TWI862400B - Headlight lens heating device - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a lens heating device for a vehicle lamp, comprising a lens, at least one connector and a conductive layer. The lens has a first outer surface and a first inner surface opposite to each other, the first inner surface is provided with at least one recessed portion, and the recessed portion has a bottom surface. The electrical connector has a connecting portion, which is provided at the recessed portion, and has a second outer surface and a second inner surface opposite to each other, the second inner surface has an electrical connection surface, and the electrical connection surface is close to the first inner surface and is substantially flush with the first inner surface. The conductive layer can conduct heat and is provided on the first inner surface and the electrical connection surface; thereby, the present invention can have better manufacturing consistency and conductive stability.

Description

Headlight lens heating device

The present invention relates to a lens heating device for a vehicle lamp, mainly a heating device capable of stable bonding and electrical conduction.

At present, car lights are generally equipped with different types such as headlights, taillights, turn signals, fog lights, etc., and can provide lighting or warning functions. However, when it snows, the snow accumulates on the surface of the lens of the car lights, which will cause the output light to be blocked. Therefore, there is currently a structure that can heat the lens of the car lights.

The heating structure mainly sets a heating element in a linear distribution on the lens of the headlight. The heating element can be a conductive metal coating, copper, or a transparent conductive oxide. Currently, the heating element can be firstly arranged in a linear distribution on a soft transparent film, and then the transparent film is placed in the manufacturing mold of the lens, and the molten plastic of the lens is injected to form a whole with the transparent film. Therefore, when it snows, the heating element can conduct electricity and heat to melt the snow on the outer surface of the lens.

However, when the aforementioned manufacturing method is used for molding, the molten plastic impacts the transparent film, which easily causes the transparent film to be distorted or shifted, resulting in a high defect rate.

US6103998 proposes to set a resin film, a conductor, a metal film and a terminal on the resin panel of the resin window of the vehicle body. The conductor is printed on the resin film, and the resin film is adhered and fixed to the inner surface of the resin panel, so that the conductor can be close to the resin panel. The resin film is provided with an opening, and the metal film is provided at the opening position, and the metal film is electrically connected to the conductor. The terminal is close to the metal film, and the terminal can be electrically connected to the metal film and the conductor, and when the terminal conducts electricity, the conductor can heat up to heat the resin panel and perform a defogging action.

The above structure must be provided with a metal film so that the terminal can be electrically connected to the conductor, which is inconvenient to manufacture, and when the terminal and the metal film and the metal film and the conductor are not in stable contact, poor contact will be caused, affecting the loss of conductivity. Generally speaking, the conductor can be heated and demisted at a temperature of about 30°C, but when used in car lights, a higher temperature must be used to quickly melt snow. The high temperature will easily cause the adhesive of the resin film and the resin panel to deteriorate and fall off. Therefore, the above structure is not suitable for heating and melting snow on car light lenses.

The terminal can also be molded and combined with the resin panel, and the terminal can be in contact with the conductor inside the resin film, so there is no need to set up a metal film component. However, if the above structure is used in a headlight lens, the conductor will still heat up and the resin film and the resin panel will not be able to be stably bonded, thereby causing the conductor to separate from the terminal and lose stable conduction.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a device that can stably bond and conduct electricity and heat the lens of a car light.

The lens heating device of the vehicle light of the present invention comprises a lens, at least one connector and a conductive layer. The lens has a first outer surface and a first inner surface opposite to each other; the first inner surface is provided with at least one recessed portion, and the recessed portion has a bottom surface. The electrical connector has a connecting portion, which is provided at the position of the recessed portion, and has a second outer surface and a second inner surface opposite to each other; the second inner surface has an electrical connection surface, and the electrical connection surface is close to the first inner surface and is substantially flush with the first inner surface. The conductive layer can conduct heat and is provided on the first inner surface and the electrical connection surface.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the electrical connector is integrally formed with the lens.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the bottom surface of the recessed portion is provided with at least one positioning hole penetrating the lens, and the connecting portion further includes at least one protruding column. The electrical connector includes a conductive terminal and a coupling seat, the terminal having a first section and a second section, the second section being connected to the first section and having an angle. The terminal is coupled to the coupling seat, so that the outer side of the coupling seat forms the connecting portion, and the connecting portion and the protruding column are formed and coupled with the recessed portion and the positioning hole, and the inner surface of the first section forms the electrical connection surface.

One embodiment of the present invention further includes at least one temperature sensor, which is disposed on the connection base and insulated from the terminal.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the electrical connector is a conductive terminal having a first section and a second section, the first section and the second section are connected and have an angle, and the first section forms the connecting section. The lens and the electrical connector are molded and combined by a molding die, and the molding die is provided with two positioning members at positions corresponding to two opposite ends of the first section, and when the first section and the lens are molded and combined, the two positioning members can be positioned against the first section.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the electrical connector is a circuit board.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the electrical connector and the lens are heat-fused by ultrasound, hot air, hot mold or infrared. The electrical connector is a conductive terminal, which has a first section and a second section. The first section is connected to the second section and has an angle, and the first section forms the connecting portion.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the conductive layer is exposed in a closed space inside the headlight.

The electrical connection surface and the first inner surface of the present invention are substantially flush with each other without any substantial height difference, so the conductive layer between the electrical connection surface and the first inner surface is not prone to fracture and has better conductivity stability. In addition, the conductive layer of the present invention can be in an appropriately distributed shape and is coated on the first inner surface of the lens, and the conductive layer is not first disposed on a resin film and then attached to the lens as in the conventional method, so the conductive layer can be smoothly coated on the first inner surface of the lens and has better consistent quality.

In the following embodiments, the same functional elements of the present invention are indicated by the same figure numbers. Please refer to Figures 1 to 3 for the first embodiment of the present invention, wherein Figure 1 is a partial cross-sectional view of the lens heating device for the headlight of the present invention, Figure 2 is a partial three-dimensional schematic diagram of the headlight, and Figure 3 is a top view schematic diagram. The lens heating device for the headlight of the present invention includes a lens 1, at least one electrical connector 2 and a conductive layer 3. The lens 1 is an outer lens and is arranged on the outer side of the headlight to cover an outer shell 10. There is a closed space 101 between the lens 1 and the outer shell 10, that is, the headlight has the closed space 101 inside, and can accommodate a light-emitting body and a control component (not shown). The lens 1 has a first outer surface 11 and a first inner surface 12, and the first inner surface 12 is located at a position corresponding to the closed space 101. The first inner surface 12 is provided with at least one recessed portion 13, and the recessed portion 13 has a bottom surface 131, and the bottom surface 131 of the recessed portion 13 is provided with at least one positioning hole 132 penetrating the lens 1.

The electrical connector 2 has a connecting portion 24, which is located at the position of the recessed portion 13, and the connecting portion 24 has a second outer surface 222 and a second inner surface 213 opposite to each other. The electrical connector 2 and the lens 1 are integrally molded by injection molding. The electrical connector 2 includes a conductive terminal 21 and a coupling seat 22. The terminal 21 has a first section 211 and a second section 212. The second section 212 is connected to the first section 211 and has an angle. The coupling seat 22 is first molded and combined with the terminal 21, and the outer side of the coupling seat 22 forms the connecting portion 24 of the electrical connector 2. Furthermore, the connecting portion 24 further includes at least one protrusion 221, and the connecting portion 24 and the protrusion 221 are molded and combined with the recessed portion 13 and the positioning hole 132 to provide a stable molding combination with the lens 1. Furthermore, the first section 211 of the terminal 21 has the second inner surface 213 exposed on the inner side of the coupling seat 22, and a portion of the inner surface of the first section 211 (i.e., a portion of the second inner surface 213) forms an electrical connection surface 214.

The electrical connector 2 is placed in a molding die (not shown) of the lens 1 to be molded and combined with the lens 1, and the connecting portion 24 of the electrical connector 2 can be located in the lens 1, and the lens 1 forms the recessed portion 13, and the bottom surface 131 of the recessed portion 13 can be engaged with the second outer surface 222, and the bottom surface 131 of the recessed portion 13 corresponds to the position of the protrusion 221, and the positioning hole 132 that penetrates the lens 1 is provided, and the protrusion 221 is combined with the positioning hole 132 to improve the stability of the molding and combination of the electrical connector 2 and the lens 1. Therefore, this embodiment can improve the situation where the terminal 21 is directly molded and combined with the lens 1, and the terminal 21 is offset by the impact force of the molten injection material, so as to improve the stability and consistency of the manufactured product. After the electrical connector 2 of the present invention is molded and combined with the lens 1 by a molding die (not shown), the electrical connection surface 214 can be close to the first inner surface 12 and be substantially flush with the first inner surface 12.

The conductive layer 3 can conduct electricity and generate heat and is disposed on the first inner surface 12 and the electrical connection surface 214. In this embodiment, the conductive layer 3 is formed on the first inner surface 12 and the electrical connection surface 214 by printing. The first inner surface 12 can also be roughened and metallized by laser activation, and the conductive layer 3 can be formed on the first inner surface 12 and the electrical connection surface 214 by electroplating. In other embodiments, the conductive layer 3 can also be formed on the first inner surface 12 and the electrical connection surface 214 by sputtering or evaporation. The electrical connection surface 214 of the present invention is substantially flush with the first inner surface 12 without any substantial height difference, so the conductive layer 3 between the electrical connection surface 214 and the first inner surface 12 is less likely to be broken, thereby having better conductive stability.

The present invention can form and combine two electrical connectors 2 on the lens 1, and form positive and negative electrodes respectively, and the conductive layer 3 can be coated on the first inner surface 12 of the lens 1 in an appropriate distribution shape, and connect the positive and negative electrodes of the two electrical connectors 2. The conductive layer 3 is not first disposed on a resin film and then attached to the lens surface as in the conventional method, which can avoid the situation that the lens cannot be smoothly coated when the resin film has creases, and the conductive layer 3 can also be smoothly coated on the first inner surface 12 of the lens 1 when the lens 1 is a curved surface, which can have a better coating quality. Furthermore, the conductive layer 3 is exposed in the enclosed space 101 inside the headlight, so that the conductive layer 3 can be prevented from being accidentally touched by hands when the conductive layer 3 is heated to a high temperature to melt snow, thereby preventing the conductive layer 3 from being accidentally touched by hands and causing danger. Also, the conductive layer 3 can be prevented from colliding with external wind, rain, and dust during driving, thereby preventing the conductive layer 3 from falling off.

Please refer to FIG. 3. The present invention can set at least one temperature sensor 4 on the coupling seat 22. The temperature sensor 4 is insulated from the terminal 21, and the temperature sensor 4 can be connected to a control device (not shown) to sense the temperature of the lens 1. Since the temperature sensor 4 of this embodiment can be directly set on the coupling seat 22, it does not need to be set on the lens 1 or other positions. Therefore, the coupling seat 22 of this embodiment can provide the temperature sensor 4 with better installation convenience.

Please refer to Figures 4 to 6 for the second embodiment of the present invention, wherein Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the molding operation of the lens heating device of the headlight, Figure 5 is a partial cross-sectional view after molding, and Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of a top view. The main difference between the second embodiment and the first embodiment is that the electrical connector 2 is a conductive terminal 21, the first section 211 of the terminal 21 forms the connecting portion 24, and the coupling seat 22 shown in Figure 1 does not need to be provided. As shown in FIG. 4, the lens 1 and the electrical connector 2 of the present invention are molded and combined by a molding mold 5. The molding mold 5 of the lens 1 is provided with two positioning members 51 at the two opposite ends of the first section 211 of the terminal 21, and when the first section 211 and the lens 1 are molded and combined, the two positioning members 51 can be positioned against the first section 211. Therefore, when the molten lens 1 plastic is injected for molding as shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the terminal 21 will not shift, and the first section 211 of the terminal 21 forms the connecting portion 24 of the electrical connector 2 and the lens 1 can be stably molded and combined, and the electrical connection surface 214 can be close to the first inner surface 12 and roughly flush with the first inner surface 12. As shown in Figures 5 and 6, although the lens 1 has a concave hole 133 after molding due to the positioning member 51, the present invention allows the conductive layer 3 to be joined to the electrical connection surface 214 from a direction other than the concave hole 133, which can ensure that the conductive layer 3 and the electrical connection surface 214 are stably electrically connected, and this embodiment can reduce the fixing seat of the first embodiment to have better manufacturing convenience.

Please refer to Figures 7 to 9 for the third embodiment of the present invention, wherein Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the molding operation of the lens heating device of the headlight, Figure 8 is a partial cross-sectional view after molding, and Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of a top view. The main difference between the third embodiment and the second embodiment is that the electrical connector 2 is a circuit board 23. The molding die 5 of this embodiment is provided with two positioning members 51 at positions corresponding to two ends of the circuit board 23, and as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, when the circuit board 23 is molded and combined with the lens 1, the two positioning members 51 can be positioned against the circuit board 23, and the connecting portion 24 of the electrical connector 2 formed by the circuit board 23 is fixedly arranged at the position of the recessed portion 13 of the lens 1, and the electrical connection surface 214 thereof can be close to the first inner surface 12 and substantially flush with the first inner surface 12. Although the lens 1 has the recessed hole 133, the conductive layer 3 can be stably connected to the electrical connection surface 214 from a direction other than the recessed hole 133. The circuit board 23 can be provided with a temperature sensor 4, which does not need to be separately provided on the lens 1 or other positions. Therefore, the circuit board 23 of this embodiment can provide the temperature sensor 4 with better installation convenience, wherein the temperature sensor 4 is insulated from the electrical connection surface 214.

Please refer to Figures 10 and 11 for the fourth embodiment of the present invention, wherein Figure 10 is a partial exploded view of the lens heating device for the headlight, and Figure 11 is a partial assembled cross-sectional view. As shown in Figure 10, the main difference between the fourth embodiment and the second embodiment is that the lens 1 is first molded, and a plane-shaped recessed portion 13 is provided on the first inner surface 12, and the recessed portion 13 has the bottom surface 131, that is, the position of the lens 1 corresponding to the recessed portion 13 is a plane shape, and the connecting portion 24 of the electrical connector 2 is a plane shape. The electrical connector 2 is a conductive terminal 21. The first section 211 of the terminal 21 is a planar body and forms the connecting portion 24 of the electrical connector 2. As shown in FIG. 11, the second outer surface 222 of the first section 211 of the terminal 21 can be heat-fused to the bottom surface 131 of the recessed portion 13 of the lens 1 by ultrasound, hot air, hot mold or infrared methods, and the electrical connection surface 214 is close to the first inner surface 12 and is roughly flush with the first inner surface 12, and the conductive layer 3 can be stably arranged on the first inner surface 12 and the electrical connection surface 214.

Please refer to FIG. 12, which is a fifth embodiment of the present invention, and is a partial cross-sectional view of the lens heating device of the vehicle lamp of the present invention. The difference between the fifth embodiment and the fourth embodiment is that the lens 1 is a curved surface corresponding to the recessed portion 13, that is, the position of the lens 1 corresponding to the recessed portion 13 is a curved surface, and the connecting portion 24 of the electrical connector 2 is a curved surface. The electrical connector 2 is a conductive terminal 21, and the first section 211 of the terminal 21 is a corresponding curved surface, so that the first section 211 and the bottom surface 131 of the recessed portion 13 can be stably heat-melted, and the electrical connection surface 214 is close to the first inner surface 12 and is roughly flush with the first inner surface 12, and the conductive layer 3 can be stably combined with the curved first inner surface 12 and the electrical connection surface 214 to improve the conductive stability.

Therefore, from the above description, the present invention can improve the better bonding and conductive stability and manufacturing consistency of the lens heating device of the headlight, and the above-mentioned embodiments are illustrative of the present invention and are not limiting of the present invention. Any equivalent changes made according to the present invention should also fall within the scope of the present invention.

10: housing 101: enclosed space 1: lens 11: first outer surface 12: first inner surface 13: recessed portion 131: bottom surface 132: positioning hole 133: recessed hole 2: electrical connector 21: terminal 211: first section 212: second section 213: second inner surface 214: electrical connection surface 22: coupling seat 221: boss 222: second outer surface 23: circuit board 24: connection portion 3: conductive layer 4: temperature sensor 5: molding die 51: positioning member

FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of the lens heating device for a vehicle lamp of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the headlight portion of the first embodiment of the headlight lens heating device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a top view schematically showing a first embodiment of the lens heating device for a vehicle lamp of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the molding operation of the second embodiment of the lens heating device for a vehicle lamp of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of the second embodiment of the lens heating device for a vehicle lamp of the present invention after molding.

FIG. 6 is a top view schematically showing a second embodiment of the lens heating device for a vehicle lamp of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the molding operation of the third embodiment of the lens heating device for a vehicle lamp of the present invention.

FIG8 is a partial cross-sectional view of the third embodiment of the lens heating device for a vehicle lamp of the present invention after molding.

FIG. 9 is a top view of the third embodiment of the lens heating device for a vehicle lamp of the present invention and a schematic diagram showing the arrangement of a temperature sensor.

FIG. 10 is a partial exploded view of the fourth embodiment of the lens heating device for a vehicle lamp of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the fourth embodiment of the lens heating device for a vehicle lamp of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the fifth embodiment of the lens heating device for a vehicle lamp of the present invention.

1: Lens

11: First outer surface

12: First inner surface

13: Depression

131: Bottom

132: Positioning hole

2: Electrical connectors

21: Terminals

211: The first section

212: The second section

213: Second inner surface

214: Electrical connection surface

22: Combination seat

221: convex column

222: Second outer surface

24: Connection part

3: Conductive layer

Claims (17)

A lens heating device for a headlight comprises: a lens having a first outer surface and a first inner surface opposite to each other; the first inner surface is provided with at least one recessed portion, the recessed portion having a bottom surface; at least one electrical connector having a connecting portion, the connecting portion being provided at the recessed portion, the connecting portion having a second outer surface and a second inner surface opposite to each other, the second inner surface having an electrical connecting surface, and the electrical connecting surface being close to the first inner surface and being substantially flush with the first inner surface; and a conductive layer capable of conducting heat and provided on the first inner surface and the electrical connecting surface. A lens heating device for a headlight as described in claim 1, wherein the electrical connector is integrally formed and bonded to the lens. A lens heating device for a headlight as described in claim 2, wherein the electrical connector includes a conductive terminal and a coupling seat, the terminal having a first section and a second section, the second section being connected to the first section and having an angle, and the terminal being coupled to the coupling seat so that the outer side of the coupling seat forms the connecting portion, and the inner surface of the first section forms the electrical connection surface. As described in claim 3, the lens heating device for a headlight, wherein the bottom surface of the recessed portion is provided with at least one positioning hole penetrating the lens, and the connecting portion further includes at least one protrusion, and the connecting portion and the protrusion are molded and combined with the recessed portion and the positioning hole. The lens heating device for a vehicle light as described in claim 3 further comprises at least one temperature sensor, which is disposed on the connection base and insulated from the terminal. As described in claim 2, the lens heating device for a vehicle headlight, wherein the electrical connector is an electrically conductive terminal having a first section and a second section, the first section is connected to the second section and has an angle, and the first section forms the connecting section. A lens heating device for a headlight as described in claim 6, wherein the lens and the electrical connector are molded and combined by a molding mold, and the molding mold is provided with two positioning members at positions corresponding to two opposite ends of the first section, so that when the first section and the lens are molded and combined, the two positioning members can be positioned against the first section. A lens heating device for a headlight as described in claim 2, wherein the electrical connector is a circuit board. As described in claim 8, the lens heating device for a headlight, wherein the lens and the electrical connector are molded and combined by a molding mold, and the molding mold is provided with two positioning members at positions corresponding to the two ends of the circuit board, so that when the circuit board and the lens are molded and combined, the two positioning members can be pressed against the circuit board for positioning. The lens heating device for a vehicle light as described in claim 8 further comprises at least one temperature sensor, which is disposed on the circuit board and insulated from the electrical connection surface. A lens heating device for a headlight as described in claim 1, wherein the electrical connector and the lens are thermally fused together by ultrasound, hot air, hot mold or infrared. As described in claim 11, the lens heating device for a vehicle headlight, wherein the electrical connector is a conductive terminal having a first section and a second section, the first section is connected to the second section and has an angle, and the first section forms the connecting section. The lens heating device for a car light as described in claim 1, wherein the position of the lens corresponding to the recessed portion is a planar shape, and the connecting portion of the electrical connector is a planar shape. A lens heating device for a headlight as described in claim 1, wherein the lens is curved at a position corresponding to the recessed portion, and the connecting portion of the electrical connector is curved. The lens heating device for a vehicle lamp as described in claim 1, wherein the conductive layer is formed on the first inner surface and the electrical connection surface by printing, electroplating, sputtering or evaporation. The lens heating device for a headlight as described in claim 1, wherein the first inner surface of the lens is roughened and metallized by laser activation, and the conductive layer is formed on the first inner surface and the electrical connection surface by electroplating. The lens heating device for a headlight as described in claim 1, wherein the headlight has a closed space inside, and the conductive layer is exposed in the closed space inside the headlight.

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