Lighting unit

Abstract

To provide a lighting unit that is improved in heat radiation efficiency.SOLUTION: A lighting unit 1 includes: a casing 2 including a housing 2 and a cover 3; a substrate 6 including a light-emitting device 61 and installed inside the casing 2; and heat radiation gap fillers F1, F2 filled into the casing 2 and provided so as to connect between the substrate 6 and the casing 2. The casing 2 includes a plurality of fins 321 at an outside surface 33b of a wall part 21 (bottom plate 32b of the housing 2) to which the gap fillers F1, F2 are connected.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a lighting unit. [Background technology]

[0002] As a conventional technology relating to lighting units, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a lighting unit having a housing including a substrate having light-emitting elements, a plurality of bus bars electrically connected to the substrate and supporting the substrate, and a lens member having lenses arranged corresponding to the light-emitting elements. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-13674 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in such lighting units, it may be desirable to increase the light emission amount of the light-emitting element by increasing the current value while maintaining the size of the lighting unit. As the light-emitting element increases its light emission amount, the amount of heat generated may also increase. Therefore, the lighting unit may be required to have even higher heat dissipation efficiency.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a lighting unit with improved heat dissipation efficiency. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the lighting unit of the present invention comprises a housing, a plurality of fins provided on the outer surface of the housing, a substrate having a light-emitting element and provided inside the housing, and a heat-dissipating gap filler that fills the inside of the housing and is provided so as to connect the substrate and the housing, and the plurality of fins are provided on the wall portion of the housing to which the heat-dissipating filler is connected. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] The lighting unit according to the present invention has an advantage that heat dissipation efficiency can be improved. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a lighting unit according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the lighting unit according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the lighting unit according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] 4 is a cross-sectional view of the lighting unit taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a side view of the connector connection port side of the housing in the lighting unit according to the embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a cover of the lighting unit according to the embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a partially enlarged perspective view of the lighting unit according to the embodiment. [Figure 8] 8 is a cross-sectional view of the lighting unit taken along the line VIII-VIII in FIG. [Figure 9] 9 is a cross-sectional view of the lighting unit taken along the line IX-IX in FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the lighting unit taken along the line XX in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. Furthermore, the components in the following embodiments include those that are easily replaceable by those skilled in the art, or those that are substantially the same.

[0010] [Embodiment] This embodiment relates to a lighting unit. In the following description, of the first, second, and third directions that intersect with one another, the first direction is referred to as the "connection direction X," the second direction is referred to as the "width direction Y," and the third direction is referred to as the "height direction Z." Here, the connection direction X, width direction Y, and height direction Z are perpendicular to one another. The connection direction X corresponds to the connection direction between the lighting unit and the connector. The width direction Y corresponds to the width direction of the connector. The width direction Y and height direction Z correspond to orthogonal directions that are perpendicular to the connection direction X. Furthermore, unless otherwise specified, each direction used in the following description represents the direction when each part is assembled to each other. Note that orthogonal here includes nearly orthogonal.

[0011] The lighting unit 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is mounted on, for example, a vehicle and used as a unit that irradiates light onto a target area of ​​the vehicle. The lighting unit 1 includes a housing 2, a bus bar 5, a substrate 6, and a lens member 7. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the lighting unit 1 has a housing 2 in the shape of a substantially rectangular box that is long in the connection direction X. The housing 2 is provided with a light exit port 42a from which light L is emitted. The light exit port 42a is provided near one end of the housing 2 in the connection direction X. The light L is emitted along the height direction Z. In addition, the housing 2 is provided with a connector connection port 31 at the other end in the connection direction X to which a connector 91 provided at the end of a wiring material W such as an electric wire is connected.

[0012] The casing 2 is configured to include a housing 3 and a cover 4 provided on the housing 3. The housing 3 and the cover 4 are formed by injection molding using a heat-dissipating resin. The heat-dissipating resin may be, for example, PBTGF (polybutylene terephthalate with glass fiber) mixed with a heat-dissipating filler.

[0013] 3, the housing 3 is formed in a generally rectangular cylindrical shape that is long in the connection direction X and has an open end in the connection direction X. The housing 3 includes a top plate 32a and a bottom plate 32b that are arranged with their plate surfaces facing the height direction Z, and side plates 32c and 32d that are arranged with their plate surfaces facing the width direction Y.

[0014] The top plate 32a, the bottom plate 32b, and the side plates 32c and 32d are arranged substantially perpendicular to each other. The top plate 32a and the bottom plate 32b are arranged opposite each other along the height direction Z, with the top plate 32a being arranged on one side in the height direction Z and the bottom plate 32b being arranged on the other side. The side plates 32c and 32d connect the top plate 32a and the bottom plate 32b, respectively. The side plates 32c and 32d are arranged opposite each other along the width direction Y, with the side plate 32c being arranged on one side in the width direction Y and the side plate 32d being arranged on the other side.

[0015] The top plate 32a is formed so that one side in the connection direction X is shorter than the bottom plate 32b and the side plates 32c and 32d. Therefore, the housing 3 is open on one side in the height direction Z (the top plate 32a side) in the connection direction X (the side opposite the connector connection port 31). Furthermore, the housing 3 is also open on one end in the connection direction X (the end of the housing 3 opposite the connector connection port 31).

[0016] As shown in FIG. 4 , one side of the housing 3 in the connection direction X is a busbar accommodating chamber 34 into which a plurality of busbars 5 (described later) are inserted, and the other side in the connection direction X (the connector connection port 31 side) is a connector accommodating chamber 31a. For example, a portion of the busbar accommodating chamber 34 is formed to have the same dimensions as the width and height of the busbar 5. Note that, here, "same dimensions" includes "approximately the same dimensions." A rear wall 36 perpendicular to the connection direction X is provided between the busbar accommodating chamber 34 and the connector accommodating chamber 31a to separate the busbar accommodating chamber 34 from the connector accommodating chamber 31a. As shown in FIG. 5 , the rear wall 36 is provided with a plurality of insertion holes 36a penetrating the rear wall 36 so that each busbar 5 is inserted therethrough. Each insertion hole 36a has a portion that is long in the height direction Z and a portion that is connected to the long portion in the height direction Z and protrudes toward the side plate 32c in the width direction Y. In this embodiment, four insertion holes 36a are arranged side by side in the width direction Y.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of guide grooves 34a are formed in the bottom plate 32b of the housing 3 on the busbar accommodating chamber 34 side. The guide grooves 34a guide the busbar 5 when it is inserted into the busbar accommodating chamber 34. Each guide groove 34a is provided corresponding to an insertion hole 36a in the rear wall 36. As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of fins 321, each having a generally truncated cone shape whose diameter decreases toward its tip, are provided on the outer surface 33b of the outer surface 33 of the housing 3 that corresponds to the bottom plate 32b. The plurality of fins 321 are arranged in a staggered pattern. In other words, the plurality of fins 321 are arranged at equal intervals along the X and Y directions, with the X direction representing rows and the Y direction representing columns, respectively, and adjacent rows and columns are arranged with a shift (offset) in the row direction (X direction) and the column direction (Y direction). This offset amount is approximately half the spacing (pitch) between fins 321 in both the row direction (X direction) and the column direction (Y direction). The fins 321 are provided on the outer surface 33b that corresponds to the busbar accommodating chamber 34 of the bottom plate 32b. The axial direction CL (see FIG. 7) of the substantially truncated cone-shaped fin 321 is along the height direction Z.

[0018] 3, a substantially rectangular opening 322 is provided in the side plate 32c of the housing 3. A substantially rectangular cutout 323 is provided in the side plate 32c at a position closer to the connector connection port 31 in the height direction Z on the top plate 32a side of the opening 322. The lengths of the opening 322 and the cutout 323 in the connection direction X and the height direction Z are substantially the same.

[0019] A recess 324 that is elongated in the connection direction X and has a recessed shape in the height direction Z is provided at one end of the side plate 32c of the housing 3 in the height direction Z (the end opposite the bottom plate 32b) (see also FIG. 10). A recess 325 having the same shape as the recess 324 of the side plate 32c is provided at a position facing the side plate 32c (i.e., at the end on one side in the height direction Z (the opposite side to the bottom plate 32b)).

[0020] 9 and 10 , the outer surface 33c of the side plate 32c of the outer surface 33 of the housing 3 is provided with a cover engagement groove 326 that extends in the height direction Z and has a recessed shape at approximately the middle position in the connection direction X. The cover engagement groove 326 is formed between two protrusions 326a and 326b that extend in the height direction Z. The protrusion 326a is disposed on one side in the connection direction X, and the protrusion 326b is disposed on the other side in the connection direction X. The outer surface 33d of the side plate 32d is provided with a cover engagement groove 327 that extends in the height direction Z and has a recessed shape at a position facing the cover engagement groove 326 of the side plate 32c. The other side in the connection direction X corresponding to the cover engagement groove 327 is provided with a protrusion 327a that extends in the height direction Z.

[0021] 3, a plurality of busbar locking openings 328, each having a substantially rectangular shape, are arranged in the width direction Y in a portion of the top plate 32a of the housing 3 that corresponds to the busbar accommodating chamber 34. Four busbar locking openings 328 are provided corresponding to the guide grooves 34a.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 3, the busbar 5 is formed in a generally flat shape. As shown in FIG. 4, the busbar 5 has a main body 51 including three pieces extending in one direction in the connection direction X: a first contact piece 53, a second contact piece 54, and a locking piece 55; and a generally rod-shaped connecting portion 52 extending from an end of the main body 51 in the other direction in the connection direction X to the other direction in the connection direction X. The first contact piece 53, the second contact piece 54, and the locking piece 55 are connected at their bases. As shown in FIG. 3, the connecting portion between the connecting portion 52 and the main body 51 is bent toward one side in the width direction Y (toward the side plate 32c). Therefore, when viewed from the height direction Z, the main body 51 and the connecting portion 52 are arranged to be offset in the width direction Y (see FIG. 10).

[0023] As shown in FIG. 4 , the first contact piece 53 of the bus bar 5 is located on the other side in the height direction Z (toward the bottom plate 32b). The first contact piece 53 is formed to be taller in the height direction Z than the second contact piece 54 and the locking piece 55, making it less likely to deform, and supports the board 6 from the other side in the height direction Z. The locking piece 55 of the bus bar 5 is located on one side in the height direction Z (toward the top plate 32a). The second contact piece 54 of the bus bar 5 is located between the first contact piece 53 and the locking piece 55 in the height direction Z. The second contact piece 54 and the locking piece 55 are provided so as to be elastically deformable in the height direction Z. A protruding locking portion 55a in a mountain shape is provided at the tip of the locking piece 55 on one side in the height direction Z. The locking portion 55a fits into and is locked in a bus bar locking opening 328 in the top plate 32a of the housing 3. The bus bar 5 is locked to the housing 3 by the locking piece 55. A contact portion 54a that protrudes in a mountain shape toward the other side in the height direction Z is provided at the tip of the second contact piece 54. The contact portion 54a of the second contact piece 54 comes into contact with a contact element 62 of the circuit board 6, which will be described later, and the circuit board 6 and the bus bar 5 are electrically connected. The elastic force of the second contact piece 54 holds the circuit board 6 between the multiple second contact pieces 54 and the multiple first contact pieces 53.

[0024] As described above, each bus bar 5 is guided by the guide groove 34a of the bus bar accommodating chamber 34 and accommodated in the bus bar accommodating chamber 34. The bus bar 5 is inserted until the other end of the main body 51 in the connection direction X abuts against the rear wall 36. At the position where the main body 51 abuts against the rear wall 36, the locking portion 55a of the locking piece 55 is engaged with the bus bar locking opening 328. At this time, the connecting portion 52 is positioned so as to protrude into the connector accommodating chamber 31a through (penetrating) the insertion hole 36a. The connecting portion 52 constitutes a portion that is electrically connected to the connector 91 fitted in the connector accommodating chamber 31a.

[0025] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 , the substrate 6 provided inside the housing 2 is formed in the shape of a rectangular plate elongated in the connection direction X and constitutes a circuit board on which electronic components including the light-emitting elements 61 are mounted. The substrate 6 is formed, for example, by a printed circuit board (PCB). In this case, the substrate 6 is formed by printing a pattern (printed pattern) using a conductive material such as copper on a hard insulating layer made of an insulating material such as epoxy resin, glass epoxy resin, paper epoxy resin, or ceramic, thereby forming a circuit pattern that electrically connects various electronic components including the light-emitting elements 61. Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are used as the light-emitting elements 61. The substrate 6 is provided with a plurality of contact elements (contact patterns) 62 corresponding to each bus bar 5. The contact elements 62 come into contact with the contact portions 54a of the bus bars 5. This electrically connects the substrate 6 to the bus bars 5.

[0026] 3 and 4, the lens member 7 emits light emitted from the light-emitting element 61 as light L to the outside of the housing 2 via a lens 72a. The lens member 7 has a substantially rectangular plate-shaped base portion 71 and a lens portion 72 that stands upright in the shape of a cylinder with a bottom on one side in the height direction Z from the base portion 71 and has a lens 72a formed on its bottom. The lens portion 72 is arranged on the base portion 71 close to one side in the connection direction X.

[0027] Walls 71a and 71b are provided on two edges of the base portion 71 in the connection direction X, facing the other side in the height direction Z (the side opposite to the direction in which the lens portion 72 is erected). The wall portion 71a is provided on the other side in the connection direction X, and the wall portion 71b is provided on one side in the connection direction X. The lengths of the walls 71a and 71b in the width direction Y are the same as the length of the base portion 71 in the width direction Y. As shown in FIG. 9 , the wall portion 71a has a step portion 711 formed on the side of the side plate 32c in the width direction Y. The side of the wall portion 71a opposite to the step portion 711 is a corner portion 712. The wall portion 71b has step portions 713 and 714 formed on both ends in the width direction Y.

[0028] The lens member 7 is arranged with the walls 71a and 71b engaged with recesses 324 and 325 provided in the side plates 32c and 32d of the housing 3. That is, on one side in the connecting direction X, the step 713 of the wall 71b engages with one end of the recess 324, and the step 714 engages with one end of the recess 324. On the other side in the connecting direction X, the step 711 of the wall 71a engages with the other end of the recess 324. The corner 712 of the wall 71a engages with the other end of the recess 325. In this way, the lens member 7 is arranged and held in the housing 3.

[0029] 3 and 8, protrusions 71c are provided on one surface in the height direction Z of the base portion 71 of the lens member 7 (the surface on which the lens portion 72 is provided) near both ends in the width direction Y. Slits 71d that are long in the connection direction X are provided on the inner side (on the lens portion 72 side) of the two protrusions 71c that are provided opposite each other in the width direction Y with the lens portion 72 sandwiched therebetween.

[0030] The lens member 7 is disposed so that the optical axis of the lens 72a coincides with the optical axis of the light emitted from the light-emitting element 61. The optical axis of the lens 72a and the optical axis of the light emitted from the light-emitting element 61 are aligned along the height direction Z. As shown in FIG. 9 , the lens member 7 is positioned in the connection direction X and the width direction Y by the step portions 711, 713, and 714 and corner portions 712 of the wall portions 71a and 71b engaging with the ends of the recesses 324 and 325. As shown in FIG. 8 , the wall portions 71a and 71b of the lens member 7 are supported from below by the recesses 324 and 325. The slit 71d imparts elastic force to the protrusion 71c. When the cover 4, which will be described in detail later, is attached to the housing 3, the top plate 41a of the cover 4 abuts against the protrusion 71c of the lens member 7 and presses the lens member 7 toward the other side in the height direction Z. This positions the lens member 7 in the height direction Z. In this way, the lens member 7 is positioned in the connection direction X, width direction Y, and height direction Z, thereby reducing the possibility that the optical axis of the lens 72a will become misaligned with the optical axis of the light emitted from the light-emitting element 61 due to an impact or the like.

[0031] Returning to FIG. 3 , the cover 4 is formed in a generally rectangular box shape that is elongated in the connection direction X and opens on the other side in the height direction Z. The cover 4 has a top plate 41a whose surface faces the height direction Z, and side plates 41b, 41c, and 41d that stand generally perpendicularly from three edges of the top plate 41a toward the other side in the height direction Z. The side plates 41b and 41c, which form side walls of the cover 4, are disposed outside the side plates 32c and 32d of the housing 3. The top plate 41a and the side plates 41b, 41c, and 41d are disposed perpendicular to each other. The side plates 41b and 41c are disposed opposite each other in the width direction Y, with the side plate 41b disposed on one side in the width direction Y and the side plate 41c disposed on the other side. The side plate 41d is disposed on one side in the connection direction X relative to the side plates 41b and 41c.

[0032] 3 and 8, an approximately cylindrical light emitting portion 42 is provided on one side in the connection direction X of the outer surface 43a of the top plate 41a of the outer surface 43 of the cover 4. When the cover 4 is attached to the housing 3 and the lens member 7 is held between the cover 4 and the housing 3, the light emitting portion 42 is disposed on the outer periphery of the lens 72a of the lens member 7. Therefore, the opening of the light emitting portion 42 serves as the light emitting port 42a through which light emitted from the lens 72a is emitted.

[0033] As shown in Fig. 3, the side plate 41b has two through-holes 422, 423. As shown in Fig. 1, when the cover 4 is attached to the housing 3, the opening 422 of the cover 4 and the opening 322 of the side plate 32c of the housing 3 communicate with each other. Furthermore, the opening 423 of the cover 4 and the notch 323 of the side plate 32c of the housing 3 communicate with each other. The opening where the openings 422 and 322 communicate with each other is the heat dissipation gap filler filling opening 25. The opening where the opening 423 and the notch 323 communicate with each other is the heat dissipation gap filler filling opening 26.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 6, the cover 4 has a plurality of locking portions 44 at side wall ends 41b1, 41c1 of the cover 4, which are the other ends of the side plates 41b, 41c in the height direction Z. Two locking portions 44 are provided on each of the side plates 41b, 41c. The two locking portions 44 provided on the side plate 41b and the two locking portions 44 provided on the side plate 41c are arranged opposite each other in the width direction Y. The locking portions 44 are formed in a hook shape by protruding toward the inside of the side plates 41b, 41c (in other words, toward the fins 321 when the cover 4 is attached to the housing 3). The locking portions 44 are formed in a substantially U-shape when viewed from the height direction Z (in other words, the axial direction CL of the fins 321 (see FIG. 7)). The opening of the locking portion 44 is formed as a locking recess 44a that fits with the fin 321. The locking portion 44 has a shape that tapers downward from the tip to the base end and toward the inside (toward the fin 321).

[0035] A concave cover guide groove 46 extending in the height direction Z is provided in the side plate 41b on one side in the width direction Y of the cover 4. The cover guide groove 46 is provided near the end on the other side in the connection direction X on the inner surface of the side plate 41b. A gradual protrusion 46a1 extending in the height direction Z is provided on the other surface in the connection direction X of the protrusion 46a on the other side in the connection direction X that constitutes the cover guide groove 46. The gradual protrusion 46a1 is set so that the amount of protrusion toward the other side in the connection direction X gradually increases from the other side to one side in the height direction Z.

[0036] A protrusion 47 is formed by bending the side plate 41c inward at the other end in the connection direction X of the side plate 41c on the other side in the width direction Y of the cover 4. The protrusion 47 extends in the height direction Z. A gradual protrusion 47a1 extending in the height direction Z is provided on the surface of the protrusion 47 on the other side in the connection direction X. The gradual protrusion 47a1 is set so that the amount of protrusion toward the other side in the connection direction X gradually increases from the other side to one side in the height direction Z, and is formed with the same amount of protrusion as the gradual protrusion 46a1 described above. In addition, a slit 411 that is long in the width direction Y and a protrusion 412 are provided near the other end in the connection direction X on the inner surface of the top plate 41a.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 9 , when the cover 4 is attached to the housing 3, the protrusions 326 a of the housing 3 are engaged with the cover guide grooves 46 of the cover 4, and the protrusions 46 a of the cover 4 are engaged with the cover engagement grooves 326. Similarly, the protrusions 47 of the cover 4 are engaged with the cover engagement grooves 327. This guides the cover 4 in the height direction Z relative to the housing 3. When the cover 4 is pressed into the housing 3, as shown in FIG. 7 , the protruding ends of the locking portions 44 in the width direction Y slide along the outer surfaces 33 c, 33 d of the side plates 32 c, 32 d of the housing 3. At this time, the side plates 41 b, 41 c of the cover 4 bend outward in the width direction Y. When the cover 4 is further pressed in, the surfaces 44 b of the locking portions 44 facing the bottom plate 32 b (the surfaces 44 b of the jaws of the hook-shaped locking portions 44) come into contact with the outer surface 33 b of the bottom plate 32 b, as shown in FIG. 2. Among the multiple fins 321, the fin 321 located at the outer end in the width direction Y is fitted into the locking recess 44a of the locking portion 44. At this time, the cover 4 is pressed to one side in the height direction Z by the elastic force of the two protrusions 71c of the lens member 7. Therefore, the abutment between the jaw surface of the hook-shaped locking portion 44 and the outer surface 33b of the bottom plate 32b is stronger.

[0038] In this way, the four locking portions 44 are fitted with the fins 321, respectively. The engagement of the locking portions 44 with the fins 321 restricts movement of the cover 4 relative to the housing 3 in the horizontal directions parallel to the connection direction X and the width direction Y, thereby positioning the cover 4. The engagement of the cover guide grooves 46 with the protrusions 326a, the engagement of the protrusions 46a with the cover engagement grooves 326, and the engagement of the protrusions 47 with the cover engagement grooves 327 further restricts movement of the cover 4 in the horizontal direction relative to the housing 3. The hook-shaped locking portions 44 abut against the bottom plate 32b, restricting movement of the cover 4 in the height direction Z relative to the housing 3. Furthermore, a wedge effect is gradually exerted between the protrusions 46a1, 47a1 and the protrusions 326b, 327a, restricting movement of the cover 4 in the height direction Z relative to the housing 3. When the cover 4 is attached to the housing 3, the protrusions 412 (see FIG. 6) of the cover 4 come close to or come into contact with the top plate 32a of the housing 3, thereby reducing rattling of the cover 4 in the height direction Z.

[0039] 4, the housing 2 of the lighting unit 1 is filled with heat dissipation gap fillers F in two places. The heat dissipation gap fillers F may be, for example, a hardening type heat dissipation paste (for example, CGT3001, manufactured by Cosmo Oil Lubricants Co., Ltd.). The heat dissipation gap fillers F are provided to connect the substrate 6 and the housing 2.

[0040] As described above, the housing 2 includes the housing 3 and the cover 4, and the wall 21 of the housing 2 includes the top plate 32a, the bottom plate 32b, and the side plates 32c and 32d of the housing 3, and the top plate 41a and the side plates 41b, 41c, and 41d of the cover 4. The outer surface 23 of the housing 2 includes the outer surface 33 of the housing 3 and the outer surface 43 of the cover 4.

[0041] 4 and 9, the heat-dissipating gap filler F1 provided on one side of the substrate 6 in the height direction Z is connected to the substrate 6, at least the side plates 32c and 32d of the housing 3, and the top plate 41a of the cover 4. On the other hand, as shown in Fig. 4 and 10, the heat-dissipating gap filler F2 provided on the other side of the substrate 6 in the height direction Z is connected to the substrate 6, at least the side plates 32c and 32d of the housing 3, and the bottom plate 32b. Here, the multiple fins 321 are provided on the outer surface 33b of the bottom plate 32b to which the heat-dissipating gap filler F2 is connected.

[0042] The light-emitting element 61 generates heat when it emits light, and the heat propagates to the substrate 6. The heat propagated to the substrate 6 then propagates to the housing 2 (housing 3, cover 4) via the heat-dissipating gap fillers F1 and F2. The heat-dissipating gap fillers F1 and F2 are also connected to the bus bar 5, which is also connected to the housing 3 at the rear wall 36. Therefore, the heat propagates to the housing 2 via the bus bar 5. The housing 2 is formed of a heat-dissipating resin, and heat is efficiently dissipated from the entire housing 2. The housing 2 has multiple fins 321, and heat is particularly efficiently dissipated from the multiple fins 321. The bottom plate 32b, on which the multiple fins 321 are provided, is connected to the substrate 6 via the heat-dissipating gap fillers F2. Therefore, heat generated by the light-emitting element 61 is dissipated from the multiple fins 321 via the substrate 6 and the heat-dissipating gap fillers F2. A portion of the heat transferred to the bottom plate 32b is transferred to the cover 4 via the locking portion 44 and is also dissipated from the cover 4. At this time, due to the elastic force of the two protrusions 71c of the lens member 7, the surface 44b of the engaging portion 44 is in close contact with the surface of the bottom plate 32b, so that heat is more reliably transferred from the bottom plate 32b to the cover 4 via the engaging portion 44.

[0043] As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 , the heat-dissipating gap fillers F1 and F2 are filled using straws Q1 and Q2 for filling the heat-dissipating gap filler. For example, the straw Q1 is inserted through the heat-dissipating gap filler filling opening 25, and the heat-dissipating gap filler F1 is dispensed to fill the interior of the housing 2 with the heat-dissipating gap filler F1. At this time, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 9 , the wall 71a of the lens member 7 prevents the heat-dissipating gap filler F1 from entering the space S1 between the light-emitting surface 61a of the light-emitting element 61 and the lens 72a. This reduces adhesion of the heat-dissipating gap filler F1 to the light-emitting surface of the light-emitting element 61. The heat-dissipating gap filler F1 can enter the space S2 between the tip of the wall 71a and the substrate 6 toward the base end of the light-emitting element 61. The heat-dissipating gap filler F1 can also be filled around the busbar 5 on the opposite side of the light-emitting element 61 and near both ends of the substrate 6 in the width direction Y.

[0044] 10, the straw Q2 is inserted through the heat dissipation gap filler filling opening 26. The heat dissipation gap filler F2 is discharged from the straw Q2, thereby filling the inside of the housing 2 with the heat dissipation gap filler F2. Here, the guide groove 34a of the housing 3 has an intermittent portion corresponding to the heat dissipation gap filler filling opening 26. This reduces interference between the straw Q2 and the guide groove 34a when the straw Q2 is inserted.

[0045] Note that of the openings 322, 422 that constitute the heat dissipation gap filler filling opening 25, the inner opening 322 is formed to have a smaller opening area than the outer opening 422, and further, the outer edges of each opening 322, 422 are C-chamfered, so that the periphery is continuous so that the opening area of ​​the heat dissipation gap filler filling opening 25 decreases from the outside to the inside of the housing 2. Similarly, for the heat dissipation gap filler filling opening 26, the inner opening 322 is formed to have a smaller opening area than the outer opening 423, and the notch 323 and the opening 423 are C-chamfered, so that the periphery is continuous so that the opening area of ​​the heat dissipation gap filler filling opening 26 decreases from the outside to the inside of the housing 2. As a result, interference between the straws Q1, Q2 and the periphery of the heat dissipation gap filler filling openings 25, 26 when inserted into the housing 2 is reduced, and the straws Q1, Q2 can be inserted smoothly into the housing 2.

[0046] The lighting unit 1 described above includes a housing 2, a substrate 6 having a light-emitting element 61 and provided inside the housing 2, and heat-dissipating gap fillers F (F1, F2) that fill the inside of the housing 2 and connect the substrate 6 to the housing 2. The housing 2 has multiple fins 321 on the outer surface 23 (specifically, the outer surface 33b of the bottom plate 32b) of the wall portion 21 to which the heat-dissipating gap fillers F (F1, F2) are connected. This allows heat from the light-emitting element 61 to be transmitted from the substrate 6 to the housing 2 via the heat-dissipating gap fillers F (F1, F2), thereby improving heat dissipation efficiency. In particular, because the heat-dissipating gap filler F2 is connected to the wall portion 21 of the housing 2, which is the bottom plate 32b having the multiple fins 321, heat can be efficiently dissipated even if the current value is increased to increase the light emission amount of the light-emitting element 61 and the heat generation amount of the light-emitting element 61 increases.

[0047] The housing 2 is provided with a plurality of fins 321 and includes a housing 3 that holds a substrate 6 and a lens member 7 having a lens 72a that collects and emits light from the light-emitting element 61, and a cover 4 that is provided on the housing 3 and has a light emission opening 42a through which light emitted from the lens 72a is emitted, and the cover 4 is configured to include locking portions 44 that fit with the fins 321. This allows the lighting unit 1 to reliably position the cover 4, while also allowing heat to be transmitted from the fins 321 to the cover 4 via the locking portions 44, thereby dissipating heat from the cover 4.

[0048] Furthermore, each of the fins 321 is formed in a truncated cone shape, and the locking portions 44 are formed in a hook shape by protruding from side wall ends 41b1, 41c1 of the cover 4 disposed outside the wall portion 21 in the axial direction CL of the fins 321 and protruding toward the fins 321. The U-shaped opening of the U-shaped locking portion 44 as viewed from the axial direction CL of the fins 321 serves as a locking recess 44a that fits with the fin 321, and a surface 44b of the locking portion 44 facing the wall portion 21 abuts against the wall portion 21. In other words, forming the fins 321 in a truncated cone shape improves mold releasability during resin molding. The hook shape of the locking portions 44 facilitates assembly of the cover 4 to the housing 3, and the engagement of the U-shaped locking recess with the fin 321 ensures reliable positioning. The surface of the locking portion 44 facing the wall portion 21 abuts against the wall portion 21, thereby reliably fixing the cover 4 to the housing 3.

[0049] Furthermore, the fins 321 are arranged in a staggered pattern, which allows the distance between the fins 321 to be appropriately set, further improving the heat dissipation efficiency.

[0050] The lighting unit according to the embodiment of the present invention described above is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims.

[0051] In the above description, the fins 321 are in a truncated cone shape, but this is not limiting and they can be in any known fin shape such as a rib shape. Also, the housing 2 is configured to include the cover 4 and the housing 3, but this is not limiting and the housing 2 can be formed integrally, for example.

[0052] The lighting unit according to this embodiment may be configured by appropriately combining the components of the embodiments and modifications described above. [Explanation of symbols]

[0053] 1: Lighting unit 2: Housing 3: Housing 4: Cover 6: Circuit board 7: Lens material 21: Wall part 23:Exterior 41b1: Side wall end 41c1: Side wall end 42: Light output section 42a: Light exit port 44: Locking part 44a: Locking recess 61: Light emitting element 61a: Light-emitting surface 72: Lens section 72a: Lens 321: Finn F: Heat dissipation gap filler F1: Heat dissipation gap filler F2: Heat dissipation gap filler

Claims

1. The housing and a substrate having a light emitting element and provided inside the housing; a heat dissipation gap filler that is filled inside the housing and is provided to connect the substrate and the housing; The lighting unit, wherein the housing has a plurality of fins on an outer surface of a wall portion to which the heat dissipation gap filler is connected.

2. the enclosure is provided with the plurality of fins and includes a housing that holds the substrate and a lens member having a lens that condenses and emits light from the light-emitting element; and a cover that is provided on the housing and has a light emission opening through which the emitted light from the lens is emitted, The cover includes a locking portion that fits with the fin. The lighting unit according to claim 1 .

3. The plurality of fins are each formed in a truncated cone shape, the locking portion is formed in a hook shape by protruding from a side wall end of the cover disposed outside the wall portion in the axial direction of the fin and protruding toward the fin, and an opening portion of the U-shape formed in a U-shape when viewed from the axial direction of the fin serves as a locking recess that fits into the fin, The lighting unit according to claim 2 , wherein a surface of the locking portion facing the wall portion abuts against the wall portion.

4. The lighting unit according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fins are arranged in a staggered pattern.

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