U.S. patent application number 17/540098 was filed with the patent office on 2022-06-02 for vehicle light device.
This patent application is currently assigned to COPLUS INC.. The applicant listed for this patent is COPLUS INC.. Invention is credited to Jacob WU.
Application Number | 20220170609 17/540098 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000006054538 |
Filed Date | 2022-06-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20220170609 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
WU; Jacob |
June 2, 2022 |
VEHICLE LIGHT DEVICE
Abstract
A vehicle light device includes a housing module, and first and
second beam pattern modules. The first beam pattern module includes
a first heatsink base and a first LED lighting unit. The first
heatsink base includes a plurality of first cooling fins protruding
upwardly. The first LED lighting unit is mounted on the first base
frame for projecting a first beam pattern forward. The second beam
pattern module is disposed under the first beam pattern module, and
includes a second heatsink base and a second LED lighting unit. The
second heatsink base includes a plurality of second cooling fins
protruding downwardly. The second LED lighting unit is mounted on
the second base frame for projecting a second beam pattern
forward.
Inventors: |
WU; Jacob; (Tainan City,
TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
COPLUS INC. |
Tainan City |
|
TW |
|
|
Assignee: |
COPLUS INC.
Tainan City
TW
|
Family ID: |
1000006054538 |
Appl. No.: |
17/540098 |
Filed: |
December 1, 2021 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F21S 41/30 20180101;
F21S 41/192 20180101; F21V 21/14 20130101; F21S 45/47 20180101;
F21S 41/141 20180101; F21V 29/74 20150115; B60Q 1/04 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F21S 45/47 20060101
F21S045/47; F21V 29/74 20060101 F21V029/74; B60Q 1/04 20060101
B60Q001/04; F21S 41/141 20060101 F21S041/141; F21S 41/19 20060101
F21S041/19; F21S 41/30 20060101 F21S041/30; F21V 21/14 20060101
F21V021/14 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 2, 2020 |
TW |
109142468 |
Claims
1. A vehicle light device comprising: a housing module adapted to
be installed on a vehicle; a first beam pattern module including a
first heatsink base that includes a first base frame mounted on
said housing module and a plurality of first cooling fins
protruding vertically and upwardly from a top end of said first
base frame, and a first LED lighting unit that is mounted on said
first base frame of said first heatsink base for projecting a first
beam pattern forward; and a second beam pattern module disposed
under and spaced apart from said first beam pattern module, and
including a second heatsink base that includes a second base frame
mounted on said housing module and a plurality of second cooling
fins protruding vertically and downwardly from a bottom end of said
second base frame, and a second LED lighting unit that is mounted
on said second base frame of said second heatsink base for
projecting a second beam pattern forward.
2. The vehicle light device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
first heatsink base of said first beam pattern module and said
second heatsink base of said second beam pattern module are made of
an aluminum based material.
3. The vehicle light device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
first LED lighting unit of said first beam pattern module includes:
a first light reflector housing connected to said first heatsink
base and having a first reflecting surface; and at least one first
LED light connected to said first heatsink base, exposed from said
first light reflector housing, and disposed for emitting a light
beam reflected by said first reflecting surface to form said first
beam pattern.
4. The vehicle light device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said
first base frame of said first heatsink base includes a first base
plate extending horizontally, a first rear plate extending downward
from said first base plate and positioned behind said first light
reflector housing, and a pair of first side plates extending
vertically, one of said first side plates being connected between a
right end of said first base plate and a right end of said first
rear plate, the other one of said first side plates being connected
between a left end of said first base plate and a left end of said
first rear plate, one of said first side plates having a greater
width in a front-rear direction than that of the other one of said
first side plates, said first cooling fins protruding vertically
and upwardly from said first base plate.
5. The vehicle light device as claimed in claim 4, further
comprising a first adjustment module connected to said housing
module and said first heatsink base, and operable for moving said
first base frame to thereby vary said first beam pattern.
6. The vehicle light device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
second LED lighting unit of said second beam pattern module
includes: a second light reflector housing connected to said second
heatsink base and having a second reflecting surface; and a second
LED light connected to said second heatsink base, exposed from said
second light reflector housing, and disposed for emitting a light
beam reflected by said second reflecting surface to form said
second beam pattern.
7. The vehicle light device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said
second base frame of said second heatsink base includes a second
base plate extending horizontally, and a second rear plate
extending upward from said second base plate and positioned behind
said second light reflector housing, said second cooling fins
protruding vertically and downwardly from said second base
plate.
8. The vehicle light device as claimed in claim 7, further
comprising a second adjustment module connected to said housing
module and said second heatsink base, and operable for moving said
second base frame to thereby vary said second beam pattern.
9. The vehicle light device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
housing module includes a light housing mounted with said first
beam pattern module and said second beam pattern module, and a
housing cap covering a front end of said light housing and having a
plurality of transparent regions, said first beam pattern and said
second beam pattern being projected forward through said
transparent regions.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority of Taiwanese Patent
Application No. 109142468, filed on Dec. 2, 2020.
FIELD
[0002] The disclosure relates to a vehicle light device,
particularly to a vehicle light device adapted to serve as a
headlight of a vehicle.
BACKGROUND
[0003] In a conventional vehicle headlight device, several light
bulb modules are installed in a light housing, and the conventional
vehicle headlight device is operable by a user to switch between a
low beam mode and a high beam mode.
[0004] In recent years, due to the increasing popularity of
light-emitting diodes (LEDs), light bulbs have been gradually
replaced by LED lights. Therefore, the components of vehicle light
devices, such as the housing and lighting components, also need to
be remodeled according to the illumination characteristics of the
LED light unit.
SUMMARY
[0005] Therefore, the object of the disclosure is to provide a
vehicle light device that is equipped with LED lighting units and
that is capable of effectively dissipating heat generated by the
LED lighting units.
[0006] According to the disclosure, a vehicle light device includes
a housing module, a first beam pattern module, and a second beam
pattern module. The housing module is adapted to be installed on a
vehicle. The first beam pattern module includes a first heatsink
base and a first LED lighting unit. The first heatsink base
includes a first base frame mounted on the housing module, and a
plurality of first cooling fins protruding vertically and upwardly
from a top end of the first base frame. The first LED lighting unit
is mounted on the first base frame of the first heatsink base for
projecting a first beam pattern forward. The second beam pattern
module is disposed under and spaced apart from the first beam
pattern module, and includes a second heatsink base and a second
LED lighting unit. The second heatsink base includes a second base
frame mounted on the housing module, and a plurality of second
cooling fins protruding vertically and downwardly from a bottom end
of the second base frame. The second LED lighting unit is mounted
on the second base frame of the second heatsink base for projecting
a second beam pattern forward.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] Other features and advantages of the disclosure will become
apparent in the following detailed description of the embodiment
with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:
[0008] FIG. 1 is a partly exploded perspective view illustrating an
embodiment of the vehicle light device according to the
disclosure;
[0009] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the
embodiment;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view illustrating a
first beam pattern module and a first adjustment module of the
embodiment; and
[0011] FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view illustrating a
second beam pattern module and a second adjustment module of the
embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0012] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the embodiment of the vehicle
light device according to the present disclosure is adapted to be
installed on a front side of a vehicle (not shown) to serve as a
headlight. To be consistent with the directions shown in the
diagrams, the left and right directions as referred to when
relating the vehicle light device are based on a person facing the
vehicle. The vehicle light device includes a housing module 1 and,
mounted to that, a first beam pattern module 2, a second beam
pattern module 3, a first adjustment module 4, and a second
adjustment module 5. If the vehicle light device is installed on a
front left side of the vehicle, it will have a symmetrical
structure with respect to a vehicle's central axis.
[0013] The housing module 1 is adapted to be installed on the
vehicle, and includes a light housing 11 and a housing cap 12
covering a front end of the light housing 11. The light housing 11
and the housing cap 12 cooperate to define an installation space
13. The light housing 11 has a mounting portion 111 and a
surrounding portion 112 extending forward from the mounting portion
111. The housing cap 12 has a cap body 121 coupled to a front end
of the surrounding portion 112 of the light housing 11, and a
plurality of transparent regions 122 arranged on the cap body 121
and vertically spaced apart from one another. The light housing 11
and the housing cap 12 are mainly made of plastic materials.
[0014] The first beam pattern module 2 is positioned in the
installation space 13 of the housing module 1, and includes a first
heatsink base 21 mounted on the mounting portion 111 of the light
housing 11 and a first LED lighting unit 22 mounted on a front side
of the first heatsink base 21 for projecting a first beam pattern
forward.
[0015] The first heatsink base 21 is made of an aluminum based
material, and includes a first base frame 211 mounted on the light
housing 11 and a plurality of first cooling fins 212 protruding
vertically and upwardly from a top end of the first base frame 211.
The first base frame 211 includes a first base plate 213 that
extends horizontally and that has two spaced-apart first chip
mounting surfaces 214 facing downward. The first base frame 211
further has a first rear plate 215 that extends downward from a
rear edge of the first base plate 213, and a pair of first side
plates 216 that extend vertically. One of the first side plates 216
is connected between a right end of the first base plate 213 and a
right end of the first rear plate 215, and the other one of the
first side plates 216 is connected between a left end of the first
base plate 213 and a left end of the first rear plate 215. The
right one of the first side plates 216 has a greater width in a
front-rear direction (Y) than that of the left one of the first
side plates 216 to reinforce the first base frame 211 to withstand
external force. If the vehicle light device is installed on the
front left side of the vehicle, the first side plate 216 on the
left side should then have a greater width than the first side
plate 216 on the right side for the same purpose. The first base
plate 213, the first rear plate 215, and the first side plates 216
cooperatively define a first mounting space 217 with a forward
opening. The first cooling fins 212 protrude vertically and
upwardly from a top side of the first base plate 213 and are
arranged at intervals in a left-right direction (X) transverse to
the front-rear direction (Y). Each first cooling fin 212 is formed
as a rectangular piece being elongated in the front-rear direction
(Y).
[0016] In this embodiment, the first LED lighting unit includes a
first light reflector housing 221 mounted in the first mounting
space 217 of the first base frame 211 and positioned in front of
the first rear plate 215, and two first LED lights 222 spaced apart
from each other and mounted respectively to the two first chip
mounting surfaces 214 of the first base frame 211. The first light
reflector housing 221 has two first cut-outs 223 that are formed in
the top side thereof and that are spaced apart from each other, and
a curved first reflecting surface 224. Each first LED light 222 is
exposed from a respective first cut-out 223 of the first light
reflector housing 221. As such, light beams emitted from the first
LED lights 222 can be reflected by the first reflecting surface
224, pass through the corresponding transparent region 122, and
form the first beam pattern.
[0017] It should be noted that the number of the first LED lights
222 is not limited to two and may be one, three . . . etc.,
according to actual requirements. In this embodiment, each first
LED light 222 is a rectangular chip-on-board type LED light. This
is familiar to one skilled in the art, and further description is
omitted.
[0018] The first adjustment module 4 includes a first adjustment
unit 41 and two spaced-apart first pivoting units 42 installed to
the mounting portion 111 of the light housing 11. The first
adjustment unit 41 includes a first adjustment screw 411 extending
through the mounting portion 111 of the light housing 11 and the
first rear plate 215 of the first base frame 211, and a first nut
member 412 fixed to the first rear plate 215 of the first base
frame 211 and engaged with the first adjustment screw 411. The
first adjustment screw 411 is rotatable about its own axis to
produce a forward or backward linear motion of the first nut member
412 with the first base frame 211. Therefore, the first adjustment
screw 411 can be manipulated to rotate to move the first rear plate
215 of the first heatsink base 21 toward or away from the mounting
portion 111 of the light housing 11. Each first pivoting unit 42
includes a first retaining member 421 positioned below the first
adjustment unit 41 and extending through the first rear plate 215.
The first retaining member 421 has an interference fit hole 422,
which has a front portion, a rear portion, and a neck portion
interconnecting the front and rear portions and being smaller than
the front and rear portions. The rear portion of the interference
fit hole 422 has an open end at a rear end thereof, and gradually
widens from the neck portion of the interference fit hole 422 to
the open end. The first pivoting unit 42 further includes a first
pivot 423 with a rear end fixed to the mounting portion 111 of the
light housing 11 and a spherical front end tightly fitted in the
front portion of the interference fit hole 422.
[0019] Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, and 4, the second beam pattern
module 3 is positioned in the installation space 13 of the housing
module 1, is disposed under and spaced apart from the first beam
pattern module 2, and includes a second heatsink base 31 assembled
to the light housing 11 and a second LED lighting unit 32 mounted
on a front side of the second heatsink base 31 for projecting a
second beam pattern forward.
[0020] The second heatsink base 31 is made of an aluminum based
material, and includes a second base frame 311 mounted on the
mounting portion 111 of the housing and a plurality of second
cooling fins 312 protruding vertically and downwardly from a bottom
end of the second base frame 311. The second base frame 311 has a
second base plate 313 that extends horizontally and that has a
second chip mounting surface 314 facing upward. The second base
frame 311 further has a second rear plate 315 that extends upward
from a rear edge of the second base plate 313. The second base
plate 313 and the second rear plate 315 cooperatively define a
second mounting space 316. The second cooling fins 312 protrude
vertically and downwardly from a bottom side of the second base
plate 313 and are arranged at intervals in the left-right direction
(X). Each second cooling fin 312 is a rectangular piece being
elongated in the front-rear direction (Y).
[0021] The second LED lighting unit 32 includes a second light
reflector housing 321 mounted in the second mounting space 316 of
the second base frame 311, and a second LED light 322 mounted to
the second chip mounting surface 314 of the second base frame 311.
The second light reflector housing 321 has a second cut-out 323
that is formed in the bottom side thereof, and a curved second
reflecting surface 324. The second LED light 322 is exposed from
the second cut-out 323 of the second light reflector housing 321.
As such, light beams emitted from the second LED light 322 can be
reflected by the second reflecting surface 324, pass through the
corresponding transparent region 122, and form the second beam
pattern.
[0022] It should be noted that more than one of the second LED
light unit 322 may be used according to actual requirements. In
this embodiment, the second LED light 322 is a rectangular
chip-on-board type LED light. This is familiar to one skilled in
the art, and further description is omitted.
[0023] The second adjustment module 5 includes a second adjustment
unit 51 positioned below the first adjustment unit 41, and two
spaced-apart second pivoting units 52 installed to the mounting
portion 111 of the light housing 11. The second adjustment unit 51
includes a second adjustment screw 511 extending through the
mounting portion 111 of the light housing 11 and the second rear
plate 315 of the second base frame 311, and a second nut member 512
fixed to the second rear plate 315 of the second base frame 311 and
engaged with the second adjustment screw 511. The second adjustment
screw 511 is rotatable about its own axis to produce a forward or
backward linear motion of the second nut member 512 with the second
base frame 311. Therefore, the second adjustment screw 511 can be
manipulated to rotate to move the second rear plate 315 of the
second heatsink base 31 toward or away from the mounting portion
111 of the light housing 11. Each second pivoting unit 52 includes
a second retaining member 521 positioned below the second
adjustment unit 51 and extending through the second rear plate 315.
The second retaining member 521 has an interference fit hole 522,
which has a front portion, a rear portion, and a neck portion
interconnecting the front and rear portions. The rear portion of
the interference fit hole 522 has an open end at a rear end
thereof, and widens from the neck portion of the interference fit
hole 522 to the open end. The second pivoting unit 52 further
includes a second pivot 523 with a rear end fixed to the mounting
portion 111 of the light housing 11 and a spherical front end
tightly fitted in the front portion of the second interference fit
hole 522.
[0024] Referring to FIG. 1, with the utilization of the vehicle
light device as disclosed, a user can control the vehicle light
device to switch between the low beam mode where the first beam
pattern module 2 projects the first beam pattern forward, and the
high beam mode where the second beam pattern module 3 projects the
second beam pattern forward. In other variations of this
embodiment, the functions of the first beam pattern module 2 and
the second beam pattern module 3 can be exchanged so that the first
beam pattern module 2 serves as the high beam mode, the second beam
pattern module 3 serves as the low beam mode.
[0025] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, when the user rotates the first
adjustment screw 411, a linear displacement of the first nut member
412 will slightly vary the distance between the upper part of the
first heatsink base 21 and the mounting portion 111 of the light
housing 11, and this will cause the first heatsink base 21 to
rotate forward or backward about pivot points on the spherical
front ends of the first pivots 423, thus varying the inclination of
the first reflecting surface 224 of the first light reflector
housing 221 relative to the housing module 1, such that the first
beam pattern can be slightly adjusted to compensate for
manufacturing error.
[0026] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, similar to the first adjustment
module 4, when the user rotates the second adjustment screw 511, a
linear displacement of the second nut member 512 will slightly vary
the distance between the upper part of the second heatsink base 31
and the mounting portion 111 of the light housing 11, and this will
cause the second heatsink base 31 to rotate forward or backward
about pivot points on the spherical front ends of the second pivots
523, thus varying the inclination of the second reflecting surface
324 of the second light reflector housing 321 relative to the
housing module 1, such that the second beam pattern can be slightly
adjusted.
[0027] Moreover, it is noted that, the vehicle light device can
further include an additional LED light unit (not shown in the
Figures) installed in the housing module 1 and positioned between
the first beam pattern module 2 and the second beam pattern module
3, such that the vehicle light device possesses the function of a
daytime running light in addition to being a headlight.
[0028] With the arrangement of the first heatsink base 21 with the
first cooling fins 212 and the second heatsink base 31 with the
second cooling fins 312, the heat generated by the first LED lights
222 of the first LED lighting unit 22 which are positioned on the
upper portion of the housing module 1 can be dissipated upward from
the first base frame 211 through the first cooling fins 212; the
heat generated by the second LED lighting unit 32 which is
positioned on the lower portion of the housing module 1 can be
dissipated downward from the second base frame 311 through the
second cooling fins 312. Therefore, the heat-dissipation efficiency
can be improved. The first LED lights 222 and the second LED light
322 would less likely be damaged after a long time of use due to
heat accumulation, thereby effectively prolonging the service life
of the vehicle light device.
[0029] In summary, the vehicle light device of the present
disclosure can improve the heat dissipation efficiency through the
arrangement of the first cooling fins 212 and the second cooling
fins 312 to face opposite directions. Accordingly, the purpose of
the invention can be achieved.
[0030] In the description above, for the purposes of explanation,
numerous specific details have been set forth in order to provide a
thorough understanding of the embodiment. It will be apparent,
however, to one skilled in the art, that one or more other
embodiments may be practiced without some of these specific
details. It should also be appreciated that reference throughout
this specification to "one embodiment," "an embodiment," an
embodiment with an indication of an ordinal number and so forth
means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic may
be included in the practice of the disclosure. It should be further
appreciated that in the description, various features are sometimes
grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description
thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding
in the understanding of various inventive aspects, and that one or
more features or specific details from one embodiment may be
practiced together with one or more features or specific details
from another embodiment, where appropriate, in the practice of the
disclosure.
[0031] While the disclosure has been described in connection with
what is considered the exemplary embodiment, it is understood that
this disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is
intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit
and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all
such modifications and equivalent arrangements.
* * * * *