Vehicle lighting device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9897272-B2
Application number	US-201514829090-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 18, 2015
Priority date	Aug 18, 2014
Publication date	Feb 20, 2018
Grant date	Feb 20, 2018

Abstract

A vehicle lighting device includes a light source, a projection lens, a drive circuit board, and a housing. The light source includes a light emitting surface. The projection lens faces the light emitting surface and is disposed so that at least a part of light emitted from the light source passes through the projection lens. The drive circuit board includes a circuit to control switching of the light source on and off. The housing supports the light source and the drive circuit board and defines a part of a lamp chamber which houses the projection lens. A first direction that is a normal direction to the light emitting surface intersects a second direction that is a normal direction to a main surface of the drive circuit board.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle lighting device configured to be disposed on a vehicle, comprising:
a support board;
a light source that is disposed on a front surface of the support board and that comprises a light emitting surface;
a projection lens that faces the light emitting surface and that is disposed so that at least a part of light emitted from the light source passes through the projection lens;
a drive circuit board that is disposed directly behind the support board and that comprises a circuit to control switching of the light source on and off; and
a housing that supports the light source and the drive circuit board and that defines a part of a lamp chamber which houses the projection lens,
wherein a first direction that is a normal direction to the light emitting surface intersects a second direction that is a normal direction to a main surface of the drive circuit board, and
wherein the second direction is an up and down direction of the vehicle.

2. The lighting device of claim 1 , wherein the first direction is orthogonal to the second direction.

3. The lighting device of claim 1 , wherein
the housing is a single metal member that is integrally molded with a plurality of radiator plates, and
the housing is formed with a ventilation portion that is in communication with the lamp chamber.

4. The lighting device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a ventilation cap, wherein
the housing is formed with a ventilation portion that is in communication with the lamp chamber and that defines an airflow passage opening to an opposite side of the housing to the lamp chamber, and
the ventilation cap covers the ventilation portion.

5. The lighting device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a holder that holds the projection lens, a position of the holder being fixed with respect to the light source;
a pivot shaft that is provided in one of the projection lens and the holder and that extends in a direction intersecting the optical axis of the projection lens;
a shaft bearing that is provided in the other of the projection lens and the holder and that holds the pivot shaft; and
an aiming mechanism that rotates the projection lens about the pivot shaft with respect to the holder.

6. The lighting device of claim 5 , wherein
the aiming mechanism comprises
a screw including a portion that can be operated at an outside of the housing so as to rotate, and
a joint that converts rotation of the screw into a force to rotate the projection lens about the pivot shaft,

the screw extends to pass through a portion of the housing, and
the main surface of the drive circuit board faces a portion of the screw.

7. The lighting device of claim 6 , wherein the joint is integrated with the projection lens.

8. The lighting device of claim 6 , wherein
the housing includes a contour portion having a circular shape when viewed along the first direction,
a passage and a ventilation portion are formed in the housing,
a power supply line to supply power to the circuit passes through the passage,
the ventilation portion is in communication with the lamp chamber, and
the screw extends to pass through the housing between the passage and the ventilation portion.

9. A vehicle lighting device comprising:
a support board;
a light source that is disposed on a front surface of the support board and that comprises a light emitting surface;
a projection lens that faces the light emitting surface and that is disposed so that at least a part of light emitted from the light source passes through the projection lens;
a drive circuit board that is disposed directly behind the support board and that comprises a circuit to control switching of the light source on and off; and
a housing that supports the light source and the drive circuit board and that defines a part of a lamp chamber which houses the projection lens,
wherein a first direction that is a normal direction to the light emitting surface intersects a second direction that is a normal direction to a main surface of the drive circuit board,
wherein the housing includes an attachment portion to which a transparent cover is attached, the transparent cover and the housing defining the lamp chamber, and
wherein the attachment portion comprises an oblique surface that obliquely cuts across the main surface of the drive circuit board when viewed along the second direction.

Assignees

• Koito Mfg Co Ltd

Inventors

• Shibata Hiroki

Classifications

• F21S41/295

  specially adapted to projection lenses · CPC title

• B60Q1/0683

  Adjustable by rotation of a screw · CPC title

• F21S41/192

  Details of lamp holders, terminals or connectors · CPC title

• B60Q1/0094

  Arrangement of electronic circuits separated from the light source, e.g. mounting of housings for starter circuits for discharge lamps (arrangements being part of the light source holder F21V17/06, F21S43/195) · CPC title

• F21S41/19

  Attachment of light sources or lamp holders (achieving variable light distribution by movable light sources F21S41/657) · CPC title