Title: Vehicle lighting device

[0001] This invention is related to the field of the internal design of vehicle lighting devices, to avoid excessive temperature increase therein.

[0002] Current light devices are mainly based on solid-state light sources, such as Light Emitting Diodes (LED). These light sources are usually arranged in a matrix structure and the lighting device comprises a plurality of lens to project the light pattern produced by the light sources.

[0003] These lenses are arranged in a metallic barrel which provides structural support and dimensional stability. However, the position of the lens near the light source makes that light absorption increases the temperature of the lenses, thus reaching a temperature which is very close or even above the limit operation temperature of the lens. This overheating can deteriorate the optical properties of the lenses, so a solution for this problem is sought.

[0004] In a first inventive aspect, the invention provides a solution for the aforementioned technical problem by means of a vehicle lighting device comprising:

- a housing;

- a light source installed in the housing, configured to emit a light pattern;

- a support barrel, with a barrel surface and a holder protrusion protruding from the barrel surface;

- a holder element, arranged to couple the holder protrusion to the housing; and

- a plurality of lenses supported in the support barrel, the lenses being configured to project the light pattern; wherein the support barrel further comprises at least a protruding element which protrudes from the barrel surface in a distance greater than the holder protrusion.

[0005] The term "solid state" refers to light emitted by solid-state electroluminescence, which uses semiconductors to convert electricity into light. Compared to incandescent lighting, solid state lighting creates visible light with reduced heat generation and less energy dissipation. The typically small mass of a solid-state electronic lighting device provides for greater resistance to shock and vibration compared to brittle glass tubes/bulbs and long, thin filament wires. They also eliminate filament evaporation, potentially increasing the lifespan of the illumination device. Some examples of these types of lighting comprise semiconductor light-emitting diodes (LEDs), organic light-emitting diodes (OLED), or polymer light-emitting diodes (PLED) as sources of illumination rather than electrical filaments, plasma or gas. [0006] The support barrel is a part which is commonly used in some solid-state light source devices. This barrel is used as a support for a plurality of lenses which project the light pattern emitted by the light sources. This barrel tends to overheat due to light absorption and this invention provides a way of avoiding this overheating. [0007] In some particular embodiments, the vehicle lighting device comprises more than one solid-state light source, such as a plurality of Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs).

[0008] In some particular embodiments, the vehicle lighting device comprises more than one protruding element. [0009] If the barrel and holder designs allow it, a higher number of protruding elements means a higher amount of dissipated heat.

[0010] In some particular embodiments, two adjacent protruding elements are separated by at least 1 cm.

[0011] This distance is enough to avoid interference between the heat dissipation between the protruding elements.

[0012] In some particular embodiments, the protruding element is a protruding fin.

[0013] This fin is a very appropriate embodiment of the protruding element to dissipate heat from the support barrel. [0014] In some particular embodiments, the protruding element is circumferentially arranged around the barrel surface, covering a whole circumference of the barrel surface.

[0015] This allows that the whole contour of the barrel surface may be used for heat dissipation.

[0016] In some particular embodiments, the protruding element protrudes from the barrel surface in one dissipation direction a distance greater than in the rest of directions. In more particular embodiments, the protruding element protrudes from the barrel surface in one dissipation direction a distance greater than 2 cm, and particularly greater than 5 cm, measured radially from the barrel surface.

[0017] A preferred dissipation direction is useful when the inner space of the lighting device provides a greater space in one direction than in other ones.

[0018] In some particular embodiments, the protruding element has a thickness comprised between 1 mm and 5 mm.

[0019] This thickness is enough to allow heat dissipation in the protruding elements.

[0020] In some particular embodiments, the protruding element is bended. In more particular embodiments, the protruding element is bended more than once.

[0021] A bended element may adapt to the inner space available, and saves total length while keeping a heat dissipation surface. The number of folds is adapted to the geometry in the interior of the lighting device.

[0022] In some particular embodiments, the protruding element is manufactured in the same part as the barrel, having a single-block arrangement. In other particular embodiments, the protruding element is a separate part from the barrel and is attached to the barrel surface.

[0023] Both alternatives are useful and operative, depending on the design of the barrel and the lighting device.

[0024] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein are to be interpreted as is customary in the art. It will be further understood that terms in common usage should also be interpreted as is customary in the relevant art and not in an idealised or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

[0025] In this text, the term “comprises” and its derivations (such as “comprising”, etc.) should not be understood in an excluding sense, that is, these terms should not be interpreted as excluding the possibility that what is described and defined may include further elements, steps, etc.

[0026] To complete the description and in order to provide for a better understanding of the invention, a set of drawings is provided. Said drawings form an integral part of the description and illustrate an embodiment of the invention, which should not be interpreted as restricting the scope of the invention, but just as an example of how the invention can be carried out. The drawings comprise the following figures:

[0027] [Fig. 1 ] shows a section view of a particular embodiment of a vehicle lighting device according to the invention. [0028] [Fig. 2] shows a perspective view of the barrel and fins arrangement of an embodiment of a lighting device according to the invention.

[0029] [Fig. 3] shows a perspective view of the barrel and fins arrangement of an alternative embodiment of a lighting device according to the invention.

[0030] [Fig. 4] shows a thermal analysis of the embodiment of Figure 3.

[0031] In these figures, the following reference numbers have been used:

[0032] 1 Flousing

[0033] 2 LEDs

[0034] 3 Barrel

[0035] 30 Barrel surface

[0036] 31 Holder protrusion of the barrel

[0037] 4 Holder element

[0038] 5 Lens

[0039] 6 Protruding fin [0040] 10 Lighting device

[0041] 100 Automotive vehicle

[0042] The example embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those of ordinary skill in the art to embody and implement the systems and processes herein described. It is important to understand that embodiments can be provided in many alternate forms and should not be construed as limited to the examples set forth herein.

[0043] Accordingly, while embodiment can be modified in various ways and take on various alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown in the drawings and described in detail below as examples. There is no intent to limit to the particular forms disclosed. On the contrary, all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the appended claims should be included.

[0044] Figure 1 shows a section view of a particular embodiment of a vehicle lighting device 1 according to the invention. In this figure, the vehicle lighting device 10 comprises

- a housing 1 ;

- a plurality of LEDs 2 installed in the housing 1 ;

- a support barrel 3;

- a holder element 4; and

- a plurality of lenses 5 supported in the support barrel 3.

[0045] The plurality of LEDs 2 are installed in the housing and are configured to emit a light pattern, due to their particular arrangement. This light pattern is received and projected by the plurality of lenses 5, which are arranged to as to provide a final pattern to perform a particular lighting functionality.

[0046] The support barrel 3 is intended to provide a support for the plurality of lenses 5. This support barrel 3 comprises a barrel surface 30 and a holder protrusion 31 which protrudes from the barrel surface 30. This holder protrusion 31 is used to attach the support barrel to the holder element 4, which is in turn attached to the housing 1. Hence, the holder protrusion 31 is the attachment point of the support barrel 3 to the housing 1 , via the holder element 4.

[0047] The support barrel 3 further comprises a plurality of protruding fins 6 which protrude from the barrel surface 30 in a distance greater than the holder protrusion 31. The protruding fins 6 are therefore longer than the holder protrusion 31 , which has the only aim to provide an attachment point for the support barrel 3 to the holder element 4.

[0048] These protruding fins are separated by 2 cm between them and have a thickness of 2 mm, to allow a correct heat dissipation.

[0049] Heat coming from the light absorption performed by the barrel is conducted along the conductive surface of the barrel and then dissipated in the protruding fins 6, so that the lenses 5 do not reach a dangerous temperature.

[0050] Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the barrel 3 and fins 6 arrangement of an embodiment of a lighting device according to the invention. In this figure, only the barrel 3 and the protruding fins 6 are illustrated, for the sake of clarity.

[0051] In this figure, it may be observed how the protruding fins 6 are circumferentially arranged around the barrel surface 30, covering a whole circumference of the barrel surface 30. Hence, heat is dissipated in all directions of the barrel surface 30.

[0052] Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the barrel 3 and fins 6 arrangement in a different embodiment of a lighting device according to the invention. As in the previous figure, only the barrel 3 and the protruding fins 6 are illustrated.

[0053] In this embodiment, the only protruding fin 6 protrudes from the barrel surface 30 in one dissipation direction d a distance greater than in the rest of directions. This dissipation direction d is used since the lighting device provides a greater void space in this direction, so heat may be more easily dissipated. The protruding fin 6 protrudes from the barrel surface 30 in the dissipation direction d a distance greater than 5 cm, measured radially from the barrel surface 30. Hence, heat dissipation is increased. [0054] To maximize the heat dissipation surface in this reduced space, the protruding fin 6 is bended twice.

[0055] In the embodiment shown in this figure, the protruding fin 6 is manufactured in the same part as the barrel 3, having a single-block arrangement. However, in different embodiments, the protruding fin 6 may be a separate part from the barrel 3 and is attached to the barrel surface 30 subsequently.

[0056] Figure 4 shows a thermal analysis of the embodiment of figure 3.

[0057] In this figure, it may be seen how the heat is transferred from the support barrel 3 to the protruding fins 6, so that the final temperature in the lenses 5 is lower than the risk threshold temperature. )