System for the electrically connecting at least one light source to an electrical power supply system

Abstract

A system for electrically connecting at least one light source to a system for supplying electrical power, wherein the connecting system comprises a lead frame able to be electrically connected to a system for supplying electrical power, the lead frame including at least one connecting terminal and at least one connecting means allowing the connecting terminal of the lead frame to be electrically connected to the light source, the connecting terminal and the connecting means being able to electrically connect the light source to the lead frame, thereby allowing the light source to be placed away from the lead frame.

Claims

1. A connecting system for electrically connecting at least one light source to a system for supplying electrical power of a motor vehicle, said connecting system comprising: a circuit board configured to be electrically connected to said system for supplying electrical power of a motor vehicle; at least one connecting pad mounted to the circuit board; a light source holder spaced apart from the circuit board; a light source of a vehicle light device, said light source being mounted on the light source holder; and at least one conductive bridge having one end attached to said at least one connecting pad and an opposing end attached to said light source holder such that said at least one connecting pad is electrically connected to said light source through said at least one conductive bridge, thereby allowing said light source to be spaced apart from said circuit board.

2. The connecting system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said circuit board includes a first heat dissipater to dissipate heat generated by said circuit board.

3. The connecting system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said first heat dissipater is a resistive circuit.

4. A light-emitting assembly, wherein said assembly comprises: a connecting system for electrically connecting said at least one light source to said system for supplying electrical power according to claim 2; and a second heat dissipater to dissipate heat generated by said at least one light source, said second heat dissipater being disconnected from said circuit board.

5. The assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein said at least one light source is a light-emitting diode.

6. The assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein said second heat dissipater is said light source holder of said at least one light source.

7. A lighting and/or signaling device for an automotive vehicle, wherein said device includes said light-emitting assembly according to claim 4.

8. The connecting system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said circuit board includes a converter configured to convert an AC voltage delivered by said system for supplying electrical power of a motor vehicle to a DC voltage applied to said at least one connecting pad.

9. The connecting system as claimed in claim 8, wherein said circuit board includes a control circuit that controls said DC voltage applied to said at least one connecting pad.

10. The connecting system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one connecting pad is configured to allow said light source to be connected to the light source holder by application of a wire bonding technique.

11. The connecting system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one conductive bridge is an electrically conductive wire.

12. The connecting system as claimed in claim 11, wherein said electrically conductive wire is a non-insulated wire.

13. The connecting system as claimed in claim 11, wherein said at least one conductive bridge is a wire-bond wire.

14. The connecting system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said circuit board comprises a printed circuit board to which electronic components may be connected.

15. The connecting system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said light source holder is a metal holder.

16. A connecting system for electrically connecting at least one light source to a system for supplying electrical power of a motor vehicle, said connecting system comprising: a circuit board configured to be electrically connected to said system for supplying electrical power of a motor vehicle; at least one connecting terminal attached to the circuit board; a light source holder spaced apart from the circuit board; a light source of a vehicle light device, said light source being mounted on the light source holder; at least one conductive bridge spanning from said at least one connecting terminal to said light source holder such that said at least one connecting terminal is electrically connected to said light source, thereby allowing said light source to be spaced apart from said circuit board; and an electrical connector attached to the circuit board and separated from the at least one connecting terminal.

17. The connecting system as claimed in claim 16, wherein said circuit board has a substantially rectangular shape, said electrical connector and said at least one connecting terminal being attached to the circuit board at different side of the rectangular shape.

18. A connecting system for electrically connecting at least one light source to a system for supplying electrical power of a motor vehicle, said connecting system comprising: a circuit board configured to be electrically connected to said system for supplying electrical power of a motor vehicle; at least one connecting terminal attached to the circuit board; a light source holder spaced apart from the circuit board; a light source of a vehicle light device, said light source being mounted on the light source holder; and at least one conductive bridge spanning from said at least one connecting terminal to said light source holder such that said at least one connecting terminal is electrically connected to said light source, thereby allowing said light source to be spaced apart from said circuit board, wherein said light source holder comprises at least one conductive pad provided on the surface of the light source holder and electrically connected to said light source.

19. The connecting system as claimed in claim 18, wherein said conductive bridge is attached to said conductive pad.

20. The connecting system as claimed in claim 19, wherein said conductive bridge is attached to said conductive pad by solder.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

(1) Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in light of the following examples and appended figures, the examples and figures being given by way of completely nonlimiting illustration.

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective representation of the lead frame of the system according to invention; and

(3) FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective representation of the lead frame of the system according to the invention to which a light source is connected.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(4) For the sake of clarity, only elements essential to the comprehension of the invention have been shown schematically and not to scale.

(5) Such as shown in FIG. 1, the electrically connecting system 1 according to the invention includes a lead frame 3 able to be electrically connected to a system for supplying electrical power (not shown) such as the electrical circuit of a vehicle.

(6) The lead frame 3 takes substantially the form of a tray comprising: a printed circuit board 7 to which electronic components may be connected; and a border including: two substantially parallel longitudinal walls 8, 8′, one of these longitudinal walls 8 comprising a recess 9; and two substantially parallel transverse walls 10, 10′ that each connect the two longitudinal walls 8, 8′, one of these transverse walls 10 comprising on its external face a protruding housing 11 the walls of which extend substantially perpendicular to the transverse wall 10, this housing 11 including: two substantially parallel longitudinal walls 12, 12′; and two substantially parallel transverse walls 13, 13′ each connecting the longitudinal walls 12, 12′.

(7) The board 7 is for example a PCB (printed circuit board) that includes at least one conductive layer overmolded with an electrically insulating material, for example an epoxy resin or fiberglass.

(8) This board 7 comprises electrical tracks 14 allowing electrical current to be transported, these electrical tracks 14 being produced by subjecting the conductive layer of the board 7 to a stamping process.

(9) The lead frame 3 includes electronic components that are generally connected to the board 7 by laser soldering, these electronic components extending, according to the orientation of FIG. 1, above the board 7.

(10) The end of the connecting pins of the electronic components pass through the board 7, thereby allowing visual inspection of the quality of the solder joints formed on these ends to be carried out by means of optical devices.

(11) The lead frame 3 includes at least one electrical connector 15 placed in the housing 11, this connector 15 being connected to at least one of the electrical tracks 14. The connector 15 allows the lead frame 3 to be connected to the system 1 for supplying electrical power. The electrical connector 15 may, for example, be a connecting pad able to allow the system for supplying electrical power to be connected by application of the wire bonding technique.

(12) The lead frame 3 also comprises at least one connecting terminal 4 placed in the recess 9, this connecting terminal 4 being able to interact with a connecting means 5, to electrically connect a light source 2 to the lead frame 3.

(13) The connecting terminal 4 is a connecting pad able to allow the light source 2 to be connected by application of the wire bonding technique, the connecting means 5 being an electrically conductive wire.

(14) In addition, the lead frame 3 includes a first means 6 for dissipating heat allowing the heat generated by the lead frame 3 to be dissipated, this first means 6 for dissipating heat consisting of a resistive circuit.

(15) Furthermore, the lead frame 3 comprises: means allowing the AC voltage of the current delivered by the system for supplying electrical power to be converted into a DC voltage applied to the connecting terminal 4 of the lead frame 3; and a switching circuit that controls that voltage of the current which is applied to the connecting terminal 4, the switching circuit possibly for example ensuring that this voltage is comprised in a defined interval.

(16) In this way, the lead frame 3 allows the voltage of the current delivered by the system for supplying electrical power to be converted and adapted in order to apply to the connecting terminal 4 a suitable voltage.

(17) According to one variant embodiment of the invention, the space bounded by the border of the lead frame 3 may be filled with a liquefied plastic product (using a potting process).

(18) Such as is shown in FIG. 2, a lighting assembly 16 according to the invention comprises: a system 1 for electrically connecting at least one light source 2 to a system for supplying electrical power as described above; at least one light source 2; and second means 17 for dissipating heat allowing the heat generated by the light source 2 to be dissipated, this second means 17 for dissipating heat being disconnected from the lead frame 3.

(19) Thus, each connecting means 5 connects one connecting terminal 4 to a conductive pad 18 that is connected to at least one light source 2.

(20) The light source 2 and the conductive pads 18 are placed on the second means 17 for dissipating heat, consisting in the present case of a metal holder.

(21) The light source 2 is a light-emitting diode the emissive portion of which is composed of a semiconductor chip or of a plurality of semiconductor chips, in the first case the diode is what is called a mono-chip diode and in the second case the diode is what is called a multi-chip diode.

(22) Placing the light source 2 away from the lead frame 3 makes it possible to simplify the structure of the lead frame 3, which no longer requires means for specifically dissipating the heat emitted by the light source 2.

(23) While the system, apparatus, process and method herein described constitute preferred embodiments of this invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this precise system, apparatus, process and method, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.