Lighting device comprising spring element

Abstract

The invention refers to a lighting device (18) comprising a light-emitting module (2) and an optical system. The optical system comprises a first reference face (16), wherein the first reference face (16) is configured to accommodate the light-emitting module (2); and at least one spring element (20) is provided for fixing the light-emitting module (2) to the optical system in a clamping position, wherein the at least one spring element (20) comprises a first spring section (26) configured to exert a spring force in a first spatial direction (f.sub.1) towards the first reference face (16) in the clamping position, wherein the at least one spring element further comprises a second spring section (28) configured to exert a spring force towards a second spatial direction (f.sub.2) in the clamping position, and wherein the second spatial direction (f.sub.2) is different from the first spatial direction (f.sub.1). The invention further relates to a method for fixing a light-emitting module (2) to an optical system.

Claims

1. A lighting device comprising: a light-emitting module; an optical system including a first reference face structurally arranged so as to engage the light-emitting module; and a spring element structurally arranged so as to secure together the light-emitting module and the optical system in a clamped arrangement with the light-emitting module urged against the first reference face by the spring element, the spring element including first, second, and third spring sections of a single spring element that are arranged to exert spring force in respective first, second, and third spatial directions, the first spatial direction being directed toward the first reference face in the clamped arrangement, the second spatial direction being neither parallel nor antiparallel to the first spatial direction, and the third spatial direction having a non-zero component perpendicular to a plane defined by the first and second spatial directions.

2. The device of claim 1, at least two of the first, second, and third spatial directions being oriented perpendicular to one another.

3. The device of claim 1, the first, second, and third spatial directions forming a mutually orthogonal arrangement.

4. The device of claim 1, one or both of the light-emitting module or the optical system including a second reference face structurally arranged so as to engage structurally the spring element, and the second spatial direction being directed toward the second reference face in the clamped arrangement.

5. The device of claim 4, one or both of the light-emitting module or the optical system including a third reference face structurally arranged so as to engage structurally the spring element, and the third spatial direction being directed toward the third reference face in the clamped arrangement.

6. The device of claim 1, the first reference face being parallel to a light-emitting face of the light-emitting module.

7. The device of claim 1, the light-emitting module including at least one through-hole, the optical system including at least one mounting element, and the at least one mounting element being structurally arranged so as to engage the at least one through-hole in the clamped arrangement.

8. The device of claim 7, the at least one mounting element including a receptacle structurally arranged so as to receive and retain the spring element.

9. The device of claim 1, the spring element being structurally arranged so as to be locked on the light-emitting module or on the optical system.

10. The device of claim 1, the spring element being rotatably engaged with a pivot point on the optical system and rotatable about the pivot point between an insertion position and a clamping position.

11. The device of claim 1, the light-emitting module including at least one light-emitting diode and a heat sink.

12. The device of claim 1, the light-emitting module and the optical system being secured together in the clamped arrangement by only a single spring element.

13. The device of claim 1, the spring element being elastically deformable.

14. The device of claim 1, the spring element being plastically deformable.

15. The device of claim 1, the spring element including a securing element structurally arranged so as to secure a connector for the light-emitting module in the clamped arrangement.

16. The device of claim 1, the spring element being preassembled with the light-emitting module.

17. A method for securing a light-emitting module to an optical system, the method comprising: positioning the light-emitting module against a first reference face of the optical system, the first reference face being structurally arranged so as to engage the light-emitting module; and using a spring element structurally arranged therefor, securing together the light-emitting module and the optical system in a clamped arrangement with the light-emitting module urged against the first reference face by the spring element, the spring element including first, second, and third spring sections of a single spring element that are arranged to exert spring force in respective first, second, and third spatial directions, the first spatial direction being directed toward the first reference face in the clamped arrangement, the second spatial direction being neither parallel nor antiparallel to the first spatial direction, and the third spatial direction having a non-zero component perpendicular to a plane defined by the first and second spatial directions.

18. The method of claim 17, the first, second, and third spatial directions forming a mutually orthogonal arrangement.

19. The method of claim 17, the light-emitting module including at least one light-emitting diode and a heat sink.

20. The method of claim 17, the light-emitting module and the optical system being secured together in the clamped arrangement by only a single spring element.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Examples of the invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a light-emitting module for a lighting device according to the invention in a perspective view;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of a frame of an optical system for the lighting device according to the invention in a perspective view;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of a first embodiment of the lighting device in a perspective view;

(5) FIGS. 4a, b show a schematic representation of the first embodiment of the lighting device in a sectional view, with a spring element being in the insertion position and clamping position, respectively;

(6) FIG. 5 shows a schematic representation of a light-emitting module for a lighting device according to the invention in a perspective view;

(7) FIG. 6 shows a schematic representation of a frame of an optical system for the lighting device according to the invention in a perspective view;

(8) FIG. 7 shows a schematic representation of the light-emitting module of FIG. 5 arranged on a frame of an optical system of FIG. 6 in a perspective view;

(9) FIGS. 8a, b show a schematic representation of the second embodiment of the lighting device in a perspective view, with a spring element being in the insertion position and clamping position, respectively;

(10) FIG. 9 shows a schematic representation of the third embodiment of the lighting device in a perspective view; and

(11) FIG. 10 shows a schematic representation of the third embodiment of the lighting device in a sectional view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

(12) FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a light-emitting module 2 for the lighting device according to the invention in a perspective view. The light-emitting module 2 comprises a light-emitting element 4 mounted on a carrier material 6, which carrier material 6 is configured as a heat sink for the light-emitting element 4. The light-emitting element 4 comprises an LED. A circuit board 8 is provided, which provides electrical connection between the light-emitting element 4 and contact patches 10 by means of conductors 12. The contact patches 10 may be contacted by an electrical connector or socket (not shown) to provide external power to the light-emitting module 2.

(13) Light-emitting modules 2 as shown in FIG. 1 may be replaceable modules that are mounted and fixed to an optical system of a lighting device, such as for example a reflector system and/or lens system of an automotive headlight or taillight.

(14) FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of a frame 14 of such an optical system for the lighting device according to the invention in a perspective view. Further details of the optical system are omitted in the drawing. The optical system may however comprise primary and secondary optical elements for shaping the light emitted by the light-emitting module 2 into a beam with a predetermined beam shape and intensity distribution. The frame 14 serves as a fixed reference point for the light-emitting module 2 in the optical system.

(15) The frame 14 has a first reference face 16 configured to accommodate the light-emitting module 2 in that the first reference face 16 may be brought into contact to the surface of the circuit board 8 and/or sections of the carrier material 6. Accordingly, FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of a first embodiment of an inventive lighting device 18 in a perspective view, wherein the lighting device 18 comprises the light-emitting module 2 of FIG. 1 and the optical system with the frame 14 of FIG. 2. Here, the first reference face 16 accommodates the light-emitting module 2.

(16) Further, a spring element 20 for fixing the light-emitting module 2 to the frame 14 of the optical system is provided. The spring element 20 partially reaches through through-holes 22 in the carrier material 6 of the light-emitting module 2.

(17) FIG. 4a shows a schematic representation of the first embodiment of the lighting device 18 in a sectional view along the line Iv-Iv of FIG. 3. The spring element 20 is shown in an insertion position, wherein a section of the spring element 20 reaches through through-hole 22 and is arranged at a pivot point 24 of the frame 14 of the optical system. In the insertion position, the spring element 20 is in a configuration without tension.

(18) From the insertion position shown in FIG. 4a, the spring element 20 is rotated around the pivot point 24 into a clamping position as depicted in FIG. 4b. In the clamping position, first spring sections 26 of the spring element 20 exert a spring force in a first spatial direction f.sub.1 towards the first reference face 16. In total, four first spring sections 26 are provided, with two first spring sections 26 being visible in FIG. 4b.

(19) The spring element 20 comprises second spring sections 28 that exert a spring force towards a second spatial direction f.sub.2 in the clamping position. Further, the spring element 20 comprises third spring sections 30 that exert a spring force towards a third spatial direction f.sub.3 in the clamping position. The third spatial direction f.sub.3 is aligned substantially antiparallel to the second spatial direction f.sub.2.

(20) The first reference face 16 is oriented substantially parallel to a light-emitting face of the light-emitting module 2, and as the spring force towards the first spatial direction f.sub.1 presses the light-emitting module 2 into contact with the light-emitting face 16, the height of the light-emitting module 2 and the position of the light-emitting element 4 relative to the frame 14 is aligned. The second spatial direction f.sub.2 is different from the first spatial direction f.sub.1 in that the first spatial direction f.sub.1 and the second spatial direction f.sub.2 are oriented substantially perpendicular to each other. Hence, the spring element 20 fixes the light-emitting module 2 along two different spatial directions f.sub.1 and f.sub.2. By means of the opposing spring forces along the second spatial direction f.sub.2 and the third spatial direction f.sub.3, the spring element 20 also fixes the light-emitting module in a lateral direction.

(21) With the light-emitting module 2 being fixed in two spatial directions f.sub.1 and f.sub.2 on the frame 14 of the optical system by means of the spring element 20, a reliable positioning of the light-emitting module 2 may be obtained and conventional fixing means such as screws or rivets may be omitted. As the position of the light-emitting module 2 is controlled along at least two spatial directions f.sub.1 and f.sub.2 by spring forces, the positioning of the light-emitting module 2 is also less sensitive to displacements and/or distortions due to thermal effects.

(22) A second embodiment of a lighting device 18 is now described in conjunction with FIGS. 5 to 8. The same reference numerals as in FIGS. 1 to 4 have been used for corresponding elements.

(23) FIG. 5 shows a schematic representation of a light-emitting module 2 for the lighting device according to the invention in a perspective view. The light-emitting module 2 comprises a light-emitting element 4 mounted on a carrier material 6 configured as a heat sink and a circuit board 8 for electrical connection. The circuit board 8 is fixed to the carrier material 6 by means of a screw 32. FIG. 6 shows a schematic representation of a corresponding frame 14 of an optical system with a first reference face 16 for accommodating the light-emitting module 2.

(24) As illustrated in FIG. 7, the light-emitting module 2 of FIG. 5 can be arranged on the frame 14 of FIG. 6, wherein a surface of the circuit board 8 and/or other referencing features of carrier material 6 are in contact to the first reference face 16. The carrier material 6 of the light-emitting module 2 comprises through-holes 34 and the frame 14 comprises mounting elements 36, 38 at the first reference face 16. The mounting elements 36, 38 are formed as protrusions and engage the through-holes 34 when the light-emitting module 2 is mounted to the optical system.

(25) Each of the mounting elements 36, 38 comprises a receptacle for the spring element 20. As can be seen from FIG. 8a, which shows an insertion position of the spring element 20 in a perspective view, the spring element 20 may be inserted into the receptacles of the mounting elements 36, which receptacles also serve as pivot points 24 of the frame 14 of the optical system.

(26) The spring element 20 is rotated around the pivot points 24, i.e., the receptacles of the mounting elements 36, from the insertion position into the clamping position shown in FIG. 8b. The spring element 20 is locked on the frame 14 of the optical system in receptacles of the mounting elements 38 by a spring force.

(27) The spring element 20 comprises first spring sections 26 exerting a spring force in a first spatial direction f.sub.1 towards the first reference face 16, such that the light-emitting module 2 is pressed into contact with the first reference face 16, wherein the height of the light-emitting module 2 and the position of the light-emitting element 4 is aligned. Further, the spring element 20 comprises a second spring section 28 that exerts a spring force towards a second spatial direction f.sub.2. A second reference face 40 is provided on a circumferential face of a protrusion 42 of the carrier material 6, wherein the second spring section 28 is in contact to the second reference face 40.

(28) The first spatial direction f.sub.1 and the second spatial direction f.sub.2 are oriented substantially perpendicular to each other, such that in addition to the aforementioned definition of the height of the light-emitting module by means of the first spring sections 26, the light-emitting module is also positioned laterally by the second spring section 28.

(29) A third embodiment of a lighting device 18 is now described in conjunction with FIGS. 9 and 10, wherein again the same reference numerals have been used for corresponding elements as in the preceding figures.

(30) FIG. 9 shows a schematic representation of the third embodiment of the lighting device 18 in a perspective view, wherein the lighting device 18 comprises a light-emitting module 2 similar to the one shown in FIG. 1 and a frame 14 of an optical system similar to the one shown in FIG. 2. While the spring elements of the first and second embodiments may for example be formed from metal and in particular of metallic wire material, the spring element 20 of the third embodiment may be formed from a bulk material and in particular from a plastics material.

(31) The spring element 20 comprises a leg portion 44 that forms the first spring section 26 to exert a spring force in a first spatial direction f.sub.1 towards the first reference face 16. A second spring section 28 is configured to exert a spring force towards a second spatial direction f.sub.2.

(32) Further, the spring element 20 comprises a securing element 46 arranged to secure a connector 48 that is plugged into the circuit board 8 of the light-emitting module 2, the connector providing a power connection to the light-emitting module 2. The spring element 20 with the securing element 46 for the connector 48 therefore also prevents an undesired disconnection of the connector 48 from the light-emitting module 2 during use.

(33) The spring element 20 comprises fixing means 50 for fixing the spring element 20 to the light-emitting module 2 by means of a releasable mechanical connection to the carrier material 6. The fixing means 50 may be used to preassemble the spring element 20 to the light-emitting module 2 before the light-emitting module 2 is arranged on the frame 14. Further, the fixing means 50 may contribute to stabilizing the arrangement of the spring element 20 on the light-emitting module 2 and may in particular be configured to prevent a release of the spring element 20 due to torsional forces arising from the first spring section 26 and second spring section 28. By way of example, the fixing means may be configured as a spring section as shown in FIG. 9, which may additionally engage into a recess on the carrier material 6.

(34) As can be seen in particular from the sectional view of FIG. 10, the spring element 20 with the second spring section 28 reaches into a recess 52 of the frame 14. A second reference face 40 is provided on a protrusion 42 formed on the carrier material 6. In this case, the second spring section exerts a spring force towards the second spatial direction f.sub.2 to press the second reference face 40 into contact to the frame 14.

(35) In the first and second embodiments of the lighting device, the light-emitting module 2 is fixed to the optical system only by means of the at least one spring element 20. Additional connection means between the light-emitting module 2 and the frame 14 may be omitted.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(36) 2 light-emitting module

(37) 4 light-emitting element

(38) 6 carrier material

(39) 8 circuit board

(40) 10 contact patches

(41) 12 conductors

(42) 14 frame

(43) 16 first reference face

(44) 18 lighting device

(45) 20 spring element

(46) 22 through-hole

(47) 24 pivot point

(48) 26 first spring section

(49) 28 second spring section

(50) 30 third spring section

(51) 32 screw

(52) 34 through-holes

(53) 36, 38 mounting elements

(54) 40 second reference face

(55) 42 Protrusion

(56) 44 leg portion

(57) 46 securing element

(58) 48 connector

(59) 50 fixing means

(60) 52 recess

(61) f.sub.1 first spatial direction

(62) f.sub.2 second spatial direction

(63) f.sub.3 third spatial direction