# US 9,039,262 B2 · Optical unit for a vehicular lamp

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- Number: US 9,039,262 B2
- Document ID: US9039262B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/875,930
- Filed: 2013-05-02
- Published: 2013-09-12
- Granted: 2015-05-26
- Earliest claimed: 2010-09-10
- Assignees: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Yuji Yasuda; Tatsuhiko Yamamichi; Shigeyuki Watanabe
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9039262B2

## CPC

- B60Q 1/0035: {relative to the vehicle}
- B60Q 1/076: by electrical means {including means to transmit the movements, e.g. shafts or joints}
- F21S 41/148: the main emission direction of the LED being perpendicular to the optical axis
- F21S 41/255: Lenses with a front view of circular or truncated circular outline
- F21S 41/295: {specially adapted to projection lenses}
- F21S 41/39: Attachment thereof (achieving variable light distribution by movable reflectors F21S41/675)
- F21S 41/55: Attachment thereof
- F21S 45/10: Protection of lighting devices (cooling of lighting devices F21S45/40; waterproofing of lighting devices F21S45/50)
- F21S 45/47: Passive cooling, e.g. using fins, thermal conductive elements or openings
- F21V 13/04: the elements being reflectors and refractors {(for vehicle rear lights F21S43/40)}
- B60Q: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- F21S: NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
- F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

An optical unit includes: a heat sink that radiates heat from a light source; and a base portion including a reflector mounting section, a lens mounting section and a connecting section connecting the reflector mounting section and the lens mounting section. The base portion is configured such that the light from the light source is reflected by a reflector mounted onto the reflector mounting section and is incident onto a projection lens mounted onto the lens mounting section. The heat sink is exposed to a space surrounded by the lens mounting section, the connecting section and the reflector mounting section.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An optical unit comprising:
a heat sink that radiates heat from a light source; and
a base portion including
a reflector mounting section, a lens mounting section and a connecting section connecting the reflector mounting section and the lens mounting section,
wherein the base portion is configured such that light from the light source is reflected by a reflector mounted onto the reflector mounting section and is incident onto a projection lens mounted onto the lens mounting section,
wherein the heat sink is exposed to a space surrounded by the lens mounting section, the connecting section and the reflector mounting section,
wherein the base portion further includes another connecting section,
wherein the connecting sections are disposed across the light source, and
wherein the heat sink is disposed between the connecting sections.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The optical unit of claim 1, wherein the connecting sections are arranged in a vehicle right and left direction.

### Claim 3

An optical unit comprising:
a heat sink that radiates heat from a light source; and
a base portion including
a reflector mounting section,
a lens mounting section, and
a connecting section connecting the reflector mounting section and the lens mounting section,
wherein the base portion is configured such that light from the light source is reflected by a reflector mounted onto the reflector mounting section and is incident onto a projection lens mounted onto the lens mounting section,
wherein the heat sink passes through an opening defined by the lens mounting section, the connecting section, and the reflector mounting section, and
wherein the heat sink is structurally independent from the lens mounting section, the connecting section, and the reflector mounting section.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The optical unit of claim 3, wherein the heat sink extends to a vicinity of the projection lens.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The optical unit of claim 4,
the heat sink includes an extension section that extends to the vicinity of the projection lens, and
the heat sink includes a plurality of radiating fins that:
are disposed on a surface of the extension section,
extend from the surface of the extension section in a direction intersecting the surface of the extension section, and
are arranged along the surface of the extension section.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The optical unit of claim 5,
wherein the plurality of radiating fins extend upwardly from the surface of the extension section, and
wherein the plurality of radiating fins are arranged in a vehicle right and left direction.

### Claim 7 (depends on 3)

The optical unit of claim 3, wherein the heat sink extends to a position at which sunlight being incident through the projection lens is concentrated.

### Claim 8 (depends on 3)

The optical unit of claim 3,
wherein the base portion further includes another connecting section,
wherein the connecting sections are disposed across the light source, and
wherein the heat sink is disposed between the connecting sections.