lighting and/or signalling device according to claim 1.

11. A lighting and/or signalling device for a motor vehicle, comprising a housing comprising:

a plurality of light emitting diodes mounted on a movable mounting plate and forming an orientable light source,

at least one cooling device for cooling said plurality of light emitting diodes, wherein said at least one cooling device comprises;

at least one first fixed heat sink, situated partially in the vicinity of a cold spot of the vehicle;

at least one second movable heat sink mounted in the vicinity of the diodes;

at least one means for effecting a forced air convection between the at least one first fixed heat sink and the at least one second movable heat sink;

wherein said at least one first fixed heat sink comprises a part external to the housing and a part inserted in the housing; and

wherein one end of said at least one first fixed heat sink is situated at a front of the vehicle.

12. A lighting and/or

signalling device for a motor vehicle, comprising a housing comprising:

a plurality of light emitting diodes mounted on a movable mounting plate and forming an orientable light source;

at least one cooling device for cooling said plurality of light emitting diodes, wherein said at least one cooling device comprises;

at least one first fixed heat sink, situated partially in the vicinity of a cold spot of the vehicle;

at least one second movable heat sink mounted in the vicinity of the diodes;

at least one means for effecting a forced air convection between said at least one first fixed heat sink and said at least one second movable heat sink;

wherein said at least one first fixed heat sink comprises a part external to the housing and a part inserted in the housing; and

wherein an end of said at least one first fixed heat sink is situated on one side of the vehicle, close to a wing of the vehicle.

13. A lighting or signaling device for use on a vehicle, said lighting or signaling device comprising:

a housing having a movable mount;

a plurality of light emitting diodes mounted on said movable mount;

a plurality of cooling elements associated with said plurality of light emitting diodes for facilitating cooling said plurality of light emitting; and

said plurality of cooling elements comprising a fixed heat sink and a movable heat sink, said fixed heat sink having a surface area that is in a generally opposed and spaced relationship to said movable heat sink so that said fixed heat sink may cool said movable heat sink.

14. The lighting or signaling device as recited in claim 13 wherein said movable mount comprises said movable heat sink.

15. The lighting or signaling device as recited in claim 13 wherein said movable heat sink is situated in said housing.

16. The lighting or signaling device as recited in claim 13 wherein at least a portion of said fixed heat sink is situated outside said housing and a second portion of said fixed heat sink is situated inside said housing.

17. The lighting or signaling device as recited in claim 13 wherein said plurality of cooling elements comprises said fixed heat sink and said movable heat sink are generally opposed relationship to each other;

said lighting or signaling device further comprising a fan for moving air between said fixed heat sink and said movable heat sink.

18. The lighting or signaling device as recited in claim 17 wherein at least a portion of said fixed heat sink is situated outside said housing and a second portion of said fixed heat sink is situated inside said housing in general opposed relationship to said movable heat sink.