Patent Application
20170108192
The present application is directed to vehicle light assemblies, and in particular to a vehicle light assembly that uses an electric ducted fan within a light housing for moisture management and elimination of fogging of the vehicle light assembly.
Vehicles include vehicle light assemblies such as headlights, rear lights, turn signal lights, backup lights. Such vehicle light assemblies can include a vehicle light housing, a lens and a lamp (incandescent bulb or LED) enclosed within an interior formed by the vehicle light housing and the lens. In addition, such vehicle light assemblies can be used during operation of the motor vehicle during moments of reduced visibility such as nighttime hours, when it is raining, foggy, etc.
Moisture can leak into the interior of the vehicle light housing. In some instances, the escape of moisture from the interior of the vehicle light housing may not be rapid enough to inhibit condensation on an inner surface of the lens. Such a phenomenon is typically known as “fogging”, which, in turn, can reduce the illumination capability of the vehicle light assembly, providing an unaesthetically pleasing appearance to the light lens. Therefore, vehicle light assemblies having improved moisture management apparatuses would be desirable.
In one embodiment a vehicle light assembly may include a vehicle light housing and a lens. The vehicle light housing and the lens form an enclosure or interior, i.e. a light interior of the vehicle light assembly. The light also includes a lamp that is at least partially enclosed within the light interior such that illumination is provided as is known to those skilled in the art. A vent duct that extends through the housing from the light interior to an exterior of the light (light exterior) can also be included. An anti-humidity fan is present within the vent duct and is operable to move moisture from the light interior to the exterior of the light and thereby prevent fogging of the light lens. In some instances, the light is a headlight and the housing is a headlight housing, the headlight housing and the lens forming or enclosing a headlight interior. In addition, the vent duct has a first diameter along a first portion thereof and a second diameter along a second portion. The first diameter is less than the second diameter and the anti-humidity fan is located within the second portion of the vent duct. The first portion can have a diameter between 4-8 millimeters (mm) and the second portion can have a diameter between 12-20 mm.
The light has a power supply and a switch in electrical communication with the anti-humidity fan. The power supply is operable to energize the anti-humidity fan and the switch is operable to electrically connect and de-connect the anti-humidity fan from the power supply.
In some instances, a humidity sensor located within the light interior and in electrical communication with the switch can be part of the light. The humidity sensor is operable to detect a humidity level within the light interior and provide a high-humidity signal when the humidity level is above a predefined threshold value or level. In other instances, a timer can be included and be in electrical communication with the switch, the timer operable to detect an elapsed time and provide a time-elapsed signal when a predetermined amount of time has elapsed after a predefined starting point. For example, the predefined starting point can be the starting of an engine and/or a motor of the vehicle such that when operation of the vehicle.
These and additional features provided by the examples, aspects, etc. described herein will be more fully understood in view of the following detailed description, in conjunction with the drawings.
The embodiments set forth in the drawings are illustrative and exemplary in nature and not intended to limit the subject matter defined by the claims. The following detailed description of the illustrative examples, aspects, etc. can be understood when read in conjunction with the following drawings, where like structure is indicated with like reference numerals and in which:
A vehicle light assembly such as a headlight, taillight, etc. for a vehicle is described herein. The vehicle light assembly includes a vehicle light housing and a moisture management apparatus within an interior of the vehicle light housing can reduce, prevent or otherwise inhibit fogging, which is condensation of moisture on an interior surface of a lens of the vehicle light assembly.
The vehicle light assembly has the vehicle light housing and a lens which together form a light interior and a lamp that is enclosed at least partially within the light interior. The vehicle light assembly includes a moisture management apparatus that includes vent duct that extends through the vehicle light housing from the light interior to an exterior of the vehicle light housing (light exterior) and providing fluid communication between the interior and exterior of the vehicle light housing. An anti-humidity fan (e.g., an electric anti-humidity fan) is located within the vent duct and during operation can remove moisture from the light interior and thus inhibits fogging of the lens.
The anti-humidity fan can be energized based on a high-humidity signal provided by a humidity sensor that is located within the light interior. In the alternative or in addition, the anti-humidity fan can be energized based on a time-elapsed signal provided by a timer, which detects when a predetermined amount of time has elapsed after a predefined starting point. In this manner, moisture control or management within the vehicle light housing can be improved and fogging of the light lens can be inhibited.
Referring to
The vehicle light housing 100 can include a top wall 102, a bottom wall 104, a rear wall 106, and side walls (only side wall 107 is shown). One or more vents can be present within the housing walls, e.g. a vent 103 within the top wall 102 and/or a vent 105 within the bottom wall 104. It is appreciated that the vent 103 and/or vent 105 afford for venting of the vehicle light housing 100, i.e. allows for the removal of moisture from the vehicle light housing 100. However, such vents to prevent fogging in all circumstances and thus the need for an improved venting system. As shown in the figure, the lamp 200 can extend through the back wall 106, for example, to provide an electrical connector 109 for connection to a power source (e.g., a vehicle battery).
The light 10 also has a vent duct 110 that extends through the back wall 106 and thus provides fluid communication between the light interior 190 and an exterior of the vehicle light assembly 10. While the vent duct 110 is illustrated as passing through an opening 111 in the back wall 106, the vent duct 110 can extend through any portion of the housing 100, for example through the top wall 102 or bottom wall 104. The vent duct 110 is illustrated as having a first portion 112 with a diameter D1 and a second portion 114 with a diameter D2. As illustrated in the figure, the diameter D1 of the first portion 112 is less than the diameter D2 of the second portion 114. In some instances, the diameter D1 is between 4-8 millimeters (mm) and the diameter D2 of the second portion is between 12-20 mm.
Located within the second portion 114 of the vent duct 110 is an anti-humidity fan 150 with one or more fan blades 151. While an axial-type fan is illustrated other suitable fan types can be used, such as centrifugal and cross-flow. Location of the anti-humidity fan 150 affords for moisture molecules M to be pulled from the light interior 190, pushed or blown out through the vent duct 110 and expelled to the light exterior. It is appreciated that the diameter D2 accommodates the size of the anti-humidity 150. However, the larger diameter D2 is not required if and when the anti-humidity 150 has a size small enough to fit within the first portion 112 with the diameter D1.
The anti-humidity fan 150 can have one or more electric wires or leads (not shown) in electrical communication with a power source, such as a car battery or a power source separate from the car battery. For example,
The sensor/timer 156 can be a humidity sensor located within the light interior 190 as illustrated in
In another example, the sensor/timer 156 can be a timer that is operable to detect an elapsed time and provide a time-elapsed signal to the switch 152 and/or ECU 158 when a predetermined amount of time has elapsed after a predefined starting point. The predefined starting point can be starting of an engine or motor of the vehicle 10, a given and predetermined amount of time after the engine or motor of the vehicle has started, a predefined or predetermined amount of time after a rain or moisture detector has detected that the vehicle MV is being rained on, etc. It is appreciated that an “engine” refers to an internal combustion engine and a “motor” refers to an electric motor, e.g. in a hybrid or all electric vehicle. The time-elapsed signal can also be related to a predetermined amount of time that has elapsed since the anti-humidity fan 150 has been activated. Stated differently, the timer 156 can ensure that the anti-humidity fan 150 is deactivated after it has been in operation for a set amount of time.
Turning now to
The above-described vehicle light assemblies for a vehicle provide an anti-humidity fan within a vent duct which reduces humidity within a light housing interior. As such, fogging of the light lens does not occur.
While particular aspects, examples, etc. have been illustrated and described herein, it should be understood that various other changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed subject matter. Moreover, although various aspects of the claimed subject matter have been described herein, such aspects need not be utilized in combination. It is therefore intended that the appended claims, and all equivalents thereof, cover all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of the claimed subject matter.
