Automotive lighting device with leveller having a leveller actuator connected to a ball socket connection of lighting module

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12337748-B2
Application number	US-202218708080-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 9, 2022
Priority date	Nov 9, 2021
Publication date	Jun 24, 2025
Grant date	Jun 24, 2025

Abstract

An automotive lighting device includes a housing, a lighting module arranged inside the housing and a leveler having a leveler motor and a leveler actuator. The lighting module includes a ball socket connection suitable to receive a leveler actuator connector, the lighting module defining a light projection direction. The leveler actuator includes a connector configured to couple with the ball socket connection. The leveler is arranged totally inside the housing and the leveler actuator is arranged to push the ball socket connection in a direction which forms between 150 and 210° with respect to the light projection direction.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An automotive lighting device comprising
a housing;
a lighting module arranged inside the housing, the lighting module comprising a ball socket connection suitable to receive a leveller actuator connector, the lighting module defining a light projection direction;
a leveller comprising a leveller motor and a leveller actuator, wherein the leveller actuator comprises a connector configured to couple with the ball socket connection; and
wherein the leveller is arranged totally inside the housing and wherein the leveller actuator is arranged to push the ball socket connection in a pushing direction which forms between 150° and 210° with respect to the light projection direction,
wherein the connector configured to couple with the ball socket connection comprises a ball connection, the automotive lighting device being configured such that the ball connection is configured to allow a rotation of the leveller in a plane perpendicular to the pushing direction, enabling the leveller actuator to be installed in a non-horizontal biased position, tilted from a final upright position, in an angle that is not a final position, and
wherein the leveller motor includes an electrical connector, the automotive lighting device being arranged such that once the electrical connector is connected thereto, the leveller, which is coupled to the ball socket connection through the leveller actuator, is configured to rotate to reach the final upright position.

2. The automotive lighting device according to claim 1 , wherein
the lighting module defines a front plane, which is perpendicular to the light projection direction and is tangent to the lighting module in the light exit surface of the lighting module;
the lighting module defines a lighted zone, which comprises all the points that receive at least one light ray from the lighting module; and
the leveller is located outside the lighted zone.

3. The automotive lighting device according to claim 2 , wherein the leveller motor is located at the same side of the front plane as the lighted zone.

4. The automotive lighting device according to claim 2 , further comprising a bezel arranged to cover the leveller.

5. The automotive lighting device according to claim 2 , wherein the housing further comprises a lateral cap for accessing the leveller.

6. The automotive lighting device according to claim 2 , wherein the connector configured to couple with the ball socket connection comprises a ball connection, the automotive lighting device being configured such that the ball connection allows a rotation in a plane perpendicular to the pushing direction, thus enabling the leveller actuator to be installed in an angle which is not a final angle.

7. The automotive lighting device according to claim 2 , further comprising a leveller support attached to the housing, wherein the leveller is attached to the leveller support.

8. The automotive lighting device according to claim 1 , further comprising a bezel arranged to cover the leveller.

9. The automotive lighting device according to claim 1 , wherein the housing further comprises a lateral cap for accessing the leveller.

10. The automotive lighting device according to claim 1 , further comprising a leveller support attached to the housing, wherein the leveller is attached to the leveller support.

11. The automotive lighting device according to claim 10 , wherein the leveller support comprises a bezel portion, which is seen from the exterior of the lighting device when the lighting device is in operation.

12. The automotive lighting device according to claim 11 , wherein the leveller support comprises a harness guide, configured to retain and/or guide a harness of wires.

13. The automotive lighting device according to claim 11 , wherein the leveller motor has an electrical connector connected thereto and the leveller support comprises a tab arranged to retain the electrical connector connected to the leveller motor.

14. The automotive lighting device according to claim 10 , wherein the leveller support comprises a harness guide, configured to retain and/or guide a harness of wires.

15. The automotive lighting device according to claim 10 , wherein the leveller motor has an electrical connector connected thereto and the leveller support comprises a tab arranged to retain the electrical connector connected to the leveller motor.

16. The automotive lighting device according to claim 15 , wherein the tab with which the connector abuts when the final position is reached is the tab arranged to retain the electrical connector connected to the leveller motor.

17. The automotive lighting device according to claim 1 , wherein the automotive lighting device is arranged such that when the final position is reached, the electric connector abuts with a tab present in the leveller support.

18. The automotive lighting device according to claim 1 , wherein the lighting module comprises at least one solid-state light source.

Assignees

• Valeo Vision

Inventors

• Gomez Ramirez Manuel
• Rios Zorrilla Jose Manuel
• Gallego Extremera Juan Manuel
• Fernandez-España Romero Guillermo
• Vargas Rizquez Jose Miguel

Classifications

• B60Q2200/32

  Ball-joints · CPC title

• B60Q1/068

  by mechanical means · CPC title

• B60Q1/0441

  the housing being fastened onto the vehicle body using means other than screws · CPC title

• B60Q1/0088

  Details of electrical connections (B60Q1/305 takes precedence; electrical connection of the light source itself F21S41/192, F21S43/195) · CPC title

• B60Q1/0035

  relative to the vehicle · CPC title