This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-086887, filed on Mar. 31, 2009, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a light emitting device modularizing member for modularizing a light emitting device, such as an LED (light emitting diode), and a lamp unit using said light emitting device modularizing member.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the conventional practice there are automotive lamps using light emitting devices, such as LEDs, as the light source (See patent document No. 1 and No. 2, for instance).
Normally, when LEDs are used as the light source of automotive lamps, heat radiation is effected by a heatsink on which a plurality of LEDs are mounted. To efficiently radiate the heat produced by the plurality of LEDs, the volume of the heatsink tends to be extremely large. Should even one of the LEDs stop working, the whole heatsink of a considerable size must be removed from the automotive lamp to exchange the faulty LED with a new one. This presents a problem of troublesome procedure in the handling of light emitting devices in automotive lamps.
The present invention has been made in view of the foregoing circumstances, and a purpose thereof is to provide a light emitting device modularizing member capable of making the handling of light emitting devices, such as LEDs, easier and a lamp unit incorporating such a light emitting device modularizing member.
To resolve the foregoing problems, a light emitting device modularizing member according to one embodiment of the present invention is a light emitting device modularizing member for modularizing a light emitting device, and it comprises: a heatsink having a planar base; a light emitting device mounting plate extending perpendicularly to the base from a portion closer to an end than to a middle portion of the base; and a light emitting device holder provided on each of a first face of the light emitting device mounting plate, which is a face facing the middle portion of the base, and a second face thereof, which is a face opposite to the first face.
Another embodiment of the present invention relates to a lamp unit. The lamp unit has a first light emitting device modularizing member and a second light emitting device modularizing member wherein the first light emitting device modularizing member and the second light emitting device modularizing member are disposed such that a first face of a light emitting device mounting plate of the first light emitting device modularizing member and a second face of a light emitting device mounting plate of the second light emitting device modularizing member face each other, and wherein light emitting devices are mounted on the light emitting device mounting plate of the first light emitting device modularizing member and the light emitting device mounting plate of the second light emitting device modularizing member, respectively, such that light emitting directions thereof are opposite to each other.
Still another embodiment of the present invention relates also to a lamp unit. The lamp unit has a first light emitting device modularizing member and a second light emitting device modularizing member, wherein the first light emitting device modularizing member and the second light emitting device modularizing member are disposed such that a second face of a light emitting device mounting plate of the first light emitting device modularizing member and a second face of a light emitting device mounting plate of the second light emitting device modularizing member face each other, and wherein light emitting devices are mounted on the light emitting device mounting plate of the first light emitting device modularizing member and the light emitting device mounting plate of the second light emitting device modularizing member, respectively, such that light emitting directions thereof are opposite to each other.
Still another embodiment of the present invention relates also to a lamp unit. The lamp unit has the above-described light emitting device modularizing member, wherein light emitting devices are mounted on the first face and the second face of the light emitting device mounting plate of the light emitting device modularizing member, respectively, such that light emitting directions thereof are opposite to each other.
Embodiments will now be described by way of examples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings which are meant to be exemplary, not limiting and wherein like elements are numbered alike in several Figures in which:
The invention will now be described by reference to the preferred embodiments. This does not intend to limit the scope of the present invention, but to exemplify the invention.
Hereinbelow, a detailed description will be given of automotive lamps according to embodiments with reference to the drawings.
As shown in
As shown in
A description is now given of the first sub-lamp unit 20 and the second sub-lamp unit 40. Firstly, the first sub-lamp unit 20 is described followed by the second-lamp unit 40. The first sub-lamp unit 20 is a so-called projector-type lamp unit and has a function of irradiating a light condensing spot of the passing beam.
As shown in
The first LED 22 is a white-color light emitting diode having a light emitting part (light emitting chip) of an approximately square shape with the side length of about 1 mm. Also, the first LED 22 is placed on a first LED mounting plate 25 such that an irradiation axis L1 thereof faces an approximately vertical upward direction which is approximately perpendicular to a light axis Ax1 of the first sub-lamp unit 20 extending in the longitudinal directions of a vehicle. The first LED module 21 will be discussed later.
The first reflector 26 is a reflective member with a reflective surface 26a formed thereinside. The reflective surface 26a has a shape of an elliptical sphere in a vertical cross section and a shape of an ellipse-based free curved surface in a horizontal cross section. The first reflector 26 is placed such that a first focal point thereof is in the vicinity of a light emitting part of the first LED 22 and a second focal point thereof is in the vicinity of an end of a horizontal plane 23a in the base member 23. The end of the horizontal plane 23a in the base member 23 is configured such that the light reflected from the first reflector 26 is so selectively cut as to form oblique cutoff lines in a light distribution pattern projected toward a front area of the vehicle.
The projection lens 24, which is a planoconvex aspheric lens having a convex front surface and a plane rear surface, is fixed in a position close to an end of the base member 23 on a front end side of the vehicle. In the present embodiment, a rear-side focal point of the projection les 24 is so arranged as to be nearly identical to the second focal point of the first reflector 26. The projection lens 24 projects a light source image formed on a rear-side focal plane toward a front area of the automotive lamp 10 as a reverted image.
The second sub-lamp unit 40 is now described. The second sub-lamp unit 40 is disposed below the first sub-lamp unit 20 and has a function of irradiating a diffusion spot of the passing beam.
The second sub-lamp unit 40 is a so-called parabola-type lamp unit. As shown in
Similar to the first LED 22, the second LED 42 is a white-color light emitting diode having a light emitting part and is placed on a second LED mounting plate 45 such that an irradiation axis L2 thereof faces an approximately vertical downward direction which is approximately perpendicular to a light axis Ax2 of the second sub-lamp unit 40 extending in the longitudinal directions of the vehicle. The second LED module 41 will be discussed later.
The second reflector 44 reflects light emitted from the second LED 42, and a reflective surface 44a is so formed thereinside that a predetermined light pattern is irradiated toward a front area of the vehicle.
A description is now given of the first LED module 21 and the second LED module 41 used in the first sub-lamp unit 20 and the second sub-lamp unit 40, respectively. Hereinafter, the first LED module 21 and the second LED module 41 will be generically referred to as “LED module 70” and described accordingly.
Normally, when LEDs are used as the light source of automotive lamps, heat radiation is effected by a heatsink on which a plurality of LEDs are mounted. To efficiently radiate the heat produced by the plurality of LEDs, the volume of the heatsink tends to be extremely large. Should even one of the LEDs stop working, the whole heatsink of a considerable size must be removed from the automotive lamp to exchange the faulty LED with a new one. This makes the handling of light emitting devices in automotive lamps difficult.
In the present embodiment, therefore, LEDs are modularized such that one LED modularizing member is set for each LED. As a result, for example, an LED module is replaced as a whole if it fails to operate properly, so that the LEDs can be handled easily.
Such an LED preferably has a shape applicable to various optical systems conceivable in connection with the automotive lamps employing LEDs so that the same LED module can be used even if the optical system of the automotive lamp varies from one vehicle to another. Standardizing the LED modules to be applicable to various types of automotive lamps can reduce the cost by the mass production thereof.
As shown in
The heatsink 72, which is formed of aluminum or other metal having a high thermal conductivity, includes a base 74 and plates fins 76. The base 74 is a plate-like member formed in an approximately rectangular shape, and is comprised of a plurality of plate fins 76 disposed upright on a back face 74a thereof. The shape of the fins is not limited to any particular one and, for example, rod-like fins may be provided.
The mounting section 79, which is used when the LED module 70 is assembled into the automotive lamp 10 as shown in
The LED mounting plate 78 is provided on a front face 74b of the base 74. The LED mounting plate 78 extends perpendicularly to the base 74 from a portion closer to an end than to a middle portion of the base 74. In the present embodiment, the LED mounting plate 78 extends in a direction approximately perpendicular to the base 74 from one end (lower end) of a short side of the front face 74b of the base 74. The LED mounting plate 78, which is a plate-like member formed in an approximately rectangular shape, may be formed integrally with the heatsink 72.
The first-face LED holder 80 and the second-face LED holder 81 for supporting the LED 71 are provided on the both faces (first face 78a and second face 78b) of the LED mounting plate 78, respectively. Note that the face facing the middle portion of the base 74 is called the first face 78a whereas the face opposite to the first face 78a is called the second face 78b.
To mount the LED 71 on the LED mounting plate 78, the LED 71 is engaged with a pin-like member provided on the first-face LED holder 80 or second-face LED holder 81. Then the LED 71 is pressed against the first-face LED holder 80 or second-face LED holder 81 using the pressing member 75. Then the pressing member 75 is securely tightened to the LED mounting plate 78 using the screws 77. This mounts the LED 71 on the LED mounting plate 78.
As described above, in the present embodiment a configuration is such that a single LED is mounted on a single LED modularizing member. Thus, each LED can be treated as a single module. As a result, if a single LED becomes faulty, this single LED module only may be replaced anew, so that the LED light source can be handled easily.
The size of the heatsink 72, the shape of the plate fins 76 and the like are designed, as appropriate, according to the amount of heat produced by the LED 71 to be mounted, whether a fan is provided or not, whether the LED 71 is to be mounted on the both faces of the LED mounting plate 78 or not, and the like. For example, where the automotive lamp 10 uses a fan for forced air cooling, the size of heatsink required therefor is larger than that required for natural air cooling.
Now a description will be given of various lamp units using the LED module. Referring back to
The first LED module 21 and the second LED module 41 are disposed vertically adjacent to each other such that a first face 25a of the first LED mounting plate 25 and a second face 45b of the second LED mounting plate 45 face each other. Also, a second face 25b of the first LED mounting plate 25 and the second face 45b of the second LED mounting plate 45 both face the upward direction of the lamp.
The first LED module 21 has a first LED 22 mounted on the second face 25b of the first LED mounting plate 25, whereas the second LED module 41 has a second LED 42 mounted on the first face 45a of the second LED mounting plate 45. In this manner, the first LED 22 and the second LED 42 are mounted such that their light emitting directions are opposite to each other.
The lamp unit 60 has a fan 50 disposed at the back of the heatsink 51 of the first LED module 21 and the heatsink 52 of the second LED module 41 for forced air cooling of the heatsinks 51 and 52. Although a single fan 50 is used to effect a forced air cooling of both the heatsinks 51 and 52 in
As is evident from the above-described structure, the use of the first LED module 21 and the second LED module 41 together can make the handling of the LEDs easier. For example, if the first LED 22 fails, the first LED module 21 can be removed as a module from the lamp unit 60 and a new first LED module 21 can be installed on the lamp unit 60.
In the automotive lamp 100 of the present embodiment, too, a first LED module 21 is used on the first sub-lamp unit 20, and a second LED module 41 on the second sub-lamp unit 40.
According to the present embodiment, the first LED module 21 and the second LED module 41 are disposed vertically adjacent to each other such that a second face 25b of the first LED mounting plate 25 and a first face 45a of the second LED mounting plate 45 face each other. A first face 25a of the first LED mounting plate 25 and the first face 45a of the second LED mounting plate 45 both face the upward direction of the lamp.
The first LED module 21 has a first LED 22 mounted on the first face 25a of the first LED mounting plate 25, whereas the second LED module 41 has a second LED 42 mounted on the second face 45b of the second LED mounting plate 45. In this manner, the first LED 22 and the second LED 42 are mounted such that their light emitting directions are opposite to each other. A fan 50 is disposed at the back of the first LED module 21 and the second LED module 41.
Since the heatsink 52 has the base in the automotive lamp 10 shown in
Also in the automotive lamp 200 shown in
According to the present embodiment, the first LED module 21 and the second LED module 41 are disposed vertically adjacent to each other such that a second face 25b of the first LED mounting plate 25 and a second face 45b of the second LED mounting plate 45 face each other. A first face 25a of the first LED mounting plate 25 faces upward, whereas a first face 45a of the second LED mounting plate 45 faces downward.
The first LED module 21 has a first LED 22 mounted on the first face 25a of the first LED mounting plate 25, whereas the second LED module 41 has a second LED 42 mounted on the first face 45a of the second LED mounting plate 45. In this manner, the first LED 22 and the second LED 42 are mounted such that their light emitting directions are opposite to each other. Also, a fan 50 is disposed at the back of the first LED module 21 and the second LED module 41.
Constitution of the automotive lamp 200 with the first LED module 21 and the second LED module 41 disposed as described above will realize an automotive lamp featuring the smallest possible non-light-emitting region.
On the other hand, according to the automotive lamp 200 in the present embodiment, the first LED mounting plate 25 and the second LED mounting plate 45 are each disposed in extension from a portion closer to the end than to the middle portion of the base of the first LED module 21 and the second LED module 41, respectively. Thus, as shown in
Also in the automotive lamp 400 shown in
In this automotive lamp 400, a first LED 22, which is the light source of the first sub-lamp unit 20, and a second LED 42, which is the light source of the second sub-lamp unit 40, are mounted on a single LED module 421. More specifically, the first LED 22 is mounted on a second face 425b of a LED mounting plate 425 of the LED module 421, and the second LED 42 on a first face 425a thereof. The first LED 22 and the second LED 42 are mounted such that their light emitting directions are opposite to each other. Also, a fan 50 is disposed at the back of the LED module 421.
Thus, it is possible to constitute an automotive lamp with the LEDs mounted on both faces of the LED mounting plate 425 of the LED module 421. In this case, too, an automotive lamp with a small non-light-emitting region can be created.
Moreover, the reduced number of heatsinks leads to the lighter weight and lower cost of the automotive lamp. However, in view of the joint use of a single heatsink by the two LEDs, it is preferable that the automotive lamp 400 according to this embodiment is applied to the type of automotive illumination that does not light up the first LED 22 and the second LED 42 simultaneously. An example of such an application may be one in which the first sub-lamp unit 20 functions as a passing beam lamp and the second sub-lamp unit 40 as a daytime running lamp.
As the description with reference to
The present invention has been described by referring to the preferred embodiments and such description is for illustrative purposes only. It is understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications to constituting elements and combinations thereof could be developed and that such modifications are also within the scope of the present invention.
In the foregoing embodiments, the light sources used are LEDs. However, other light emitting devices such as semiconductor lasers can be used instead. Also, in the embodiment as shown in
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2009-086887 | Mar 2009 | JP | national |