LIGHT SOURCE MODULE

Abstract

A light source module for a motor vehicle, comprising a substrate, multiple light sources, and temperature sensors, wherein the light sources and the temperature sensors are arranged on the substrate, wherein the substrate has a central region and a peripheral region, and wherein the number of temperature sensors per unit area is greater in the central region than in the peripheral region.

Claims

1. A light source module for a motor vehicle, the light source module comprising: a substrate; at least two light sources; and at least two temperature sensor, wherein the light sources and the temperature sensors are arranged on the substrate, wherein the substrate has a central region and a peripheral region, and wherein a number of temperature sensors per unit area is greater in the central region than in the peripheral region.

2. The light source module according to claim 1, wherein the light sources are designed as light-emitting diodes or laser diodes, wherein the light-emitting diodes or laser diodes in particular are arranged in a matrix, and wherein the light-emitting diodes are integrated into a solid-state LED array.

3. The light source module according to claim 1, wherein a number of light sources per unit area is constant.

4. The light source module according to claim 1, wherein a number of temperature sensors per unit area is greater in the central region than in the peripheral region due to a greater number of temperature sensors per unit length in exactly one single first dimension in the central region.

5. The light source module according to claim 4, wherein the temperature sensors are arranged both in the first dimension and in a second dimension.

6. The light source module according to claim 5, wherein the first dimension extends substantially perpendicular to the second dimension.

7. The light source module according to claim 5, wherein the number of temperature sensors per unit length in the second dimension is constant.

8. The light source module according to claim 4, wherein the number of temperature sensors per unit length in the first dimension has a Gaussian distribution.

9. The light source module according to claim 1, wherein the number of temperature sensors per unit area is greater in the central region than in the peripheral region due to a greater number of temperature sensors per unit length in a first and in a second dimension.

10. The light source module according to claim 9, wherein the number of temperature sensors per unit length both in the first and in the second dimension has a Gaussian distribution.

11. The light source module according to claim 1, wherein the first dimension extends substantially perpendicular to the second dimension.

12. The light source module according to claim 1, wherein the light sources are designed to emit light visible to the human eye.

13. A motor vehicle comprising a light module according to claim 1, wherein the light module is designed to illuminate a roadway in front of the motor vehicle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus, are not limitive of the present invention, and wherein:

[0024] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a temperature distribution on a substrate with temperature sensors arranged on the substrate in a single dimension;

[0025] FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of a temperature distribution on a substrate with temperature sensors arranged on the substrate in two dimensions; and

[0026] FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of a temperature distribution on a substrate with temperature sensors arranged on the substrate in two dimensions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] The temperature distribution shown in the figures is represented by black lines, by which regions having a different temperature are represented. This is a highly simplified representation, because continuous temperature distributions occur in practice. In addition, multiple temperature sensors 100 are represented by black dots in the figures. However, for the sake of clarity, only three of these temperature sensors 100 are provided with a reference character in each case.

[0028] In FIG. 1, temperature sensors 100 are arranged in a single dimension. Thus, this is a single row of temperature sensors 100. This is the simplest case. The number of temperature sensors 100 per unit length is greater in central region 101 than in peripheral region 102. Because the temperature sensors are arranged in only a single dimension, this is equivalent to the number of temperature sensors 100 per unit area also being greater in central region 101 than in peripheral region 102. Higher temperatures and larger temperature differences are usually reached during operation in central region 101 than in peripheral region 102. Due to the larger number of temperature sensors 100 per unit area in central region 101, precise measurement results can be obtained here, so that the operation of the light-emitting diodes in this region can be adjusted particularly well to the heat generated. Such a good adjustment is usually not necessary in peripheral region 102.

[0029] In FIG. 2, temperature sensors 100 are arranged in the first and a second dimension. In this case, the second dimension extends perpendicular to the first dimension. Thus, these are multiple parallel rows of temperature sensors 100. In each of the rows, the number of temperature sensors per unit length in the first dimension is greater in central region 101 than in peripheral region 102. In the second dimension, however, the number of temperature sensors 100 per unit length is constant. This arrangement also achieves the advantage that the operation of the light-emitting diodes in central region 101 can be adjusted particularly well to the heat generated, whereas the required number of temperature sensors 100 is kept small.

[0030] The arrangement of temperature sensors 100 in FIG. 3 differs in particular from the arrangement in FIG. 2 in that the number of temperature sensors per unit length in the second dimension is greater in central region 101 than in peripheral region 102. This arrangement also achieves the advantage that the operation of the light-emitting diodes in central region 101 can be adjusted particularly well to the heat generated, whereas the required number of temperature sensors 100 is kept small.

[0031] The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are to be included within the scope of the following claims.