Temperature-regulating module and headlight

Abstract

The invention relates to a temperature-regulating module (1) comprising a separating element (3) having a closed central part (15) and heat-conducting elements (4) on two sides (5, 16) of the central part, and furthermore comprising a conveying device for air. The temperature-regulating module according to the invention is characterized in that the conveying device is designed as an integrated twin fan (6), which conveys firstly ambient air from one side (5) of the central part (15) and secondly ambient air from the other side (16) of the central part (15) to the separating element (3), the central part (15) having a Peltier element (PE) or being designed as such. The temperature-regulating module (1) is preferably used in a headlight (21) for the purpose of cooling and / or heating the internal volume (13) thereof.

Description

[0001] Temperature control module and headlights

[0002] The invention relates to a temperature control module with a separating element according to the type defined in more detail in the preamble of claim 1. Furthermore, the invention relates to a headlight with such a temperature control module, in particular for a motor vehicle.

[0003] Modern headlights have many internal components that give off heat during operation. In addition to the LEDs typically used today as light sources, these include stepper motors and control units. The sometimes very high currents and the electrical resistance of the wiring also generate heat in the area of ​​the lines and contacts. In order to prevent overheating of the typically self-contained interior volume of the headlight, as this would force a reduction in performance or even cause component damage, this waste heat must be dissipated from the interior volume of the headlight. This is typically achieved by heat transport via the cover plate, which is also referred to as the windscreen or cover glass. In vehicle use in particular, this allows a relatively large amount of heat to be dissipated through the appropriate airflow while the vehicle is moving.While the headlight's plastic housing itself also contributes to heat transfer, the materials used and the typically relatively close installation location to surrounding components limit efficient heat transfer. Therefore, only a small portion of the waste heat can be dissipated through the housing, for example, into the vehicle's engine compartment. One approach to improving waste heat dissipation typically involves installing separators and a fan within the headlight to specifically transport the waste heat away from the heat-generating components.

[0004] In addition to operating such a fan inside the enclosed volume of the headlight, the prior art also includes the use of a separating element having two sides, one of which is located inside the headlight and the other outside. In this context, reference can be made to DE 102007 057 056 A1. This document fundamentally describes such a separating element, with the heat-conducting connection between the sections located in the surrounding area and the sections located inside the headlight being established via a central part, which here is designed as a thermoelectric cooler, i.e., to actively influence the heat flow from the inside to the outside.

[0005] This design, together with the fan located inside the headlight, can lower the temperature within the design and also heat it up. However, the design is dependent on various environmental conditions, as a constant air supply to the thermoelectric element must be ensured.

[0006] Another problem with such headlights is the pressure equalization between the interior volume and the ambient temperature at different temperatures. This is not addressed at all by the current state of the art. In practice, however, membranes that are permeable to air and impermeable to water vapor are often used. This is quite complex in practice and requires additional installation space. Furthermore, even a well-sealed headlight is never completely impervious to moisture. For example, moisture can penetrate through the plastic material typically used for the housing. This can cause the structure to fog up, but the membrane cannot dissipate the moisture.

[0007] The object of the present invention is to provide an improved integrated temperature control module that is improved over the prior art design and that can preferably be used in an improved headlight. According to the invention, this object is achieved by a temperature control module having the features in claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and further developments emerge from the dependent subclaims. Furthermore, a headlight having the features in claim 4 and such a temperature control module achieves the object. Here, too, advantageous embodiments and further developments of the headlight emerge from the dependent subclaims. A method for operating the temperature control module is specified in claim 12.

[0008] The temperature control module according to the invention represents an integrated temperature control module with a separating element on the one hand and a conveying device for air on the other. The separating element comprises a closed central section and heat-conducting elements on two sides of this central section. According to the invention, the conveying device is designed as an integrated twin fan, which conveys ambient air from one side of the central section and ambient air from the other side of the central section to the separating element. The central section of the separating element is therefore, for example, a plate with heat-conducting elements on one and the other side. In addition, a Peltier element is integrated into the central section or the central section is directly formed by such a Peltier element. By applying an electrical voltage or power, heat can be generated on one side and cold on the other.

[0009] By electrically reversing the polarity, the sides can be swapped as needed. The temperature control module with the Peltier element can then generate either heat or cold on one side, thereby heating or cooling the air drawn by the twin fan through the Peltier element or the center section and the heat-conducting elements. The temperature control module thus enables efficient heating or cooling. In addition to the active heating or cooling provided by the Peltier element, depending on the polarity used, it also enables the naturally occurring heat flow from one side to the other to be increased or enhanced, allowing waste heat to be dissipated even more quickly.

[0010] Accordingly, according to a very advantageous embodiment of the headlight, the twin fan is configured to, on the one hand, circulate air within the interior volume and convey it to the separating element of the temperature control module, and, on the other hand, to convey ambient air to the other side of the separating element. Both air flows are separated by material, meaning the air does not mix. The heat is thus efficiently dissipated from the headlight with the assistance of the Peltier element, so that in addition to heat dissipation via the cover plate, heat can also be dissipated into an additional area, such as an engine compartment or the like.

[0011] Another very advantageous embodiment of the temperature control module according to the invention can further provide for a condensate collection volume on one of the sides. This allows moisture accumulating on this side during cooling by the Peltier element or during the (actively supported) removal of waste heat from this side area, which condenses on the central part, to be collected. The collection volume thus allows the moisture to be collected in its area and thus allows the circulating air flow used for cooling along the side with the collection volume to dry.

[0012] According to an advantageous development of the integrated temperature control module, the heat-conducting elements can be designed as heat-conducting ribs or fins, or as heat-conducting fingers, pins, or nubs. A combination of these elements or a combination with other measures that increase the surface area of ​​the separating element on the respective side, such as roughening the surface or similar, is also conceivable.

[0013] The design of the twin fan is fundamentally unimportant and can be designed in any desired manner. However, according to an extremely advantageous development of the temperature control module according to the invention, the twin fan has two fan wheels that are sealed off from one another and a shared electric drive motor for both fan wheels. This design is extremely simple and efficient and allows good functionality with little hardware, space and energy expenditure. Preferably, the one electric drive motor for the two fan wheels can be arranged centrally between the two fan wheels. The twin fan can preferably be designed as a radial fan, so that it can direct the sucked-in air, for example, laterally relative to the respective side orThe air is drawn into the separating element's surface and then released again over the surface of the respective side of the center section, preferably between the heat-conducting elements. This allows warm air to be efficiently conveyed to the heat-conducting elements on one side, for example, to cool them. The resulting waste heat is transported from one side to the other, and simultaneously, cooling air can be conveyed in the same way on the other side to efficiently dissipate the heat transferred from the first side to the second side.

[0014] In this particularly advantageous embodiment, the twin fan is designed in such a way that it conveys the ambient air from the respective side of the separating element or its central part on the pressure side to the heat-conducting elements and accordingly sucks in the ambient air, in the above-mentioned embodiment as a radial fan preferably perpendicular to this direction.

[0015] In principle, such a temperature control module can be used as an integrated temperature control module wherever heat is to be transferred from one side to the other, particularly in components with limited installation space, since the highly integrated and compact design made possible by the temperature control module according to the invention is particularly advantageous here.

[0016] This can be integrated into a housing which has supply air openings on two opposite sides for the air drawn in by the twin fan and, at a distance from these, exhaust air openings for the exhaust air after it has flowed through the heat-conducting elements of the separating element. The separating element and twin fans can therefore be efficiently arranged in such a housing. The housing can then be inserted into a suitable cutout in a wall. This can be done, for example, by screwing or clipping. The heat can then be transported from one side of the wall to the other. This can be done extremely easily and efficiently by simply connecting one electrical connection for one drive motor and one for the Peltier element to a power source.The power supply can be provided from either side of the wall, depending on what is more convenient for installation.

[0017] A preferred application is in the field of a headlight. Such a headlight with a self-contained interior volume, with a transparent cover panel and lighting means, which at least comprise light-emitting diodes, their control electronics, and the like, can now be ideally cooled or heated via the temperature control module according to the invention. The headlight according to claim 4 provides that the central part of the separating element of the temperature control module, with the Peltier element, forms part of the boundary of the interior volume, so that the heat-conducting elements on one side protrude into the interior volume and the heat-conducting elements on the other side protrude into the environment. The central part with the Peltier element, or the central part formed by the Peltier element, thus forms part of the housing of the headlight and can thus be integrated into the headlight in a very space-saving manner.One side, with one half of the twin fan, is then located inside and can cool or heat as needed. The other side is located outside, for example, in the engine compartment area, and can be used to dissipate heat when cooling the headlights or to provide heat from the engine compartment when heating the headlights. The Peltier element can thus actively cool or heat on the one hand, and amplify existing temperature differences on the other, enabling improved heat conduction between its sides for cooling or heating.

[0018] According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the headlight according to the invention, it is now combined with a configuration of the temperature control module according to the invention with the collection volume. The collection volume, which according to the invention is arranged in the interior volume of the headlight, can then be connected to a collection volume for the condensate outside the interior volume via a conduit element for condensate removal. Moisture that accumulates in the interior volume of the headlight, for example because it is not completely sealed or because moisture has penetrated into the interior of the headlight through the plastic material of the housing, is thus collected as condensate in the collection volume when the headlight is cooled. The Peltier element then acts both as a cooling element and as a cold trap.The condensate then flows in its liquid state via the condensate drainage line into a collection chamber located outside the interior volume of the headlight, from where it can be easily and efficiently drained into the environment. This allows moisture that has penetrated the interior volume of the headlight to be efficiently removed as needed.

[0019] According to another very advantageous embodiment of the headlight according to the invention, the conduit element, when used as intended, ends at the top of the collection volume in the direction of gravity. The condensate can then drip from the end of the conduit element into the collection volume. Therefore, there is no direct connection between the conduit element and the liquid condensate collecting at the bottom of the collection volume in the direction of gravity, given the typically occurring fill volumes.

[0020] If a pressure increase occurs in the interior volume of the headlight, for example due to heating light sources, stepper motors, electronic components, or the like, condensate is transported into the collection volume via the collection volume and the piping element. If the pressure conditions reverse, condensate cannot be transported back into the interior volume of the headlight because the piping element ends above the condensate surface in the collection volume. Nevertheless, air can flow into the interior volume to equalize the pressure.

[0021] Another exceptionally advantageous design provides for the collection volume to be sealed and connected to the environment via the duct element and a meandering tube positioned at the bottom, as intended, in the direction of gravity. Such a meandering tube allows for efficient communication with the environment, so that in the event of excess pressure within the headlight's interior volume, the condensate is forced out of the collection volume through the tube into the environment. On the other hand, air can also be drawn in through the meandering tube and "sucked back" into the headlight or its interior volume if the pressure conditions are reversed.The meander-shaped tube has the advantage, due to its meander-shaped structure, that it can very efficiently prevent the penetration of dirt into the area of ​​the collection volume and thus at least indirectly into the area of ​​the interior volume of the headlight.

[0022] However, according to an exceptionally advantageous development of this idea, in addition to the meandering design of the tube, the flow-through cross-section of the meandering tube can also be provided with a grid or filter element. Such a grid or filter element can prevent, for example, coarse dirt particles from clogging the meandering tube, insects from nesting there, or similar things.

[0023] According to an extremely advantageous embodiment of the headlight according to the invention, it can further be provided that the temperature control module, at least with regard to the air flow conveyed by it, is arranged below a cover in the interior volume during normal use of the headlight, which cover has ventilation openings. Such a cover can therefore be arranged such that the air flow conveyed by the temperature control module within the headlight reaches the area of ​​the cover from below during normal use of the headlight, for example by conveying the air directly from below or from behind under the cover and then being directed upwards in a targeted manner via ventilation openings within the cover. The cover can preferably be arranged below the cover plate, so that the conveyed air flow can flow onto this cover plate in a targeted manner from below through the ventilation openings.This is particularly advantageous when it comes to heating the headlight, for example to get it ice-free or to keep it ice-free or to efficiently remove fogging on the cover plate, especially on the inside of the cover plate, and to prevent it from fogging up again.

[0024] According to a further very advantageous embodiment of the headlight according to the invention, it has at least one temperature sensor, which, together with a control unit for controlling the Peltier element and the twin fan of the temperature control module according to the invention, is configured to influence the temperature control of the headlight. The temperature sensor(s) can thus be used to determine a heating or cooling requirement in the interior volume of the headlight, and this can be monitored and controlled accordingly, preferably by additional temperature sensors, at least one of which is arranged in the area of ​​the air flowing out of the temperature control module.

[0025] Even if in principle the use of such a headlight is suitable for all possible applications, it can in particular be intended for use as a headlight in a vehicle, in particular in a motor vehicle and here preferably in a non-rail-bound land vehicle such as a car or truck.

[0026] The inventive method for operating a temperature control module according to the invention in a headlight according to the invention provides that, in the event of a cooling requirement, the Peltier element is used in a first electrical polarity to cool the first side and to dissipate the heat to the second side in order to cool the internal volume and / or collect condensate in the collection volume of the temperature control module. Furthermore, the method provides that, in the event of a heat requirement, the Peltier element is used in a reversed polarity to heat the first side in order to keep it fog-free or to remove any fogging that has already occurred or to ensure an ice-free cover screen, i.e. to thaw it if necessary and subsequently keep it ice-free.

[0027] Further advantageous embodiments of the temperature control module according to the invention, the headlight according to the invention and the method according to the invention also emerge from the exemplary embodiment, which is explained in more detail below with reference to the figures.

[0028] Showing:

[0029] Fig. 1 is a side view of a possible embodiment of a temperature control module according to the invention in partial section;

[0030] Fig. 2 is a plan view of the temperature control module according to Fig. 1 in a sectional view; Fig. 3 is a schematic representation of a vehicle headlight in an embodiment according to the invention; and

[0031] Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of a device for pressure equalization and condensate removal in and out of this headlight.

[0032] Figure 1 shows a side view of an integrated temperature control module, designated as a whole by 1. A housing 2 of the integrated temperature control module 1 is shown partially in section to reveal a separating element 3 with some indicated heat-conducting elements 4 on the side 5 facing the viewer. These heat-conducting elements 4 can be designed as cooling pins, for example. In addition to this separating element 3, a twin fan 6 is integrated into the housing 2, which is designed as a radial fan, wherein one of the radial fan wheels 7 is indicated by dashed lines in the housing because it is hidden by the actual housing 2.

[0033] The functionality can best be illustrated by the top view, which can be seen in the sectional view in Figure 2. The housing 2 of the temperature control module 1 is accommodated in an opening 8 in a wall designated 9. For this purpose, a circumferential seal 10 is provided between the wall 9 and a flange 11 on the housing. The connection can be realized, for example, by gluing, screwing, riveting or the like. In particular, it can be realized by clipping, for which purpose the clips 12 indicated in the illustration in Figure 2 can be seen as part of the housing. If the housing is pushed into the opening 8 from above in the illustration in Figure 2, it can be easily and efficiently clipped to the wall 9, preferably by deforming the inserted seal 10, so that the structure is completely sealed.

[0034] An internal volume designated 13 is to be located below the wall 9, and an external volume designated 14 is to be located above it in the vicinity of the temperature control module 1. Heat is to be transferred from one of the two volumes 13, 14 to the other via the temperature control module 1. In cooling the internal volume 13, this means from the internal volume 13 to the external volume 14 forming the environment of the structure. The separating element 3 has a closed central part 15, which is accommodated in the housing 2 in such a way that the area facing the internal volume 13 is sealed off from the area facing the external volume 14. The first side 5 of the separating element 3 or its central part 15, which faces downwards here, carries some of the heat-conducting elements 4, as does the opposite second side 16. A Peltier element PE is now also arranged in the separating element 3 or the central part 15 as a thermoelectric cooler or heater. Depending on the control orWith the electrical polarity, heat can be transported from the first to the second side 5, 16, so that the interior volume 13 is cooled, or vice versa, so that the interior volume 13 is heated. The fan wheels of the twin fan 6 circulate the cooling or heating air in the interior volume 13, and the waste heat or emitted cold is dissipated into the exterior volume 14.

[0035] The sealing of the area adjacent to the two sides 5, 16 continues through the housing and is extended by an intermediate wall 17, which is arranged in alignment with the central section 15 of the separating element 3. This intermediate wall 17 has an opening for an electric drive motor 18, which is part of the twin fan 6 and drives two impellers 7 with their respective guide vanes in parallel. The area of ​​the two impellers 7 is also sealed from one another by the intermediate wall 17 and the drive motor 18, so that with a sealed installation of the housing 2 in the opening 8 of the wall 9, a sealing of the inner volume 13 from the outer volume 14 is possible.

[0036] On the lower side of the temperature control module 1 shown, facing the inner volume 13, air is now sucked in from the inner volume 13 via supply air openings 19 and conveyed by the guide vanes of the rotating impellers 7 between the heat-conducting elements 4 of the first side 5 of the separating element 3. The same applies analogously to the opposite side 16 of the middle section 15. Here, too, air is sucked in this time from the outer volume 14, i.e. the environment, via the supply air openings there, also designated 19, and conveyed between the heat-conducting elements 4 of the second side 16 of the middle section 15. The outflowing air then flows on both sides through outlet openings 20, on the one hand back into the inner volume 13, which is shown at the bottom in Figure 2, and on the other hand into the outer volume 14, which can be seen accordingly at the top.The air conveyed by the rotating impellers 7 of the twin fan 6 thus remains unmixed, depending on whether it is conveyed from the inner volume 13 or the outer volume 14, so that the two air streams are in heat-conducting contact with each other only via the central section 15 and the heat-conducting elements 4. This alone would, in principle, enable heat exchange between the two air streams. This is supported by the Peltier element PE, which, in the embodiment shown here, is to be integrated into the central section 15. The Peltier element PE could also completely form this central section 15, so that the heat-conducting elements would be arranged directly on the Peltier element PE.The temperature control module 1 is now capable of cooling, for example, in the area of ​​the inner volume 13 by transferring heat to the air flow from the outer volume 14 and by the Peltier element PE being polarized such that the cold side is on its side facing the inner volume 13 and the warm side is on the side facing the outer volume 14. In addition to such cooling, heating of the air flow for the inner volume 13 is also possible; in this case, the polarity of the Peltier element PE would be reversed, so that the cold side is on the side facing the outer volume 14 and the warm side is on the side facing the inner volume 13.

[0037] The separating element 3 or at least its central section 15, as well as the heat-conducting elements 4, can preferably be made of a material with good heat conduction, for example, aluminum. In addition to the impeller 7 shown at the bottom in Figure 2, the twin fan 6 moves the impeller 7 with the guide vanes shown at the top in Figure 2. For this purpose, both impellers can be arranged on the same shaft of the shared electric drive motor 18 and thus rotate at the same speed. A gear for changing the rotational speed of one of the impellers would also be conceivable in principle. The impellers 7 are preferably constructed analogously to one another.

[0038] The temperature control module 1 can be used in particular in a headlight 21 shown in Figure 3. Its structure consists of a housing 22 and a transparent cover plate 23. Two fields 24 with light-emitting diodes are arranged beneath this cover plate 23, purely by way of example. In addition, a control unit 25 and a stepper motor 26 are indicated by way of example within the housing 22 or, as indicated here, on the housing 22. These elements in the interior volume 13 of the headlight 21 or in heat-conducting contact with it produce waste heat. In order to improve their cooling and thus achieve high performance of the components within the interior volume 13 of the headlight 21 without overheating these components, the temperature control module 1, as shown in Figure 3, is integrated into the headlight 21. Parts of its housing 22 form the wall 9 shown in Figure 2. The temperature control module 1 is used for example toHeat is transferred from the inner volume 13 of the headlight 21 into the volume surrounding the headlight 21, which volume accordingly corresponds to the outer volume 14 in the structure according to Figure 2. The inner volume 13 of the headlight 21 itself can furthermore be sealed in order to prevent the penetration of larger quantities of moisture, which could damage the electrical and in particular optical components within the headlight 21. In addition to the cooling required for the vast majority of operating situations, i.e. the removal of waste heat from the electronic components 24, 26 and 25 from the inner volume 13 of the headlight 21, the structure of the temperature control module 1 with the Peltier element PE can also very easily be used to heat the inner volume 13, for example in order to get or keep it free of fogging or to free it of ice.This applies in principle to the entire internal volume 13, but in particular to the area of ​​the cover plate 23.

[0039] The design therefore provides that, during intended use, a cover 27 is arranged in the direction of gravity g below the area where the cover plate 23 merges into the non-transparent housing 22. This cover 27 has ventilation openings 28. The air conveyed by the temperature control module 1 in the interior volume 13 of the headlight 21 collects below this cover 27 and flows upwards through the ventilation openings 28, guided in a targeted manner in the area of ​​the cover plate 23, before then flowing back to the temperature control module 1 in a circuit via the lighting elements 24, the optional stepper motor 26, and the area where the control unit 25 rests against the housing 22. This circulating flow enables effective cooling within the headlight 21 or also effective heating, in particular of the cover plate 23, in the event that it is iced and / or fogged up.As already mentioned above, the aim is to prevent the penetration of large amounts of moisture into the interior volume 13 of the headlight 21 wherever possible. In practice, however, this is often not completely successful because the structure of the headlight 21 with its housing 22 can never be implemented in a completely leak-tight manner. This is due, on the one hand, to the fact that pressure equalization is necessary, which, for example, requires the use of a membrane permeable to air but not to water vapor. This leads to interfaces within the housing 22 that can only be made very leak-tight with great effort. In addition, the plastic typically used for the housing 22 is not completely impermeable to moisture, meaning that moisture can also diffuse into the interior of the headlight 21. A certain amount of residual moisture can therefore never be ruled out.

[0040] The headlight 21 according to the invention therefore dispenses with such a membrane, which in principle could still be present optionally. Instead, it uses a collection volume 29 for condensate in the area of ​​the temperature control module 1 and here on its side 5 facing the interior volume 13. This collection volume 29, which in its intended use faces the direction of gravity, symbolically indicated here by the acceleration due to gravity g, is arranged at the bottom. Moisture circulated by the twin fan in the interior volume 13 of the headlight 21 condenses on the first side 5 or in the area of ​​the heat-conducting elements 4 of this side 5 and drips into the collection volume 29. This is connected via a line element 30 to a collecting volume 31, which is arranged outside the housing 22 but is sealed off from it.

[0041] An enlarged view of this is shown in Figure 4. Side 5 of the middle section 15 with its heat-conducting elements 4 is shown within the temperature control module 1. The view according to Figure 4 is intended to be the view from the interior volume 13 onto the part of the temperature control module 1 that projects into the interior volume 13. Cooling by the Peltier element PE (not visible here) condenses any moisture present in the interior volume 13. This moisture then collects at the bottom in the collection volume 29 in the direction of gravity g and flows via the line element 30 into the collecting volume 31. When used as intended, the line element 30 ends at the top in the collecting volume 31 in the direction of gravity g, so that condensate escaping from the line element 30 drips into the collecting container 31 and collects there in the direction of gravity g at the bottom.The collected condensate is shown in Figure 4 and designated by the reference symbol K. The collection volume 31 is connected to the environment, in this case the outer volume 14, via a meandering tube 32. The condensate drainage structure thus creates a connection between the inner volume 13 and the outer volume 14. Due to the arrangement of the end of the line element 30, no condensate can be sucked back into the inner volume 13 during normal use, even if the internal pressure here is lower than in the area of ​​the outer volume 14.

[0042] The water condensed and collected by the corresponding operation of the Peltier element PE as a cold trap is now located as condensate K in the collection volume 31. If the air pressure in the interior volume 13 of the headlight 21 increases, for example due to the operation of the heat sources or due to a drop in the ambient pressure because the vehicle equipped with the headlight 21 is driving up a hill, for example, the collected condensate K is pressed outwards through the meander-shaped tube 32 into the environment, i.e. the exterior volume 14. If the collection volume 31 is empty, the remaining air flows out unhindered due to the excess pressure in the interior volume 13 and pressure equalization takes place. In the opposite case, i.e. if the air pressure in the interior volume 13 drops compared to the air pressure in the exterior volume 14, air can be drawn inwards through the meander-shaped tube 32.If condensate K were to accumulate in the collecting tank, air bubbles would form and rise, thus ensuring pressure equalization. Due to the typically existing distance between the surface of the condensate K and the pipe element 30, which, during intended use, ends at the top in the direction of gravity g, no water or condensate K would enter the internal volume 13. If the collecting volume 31 were empty, the air would flow directly back into the internal volume 13.

[0043] This would create a simple and efficient connection between the inner volume 13 and the outer volume 14, allowing for the drainage of any condensate and for pressure equalization. Due to the possibility of highly efficient and active cooling via the temperature control module 1 with the Peltier element PE, the sealing of the headlight 21 from the environment is no longer as relevant, since any condensate can be drained away before the moisture can damage components inside the headlight 21.

[0044] The tube 32 is designed in a meandering shape to prevent dust and dirt from entering the interior of the headlight 21. Additionally, a fine mesh or grid (not shown here) could be attached to the end of the tube 32 to prevent coarse dirt from clogging the tube 32 or insects from nesting in the area of ​​the tube 32.

[0045] The control unit 25, already shown in Figure 3, controls and monitors the entire process. It is connected, on the one hand, to the Peltier element PE in the temperature control module 1 and, on the other hand, to various temperature sensors 33, 34, 35 inside the headlight 21. In addition, other vehicle signals, such as the temperature in the external volume 14 detected by a temperature sensor 36 or data on the air pressure, etc., which is indicated here by the arrow 37, can also be made available to the control unit 25. On the output side, the control unit 25 can now control the Peltier element PE and the drive motor 18 of the twin fan 6 of the temperature control module 1 accordingly, in order to control or regulate the temperatures within the internal volume 13 of the headlight 21 and to supply the Peltier element PE with power according to the desired polarity in order to operate it as a heating or cooling element, as required.To reverse the polarity of the current for the Peltier element PE, an H-bridge, for example, can be used. This makes it possible to use the Peltier element PE for cooling and drying the air in summer. In winter, it can be used for heating to keep the cover plate 23 free of fogging and / or ice.

[0046] The control unit 25 can also control the lighting and the stepper motor 26, but in principle several separate control units would also be conceivable.

Claims

Claims: A temperature control module (1) with a separating element (3) comprising a closed central section (15) and heat-conducting elements (4) on two sides (5, 16) of the central section (15), further comprising an air conveying device, characterized in that the conveying device is designed as an integrated twin fan (6) which conveys ambient air from one side (5) of the central section (15) and ambient air from the other side (16) of the central section (15) to the separating element (3), wherein the central section (15) comprises or is designed as a Peltier element (PE). A temperature control module (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that a collection volume (29) for condensate is arranged on one of the sides (5). Temperature control module (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the twin fan (6) has two fan wheels (7) sealed against each other and an electric drive motor (18) for the two fan wheels (7).Headlight (21) with a self-contained internal volume (13), with a transparent cover plate (23), and with lighting means (24) and means (25, 26) for mechanical and / or electrical control thereof, furthermore with a temperature control module (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein its central part (15) forms part of the boundary of the internal volume (13), so that the heat conducting elements (4) of one side (5) extend into the internal volume (13). and the heat-conducting elements (4) of the other side (16) project into the environment (14). Headlight (21) according to claim 4 with a temperature control module (1) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the collection volume (29) is arranged in the inner volume (13) and is connected via a conduit element (30) for condensate drainage to a collection volume (31) for the condensate (K). Headlight (21) according to claim 5, characterized in that the conduit element (30) terminates at the top of the collection volume (31) in the direction of gravity (g) during intended use. Headlight (21) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the collection volume (31) is connected to the environment via a meandering tube (32) arranged at the bottom in the direction of gravity (g) during intended use.Headlight (21) according to claim 7, characterized in that the cross-sectional area through which the meandering tube (32) flows has a grid or filter element. Headlight (21) according to any one of claims 4 to 8, characterized in that the temperature control module (1) is arranged, at least with respect to the airflow it conveys, below a cover (27) in the inner volume (13) during the intended use of the headlight (21), which has ventilation openings (28). Headlight (21) according to any one of claims 4 to 9, characterized in that. that at least one temperature sensor (33, 34, 35, 36) is provided, which is connected to a control unit (25) which is configured at least for controlling the Peltier element (PE) and the twin fan (6). Headlight (21) according to one of claims 4 to 10, characterized by its design as a front headlight of a vehicle.Method for operating a temperature control module (1) according to one of claims 2 or 3, in a headlight (21) according to one of claims 4 to 11, characterized in that the Peltier element (PE) is used in a first electrical polarity in the case of a cooling requirement to cool the first side (5) and to dissipate the heat to the second side (16) in order to cool the internal volume (13) and / or to collect condensate in the collection volume (29) of the temperature control module (1), and in the case of a heating requirement in a reverse polarity to heat the first side (5) in order to ensure a fog-free and / or ice-free cover plate (23).

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