LIGHT MODULE FOR MOTOR VEHICLE

Abstract

The invention relates to a light module (1) for a motor vehicle comprising: - a light source (10); - an electronic support (11); - a device (13) for controlling the electrical power supply of said light source (10) arranged on said electronic support (11); - a heat sink (12) comprising a recess (121) in which said control device (13) is housed, characterized in that said light source (10) is fixed on said heat sink (12).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a light module for a motor vehicle. The invention finds a particular but non-limiting application in the field of lighting devices for motor vehicles. TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The prior art document EP2360424B1 describes a light module for a motor vehicle comprising: - a light source; - a device for controlling the electrical power supply of said light source arranged on an electronic support; a heat sink comprising a recess in which said control device is housed. The light source and the control device are arranged on an electronic support, also called a plate, and more particularly on opposite faces of said electronic support. They are thus arranged opposite each other and on either side of said electronic support. A disadvantage of this prior art is that the heat released by the light source can thermally impact the control device. This can ultimately disrupt the operation of said control device. Similarly, the heat released by the control device can also thermally impact the light source. In this context, the present invention aims to solve the previously mentioned drawback. GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION To this end, the invention proposes a light module for a motor vehicle comprising: - a light source; - electronic support; - a device for controlling the electrical power supply of said light source arranged on said electronic support; - a heat sink comprising a recess in which said control device is housed, characterized in that said light source is fixed to said heat sink. Thus, as will be seen in detail below, the light source which is directly fixed to the heat sink and no longer directly to the electronic support is thus distant from the control device which is, for its part, fixed to the electronic support and housed in a recess of the heat sink provided for this purpose. This improves the heat dissipation of the light source of the light module because the thermal interactions between said light source and the control device of the power supply are limited. According to non-limiting embodiments, the light module may further comprise one or more additional characteristics among the following: According to a non-limiting embodiment, said recess is produced on a face of said heat sink on which said light source is fixed. According to a non-limiting embodiment, said recess is produced by stamping. According to a non-limiting embodiment, said electronic support is a printed circuit board or a flexible board. According to a non-limiting embodiment, said light source is connected to said electronic support via aluminum connection wires. According to a non-limiting embodiment, said heat sink is made of aluminum sheet. According to a non-limiting embodiment, said light source is a semiconductor light source. According to a non-limiting embodiment, said semiconductor light source is part of a light-emitting diode. A lighting device for a motor vehicle is also proposed, comprising: - a light module according to any of the preceding characteristics; - an optical module adapted to cooperate with light rays emitted by said light source of said light module. According to a non-limiting embodiment, said lighting device is a projector and / or a signal light and / or a rear light or interior lighting. According to a non-limiting embodiment, said optical module is a reflector and / or a lens and / or a light guide. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES The invention and its various applications will be better understood by reading the following description and examining the accompanying figures. - figure 1 represents a perspective view of a light device comprising a light module, according to a non-limiting embodiment of the invention; - figure 2 represents a perspective side view of the light device of figure 1, according to a non-limiting embodiment; - figure 3 represents a zoomed view of a BB section of the light device of figure 1; - figure 4 represents an exploded perspective view of the light module of the light device of figure 1, said light module comprising a light source, an electronic support, a control device and a heat sink, according to a non-limiting embodiment; - figure 5 represents a bottom view of the heat sink of the light module of figure 4, according to a non-limiting embodiment; - figure 6 represents a perspective view from below of the light module of figure 4, according to a non-limiting embodiment; - figure 7 represents a sectional view along axis AA of the light module of figure 6, according to a non-limiting embodiment; - figure 8 represents a top view of the electronic support of the light module of figure 4, according to a non-limiting embodiment - figure 9 represents a perspective view of the electronic support of the light module of figure 4 mounted on an optical module of the light device of figure 1, according to a non-limiting embodiment; - figure 10 represents a perspective view of a light device comprising three light modules of figures 1 to 9, according to a non-limiting embodiment. DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION Identical elements, by structure or by function, appearing in different figures retain, unless otherwise specified, the same references. The light module 1 for a motor vehicle according to the invention is described with reference to Figures 1 to 10. A motor vehicle means any type of motorized vehicle. Said light module 1 for a motor vehicle is part of a light device 100. In a non-limiting embodiment, the lighting device 100 is a lighting and / or signaling device for a motor vehicle. In non-limiting examples, the light device 100 is: - a projector; and / or - a traffic light; and / or - a fog light; and / or - a rear light; or - an interior lighting device; As illustrated in Figure 1, in a non-limiting embodiment, the light device 100 comprises: - at least one light module 1; - at least one optical module 2; - at least one anchoring module 3 for anchoring the light module 1 and the optical module 2 with the rest of the vehicle. In a non-limiting embodiment, the optical module 2 comprises a reflector and / or a lens and / or a light guide. In a non-limiting embodiment, the light device 100 comprises a plurality of light modules 1. In a non-limiting example illustrated in FIG. 4, the light device 100 comprises three light modules 1A, 1B, 1C associated respectively with three optical modules 2A, 2B, 2C and with three anchoring modules 3A, 3B, 3C. The anchoring modules 3A, 3B, 3C are attached to the same frame 101. As illustrated in Figure 5 for example, the light module 1 comprises: - a light source 10; - an electronic support 11; - a device 13 for controlling the electrical power supply of said light source 10 arranged on said electronic support 11; - a heat sink 12. The control device 13 for the electrical power supply of said light source 10 will also be called control device 13 in the remainder of the description. The elements of the light module 1 are described in detail below. • Light source 10 The light source 10 is illustrated in Figures 3, and 5 to 10. As illustrated in Figure 3, the light source 10 is adapted to emit light rays R. These light rays R cooperate with the optical module 2 of the light device 100 so as to form a light beam F. In a non-limiting embodiment, the light source 10 is a semiconductor light source. In a non-limiting embodiment, the semiconductor light source 10 is part of a light-emitting diode. By light-emitting diode, we mean any type of light-emitting diode, whether in non-limiting examples LED (“Light Emitting Diode”), an OLED (“Organic LED”) or an AMOLED (“Active-Matrix-Organic LED”), or even a FOLED (“Flexible OLED”). The light source 10 is fixed to the heat sink 12. It is thus arranged at a distance from the control device 13. Indeed, while the latter is arranged on the electronic support 11, the light source 10 is not arranged on said electronic support 11. This allows them to be moved away from each other. The control device 13 is thus less thermally impacted by the heat released by the light source 10 and conversely, the light source 10 is less thermally impacted by the heat released by the control device 13. Furthermore, as illustrated in Figure 6, in a non-limiting embodiment, the light source 10 is fixed on the face 123 of the heat sink 12 which comprises the recess 121 in which the control device 13 will be housed. • Electronic support 11 The electronic support 11 is illustrated in Figures 5, and 7 to 10. The electronic support 11 is adapted to accommodate and electrically connect a set of electronic components together. In particular, it accommodates the pilot device 13. The electronic support 11, and in particular its electronic components including the control device 13, generate heat during their operation which must be evacuated from the light module 1. The evacuation of this heat is ensured by the heat sink 12 described below. In a non-limiting embodiment, the electronic support 10 is a printed circuit board called a PCBA board (Printed Circuit Board Assembly in English). This PCBA board comprises an assembly of one or more thin layers of copper separated by an insulating material. This assembly of layers gives the PCBA board a certain rigidity. In a non-limiting embodiment, the electronic support 10 is a flexible card called “flex PCB” or “flex circuit” (“flexible printed circuit” in English). This flexible card comprises a high-performance plastic substrate, such as polyimide or a PolyEtherKetone (PEEK) film. Thanks to the flexibility of the electronic support 11, it is possible to position this electronic support 11 more easily in the light module 1. Electronic support 11 includes: - a 114 connector; - a 115 light; - electrical connection tracks (not shown) connecting said electronic components together. The connector 114 is illustrated in Figures 2, 7 and 8. It is adapted to connect the power supply harness 130 to the electronic support 11. The light 115 is illustrated in Figures 5, 7, 9 and 10. The light 115 is adapted to fix the light module 1 on the optical module 2. This light 115 comprises a shape adapted to receive a fixing screw 4 of the light module 1 and to block said fixing screw 4. The head of the fixing screw is thus inserted into said light 115 and performs a translation so that the head subsequently rests on the face 124 of the heat sink. thermal 12 as shown in Figure 1. As illustrated in Figure 9, in a non-limiting embodiment, the electronic support 11 comprises a first part 111A and a second part 111B which extends the first part 111A so that the electronic support 11 has substantially a T shape. The T shape allows pins 20A and 20B (illustrated in Figure 1) belonging to the optical module 2 to pass on either side of said T shape, said pins 20A and 20B being adapted to be inserted into orifices 125A and 125B of the heat sink 12 provided for this purpose and illustrated in Figure 7. As illustrated in figures 5 or 9, the electronic support 10 accommodates the control device 13. In particular, the latter is positioned on the first part 111 A, at a distance from the light source 10. At one end of this T-shape, in a non-limiting embodiment, the electronic support 11 comprises a notch 112 illustrated in FIG. 9 for example. This notch 112 makes it possible to have different positions of the light source 10 along an axis of rotation perpendicular to the plane of said light source 10 and this without having to modify the design of the electronic support 11. Connection points (not illustrated) can thus be distributed all around the notch 112 on the electronic support 11 to connect the connection wires 101 A, 101 B. This notch 112 is provided in the second part 111 B. The notch 112 is adapted to receive and frame the light source 10. The light source 10 is thus arranged in the extension of the electronic support 11, namely in the plane of said electronic support 11. In a non-limiting embodiment, the dimensions of the notch 112 are greater than the dimensions of the light source 10 so that there is a clearance E (illustrated in FIG. 9) between the light source 10 and the electronic support 11. Since the light source 10 is not fixed to the electronic support 11, but directly to the heat sink 12, this improves the thermal dissipation of the heat released by said light source 10. In a non-limiting embodiment, the light source 10 is electrically connected to the electronic support 11 via connection wires 101 A, 101B illustrated in FIG. 9. In a non-limiting alternative embodiment, these connection wires 101 A, 101B are made of aluminum. As illustrated in FIGS. 6 to 9, two connection wires 101 A, 101B are used. One of said connection wires is connected to the positive pole of the power supply of the electronic support 11 and the other connection wire is connected to the negative pole of the power supply. Thus, the light source 10 is electrically connected to the control device 13 via the electronic support 10. • Steering device 13 The control device 13 is illustrated in Figures 5, 8 and 10. It is suitable for controlling the power supply of the light source 10. In the embodiment of these figures, the control device 13 is arranged directly on the electronic support 11. This makes it possible to simplify the management of the connections of the control device 13 compared to an embodiment in which the control device 13 is remote from the electronic support 10. Indeed, in such an embodiment where the control device 13 would be remote, the number of connections necessary for the connection of said control device 13 would be greater. In a non-limiting embodiment, the control device 13 is connected by three connection tracks (not illustrated in the figures) to the electronic support 10: - a first connection track connects the control device 13 to the positive pole of the electrical power supply of the electronic support; - a second connection track connects the control device 13 to the negative pole of the electrical power supply of the electronic support; - a third connection track connects the control device 13 to the rest of the vehicle, for the transmission of information such as vehicle diagnostic information. In a non-limiting embodiment, the control device 13 is connected to an electronic temperature management component (not shown) arranged on the electronic support 11. It should be noted that in the case of a remote control device 13, at least 7 connection wires would be required (if temperature management is integrated), namely two power supply wires, one ground wire, two temperature management wires, two diagnostic wires, In a non-limiting embodiment, the control device 13 is connected to a resistor (not shown) arranged on the electronic support 11. This resistor is associated with the light source 10. The control device 13 is then adapted to determine the characteristics of the light source 10, such as the type of light source or its power, as a function of this resistor and of data integrated into the memory of the control device 13. In a non-limiting embodiment, the control device 13 comprises a DC / DC converter. A DC / DC converter comprises a plurality of electronic components such as, in a non-limiting example, at least one MOSFET transistor. The control device 13 is housed in a recess 121 of the heat sink 12. It is thus opposite a face 123 of said heat sink 12 on which the light source 10 is located. In a non-limiting embodiment, the control device 13 is not in contact with the surface of the recess 121. There is thus a clearance which facilitates assembly. In another non-limiting embodiment, the control device 13 is in contact with all or part of the surface of the recess 121. This increases heat dissipation. • Heat sink 12 The heat sink 12 is illustrated in Figures 1-8. It is suitable for dissipating the heat released by the electronic support 11, in particular by its electronic components. In a first non-limiting embodiment, the heat sink 12 is made of aluminum sheet. In a second non-limiting embodiment, the heat sink 12 is obtained by stamping an aluminum sheet, that is to say by striking and bending this aluminum sheet. This manufacturing method makes it possible to obtain a more precise heat sink part 12 without the need for mechanical re-machining. This reduces the manufacturing costs of the heat sink 12. In a third non-limiting embodiment, the heat sink 12 is obtained by injecting aluminum into a mold. In this case, there is a mechanical re-machining. As illustrated in Figure 5, the heat sink 12 comprises: - a 120 base plate; - a first lateral face 126A and a second lateral face 126B. These elements are described in detail below. o Base plate 120 In a non-limiting embodiment, the base plate 120 is substantially square and is adapted to be arranged on the electronic support 11 so as to cover it. More particularly, the base plate 120 is adapted to be pressed against said electronic support 11. The base plate 120 comprises two faces 123 and 124 opposite each other. Face 123 is the face of the heat sink 12 which comes into contact with the electronic support 11 as illustrated in FIG. 8. As illustrated in Figure 6, the base plate 120 comprises: - a recess 121; - a fixing zone 122 of the light source 10; - a first 125A orifice; - a second orifice 125B and a third orifice 125C. These elements are described in detail below. ■ Hollow 121 The recess 121 is made on the face 123 of the base plate 120, namely on the face on which said light source 10 is fixed. This makes it possible to make the light module 1 more compact in a given direction, here axially, unlike the state of the prior art where the light source is arranged on the electronic support on the face opposite to that where the control device is located. The recess 121 is adapted to accommodate the control device 13 of the electronic support 11. When the heat sink 12 is arranged on the electronic support 11 as illustrated in FIG. 8, the recess 121 covers the control device 13 and encapsulates it so that the latter is completely surrounded by said recess 121. Said recess 121 thus protects the control device 13 against electromagnetic waves which may come from other components of the motor vehicle (such as the radio, the navigation system, etc. in non-limiting examples). This phenomenon, well known to those skilled in the art, is called an electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) problem. In addition, the recess 121 protects the other components of the motor vehicle against the electromagnetic waves generated by said control device 13. Furthermore, the fact that said recess 121 surrounds the control device 12 makes it possible to obtain very efficient heat dissipation of said control device 12 by said heat sink 12. Consequently, the size of the heat sink 12 can thus be reduced and consequently its weight. In a first non-limiting embodiment, the recess 121 is produced by stamping. This is a simple way of producing said recess 121. In a second non-limiting embodiment, the recess 121 is molded by a protrusion of a mold. The recess 121 thus makes it possible to reduce the manufacturing costs of the light module 1 since it makes it possible to no longer use an additional part for the EMC problem such as an EMC protective cover added for the control device 13. In addition, it also improves the compactness of the light module 1 in a given direction, here axially, due to the removal of the EMC protective cover. ■ Fixation zone 122 The fixing zone 122 is adapted to receive the light source 10. This fixing zone 122 is arranged on the same face 123 as that of the recess 121 as illustrated in FIG. 6. The recess 121 is therefore made on the face 123 of the heat sink 12 on which the light source 10 is fixed. This simplifies the connection between the light source 10 and the electronic support 11 to connect said light source 10 to said control device 13. It is in fact not necessary to pass connection wires through the base plate 120 of the heat sink 12 to connect said light source 10 to said electronic support 11 as would be the case if the light source 10 were located on the opposite face 124. In a non-limiting embodiment, the fixing of the light source 10 is carried out by gluing. Thus, fixing the light source 10 directly on the heat sink 12 instead of the electronic support 11 makes it possible to obtain better heat dissipation of said light source 10. It will be noted that in English this fixing on the heat sink 12 is called “submount”. This attachment directly to the heat sink 12 allows simple access to said light source 10, for example for maintenance operations, when the heat sink 12 is removed from the light module 1. It will be noted that when said heat sink 12 comes to cover the electronic support 11, the light source 10 is inserted into the notch 112 of said electronic support 11 described previously. ■ Openings 125A, 125B, 125C As illustrated in Figure 7, the first orifice 125A is opposite the light 115 of the electronic support 11. It is thus adapted to allow the fixing screw 4 to pass, in particular his body. The fixing screw 4 comprises a head and a threaded body. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the head of the fixing screw 4 rests on the base plate 120 of the heat sink 12 on the face side 124 and the threaded body is housed in the optical module 2. The light module 1 is thus fixed on the optical module 2 by the fixing screw 4. As illustrated in Figure 10, the second orifice 125B and the third orifice 125C are adapted to receive pins 20A and 20B belonging to the optical module 2. The pins 20A, 20B are adapted to guide the base plate 120 of the heat sink 12 with respect to the optical module 2 when the light module 1 is placed on said optical module 2. o Side faces 126A, 126B, 126C As illustrated in Figures 1, 5 and 7, the first lateral face 126A and the second lateral face 126B are arranged on either side of the base plate 120 and opposite each other. The first lateral face 126A and the second lateral face 126B extend substantially perpendicular to the base plate 120 towards the outside of the light module 1. The heat exchange surface of the heat sink 12 is thus increased, which improves the thermal cooling of the light module 1. In one illustrated non-limiting embodiment, the outer surfaces of the first side face 126A and the second side face 126B are planar. In a non-limiting embodiment illustrated in Figures 1, 5 and 7, the heat sink 12 further comprises a third lateral face 126C. The third lateral face 126C extends from the base plate 120 towards the outside of the light module 1 in an oblique manner. The third lateral face 126C is arranged between the first lateral face 126A and the second lateral face 126B. The third lateral face 126C makes it possible to hold the electrical power supply harness 130 so that the latter does not move when the motor vehicle is in motion. For this purpose, the third lateral face 126C comprises an orifice for the passage of a head of an attachment point 129 described below. o Hanging point 129 In a non-limiting embodiment, the heat sink 12 further comprises a hooking point 129 for the power supply harness 130. The hooking point 129 is illustrated in FIGS. 2, 5, 7 and 10. In a non-limiting embodiment, the hooking point 129 comprises a hook adapted to hold the power supply harness 130 in position and as close as possible to the heat sink 12. Of course, the description of the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. Thus, in a non-limiting embodiment, the light source 10 is electrically connected to the electronic support 11 via ribbons or bus bars. Thus, in a non-limiting embodiment, the light module 1 comprises a plurality of light sources 10. Thus, the invention described presents in particular the following advantages: - the fact of moving the light source 10 and the control device 13 away from each other makes it possible to reduce the thermal interactions between the control device 13 and the light source 10; - placing the light source 10 directly on the heat sink 12 allows better thermal dissipation of the heat generated by said light source 10; - reducing the thermal interactions between the control device 13 and the light source 10 and better cooling said light source 10 makes it possible to improve the heat dissipation of the light module 1 as a whole; - it makes it possible to increase the performance of the light source 10 since the heat it generates is better dissipated; - it makes it possible to limit the EMC emissions of the light module 1, and more particularly of the control device 13; - it makes it possible to optimize the manufacturing costs of the light module 1, in particular because the control device 13 is integrated into the electronic support 11 and not remote from this electronic support 11, thanks to the limitation of the number of parts compared to an added EMC protective cover; - it makes it possible to obtain a more compact light module 1 because the control device 13 is arranged on the side of the face 123 of the heat sink 12 on which the light source 10 is fixed and not on the opposite face; - there is no need for an additional EMC protective metal coating on the electronic support 11.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Light module (1) for a motor vehicle comprising: - a light source (10); - an electronic support (11); - a device (13) for controlling the electrical power supply of said light source (10) arranged on said electronic support (11); - a heat sink (12) comprising a recess (121) in which said control device (13) is housed, characterized in that said light source (10) is fixed to said heat sink (12).

2. Light module (1) according to claim 1, wherein said recess (121) is made on a face (123) of said heat sink (12) on which said light source (10) is fixed.

3. Light module (1) according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said recess (121) is produced by stamping.

4. Light module (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said electronic support (11) is a printed circuit board (PCBA) or a flexible card.

5. Light module (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said light source (10) is connected to said electronic support (11) via aluminum connection wires (101A, 101B).

6. Light module (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said heat sink (12) is made of aluminum sheet.

7. Light module (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said light source (10) is a semiconductor light source.

8. Light module (1) according to claim 7, wherein said semiconductor light source (10) is part of a light-emitting diode.

9. Luminous device (100) for a motor vehicle comprising: - a light module (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8; - an optical module (2) adapted to cooperate with light rays emitted by said light source (10) of said light module (1).

10. A lighting device (100) according to claim 9, wherein said lighting device (100) is a projector and / or a signal light and / or a rear light or an interior light.

11. A light device (100) according to claim 9 or claim 10, wherein said optical module (2) is a reflector and / or a lens and / or a light guide.

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