Abstract
An illumination device for a vehicle is provided, and includes an optical device such as a reflector, with a dome and with a positioning pin. A light emitting assembly is also included with a printed circuit board and a semiconductor light source such as a light emitting diode. The light emitting assembly comprises a bracket with at least one spring for exerting a pretension force on the dome of the optical device. The printed circuit board comprises a positioning hole for receiving the positioning pin and to position the light emitting assembly relative to the optical device.
Claims
1. An illumination device for a vehicle, the illumination device comprising: an optical device, the optical device including: a dome projecting from the optical device; and a positioning pin projecting from the optical device in a same direction as the dome; a light emitting assembly, the light assembly including: a printed circuit board including a positioning hole for receiving the positioning pin and configured to position the light emitting assembly relative to the optical device; a semiconductor light source; and a bracket, the bracket further including a first spring and a second spring for exerting a pretension force on the dome of the optical device; wherein at least a portion of the pretension force of the first spring acts in a direction perpendicular to a pretension force of the second spring; and an opening configured for receiving the optical device.
2. The illumination device according to claim 1, wherein the printed circuit board is attached to a baseplate, on a side facing the optical device.
3. The illumination device according to claim 1, wherein the bracket is positioned on an opposite side of the light emitting assembly facing away from the optical device.
4. The illumination device according to claim 1, wherein the positioning hole comprises a wall forming an end stop to a contact section of the positioning pin.
5. The illumination device according to claim 1, wherein the dome comprises a screw hole and the bracket comprises a bracket hole, and the screw hole and the bracket hole are aligned to one another for receiving a screw and mounting the bracket with the light emitting assembly to the optical device with that screw.
6. The illumination device according to claim 1, wherein the printed circuit board comprises a fixation hole for receiving a fixation pin to avoid a rotational movement of the light emitting unit relative to the optical device.
7. The illumination device according to claim 6, wherein the positioning pin and/or the fixation pin are made from one piece with the optical device.
8. The illumination device according to claim 1, wherein cooling fins are attached to the baseplate.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) 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.
(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view an optical device in the embodiment of a reflector with a light emitting assembly positioned on and mounted to the reflector.
(3) FIG. 2 is a view onto a receiving section of the reflector with a dome, a positioning pin and a fixation pin.
(4) FIG. 3 is a perspective view on an isolated bracket with a first spring and with a second spring.
(5) FIG. 4a is a view onto the light emitting assembly mounted to the reflector.
(6) FIG. 4b is a side-view onto a section along section line A-A according to FIG. 4a with the dome of the reflector traversing through an opening in the light emitting assembly.
(7) FIG. 4c is a side-view onto a section along section line B-B according to FIG. 4a with the fixation pin of the reflector positioned in a positioning hole in a printed circuit board of the light emitting assembly.
(8) FIG. 4d is a side-view onto a section along section line C-C according to FIG. 4a with the fixation pin of the reflector positioned in a fixation hole in the printed circuit board.
(9) FIG. 5a is a frontal view on the illumination device with the light emitting assembly mounted to the reflector.
(10) FIG. 5b is a side-view onto a section along section line D-D according to FIG. 5a with the dome of the reflector traversing through the opening in the light emitting assembly.
(11) FIG. 5c is a side-view onto a section along section line E-E according to FIG. 5a with the positioning pin of the reflector positioned in the positioning hole in the printed circuit board of the light emitting assembly.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(12) FIG. 1 depicts an illumination device 1 with a light emitting assembly 200 and an optical device 3 in the embodiment of a reflector 300. The light emitting assembly 200 is attached to the reflector 300 and comprises a printed circuit board 210, a bracket 220, a base plate 230, a cooling device 240. The light emitting assembly 200 with the printed circuit board 220 and the baseplate 230 extends in a x-y plane. The x-y plane comprises of a x-axis 50 and a y-axis 60. The printed circuit board 210 is attached to the baseplate 230 on a side facing the reflector 300. The printed circuit board 210 holds a semiconductor light source 211 with an array of light emitting diodes 212 facing the reflector 300. Thus, light from the light emitting diodes 212 can be emitted into the reflector 300 and onto precisely shaped optical surfaces 301 of the reflector. The light reflected by the optical surfaces 301 forms a light cone of desired shape and light intensity distribution. The cooling device 240 is formed from a piece of sheet metal and comprises of two cooling fins 241 and a cooling base 242. The cooling base 242 is attached to the baseplate 230 on the side facing away from the reflector 300 by rivets 4. The cooling fins 241 extend perpendicular from the cooling base 242 away from the reflector 300 parallel to a z-axis 70 in z-direction 71. The brackets 220 are positioned between two neighbouring cooling fins 241 on the opposite side of the base plate 230 facing away from the reflector 300. The brackets 220 are mounted to the cooling base 242 and the baseplate 230 by rivets 4. The bracket 220 is located above a here not visible opening in the light emitting assembly 200. A dome 310 of the reflector 300 protrudes through the here not visible opening and into the bracket 220. A here not visible first spring and a second spring of the bracket 220 exert a force on the dome 310 of the reflector 300 and thus pushes and positions the light emitting assembly 200 relative to the reflector 300 in the x-y plane. The light emitting assembly 200 and the reflector 300 are connected by a screw 5.
(13) FIG. 2 depicts a portion of the reflector 300 for receiving the light emitting assembly. The reflector 300 comprises a number of pads 340 which are distributed in an x-y plane and on which the printed circuit board rests when positioned and fixed to the reflector 300. The x-y plane is formed from the x-axis 50 and y-axis 60. The light emitting assembly (according to FIG. 1) can thus be lowered onto the reflector 300 in a direction parallel to a z-axis for positioning and fixation. The z-axis runs perpendicular to the x-y plane. The dome 310, the fixation pin 320 and a positioning pin 330 of the reflector 300 extend perpendicular to the x-y plane away from the reflector 300. The dome 310 comprises a screwhole 311 for receiving the screw. The dome 310 and the fixation pin 320 are shaped cylindrically. The positioning pin 330 is mainly shaped cylindrically. A round contact section 331 occupies one quarter of a circular section of the positioning pin 330. The positioning pin 330 also features a recess 332 to ease an insertion of the positioning pin 330 into a here not visible positioning hole. The fixation pin 320 and the positioning pin 330 are located at a distance from one another in the x-y plane.
(14) FIG. 3 depicts the bracket 220 in an isolated perspective view. An elevated support 221 is formed between two legs 222 of the bracket 220 and a bracket hole 223 for receiving the screw (according to FIG. 1) is cut out from the support 221. The first spring 224 and the second spring 225 are formed out of the metal bracket 220 and are arranged in a space between the legs 222 and the support 221, wherein the first spring 224 and the second spring 225 face in perpendicular directions. Thus, the pretension force of the first spring 224 and the pretension force of the second spring 225 is directed in perpendicular directions. A space between the legs 222, the support 221 and the first spring 224 and the second spring 225 is suited to receive the dome of the reflector (according to FIG. 2).
(15) FIG. 4a depicts the light emitting assembly 200 positioned relative to the reflector 300 by the bracket 220. The bracket 220 is manufactured from a single piece of metal and comprises two legs 222 and the first spring 224 and the second spring 225. The two legs 222 are located on opposite sides of the bracket 220 and mounted to the base plate 230 and the cooling base 242 on an opposite side facing away from the reflector 300 by rivets 4. The pretension force of the first spring 224 acts in an x-direction 51 parallel to the x-axis 50 and a pretension force of the second spring 225 acts in a y-direction 61 parallel to the x-axis 60. The base plate 230 is positioned and extends in the x-y plane composed of the x-axis 50 and the y-axis 60.
(16) FIG. 4b depicts in a side view a section along section line A-A according to FIG. 4a with the dome 310 of the reflector 300 and the light emitting assembly 200 with the support 221 and the second spring 225 of the bracket 220. The dome 310 traverses an opening 250 in the base plate 230 and is received in the bracket 220. The pretension force of the second spring 225 pushes the dome 310 in the y-direction wherein the dome is floating in the opening. The dome 310 is free of contact with the baseplate 230 and free of contact with the printed circuit board 210. The screw 5 is screwed into a centrally located circular screwhole 311 of the dome 310 in a direction parallel to the z-axis 70. The screw 5 traverses the bracket hole 223 of the bracket 220 and clamps the support 221 to the dome 310. The reflector 300 is thus fixed to the light emitting assembly 200 in a desired and predetermined position.
(17) FIG. 4c depicts in a side view a section along section line B-B according to FIG. 4a with the positioning pin 330 of the reflector 300 inserted and received in the positioning hole 213 of the printed circuit board 210 of the light emitting assembly 200. The pretension force of the second spring (according to FIG. 4b) pushes the contact section 331 of the positioning pin 330 in the y-direction 61 and against a wall 214 of the positioning hole 213. The wall 214 thus forms an end stop to the positioning pin 330 for precise positioning of the reflector 300 relative to the light emitting assembly 200. Only variations and tolerances of dimensions of the contact section 331 and the wall 214 and a variation in position of the light emitting diode on the printed circuit board 210 affect the position. Consequently, a very precise positioning of the light emitting diodes relative to the optical surfaces of the reflector is possible.
(18) FIG. 4d depicts in a side view a section along section line C-C according to FIG. 4a with the light emitting assembly 200 with the baseplate 230. The printed circuit board 210 is attached to the baseplate 230 on the reflector 300 facing side. The cooling device 240 is attached to the baseplate 230 on the opposite side facing away from the reflector 300. The printed circuit board 210 directly rests on pads 340 of the reflector 300. Thus, a precise positioning of to the printed circuit board 210 with the light emitting diodes relative to the reflector 300 in a z-direction 71 parallel to the z-axis 70 is ensured. The fixation pin 320 of the reflector 300 is received by and positioned in a fixation hole 215 in the printed circuit board 210. The fixation pin 320 is in direct contact with the printed circuit board 210. A rotational movement of the light emitting assembly 200 relative to the reflector 300 around a rotational axis parallel to the z-axis 70 is avoided by two spaced apart points of connection and fixation. Firstly, the connection between the printed circuit board 210 and the positioning pin (according to FIG. 4c) and secondly the connection between the printed circuit board 210 and the fixation pin 320.
(19) FIG. 5a shows the bracket 220 connected to the baseplate 230 in a view along the x-axis in the x-y plane. The bracket 220 comprises the second spring 225. The printed circuit board 210 with the light emitting diode 212 is mounted to the baseplate 230 on the reflector facing side. The dome 310 of the reflector 300 traverses through the base plate 230 and is received in the bracket 220. The second spring 225 exerts a force on the dome 310 parallel to the y-axis 60 and thus pushes the dome 310 in the y-direction 61. A predetermined and desired relative position between the light emitting assembly 10 and the reflector 50 in the y-direction 61 is thus automatically achieved. The reflector 300 and the light emitting assembly 200 are connected by the screw 5 in that position. The screw 5 is screwed into the dome 310 in a direction parallel to the z-axis 70.
(20) FIG. 5b depicts analogue to FIG. 4b in a sectional side view along section line D-D the dome 310 of the reflector 300 traversing the opening 250 in the baseplate 230 of the light emitting assembly 200. The pretension force of the first spring 224 pushes the dome 310 in the x-direction 51 wherein the dome 310 is free of contact with the baseplate 230. The dome 310 is only in contact with the first spring 224, the second spring and the support 221. Such that an automatic movement and positioning by the force from the first spring 224 and the second spring in the x-y plane perpendicular to the z-axis 70 is possible. The screw 5 is screwed into the screw hole 311 of the dome 310 and clamps the support 221 of the bracket 220 to the dome 310, thus fixing the light emitting assembly 200 and in particular the light emitting diode relative to the reflector 300 in the desired and predetermined position.
(21) FIG. 5c depicts in a side-view onto a section along section line E-E according to FIG. 5a. The printed circuit board 210 directly rests on the of pads 340 of the reflector 300. The pads 340 allow to precisely position the light emitting assembly 200 relative to the reflector 300 in the z-direction 71. The pads 340 also enable to precisely determine an orientation of the x-y plane, in which the printed circuit board 210 extends, relative to the reflector 300. The positioning pin 330 of the reflector 300 is positioned in the positioning hole 213 in the printed circuit board 210. The contact section 331 of the positioning pin 330 is pushed against the wall 214 of the positioning hole 213 by the force of the first spring in the x-direction 51.
(22) Referring to the above described illumination device and cited figures, a particular advantage comes into effect by lowering the light emitting assembly 200 onto the reflector 300 in a direction parallel to the z-axis 70. Wherein the pads 340 form an end stop to the printed circuit board 210 in the z-direction 71. When lowering the illumination device 200 onto the reflector 300 the fixation pin 320 is received in the fixation hole 215, the positioning pin 330 is received in the positioning hole 210 and the dome 310 is received in the bracket 220, wherein the first spring 224 and the second spring 225 exert the force on the dome 310 to position the illumination device 200 relative to the reflector 300 in the x-y plane. In particular the combination of the force from the first spring 224 in the x-direction 51 and the force from the second spring 225 in the y-direction 61 results in a directionality in the x-y plane causing the contact section 331 to contact the wall 214 of the positioning hole 210 forming the end stop in a single particular point in the x-y plane. Consequently, a precise positioning in three dimensions is achieved automatically and failsafe with only one single manual movement in the z-direction 71.
(23) The present invention is not limited by the embodiment described above, which is represented as an example only and can be modified in various ways within the scope of protection defined by the appending patent claims. Thus, the invention is also applicable to different embodiments, in particular of the design of other optical devices such as a lens.
REFERENCE LIST
(24) 1 illumination device 3 optical device 4 rivet 5 screw 50 x-axis 51 x-direction 60 y-axis 61 y-direction 70 z-axis 71 z-direction 200 light emitting assembly 210 printed circuit board 211 semiconductor light source 212 light emitting diode 213 positioning hole 214 wall 215 fixation hole 220 bracket 221 support 222 leg 223 bracket hole 224 first spring 225 second spring 230 baseplate 240 cooling device 241 cooling fin 242 cooling base 250 opening 300 reflector 310 dome 311 screwhole 320 fixation pin 330 positioning pin 331 contact section 332 recess 340 pad
