Method for positioning a light-shaping body

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9933253-B2
Application number	US-201314419852-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 22, 2013
Priority date	Aug 23, 2012
Publication date	Apr 3, 2018
Grant date	Apr 3, 2018

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for positioning a light-shaping member, for example a reflector ( 1 ), relative to at least one light source ( 2 ), comprising the following steps:
a) fitting the at least one light source ( 2 ) on a carrier plate ( 3 ); b) measuring the position of the at least one light source ( 2 ) on the carrier plate ( 3 ); c) fitting one or preferably more reference positions ( 4 ) on the carrier plate ( 3 ), wherein the position of the at least one reference position ( 4 ) is dependent on the position of the at least one light source ( 2 ); d) referencing, i.e. aligning, the light-shaping member to/with the reference position(s) ( 4 ) on the carrier plate ( 3 ); and e) securing the light-shaping member on the carrier plate ( 3 ) or in relation to the carrier plate ( 3 ).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for positioning a reflector or other light-shaping member relative to at least one light source, the method comprising:
a) fitting the at least one light source on a carrier plate;
b) measuring the position of the at least one light source on the carrier plate;
c) fitting at least one reference position on the carrier plate, wherein the position of the at least one reference position is dependent on the position of the at least one light source and the at least one reference position comprises a slot, a hole, a reference edge, or a combination thereof;
d) aligning the reflector or other light-shaping member with the at least one reference position on the carrier plate; and
e) securing the reflector or other light-shaping member on the carrier plate or in relation to the carrier plate,
wherein the reflector or other light-shaping member is secured in relation to the carrier plate by at least one securing element that secures the reflector or other light-shaping member to a heat sink to which the carrier plate is secured, and
wherein in steps b) and c):
the geometric centre of the at least one light source is measured and the at least one reference position is fitted on the carrier plate in relation to the geometric centre, or
the definitive lightest region or the lightest point of the at least one light source is measured and the at least one reference position is fitted on the carrier plate in relation to the definitive lightest region or the lightest point.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one light source is an LED light source having one or more light-emitting diodes, and the carrier plate is a printed circuit board for the LED light source.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the LED light source is soldered to the printed circuit board in step a).

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the position of the at least one light source or of the at least one reference position is determined by means of an optical measurement method.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the optical measurement method comprises using a camera.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one reference position is drilled and/or milled.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
step c) comprises fitting two or more reference positions on the carrier plate, the reference positions being dependent on the position of the at least one light source, and
step d) comprises aligning the reflector or other light-shaping member with the two or more reference positions on the carrier plate.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one reference position comprises two or more reference positions running in a straight line.

Assignees

• Zizala Lichtsysteme Gmbh
• Zkw Group Gmbh

Inventors

• Petsch Daniel

Classifications

• F21V17/005

  with keying means, i.e. for enabling the assembling of component parts in distinctive positions, e.g. for preventing wrong mounting · CPC title

• F21S43/00

  Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights · CPC title

• Y10T29/4978

  Assisting assembly or disassembly · CPC title

• H05K3/34

  by soldering · CPC title

• F21Y2115/10

  Light-emitting diodes [LED] · CPC title