Temperature control module and headlight

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12504146-B2
Application number	US-202318856320-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 9, 2023
Priority date	Apr 12, 2022
Publication date	Dec 23, 2025
Grant date	Dec 23, 2025

Abstract

A temperature control module includes a separation element having a closed middle section and heat-conducting elements on two sides of the middle section, as well as a conveying device for air. The conveying device is designed as an integrated twin fan, which on the one hand conveys ambient air from the one side of the middle section and on the other hand conveys ambient air from the other side of the middle section to the separation element. The middle section has a Peltier element or is designed as such. The temperature control module can be used in a headlight for cooling and/or heating its internal volume.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . A device comprising:
a temperature control module comprising
a separation element with a closed middle section having a first side and a second side, and heat-conducting elements on the first and second sides of the closed middle section; and
an integrated twin fan configured to convey ambient air from the first side of the middle section and to convey ambient air from the second side of the middle section to the separation element, wherein the closed middle section has a Peltier element or the closed middle section is the Peltier element;
a collection volume, configured to collect condensate, arranged on one of the first and second sides; a sump volume; and a duct element coupling the collection volume to the sump volume to discharge the condensate.

2 . The temperature control module of claim 1 , wherein the twin fan comprises:
two fan wheels sealed off from each other; and an electric drive motor configured to drive the two fan wheels.

3 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the duct element ends at a top in the sump volume in a direction of gravity.

4 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the sump volume is connected to the surroundings via a meandering tube arranged at a bottom in a direction of gravity.

5 . A headlight comprising:
a self-enclosed internal volume; a transparent cover plate; illuminating means; means for mechanical or electric control of the illuminating means; and a temperature control module comprising
a separation element with a closed middle section having a first side and a second side, and heat-conducting elements on the first and second sides of the closed middle section;
an integrated twin fan configured to convey ambient air from the first side of the middle section and to convey ambient air from the second side of the middle section to the separation element,
wherein the closed middle section has a Peltier element or the closed middle section is the Peltier element,
wherein the closed middle section forms a part of a boundary of the internal volume so that the heat-conducting elements of the first side of the closed middle section extend into the internal volume and the heat-conducting elements of the second side of the closed middle section extend into surroundings of the headlight; and
a collection volume, configured to collect condensate, arranged on one of the first and second sides, wherein the collection volume is arranged in the internal volume and is connected via a duct element to a sump volume for the condensate to discharge the condensate.

6 . The headlight of claim 5 , wherein the duct element ends at a top in the sump volume in a direction of gravity.

7 . The headlight of claim 5 , wherein the sump volume is connected to the surroundings via a meandering tube arranged at a bottom in a direction of gravity.

8 . The headlight of claim 7 , wherein a flow-through cross-section of the meandering tube has a grate or filter element.

9 . The headlight of claim 5 , further comprising:
a cover with ventilation openings, wherein the temperature control module is arranged in the internal volume below the cover at least in relation to air flow conveyed by the temperature control module.

10 . The headlight of claim 5 , further comprising:
at least one temperature sensor; and a control device connected to the at least one temperature sensor, wherein the control device is configured to at least control the Peltier element and the twin fan.

11 . The headlight of claim 5 , wherein the headlight is a front headlight of a vehicle.

12 . A method of operating a temperature control module in a headlight, wherein the headlight comprises a self-enclosed internal volume, a transparent cover plate, illuminating means, and means for mechanical or electric control of the illuminating means, wherein the temperature control module comprises a separation element with a closed middle section having a first side and a second side, and heat-conducting elements on the first and second sides of the closed middle section and an integrated twin fan configured to convey ambient air from the first side of the middle section and to convey ambient air from the second side of the middle section to the separation element, wherein the closed middle section has a Peltier element or the closed middle section is the Peltier element, wherein the closed middle section forms a part of a boundary of the internal volume so that the heat-conducting elements of the first side of the closed middle section extend into the internal volume and the heat-conducting elements of the second side of the closed middle section extend into surroundings of the headlight, wherein the temperature control module further comprises, a collection volume, configured to collect condensate, arranged on one of the first and second sides, the method comprising:
applying electricity to the Peltier element so that the Peltier element has a first electric polarity so that the Peltier element cools the first side and discharges heat to the second side to cool the internal volume and collect the condensate in the collection volume; and applying electricity to the Peltier element so that the Peltier element has a reverse electric polarity so that the Peltier element heats the first side to remove fog or ice from the transparent cover plate.

Assignees

• Mercedes Benz Group Ag

Inventors

• Mueller Axel
• Nelson Anton
• Kaiser Janik

Classifications

• F21S45/33

  specially adapted for headlamps · CPC title

• F21V29/677

  the fans being used for discharging · CPC title

• F21V29/54

  using thermoelectric means, e.g. Peltier elements · CPC title

• F21V29/67

  characterised by the arrangement of fans · CPC title

• F21S45/60

  Heating of lighting devices, e.g. for demisting · CPC title