Headlight assembly with lens heater

A motor vehicle light assembly includes a housing; a light source disposed in the housing, and a light-transmissive lens operably attached to the housing. A heater member is disposed between the housing and the light-transmissive lens. The heater member is configured to radiate heat emitted from the light source, with the heater member being routed to direct the radiated heat onto the light-transmissive lens to regulate the temperature of the light-transmissive lens to inhibit fogging, frosting and icing of the light-transmissive lens.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to motor vehicle light assemblies, and more particularly, the present disclosure is directed to motor vehicle light assemblies having a radiant heat lens heater.

BACKGROUND

Motor vehicle light assemblies, including headlight assemblies, taillight assemblies, directional light assemblies, fog light assemblies, and a daytime running light assemblies are known to include a light source disposed in a housing with a light-transmissive lens operably attached to the housing to allow light emitted from the light source to pass through the light-transmissive lens. The aforementioned light assemblies are known to include incandescent light bulbs or light emitting diodes (LED's), and although the light assemblies are generally suitable for their intended use, they can experience a variety of issues associated with fogging, frost-buildup and ice-buildup on the light-transmissive lens.

In view of the above, there is a need to provide motor vehicle light assemblies that have light-transmissive lenses that are resistant to fogging, frost-buildup and ice-buildup, while at the same time being economical in manufacture and assembly.

SUMMARY

This section provides a general summary of the present disclosure and is not a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features, aspects and objectives.

It is an aspect of the present disclosure to provide a motor vehicle light assembly having a light-transmissive lens that is resistant to fogging, to the buildup of frost and to the buildup of ice in reliable and economic fashion.

It is a further aspect of the present disclosure to provide a motor vehicle light assembly having a light-transmissive lens that is able to be defogged, defrosted, and deiced in reliable and economic fashion.

It is an aspect of the present disclosure to provide a motor vehicle light assembly having a lens heater assembly including a heater member that is routed over a predetermined path to optimize the flow of radiant heat toward a light-transmissive lens to render the light-transmissive lens resistant to fogging, to the buildup of frost and to the buildup of ice.

It is a further aspect of the present disclosure to provide a motor vehicle light assembly having a lens heater assembly including a heater member that is routed over a predetermined path to optimize the flow of radiant heat toward a light-transmissive lens to defog, to defrost and to deice the light-transmissive lens.

In accordance with these and other aspects, a motor vehicle light assembly is provided including a housing; a light source disposed in the housing, and a light-transmissive lens, having an inner surface facing toward the light source and an outer surface facing away from the light source, operably attached to the housing to allow light emitted from the light source to pass through the light-transmissive lens. Further, a heater member is disposed between the housing and the light-transmissive lens. The heater member is configured to radiate heat emitted from the light source, with the heater member being precisely routed to direct the radiated heat optimally onto the light-transmissive lens to regulate the temperature of the inner surface and the outer surface of the light-transmissive lens to resist fogging and to defog, to resist frosting and to defrost and to resist icing and deice the light-transmissive lens.

In accordance with another aspect, the heater member can be formed having a tubular wall bounding a cavity to facilitate the flow of radiant heat through the cavity and toward the light-transmissive lens.

In accordance with another aspect, a fluid can be sealed within the cavity of the tubular wall to further facilitate the flow of heat through the cavity and toward the light-transmissive lens.

In accordance with another aspect, a heat conducting wick can be disposed in the cavity of the tubular wall to further facilitate the flow of heat through the cavity and toward the light-transmissive lens.

In accordance with another aspect, a valve can be operably coupled to the heater member, with the valve being selectively moveable between an open state, whereat heat is free to flow into and through the cavity of the heater member, and a closed state, whereat heat is inhibited from flowing into the cavity of the heater member.

In accordance with another aspect, a controller can be configured in operable communication with the valve to facilitate moving the valve between the open state and the closed state to regulate the flow of heat through the heater member.

In accordance with another aspect, a temperature sensor can be configured in operable communication with the controller, with the controller being configured to move the valve between the open state and the closed state in response to an environmental temperature sensed by the temperature sensor. Accordingly, the valve can be automated to open in response to a temperature sensed that would tend to cause fogging, frosting and icing of the light-transmissive lens, and to close when the temperature sensed is not conducive to fogging, frosting and icing of the light-transmissive lens.

In accordance with another aspect, the environmental temperature sensed by the temperature sensor can be at least one or both of an internal environment temperature within the housing and an external environment temperature outside the housing.

In accordance with another aspect, a vent member can be configured to direct heat emitted from the light source to an external environment outside of the housing when the valve is in the closed state, thereby avoiding an undesirable elevated temperature within the motor vehicle light assembly that could otherwise degrade the performance of temperature sensitive components of the motor vehicle light assembly, such as by impacting the optimal performance of components of a printed circuit board, for example.

In accordance with another aspect, the vent member can be operably coupled to the valve, such that the valve acts as a bidirectional valve to direct the flow of heat through the heater member while the valve is in the open state and to direct the flow of heat through the vent member while the valve is in the closed state.

In accordance with another aspect, the heater member can include an elongate member having a plurality of radiator fins extending radially outwardly therefrom, wherein the elongate member can be shaped and routed, and the radiator fins can be strategically located along the elongate member to optimize the flow path of radiant heat to the desired regions of the light-transmissive lens to facilitate maintaining clear, light transmissive properties of the light-transmissive lens.

In accordance with another aspect, the housing can be provided having a plurality of apertures configured to register in alignment with the plurality of radiator fins and the apertures sized so as to conceal the elongate member from direct view through the light-transmissive lens by an observer and to allow the radiated heat to flow through the plurality of apertures onto strategically predetermined regions of the light-transmissive lens.

In accordance with another aspect, the plurality of radiator fins can be clustered in discrete groups, with the discrete groups being spaced from one another to optimize and concentrate the flow of radiant heat onto predetermined regions of the light-transmissive lens.

In accordance with another aspect, at least some of the discrete groups of the radiator fins can include a plurality of the radiator fins spaced from one another by a first distance, with adjacent ones of the discrete groups being spaced from one another by a distance greater than the first distance, thereby further enhancing the ability to optimize and concentrate the flow of radiant heat onto predetermined regions of the light-transmissive lens.

In accordance with another aspect, the elongate member can be formed of a first type of material and the plurality of radiator fins can formed of a second type of material, wherein the first type of material and the second type of material can be different so as to optimize and promote the flow of radiant heat through the cavity of the elongate of the elongate member and outwardly from the radiator fins in economical and efficient fashion.

In accordance with another aspect, the elongate member can be formed of copper and the plurality of radiator fins can formed of a different metal.

In accordance with another aspect, the radiator fins can formed of aluminum.

In accordance with another aspect, the light source can be provided as a LED light source mounted on a printed circuit board, with the printed circuit board being mounted to a support member, and with the heater member being mounted to at least one of the LED light source, the printed circuit board and the support member.

In accordance with another aspect, a mount adaptor can be fixed to at least one of the printed circuit board and the support member, with the heater member being fixed to the mount adaptor to facilitate the flow of heat toward the heater member.

In accordance with another aspect, the mount adaptor can be formed of a thermally conductive metal material to facilitate the flow of heat from the LED light source to the heater member.

In accordance with another aspect, the motor vehicle light assembly can include at least one of a headlight assembly, a taillight assembly, a directional light, a fog light, and a daytime running light.

In accordance with another aspect, a method of inhibiting fogging, frosting and/or icing of a light-transmissive lens of a motor vehicle light assembly is provided. The method includes routing a heater member within a housing of the motor vehicle light assembly and configuring a first end portion of the heater member to be in close proximity with a light source of the motor vehicle light assembly and a second end portion of the heater member to be in close proximity with a light-transmissive lens of the motor vehicle light assembly to promote the transfer of radiant heat from the light source to the light-transmissive lens.

In accordance with another aspect, the method can further include routing the second end portion of the heater member to extend along and adjacent a lowermost edge of the light-transmissive lens, thereby promoting radiant heat to rise into thermal contact with an entirety or substantial entirety of the light-transmissive lens, thus, assuring the entirety or substantial entirety of the light-transmissive lens remains defogged, defrosted and deiced while at the same time concealing the heater member from view through the light-transmissive lens by an observer and keeping the heater member from obstructing light emitted from the light source from passing through the light-transmissive lens.

In accordance with another aspect, the method can further include providing radiator fins extending radially outwardly from an outer surface of the heater member to optimize the transfer of radiant heat onto the light-transmissive lens.

In accordance with another aspect, the method can further include forming discrete groups of the radiator fins and spacing the discrete groups from one another along a length of the heater member to further optimize the transfer of radiant heat to desired locations of the light-transmissive lens.

In accordance with another aspect, the method can further include operably coupling a valve to the heater member and configuring the valve to be selectively moveable between an open state, whereat heat is free to flow through the heater member to the light-transmissive lens, and a closed state, whereat heat is inhibited from flowing through the heater member to the light-transmissive lens.

In accordance with another aspect, the method can further include configuring a controller in operable communication with the valve to move the valve between the open state and the closed state.

In accordance with another aspect, the method can further include configuring a temperature sensor in operable communication with the controller and configuring the controller to move the valve between the open state and the closed state in response to an environmental temperature sensed by the temperature sensor.

In accordance with another aspect, the method can further include configuring a vent member to promote the free transfer of heat emitted from the light source to an external environment outside of the housing when the valve is in the closed state, thereby avoiding an undesirable elevated temperature within the motor vehicle light assembly that could otherwise degrade the performance of the motor vehicle light assembly, such as by impacting the optimal performance of components of a printed circuit board, for example.

In accordance with another aspect, the method can further include operably coupling the vent member to the valve, thereby regulating the optimal temperature within the housing with a single valve, and thus, enhancing the ability to inhibit fogging, frosting and/or icing of the light-transmissive lens in and economical, reliable fashion.

In accordance with another aspect, there is provided a sensor assembly, including a housing, a sensor disposed in the housing and including a processor configured for processing signals detected by the sensor, wherein the processing causes the processor to generate heat; and a heater member disposed in the housing, the heater member being routed to radiate heat generated by the processor to an exterior of the housing to regulate the temperature of processor. In accordance with a related aspect, the sensor is a radar sensor and the processor is configured for processing radar signals detected by the radar sensor. In a related aspect, the housing is a sealed housing. In a related aspect, the heat member is a heat pipe.

In accordance with another aspect, there is provided a motor vehicle electronic module, including a housing, an electronic device as a source of heat disposed in the housing, and a heat pipe in communication, such as thermally coupled, with the electronic device, the heater member being routed to radiate heat emitted from the electronic device to an exterior of the housing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

Referring in more detail to the drawings,FIG. 1illustrates a motor vehicle10having a motor vehicle light assembly, referred to hereafter as light assembly12, constructed in accordance with an aspect of the disclosure. The light assembly12illustrated is a headlight assembly, though it is to be understood that other light assemblies are contemplated and within the scope of the disclosure, such as taillight, directional light, fog light, and daytime running light assemblies, by way of example and without limitation. The light assembly12includes a housing14with at least one, and shown as a plurality of light sources16disposed therein. Further, a light-transmissive lens, referred to hereafter as lens18, having an inner surface20facing toward the light source16and an outer surface22facing away from the light source16, is operably attached to the housing14to allow light emitted from the light source16to pass through the lens18for desired illumination. Further, in accordance with an aspect of the disclosure, a lens heater assembly24having at least one heater member26is disposed between the housing14and the light-transmissive lens18. The heater member26is configured to transfer and radiate heat emitted from at least one light source16, with the heater member26being precisely routed, as desired, to direct the heat transferred and radiated from the heater member26optimally onto the intended regions of the lens18, thereby causing the temperature of the inner surface20and the outer surface22of the lens18to be regulated to best resist fogging and to defog, to resist frosting and to defrost and to resist icing and deice the lens18. The heat emitted from at least one light source16may include heat generated by the LEDs or the electronics driving the LEDS, such as LED driver integrated circuits (ICs). Accordingly, the heat member assembly24may be coupled directly to such sources of heat e.g. to a flat portion of a chip, or indirectly to the source of heat, such as to a structure coupled to the source of heat, for example to the printed circuit board supporting the LED driver IC and/or the LEDs. Accordingly, the heat member assembly24, with the heater member26being routed to optimally transfer heat to the lens18, provides an ability to maximize the illumination efficiency of the light assembly12regardless of the environmental conditions of the external environment E, such as snow, frozen sleet, rain, humidity, or any other environment conditions that would ordinarily cause the lens18to become fogged, frosted or iced over.

The housing14can be constructed of any suitable metal or plastic material, can configured to take on any suitable shape. Housing14is shown sized to accommodate at least one or more printed circuit board (PCB)28, at least one or more lens heater assembly24and at least one or more light sources16therein.

At least some of the illustrated light sources16are, by way of example and without limitation, illustrated as LED light sources16mounted on a PCB28. The PCB28is shown, by way of example and without limitation, mounted to a support member, such as a heat-sink support member30constructed of suitable heat-sink material, as will be understood by one possessing ordinary skill in the art. The heater member26can be mounted to at least one of the LED light source16, the PCB28and/or the support member30. To facilitate mounting the heater member26, a mount adaptor32can be fixed to at least one of the PCB28and/or the support member30, with the heat member26being fixed to the mount adaptor32. Mount adaptor32is preferably constructed of a thermally conductive, lightweight metal material, such as aluminum, by way of example and without limitation.

The heater member26is constructed as an elongate member, and can be formed having a tubular wall34bounding a cavity36, with the cavity36extending between opposite closed and sealed first and second end portions, referred to hereafter as ends38,40. The heater member26is constructed of a thermally conductive material, and in accordance with one aspect, copper, by way of example and without limitation. It is to be understood that other thermally conductive metals could be used, such as aluminum or steel, for example. With the ends38,40being closed and sealed, the cavity36defines an encapsulated, enclosed system, such that fluid F can be disposed and sealed within the cavity36to facilitate heat transfer from end38toward end40, such as water, for example. To further facilitate heat transfer from end38toward end40, a wicking material, referred to as wick42, such as a sintered material or felt, by way of example and without limitation, can be disposed within cavity36. With reference toFIG. 8, in accordance with an illustrative example, the heater member26includes a first end200disposed adjacent a heat source, such as the mount adaptor32, the PCB28, or adjacent the light source16, and a second end202disposed adjacent a portion of the housing14, such as lens18, and a middle section204interconnecting the first end200and the second end202. Middle section204can include bends, turns or curves formed to position through the housing14cavity as required from the heat source to capture heat206from the desired area of the housing14to transfer radiant heat208to the desired area. A heat transfer liquid medium, referred to hereafter as fluid210, can be contained within the heater member26by a sealed outer wall212that houses the fluid210. Additionally, a wick core, also referred to as wick214, can be housed within the heater member26to further facilitate the desired transfer of heat from the first end200to the second end202. Fluid210that is heated at the first end200can be transformed into a vapor state as it receives heat generated by the adjacent heat source. Fluid210in vapor form (heated fluid220) then travels through the wick214towards the second end202, and is condensed into a fluid state at the second end202causing heat208to be released therefrom. Fluid210then travels in a cooled form (cooled fluid222) by capillary action through the wick214towards the first end202, where the cycle is repeated. Heat208transfers through the outer wall212and may be further dissipated by radiator fins44mounted to the outer wall212.

Further yet, a plurality of radiator fins44extending radially outwardly from the tubular wall34. The radiator fins44can be attached to the tubular wall34as individual members (FIG. 3), such as via interference fit and/or suitable high temperature adhesive or weld joint, or the radiator fins44can be formed as a plurality of radiator fins44fixed to a common tubular support46, such that the tubular support46and radiator fins44extending radially outwardly therefrom are constructed as a monolithic piece of material. The tubular support46can have an open through cavity sized to slide in close fit, slightly loose relation over an outer surface of tubular wall34for subsequent fixation thereto, such as via suitable high temperature adhesive, mechanical fastener and/or weld joint. The radiator fins44and tubular support46can be constructed of any suitable heat-radiating material, such as aluminum, by way of example and without limitation. Accordingly, the tubular wall34can be constructed from a first material and the radiator fins44can be constructed from a second material, wherein the first material is different from the second material.

As shown schematically inFIG. 2, the tubular wall34of the heater member can be routed into close proximity with the inner surface20of the lens18, and in particular, can be routed to extend along and adjacent a lowermost edge19of the lens18. As such, the heat radiated from the radiator fins44, illustrated by upwardly pointing arrows, can rise along the entirety of the inner surface20, thereby optimizing the ability to defog, defrost and deice the lens18.

As shown inFIGS. 5 and 6, a light assembly112of a motor vehicle110in accordance with another aspect of the disclosure is shown, wherein the same reference numerals, offset by a factor of 100, are used to identify like features.

The light assembly112has a lens heater assembly124including a heater member126, a PCB128, a support member130, and a plurality of radiator fins144disposed about the heater member126, the radiator fins144extending radially outwardly from the heater member126. In accordance with a further aspect, the radiator fins144are shown clustered in discrete clusters, also referred to as groups G1, G2, G3, spaced from one another. The groups G1, G2, G3are each shown including a plurality of the radiator fins144spaced from one another within each group G1, G2, G3by a first distance D1, while adjacent groups G1, G2, and G2, G3are spaced from one another by a second distance D2, wherein D1is less than D2. It is to be recognized that the radiator fins144and separate groups G1, G2, G3can be spaced from one another by any suitable distances, as desired, to attain the radiant heat flow pattern desired for the intended application.

The lens heater assembly124further includes a valve50operably coupled to a first end portion, also referred to as an inlet end138, of the heater member126. The valve50is selectively moveable between an open state, whereat heat is free to flow into a cavity136of the heater member126to a second end portion140, and a closed state, whereat heat is inhibited from flowing into the cavity136of the heater member126. To facilitate opening and closing the valve50, a controller52can be configured in operable communication with the valve50to move the valve between the open state and the closed state, such as in response to a temperature sensed by a temperature sensor54configured in operable communication with the controller52, shown schematically as being contained within the controller52. Accordingly, the controller52is configured to move the valve50between the open state and the closed state in response to an environmental temperature sensed by the temperature sensor54, wherein the environmental temperature is at least one of an internal environment temperature within a housing114of the light assembly112and an external environment E temperature outside the housing114.

The lens heater assembly124can further include a vent member56configured to carry and direct heat emitted from the light source116to the external environment E outside the housing114when the valve50is in the closed state. The vent member56is shown operably coupled to the valve50, such that the valve50functions as a bi-directional valve to either direct heat through the cavity136of heater member126, such as during winter, or through vent member56, such as during summer, wherein vent member56can be provided, in a non-limiting embodiment, as a tubular member having an open end to allow the heat flow therethrough to flow freely to the external environment E.

In accordance with yet another aspect, the housing114or decorative lowermost floor or partition57(FIG. 6) of the housing114, such as may be visibly seen from the external environment E though lens118, can be provided having a plurality of apertures58configured to register in alignment with the plurality of radiator fins144to allow the radiated heat99to flow through the plurality of apertures58onto predetermined regions of the light-transmissive lens118. The heater member126can be routed beneath the decorative floor or partition so that it is concealed and not visible to an observer from the external environment E, while only the fins144, such as the discrete clusters, bundles or groups G1, G2, G3of fins114can be seen through the apertures58, if at all. Accordingly, it is to be recognized that the apertures58can be precisely sized to register with and expose only the fins144of the groups G1, G2, G3of fins114, while the remaining portion of the heater member126remains concealed and hidden from view beneath the partition57of the housing114. It is to be further recognized that the heater member126and fins114are located in near proximity to, and preferably below a lowermost horizontal plane P passing through a lowermost edge119of the lens118, thereby allowing the radiated heat to rise into thermal contact with the entirety of the lens118to provide optimal heating, anti-fogging, anti-frosting and anti-icing thereof.

In accordance with a further aspect, as illustrated inFIG. 7, a method1000of inhibiting fogging, frosting and/or icing of a light-transmissive lens of a motor vehicle light assembly12,112is provided. The method1000includes a step1100of providing the motor vehicle light assembly12,112having a housing14,114bounding a light source16,116and having a light-transmissive lens18,118operably attached thereto. The method1000further includes a step1200of routing a heater member26,126within the housing14,114of the motor vehicle light assembly12,112and configuring a first end portion38,138of the heater member26,126to be in close proximity with the light source16,116of the motor vehicle light assembly12,112and a second end portion40,140of the heater member26,126to be in close proximity with the light-transmissive lens18,118of the motor vehicle light assembly12,112to promote the transfer of radiant heat from the light source16,116to the light-transmissive lens18,118.

In accordance with another aspect, the method1000can further include a step1300of routing the second end portion40,140of the heater member26,126to extend along and adjacent a lowermost edge of the light-transmissive lens18,118, thereby promoting radiant heat to rise into thermal contact with an entirety or substantial entirety of the light-transmissive lens18,118, thus, assuring the entirety or substantial entirety of the light-transmissive lens18,118remains defogged, defrosted and deiced.

In accordance with another aspect, the method1000can further include a step1400of providing radiator fins44,144extending radially outwardly from an outer surface of the heater member26,126to optimize the transfer of radiant heat to the light-transmissive lens18,118.

In accordance with another aspect, the method1000can further include a step1500of forming discrete groups G1, G2, G3of the radiator fins44,144and spacing the discrete groups G1, G2, G3from one another along a length of the heater member26,126to further optimize the transfer of radiant heat to desired locations of the light-transmissive lens18,118.

In accordance with another aspect, the method1000can further include a step1600of operably coupling a valve50to the heater member26,126and configuring the valve50to be selectively moveable between an open state, whereat radiant heat is free to flow through the heater member26,126to the light-transmissive lens18,118, and a closed state, whereat radiant heat is inhibited from flowing through the heater member26,126to the light-transmissive lens18,118.

In accordance with another aspect, the method1000can further include a step1700of configuring a controller52in operable communication with the valve50to move the valve50between the open state and the closed state.

In accordance with another aspect, the method1000can further include a step1800of configuring a temperature sensor54in operable communication with the controller52and configuring the controller52to move the valve50between the open state and the closed state in response to an environmental temperature sensed by the temperature sensor54.

In accordance with another aspect, the method1000can further include a step1900of configuring a vent member56to carry and direct heat emitted from the light source16,116to an external environment E outside the housing14,114when the valve50is in the closed state, thereby maintaining and optimal temperature within the housing14,114to optimally inhibit fogging, frosting and/or icing of the light-transmissive lens18,118.

With reference toFIG. 10, there is illustrate the heater member26including a first end200disposed adjacent a heat source, such as the mount adaptor32, the PCB28, or adjacent the light source16, and a second end202disposed adjacent a portion of the housing14, such as lens18, and a middle section204interconnecting the first end200and the second end202. Middle section204can include bends, turns or curves204a,204bformed to be routed through the housing14cavity as required from the heat source (light source16) to capture heat206from the heat source and to route the heat through the housing14to expel heat208to the desired area. Heat208transfers through from the second end202towards the lens18and may be further dissipated by radiator fins44mounted to the second end202. With reference toFIG. 9, there is illustrated the position of the second end202below and adjacent the lens18, illustrating the upwards propagation of heat208to heat the lens18to melt any ice211build-up or dissipate any condensation build up213.

With reference toFIGS. 11 and 12, valve50may be activated to cause fluid210to flow to an internal heater member26bor towards external heater member26aconnected to vent member56based on the temperature of the housing. Valve50may be controlled by controller52, or by a thermally activated mechanical switch51based on the temperature reached in the housing14. In the event the housing14becomes over heated, which may damage or reduce performance of the LEDS16or other electrical components, such as for example in summer time, heat may be directed towards the exterior of the housing14, where it may be dissipated to the environment E. Vent member56may be directly or indirectly exposed to the external environment E. For example as illustrated inFIG. 12, vent member56is exposed directly to the external environment E via a port233provided in the housing14to allow the internal heater member26bto exit the housing14, such that wind223may contact and assist with dissipating heat transferred to the vent member56.

Now referring toFIGS. 13 to 16, in addition toFIGS. 1 to 12there is shown a sensor assembly20′ equipped with the teachings described herein. The sensor assembly20′ may be employed as part of a gesture detection or obstacle detection system mounted to the vehicle10, for example such as is described in commonly owned US Patent Application number US2019/0162822A1 entitled “Radar detection system for non-contact human activation of powered closure member”, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. The sensor assembly is shown to include a housing40′, a sensor20′ disposed in the housing40′ and including a processor66′, for example mounted to a printed circuit board70′ configured for processing signals detected by the sensor20′, such that the processing (e.g. performing rapid signal processing calculations) causes the processor66′ to generate heat. The sensor assembly20′ further includes a heater member26disposed in, such as within an interior cavity of, the housing40′, the heater member26being routed to radiate heat generated by the processor66′ to an exterior of the housing40′ to regulate the temperature of processor66′ (e.g. assist with reducing the temperature of the processor66′). In accordance with a related aspect, the sensor20′ is a radar sensor including transmit and receive antennas60′ coupled to the processor66′ and the processor66′ is configured for processing radar signals (e.g. by executing algorithms) detected by the antennas60′. In a related aspect, the housing40′ is a sealed housing to protect the processor66′ and other electronics against ingress of exterior environmental conditions e.g. rain, moisture. As a result, the housing40′ is a sealed housing and not provided with open cooling ports, while the sealed heater member26routed through a sealed port233′ to radiate heat generated by the processor66′ to an exterior of the housing40′ can be sealed against the housing40′ to maintain the sealed integrity of the interior housing cavity.

It is recognized that the teachings herein may be applied for transferring heat generated by a motor vehicle electronic device, such as the herein above described light assembly12, or also referred to as a light module, and the sensor assembly20′, or also referred to as a sensor module, to another part of the module, or to an external environment of the module. The heat member26described herein for transferring heat may be configured for coupling to the source of heat, such as for example and without limitation to a printed circuit board, a chip such as a microprocessor, drivers, FETS, LED chips, and the like, and may be routed to another area of the module, such as to another part of the housing or through the housing via a sealed port to an external environment of the housing.