METHOD FOR MOUNTING A LIGHT MODULE FOR AN ILLUMINATING DEVICE

Abstract

A method is provided for mounting a light module. A light module that is mounted by means of such a method includes at least one light source for emitting light, and at least one optical element for forming the beam of light. The relative arrangement between the light source and the optical element is adjusted via the following steps. The light module is arranged in an adjusting device, and a light detection device is provided. The light source is switched on, and the light detection device is illuminated with the light. A set deviation between a value and an actual value of a light field generated with the light as compared to a required light field is measured. The relative arrangement between the light source and the optical element is then adjusted until the set/actual deviation is minimal or zero.

Claims

1. A method for mounting a light module, said light module having at least one light source for emitting light, and having at least one optical element for forming the beam of light, where the relative arrangement between the light source and the optical element is adjusted according to at least the following steps: arranging the light module in an adjusting device, providing a light detection device, switching on the light source and illuminating of the light detection device with the light, measuring a deviation between an actual value of a light field generated with the light as compared to a set value of a required light field and adjusting the relative arrangement between the light source and the optical element to reduce the deviation.

2. The method in accordance with claim 1, the adjusting of the relative arrangement between the light source and the optical element is implemented by a handling device of the adjusting device.

3. The method in accordance with claim 2, control of the handling device is implemented by a control unit, where the deviation identified by the light detection device is output as an input value to the control unit.

4. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein following adjustment of the relative arrangement between the light source and the optical element, a permanent connection is created between the light source and the optical element.

5. The method in accordance with claim 4 wherein the permanent connection between the light source and the optical element is created by means of an adhesive.

6. The method in accordance with claim 5, wherein the adhesive is filled into a cavity into which an extension extends, where the cavity and the extension form an interface between the light source and the optical element.

7. The method in accordance with claim 6 wherein the adhesive is filled into the cavity by an injection delivery device.

8. The method in accordance with claim 7, wherein the injection delivery device forms a tube that is passed temporarily through a heat sink and/or through the extension and/or through the body in order to guide the adhesive through the tube and to fill it into the cavity.

9. The method in accordance with claim 6 wherein the adhesive is irradiated with light following filling into the cavity in order to trigger or accelerate a curing process of the adhesive.

10. The method in accordance with claim 9 wherein the light module is removed from the adjusting device once the adhesive has cured and where the light source is put back into operation to illuminate the light detection device with light.

11. A light module, mounted using a method in accordance with claim 1.

12. The light module in accordance with claim 11, wherein the at least indirect connection between the at least one light source and the optical element has a glue joint.

13.-15. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] Reference is now made more particularly to the drawings, which illustrate the best presently known mode of carrying out the invention and wherein similar reference characters indicate the same parts throughout the views.

[0020] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the arrangement of a light module in an adjusting device with a light module switched on for illuminating a light detection device.

[0021] FIG. 2 is a view of the light module in arrangement in the adjusting device, where a gluing joint is produced between the light source and the optical element.

[0022] FIG. 3 illustrates the light module removed from the adjusting device with a finished glue joint between the light source and the optical element.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of the arrangement of a light module 1 in an adjusting device 13. The light module 1 shows as an example a light source 10 that is being put into operation and is emitting light 11. The light source 10 is mounted on a printed circuit board 23 that is fastened to a heat sink 22. The heat sink 22 is in a fixed arrangement on the arrangement 13.

[0024] The optical element 12 is formed by a mirror or a reflector, where the reflector is formed on a body 24. The adjusting device 13 comprises a handling device 17, and the body 24 with the optical element 12 formed as a reflector is arranged on the handling device 17.

[0025] The light 11 generated by the light source 10 leaves the light module 1 along a main axis and irradiates a light detection device 14. In doing so, the light 11 generates a current light field 15, and the representation shows, as an example, that the light field 15 currently being generated deviates in its position from a required light field 16. In this respect, a light-dark cut-off line in a setting that is too high is shown as an example.

[0026] The light detection device 14 is connected via a control unit 18 with the handling device 17.

[0027] If the method for mounting the light module 1 has been completed, the light source 10 is then switched on and thus illumination of the light detection device 14 in which the light field 15 is created. The light detection device 14 is used to measure a set/actual deviation of the light field 15 created with a required light field 16. This measured values are output at the control unit 18. The control unit 18 converts this deviation into commands and transmits them to the handling device 17, that modify the relative position of the body 24 and thus also of the optical element 12 to the light source 10 until the set/actual deviation is minimal or zero. This is effected by the light 11 being varied in its propagation axis until overlapping between the light field 15 actually generated and the required light field 16.

[0028] FIG. 2 shows the arrangement of the light module 1 in the adjusting device 13 and the figure shows an extension 21, that is arranged on the heat sink 22, where the light source 10 is fastened to the heat sink 22 via the printed circuit board (23). Consequently, the light source 10 forms a rigid unit together with the extension 21.

[0029] The body 24 has a cavity 20 into which the extension 21 of the heat sink 22 extends. The cavity 20 serves to hold an adhesive 19 with which the extension 21 can be glued in the cavity 20. If adjustment of the relative arrangement between the light source 10 and the optical element 12 has been completed, the next step if for the body 24 to be held by the handling device 17 of the adjusting device 13 while the adhesive 19 is filled into the cavity 20 using, for example, an injection delivery device 25. As an advantage, the injection delivery device 25 extends through the extension 21 so that the adhesive 19 can be filled directly into the cavity 20.

[0030] Once the adhesive 19 has dried, the heat sink 22 is consequently rigidly arranged in relation to the body 24. Logically, the arrangement of the light source 10 relative to the optical element 12 is also fixed, and the light module 1 can be removed from the adjusting device 13.

[0031] FIG. 3 shows the light module 1 separately, and the adhesive 19 has already solidified so that the heat sink 22 is likewise rigidly arranged relative to the body 24. By putting the light source 10 into operation once again, the light 11 can also be generated when the light module 1 has already been separated, so that a check that the set/actual deviation is kept to an absolute minimum can be performed. In doing so, the light can once again irradiate the light detection device 14 in a manner not shown in more detail. Ultimately, a light module 1 is provided that has at least in an indirect arrangement between the light source 10 and the optical element 12 a glue joint with an adhesive 19, where the light source 10 is adjusted exactly in a set position relatively to the optical element 12. In this respect, the glue joint with the adhesive 19 forms a joint to balance out all the aggregate tolerances especially between the light source 10, the printed circuit board 23, the heat sink 22 and the optical element 12 on the body 24. Irrespective of other tolerances, measurement of the set/actual deviation of the light field generated in comparison to a required light field makes it possible to exactly adjust the light source 10 relative to the optical element 12.

[0032] Solidification of the adhesive 19 freezes, as it were, the exact position. The end of the extension 21 that extends into the cavity 20 and thus dips into the adhesive 19 is, according to this version presented, implemented with a bulge 26. This gives rise, in addition to the adhesive effect of the adhesive, a form fit between the extension 21 and the adhesive so that an even greater joint strength can be achieved between the heat sink 22 and the body 24. In particular, there is also the possibility of implementing the cavity 20 with a border running around facing inward in such a way that a form fit is created between the adhesive 19 and the body 24.

[0033] The design of the invention is not limited to the preferred embodiment specified here. Rather, a number of variants are conceivable, which make use of the present solution even in designs of a fundamentally different type. All of the features and/or advantages arising from the claims, description or drawings, including design details, physical layout and process steps, may be vital to the invention both by themselves and in a wide variety of combinations.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0034] 1 Light module [0035] 10 Lighting products [0036] 11 Light [0037] 12 Optical element [0038] 13 Adjusting device [0039] 14 Light detection device [0040] 15 Light field [0041] 16 Light field [0042] 17 Handling device [0043] 18 Control unit [0044] 19 Adhesive [0045] 20 Cavity [0046] 21 Extension [0047] 22 Heat sink [0048] 23 Printed circuit board [0049] 24 Body [0050] 25 Injection delivery device [0051] 26 Bulge