Vehicle lamp

• US 9,664,350 B2
• Filed: 05/09/2014
• Issued: 05/30/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Company Limited
• Inventors: Matsumoto, Hiroki
• Primary Examiner(s): Coughlin, Andrew
• Assistant Examiner(s): PEERCE, MATTHEW J
• Application Number:
  US14/273,716
• Publication Number:
  US 20140340922A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,117 Days
• Field of Search: 362516
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/192 Details of lamp holders, terminals or connectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/295 specially adapted to projection lenses
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 45/43 using gas
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 45/49 Attachment of the cooling means

Abstract

A vehicle lamp includes an optical unit and a light source control circuit part. The optical unit is unitized by attaching a light source and an optical member to an attachment part. In a state where the optical unit is unitized, the light source control circuit part is attachable to the attachment part in a direction in which the light source and the optical member are not disposed.

Claims

1. A vehicle lamp, comprising:

an optical unit comprising;

a light source,

an optical member, and

an attachment part comprising;

a first surface on which the light source is attached,

a second surface on which the optical member is attached, and

a third surface that faces an opposite direction to the first surface, and faces a different direction from the second surface; and

a light source control circuit part,

wherein the light source control circuit part is attachable to the third surface of the attachment part,which faces the opposite direction to the first surface,

wherein the optical member includes;

a lens disposed on a lamp front side of the light source, and

a reflector disposed so as to cover an upper portion of the light source,

wherein a heat sink is provided on an opposite side to the first surface of the attachment part on which the light source is attached, and

wherein the light source control circuit part is disposed adjacent o the heat sink on a lamp front side of the heat sink.

2. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1,

wherein the optical unit and the light source control circuit part are disposed in a lamp chamber formed by a lamp body and a transmissive cover, and

wherein a portion of the lamp body which faces the third surface is openable.

3. The vehicle lamp according to claim 2, wherein a lamp-lower-side portion of the lamp body is openable.

4. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1,

wherein the light source control circuit part is attached to the third surface of the attachment part with a screw that is screwed into the attachment part in a direction perpendicular to the third surface.

5. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1, further comprising:

a lamp body and a transmissive cover which define a lamp chamber,

wherein the optical unit and the light source control circuit part are disposed in the lamp chamber,

wherein one of the lamp body and the transmissive cover is formed with an opening at a portion facing the light source control circuit part attached to the third surface and includes a cover configured to open and close the opening, and

wherein the light source control circuit part is attachable through the opening while the cover opens the opening.

6. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1,

wherein the first surface faces in a direction different from the second surface.

7. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1,

wherein the first surface defines a plane different from the second surface.

8. A vehicle lamp, comprising:

an optical unit comprising;

a light source,

an optical member, and

an attachment part comprising;

a first surface on which the light source is attached,

a second surface on which the optical member is attached, and

a third surface that faces an opposite direction to the first surface, and faces a different direction from the second surface;

a light source control circuit part; and

a fan,

wherein the light source control circuit part is attachable to the third surface of the attachment part, which faces the opposite direction to the first surface,

wherein the light source control circuit part comprises;

a circuit part,

a heat radiation part, and

an engagement part,

wherein the fan is configured to blow air to the heat radiation part, and

wherein the fan is attached to the light source control circuit part via the engagement part of the light source control circuit part.

9. The vehicle lamp according to claim 8, further comprising:

a heat sink disposed on the attachment part on a surface opposite to the first surface,

wherein the fan is further configured to blow air to the heat sink.

10. A vehicle lamp, comprising:

an optical unit comprising;

a light source,

an optical member, and

an attachment part comprising;

a first surface on which the light source is attached,

a second surface on which the optical member is attached, and

a third surface which faces a different direction from the first and second surfaces; and

a light source control circuit part comprising;

a circuit part, and

a heat radiation part,

wherein the light source control circuit part is attachable to the third surface of the attachment part,

wherein a heat sink is provided on a lower side of the first surface of the attachment part on which the light source is attached, and

wherein the light source control circuit part is disposed adjacent to the heat sink such that the heat radiation part is provided on a lower side of the circuit part.