Signal light device for automobile

Abstract

The present invention provides a signal light emitting device for an automobile, comprising: a connector intended to be connected to a power source; and first and second PCBA assemblies, each comprising a printed circuit board, a connector terminal provided on the printed circuit board, and an electronic component provided on the printed circuit board and capable of being powered via the printed circuit board, the second PCBA assembly comprising at least one light source within said component, the connector cooperating with each of the connector terminals of the first and second PCBA assemblies to electrically connect the first and second PCBA assemblies so that the first and second PCBA assemblies can be powered from the power source.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The technical field of the invention is automotive lighting equipment, in particular signalling devices for motor vehicles. [Background technology]

[0002] A lighting device for a motor vehicle is known, which comprises an elongated printed circuit board, also called PCB, on which light sources, for example 50 light sources, are regularly mounted and arranged in one or two rows along the printed circuit board. To meet design requirements, the printed circuit board is curved. Such a device is expensive to manufacture due to the length of the printed circuit board and the curvature of the board, which makes the process of cutting some printed circuit boards into standard rectangles inefficient in that many areas of the cut rectangular printed circuit boards are unused. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] Another light emitting device is known in which the two different signal functions are realized based on a light source mounted on a first printed circuit board to realize a first function and a light source mounted on a second printed circuit board to realize a second function. To supply power to the light emitting device, a first cable harness of the first printed circuit board is connected to a power source, and the second printed circuit board is connected to a power source. Such a light emitting device is expensive to manufacture because it includes a harness and a printed circuit board harness connector. [Means for solving the problem]

[0004] The present invention aims to enable the use of several printed circuit boards in a light emitting device without increasing the cost.

[0005] To this end, the present invention relates to a signal light device for a motor vehicle, comprising: a connector intended to be connected to a power source; - first and second PCBA assemblies, each comprising: - printed circuit boards, - a connector terminal provided on said printed circuit board, and - an electronic component mounted on said printed circuit board and capable of being powered via said printed circuit board, - said second PCBA assembly comprises at least one light source within its components; first and second PCBA assemblies; Equipped with the connector cooperates with connector terminals of the first and second PCBA assemblies to electrically connect the first and second PCBA assemblies so that the power source can supply power to the first and second PCBA assemblies; A signaling device is provided.

[0006] A PCBA assembly (Printed Circuit Board Assembly, an abbreviation familiar to those skilled in the art) consists of a printed circuit board on which are mounted other elements such as electronic components, connectors, etc.

[0007] A connector is understood to mean a device provided with a rigid contact support (in relation to a flexible cable) which supports all the contacts of the connector. Similarly, a connector terminal comprises a rigid contact support which supports all its contacts, so that in one connection operation at least a number of contacts of the connector can be connected to all the contacts of at least one connector terminal, ensuring electrical continuity between said contacts. In the prior art, a large number of connectors are included, for example card edge connectors or pin connectors.

[0008] The electronic components may include, among others, control circuitry and a light source.

[0009] It will be appreciated that the connector cooperates with connector terminals of the first and second PCBA assemblies to extend on either side of the space between the two PCBA assemblies.

[0010] In this manner, a single connector can be used to connect each of the assemblies.

[0011] Advantageously, the PCBA is coplanar within sufficient coplanarity tolerance to ensure good cooperation between the connector and the two connector terminals.

[0012] Advantageously, the PCBA assembly extends from end to end, which is particularly relevant for improving the compactness of the light emitting device.

[0013] Advantageously, the first and second PCBA assemblies have edges that can cooperate with one another to leave a minimal space between the first and second PCBA assemblies, in one non-limiting example, the edges are straight.

[0014] Advantageously, the connector comprises an arrangement of contacts arranged in one or two rows, the terminals of the first and second assemblies each comprising an arrangement of contacts whose total number is less than the number of contacts in the connector, and at least one contact of the connector remains free between the connector terminals of the first and second PCBA assemblies.

[0015] The PCBA assembly is advantageously fixed to a common support, which for example may be constituted by the housing of the light emitting device, or by a mask or trim of the light emitting device.

[0016] The PCBA assemblies are advantageously fixed to a common support formed integrally with the reflector, which provides optimal positioning of the PCBA assemblies relative to each other as well as optimal positioning of the at least one light source of the second PCBA assembly relative to the reflector.

[0017] Advantageously, the common support is a radiator.

[0018] Advantageously, the connector is one known to those skilled in the art as a card edge connector. This type of connector can be called. Conventional card edge connectors comprise a row of contacts formed by clamping elements which, by their elasticity, ensure contact with connector terminals constituted by contact areas formed by grooves in a printed circuit board generally provided with a tin-based or nickel-gold-based coating. Card edge connectors have the further advantage that they do not require the attachment of terminals to be mounted on the printed circuit board, do not cause any stress due to hyperstatic conditions of the PCBA assembly and can be assembled by hand after the PCBA assembly has been assembled on the support.

[0019] If the connector is a card edge connector, the printed circuit board advantageously forms retention means on both sides of the connector, preferably retention means that are elastically deformable under the action of an operator inserting the connector. For example, the retention means may comprise arms between which the connector can be snapped when the operator inserts the latter.

[0020] Advantageously, the connector is a pin type connector, and it will be understood that the terminals of the assembly are pin connector terminals. Although in a preferred embodiment of the invention there are two separate connector terminals, in the case of a pin connector the connector terminal provided on the first PCBA assembly and the connector terminal provided on the second PCBA assembly may advantageously be the same connector terminal. This allows the use of a conventional connector terminal by fitting it to the two PCBA assemblies.

[0021] Advantageously, the first PCBA assembly comprises a control circuit capable of controlling at least one light source of the second PCBA assembly, and the connector comprises an electrical link capable of connecting said control circuit to said light source.

[0022] Advantageously, the first PCBA assembly comprises at least one light source capable of contributing to at least one signal function of the light emitting device, and the second PCBA assembly comprises a light source capable of emitting light different from the light emitted by the light source of the first assembly so as to contribute to a separate light emitting function, whereby light sources corresponding to different heat dissipation can be arranged in the light source.

[0023] Advantageously, the first PCBA assembly comprises an arrangement of light sources capable of contributing to at least one signaling function of the light emitting device, and the second PCBA assembly comprises an array of similar light sources capable of contributing to the same light emitting function. Advantageously, the arrangement of light sources is an array of light sources which may extend along a straight line or a curved line depending on design constraints.

[0024] The light sources are advantageously light emitting diodes, also called LEDs. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0025] [Figure 1A] FIG. 1 is a partial view of a light emitting device showing the PCBA assembly and an unpopulated card edge connector. [Figure 1B] FIG. 1 is a partial view of a light emitting device showing the PCBA assembly and an unpopulated card edge connector. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a partial view of a light emitting device showing a PCBA assembly with pin connectors. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a partial view of a light emitting device showing a first PCBA assembly with circuitry for controlling the LEDs and a second PCBA assembly with the LEDs. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a partial view of a light emitting device showing a first PCBA assembly having an LED capable of emitting white light intended to contribute to a first signaling function, and a second PCBA assembly having an LED capable of emitting yellow light intended to contribute to the first signaling function; [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a partial view of a light emitting device showing a PCBA assembly assembled on a support formed by a reflector. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0026] 1A is a partial view of a light emitting device comprising a first PCBA assembly 111 with an LED 115 mounted thereon and a second PCBA assembly 121 with an LED 125 mounted thereon. The device comprises a card edge connector shown in an unassembled state. The first and second PCBA assemblies are provided with terminals 112 and 122 consisting of grooves enabling electrical contact with contacts 113 and 123 of the card edge connector, respectively. Said grooves are covered with a tin-based coating which prevents abrasion thereon. Wires 114, 124 connect the PCBA assemblies 111 and 121, respectively, to a power source.

[0027] 1B is a partial view of the same light emitting device with a PCBA assembly assembled using a card edge connector, where some contacts 133 of the card edge connector are left free so that the contacts are not too close to the edge of the board by adopting a standard connector with regular gaps between the contacts.

[0028] FIG. 2 is a partial view of a light emitting device showing PCBA assemblies 211, 221 with LEDs 215, 225 mounted thereon. The PCBA assemblies 211, 221 are connected together by a pin connector. The pin connector is mounted simultaneously on the two printed circuit board assemblies and has pins 212, 232, 222 that cooperate with pin terminal contacts 213, 233, 223, respectively, connected to wires (not shown). The pin 232, which covers the space between the PCBs, is left free so that the contacts are not too close to the edge of the boards. Such a connector is used to secure the printed circuit boards to create an assembly that can be easily manipulated. This is particularly suitable for PCBA assemblies that do not undergo significant stretching, for example PCBA assemblies that are less than twice as large in one dimension as in the other.

[0029] FIG. 3 is a partial view of a light emitting device showing a first PCBA assembly 311 with a circuit for controlling an LED 316 and a second PCBA assembly 321 with an LED 325. The first PCBA assembly 311 comprises a printed circuit board with multiple circuit layers that allow the realization of more complex circuits adapted for the use of complex control circuits. The second PCBA assembly 321 comprises a simple and inexpensive printed circuit board made of one or two layers. According to the same principle described above, the first and second PCBA assemblies are provided with terminals 312 and 322 consisting of grooves that respectively allow electrical contact with contacts 313 and 323 of a card edge connector. Said grooves are covered with a tin-based coating that prevents their wear. Some contacts 133 of the card edge connector are left free. Wires 314 connect the PCBA assembly 311 to a power source. The connector in this case comprises connection elements for connecting several contacts of the connector to one another so as to connect grooves of the printed circuit board of the first assembly to grooves of the printed circuit board of the second assembly. In this case they are wires 344, but any kind of connection elements can be envisaged here. The use of wires allows the use of standard card edge connectors, which reduces costs substantially.

[0030] 4 is a partial view of a light emitting device in which a PCBA assembly is mounted to create a grouping of LEDs 415 and 425 on either side of a space separating them, so that the light source can be concentrated in a limited area corresponding to the inlet of a light guide, in particular a cylindrical light guide. According to the same principle described above, the first and second PCBA assemblies are provided with terminals 412 and 422 consisting of grooves that allow electrical contact with contacts 413 and 423 of a card edge connector, respectively. Said grooves are covered with a tin-based coating that prevents their wear. Some contacts 433 of the card edge connector remain free. The printed circuit board of the first assembly 411 comprises a light source 415 capable of emitting light of a first color and capable of performing a first signaling function, and the printed circuit board of the second assembly 421 comprises a light source 425 capable of emitting light of a second color and capable of performing a second signaling function. This allows the use of printed circuit boards adapted to the heat dissipation needs of each function, while still keeping the light sources within a strictly limited area corresponding to the inlet of the light guide. For example, LEDs corresponding to functions that consume a lot of energy can be mounted on printed circuit boards of the insulated metal substrate type (known to those skilled in the art by the abbreviation IMS), while LEDs corresponding to functions that emit little energy can be mounted on cheaper printed circuit boards of the FR4 type, thus avoiding the added costs associated with the use of an excessively large surface area of ​​an insulated metal substrate printed circuit board. If the energy consumption of at least one of the functions is particularly high, it is advantageous for the common support to be a radiator for heat dissipation.

[0031] Fig. 5 is a partial view of a light emitting device integrated into a motor vehicle headlamp unit, showing the PCBA assembly assembled on a support formed by a reflector 551. A connector 530 connects the PCBA to a power source via wires 514, 524. The PCBA assembly of Fig. 5 comprises an arrangement of LEDs 515, 525, each arranged in a curved line, which can realize a signaling function, such as a function to indicate a change of direction. It is noted that in this view the light emitting device is easily integrated into a motor vehicle headlamp due to the compactness of the solution.

[0032] The invention should not be considered limited to the embodiments described in detail herein by way of non-limiting examples, but in particular extends to all equivalent means and all technically operable combinations of these means, such as embodiments implementing a first assembly comprising a printed circuit board on which are mounted a control circuit and LEDs intended to contribute to a first function and a second assembly comprising a light source intended to contribute to a second function, white and yellow light, white and red light, or white, yellow and red LEDs, etc. Thus, the features, variants and different embodiments of the invention may be associated with one another in various combinations, so long as they are not mutually exclusive or contradictory.

Claims

1. A signal light emitting device for a motor vehicle, comprising: a connector intended to be connected to a power source; - first and second PCBA assemblies (111, 121; 211, 221; 311, 321; 411, 421), each comprising: - printed circuit boards, - a connector terminal (112, 122; 212, 222; 312, 322; 412; 422) provided on the printed circuit board; and - electronic components (115, 125; 215, 225; 315, 325; 415, 425) provided on the printed circuit board and capable of being powered via the printed circuit board; said second PCBA assembly comprises in its components (125; 225; 325; 425) at least one light source, first and second PCBA assemblies; Equipped with the connector cooperates with connector terminals of the first and second PCBA assemblies to electrically connect the first and second PCBA assemblies so that the power source can supply power to the first and second PCBA assemblies; Signal light emitter.

2. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the printed circuit board (111; 211; 311; 411) of the first assembly is coplanar with the printed circuit board (121; 221; 321; 421) of the second assembly, and the PCBA assembly extends end-to-end.

3. 3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the connector comprises an arrangement of contacts (113, 123, 133; 213, 223, 233; 313, 323, 333; 413, 423, 433) arranged in one or two rows, the terminals of the first and second assemblies each comprising an arrangement of contacts (112, 122; 212, 222; 312, 322; 412, 422) such that the total number of contacts of the terminal is less than the number of contacts of the connector, and at least one contact (133; 233; 333; 433) of the connector remains free between the connector terminals of the first and second PCBA assemblies.

4. 4. An arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the PCBA assemblies (111, 121; 211, 221; 311, 321; 411, 421) are fixed to a common support formed integrally with a reflector.

5. 5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the connector is a card edge connector.

6. 5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the connector is a pin connector.

7. 7. The device according to claim 6, wherein the connector terminal provided on the first PCBA assembly and the connector terminal provided on the second PCBA assembly are the same connector terminal.

8. 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first PCBA assembly (311) comprises a control circuit (316) capable of controlling the at least one light source (325) of the second PCBA assembly, and the connector comprises an electrical link (344) capable of connecting the control circuit (316) to the at least one light source (325).

9. 9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first PCBA assembly (411) comprises at least one light source (415) capable of contributing to at least one signal function of the light-emitting device, and the second PCBA assembly (412) comprises a light source (425) capable of emitting light different from the light emitted by the light source (415) of the first assembly so as to contribute to a separate light-emitting function.

10. 9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first PCBA assembly (111, 211, 311, 411) comprises an arrangement of light sources capable of contributing to at least one signal function of the light-emitting device, and the second PCBA assembly (121; 221; 321; 421) comprises an array of light sources of the same type capable of contributing to the same light-emitting function.

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