专利摘要:
There is provided a lighting circuit (300) configured to control a light source (200) comprising a plurality of light emitting units (202_1 to 202_4) connected in series. The lighting circuit (300) comprises a converter (310) which is configured to supply a control current to the light source (200), a plurality of high-side switches (SW1_1 to SW1_4), each of which is provided between one end of a corresponding light emitting unit and one output of the converter (310), and a plurality of low side switches (SW2_1 to SW2_4), each of which is provided between another end of the transmitting unit corresponding light and another output of the converter (310).
公开号:FR3071588A1
申请号:FR1858516
申请日:2018-09-20
公开日:2019-03-29
发明作者:Takuya Murakami;Shunichiro Yoshida
申请人:Koito Manufacturing Co Ltd;
IPC主号:
专利说明:

Aspects of the present invention relate to a lighting device used in an automobile or equivalent.
A vehicle light includes a plurality of lights for a high beam and a low beam. In recent years, these lights have adopted semiconductor light sources such as a light emitting diode and a laser diode. Figure 1 is a circuit diagram of a vehicle light using a semiconductor light source.
A vehicle light lr comprises a light source 10 and a lighting circuit 20r. The lighting circuit 20r comprises a current source 30, a plurality of bypass switches 40_l to 40_N, and a control circuit 50. The current source 30 receives a battery voltage V BA t (also called input voltage V ÎN ) from a battery 2 via a switch 4 and stabilizes a control current I D rv flowing through the light source 10 at a certain quantity of target.
The plurality of bypass switches 40_l to 40 „N is associated with a plurality of light emission units 12_1 to 12_N, and the OPEN / CLOSED state of each bypass switch 40 can be controlled individually.
When the i th bypass switch 40_i is in a closed state, the control current I D rv flows in the bypass switch 40_i instead of the light emitting unit 12_i, so that the light emission unit 12_i is switched off. When the bypass switch 40J is in an open state, the control current I D rv flows in the light emitting unit 12_i, so that the light emitting unit 12J is turned on. Document JP-A-2014-017463 describes an example of a lighting circuit.
The inventors of the present invention analyzed the vehicle fire lr in Figure 1 and found the following.
The light source 10 and the lighting circuit 20r are connected by means of wiring (beam). When a fault (for example a ground fault) occurs at a point in the wiring, some or all of the light emission units cannot be switched on. As an example, when an OUT1 pin is shorted to ground, all of the light emitting units 12_1 to 12_N cannot be turned on, and when an OUT2 pin is shorted to ground, the units light emission 12_2 to 12_N downstream cannot be switched on.
The present invention was made due to the above circumstances, and an exemplary object of the present invention is to provide a lighting circuit capable of reducing functional losses in a failure or an abnormal state.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a lighting circuit configured to control a light source comprising a plurality of light emission units connected in series. The lighting circuit includes a converter that is configured to supply control current to a light source, a plurality of switches on the top side, and a plurality of switches on the bottom side. Each high side switch is provided between one end of a corresponding light emitting unit and an output of the converter. Each low side switch is provided between another end of the corresponding light emitting unit and another output of the converter.
According to this aspect, the ON / OFF state of the plurality of light emission units can be controlled by controlling states of the switches on the high side and switches on the low side. In addition, at the time of failure, a faulty part can be separated, and the ignition of the remaining light-emitting units can be maintained. In the present description, the failure may include a temporary anomaly.
The other output of the converter can be grounded and each switch on the bottom side can be provided between the other end of the corresponding light emission unit and ground.
The lighting circuit may further comprise a diode provided between respective adjacent light emission units. Therefore, reverse current flow can be avoided.
The lighting circuit may further comprise a plurality of monitoring circuits, each of which is configured to monitor an electrical state of one end of a corresponding light emission unit. The failure can therefore be detected.
Each monitoring circuit can monitor a voltage at one end of the corresponding light emission unit. Therefore, a short circuit failure such as a ground fault or a power failure or an open circuit (disconnection) can be detected.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a vehicle light is provided. The vehicle light may include the light source comprising the plurality of light emitting units connected in series and the lighting circuit described above which is configured to control the light source.
Furthermore, any combination of the above configuration elements, and the configuration elements and expressions of the present invention can be implemented as methods, devices, systems, or equivalent which are also relevant as aspects of the present invention.
According to the above configuration, functional losses at the time of the failure can be reduced.
Figure 1 is a circuit diagram of a vehicle light using a semiconductor light source.
Figure 2 is a block diagram of a lighting device comprising a lighting circuit according to one embodiment.
Figures 3A and 3B are equivalent circuit diagrams of the lighting circuit in a normal state.
Figures 4A and 4B are equivalent circuit diagrams of the lighting circuit in a failed state.
Figure 5 is an equivalent circuit diagram of the lighting circuit in a fault state.
Figure 6 is a circuit diagram of a lighting circuit according to a first modification.
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Identical or equivalent configuration elements, members, and methods shown in each drawing have the same references, and repeated descriptions are appropriately omitted. In addition, the embodiments are not intended to limit the invention, and all the features and combinations thereof described in the embodiments are not necessarily essential for the invention.
In the present description, "a state where an element A is connected to an element B" includes not only a case where the element A and the element B are physically and directly connected but also a case where the element A and element B are connected indirectly via other elements which do not substantially affect a state of electrical connection thereof or cause deterioration of any function or effect exercised by the connection of these.
Similarly, "a state where an element C is provided between the element A and the element B" includes not only a case where the element A and the element C or the element B and the element C are directly related but also a case where element A and element C, or element B and element C are indirectly linked via other elements which do not substantially affect a state of electrical connection or do not cause deterioration of any function or of an effect exerted by the connection of these.
In the description, references assigned to electrical signals such as voltage signals and current signals, or to circuit elements such as resistors and capacitors represent voltage values and current values, or resistance values and capacity values respectively as required.
Figure 2 is a block diagram of a lighting device 100 comprising a lighting circuit 300 according to the embodiment. The lighting device 100 comprises a light source 200 and the lighting circuit 300. The light source 200 comprises a plurality of light emission units 202_l to 202_N connected in series. The number N of light emitting units 202 is not particularly limited. N = 4 in the present embodiment. Examples of the light emitting units 202 include a light emitting diode, a laser diode, and an organic EL element and are not limited to this. Each light emitting unit 202 may include a plurality of light emitting elements connected in series and / or in parallel. The light source 200 and the lighting circuit 300 are connected by means of beams 210. The lighting circuit 300 receives a supply voltage (that is to say a battery voltage) V B at from battery 2 via a light switch SWB and controls the light source 200. The light circuit 300 comprises a converter 310, a plurality of high side switches SW1_1 to SW1_N, a plurality of low side switches SW2_1 to SW2_N, a control circuit 320, and a plurality of monitoring circuits 330_l to 330_N.
The converter 310 delivers an IDRV control current to the light source 200. The type of converter 310 is not particularly limited, and a known switching converter such as a step-down converter, a step-up converter, a converter step-down, Cuk converter, forward converter, or recovery converter can be used. The type of converter 310 can be determined as a function of a direct voltage Vf of the light emitting unit 202 and of the number N thereof. More specifically, when Vf x N <V B at, a step-down type can be adopted as converter 310, and when Vf x N> V BA t, a step-up type or a combination of the step-up step type and a type step down to a rear floor can be adopted.
In the present embodiment, the number of switches on the top side SW1 and the number of switches on the bottom side SW2 is four which is equal to the number N of light emitting units 202.
The i th (1 <i <N) switch on the high side SWl_i is provided between one end (that is to say an anode) of a corresponding light emission unit 202_i and an output (c (ie a positive electrode) of converter 310. The i th switch on the bottom side SW2_ i is provided between another end (that is to say a cathode) of a corresponding light emitting unit 202_i and another output (that is to say a negative electrode) of the converter 310. In the present embodiment, the negative electrode of the converter 310 is grounded, and a positive voltage V O ut is generated at level of the positive electrode of converter 310. Consequently, the switch on the bottom side SW2_i is provided in a manner equivalent to being provided between the other end (that is to say the cathode) of the 'corresponding light emission unit 202_i and the mass.
A plurality of diodes (that is to say rectifier elements) DI to D3 is provided between the respective adjacent light emission units 202.
The monitoring circuits 330_l to 330_N monitor an electrical state of one end (the anode in the present embodiment) of the corresponding light emission unit 202 and determine whether a short-circuit failure or an open circuit failure has occurred. For example, the monitoring circuit 330 includes a voltage comparator and can detect respective faults by comparing a voltage to be monitored with a threshold for detecting a short circuit and a threshold for detecting an open circuit. For a specific fault detection method and therefore a circuit configuration, a monitoring circuit similar to the monitoring circuit used in a bypass method shown in Figure 1 can be used.
The control circuit 320 controls the plurality of switches SW1 and SW2. For example, the control circuit 320 can be a microcomputer or a central processing unit.
A basic configuration of the lighting circuit 300 has been described above. The operation thereof will then be described. A state of the switches described below can be controlled by control circuit 320 and cooperative operation with other circuits.
(Normal state)
The lighting circuit 300 can turn on any of the light emitting units 202 which are connected sequentially and turn off the remaining light emitting units 202.
For example, when all of the light emitting units 202 are to be turned on, the switch on the high side SW1_1 on the highest potential side is closed, the switch on the low side SW2_4 on the highest potential side low is closed, and the remaining switches are open.
It is generalized that when the i th light emission unit 202_i to the j th light emission unit 202J (1 <j <i N) have to be switched on, the switch on the high side SWl_i and the SW2J low side switch are closed.
While taking this state as a basis, some of the light emission units 202_i to 202J can be individually turned off or dimmed. Figures 3A and 3B are equivalent circuit diagrams of the lighting circuit 300 in a normal state. In Figures 3A and 3B, switches which do not contribute to the operation are omitted.
In Figure 3A, i = 1, j = 4, that is to say SW1_1 and SW2_4 are fixed in CLOSED states. Therefore, all of the light emitting units 202_1 to 202_4 can be turned on.
The high side switch SW1_2 also functions as a bypass switch for the light emission unit 202JL. The high side switch SW1_3 functions as a bypass switch for the light emitting units 202_l and 202_2. The high side switch SW1_4 functions as a bypass switch for the light emitting units 202_l to 202_3. It is generalized that the k th switch SWl_k functions as a bypass switch for the light emission units 202_l to 202_ (kl).
In Figure 3A, when the light emission unit 202_l must be temporarily turned off, the switch on the top side SW1_2 is closed. When the light-emitting unit 202_1 is to be darkened, the high-side switch SW1_2 is switched with a duty cycle corresponding to a target brightness.
In Figure 3B, i = 2, j = 3, that is to say that SW1_2 and SW2_3 are fixed in CLOSED states. Therefore, the two light emitting units 202_2 and 202_3 can be turned on.
In Figure 3B, when the light emission unit 202_2 must be temporarily turned off, the switch on the top side SW1_3 is closed. When the light emission unit 202_2 is to be darkened, the switch on the high side SW1_3 is switched with a duty cycle corresponding to a target brightness.
Figures 3A and 3B are simply examples, and any combination of i and j can be chosen.
(Failure state)
Figures 4A and 4B are equivalent circuit diagrams of the lighting circuit 300 in a failed state.
Figure 4A shows a situation where a short circuit such as a ground fault or a power failure occurs at an anode (called Nshort fault node) of the transmitting unit of light 202_l on the highest potential side in the state of FIG. 3A. More specifically, the fault node can occur at an output pin PI of the lighting circuit 300, the wiring of a harness connected to it, or equivalent.
The control circuit 320 closes the switch on the high side SW1_2 most adjacent on a lower potential side than the node Nshort and opens the switches on the remaining high side SW1_1, SW1_3, and SW1_4.
Consequently, the control current I D rv generated by the converter 310 can bypass the fault node Nshort via the switch on the high side SW1_2 and can be supplied continuously to the light emission units 202_2 at 202_4. That is, since ignition states of the light emitting units 202_2 to 202_4 can be maintained, a loss of function can be reduced.
In order to protect the light emission units 202 against an overvoltage, a voltage limiting diode (that is to say a Zener diode) 204 operating as a voltage limiting circuit can be connected in parallel opposite each light emitting unit 202. In FIG. 4A, only the voltage limiting diode 204 for the light emitting unit 202_l is shown, and the voltage limiting diodes 204 of other units d light emission 202 are omitted. The voltage limiting diode 204 can be a current flow from the cathode to the anode of the light emitting unit 202 at the time of a short circuit failure. The diode DI is provided to prevent the control current I D rv flowing through the high side switch SW1_2 from flowing to the fault node Nshort via the voltage limiting diode 204. Consequently, the lighting of the light emitting units 202_2 to 202_4 can be maintained in this state, and an overcurrent can be prevented from flowing through the voltage limiting diode 204.
Even when the voltage limiting diode 204 is not provided, different failure modes can be avoided by providing the diodes DI to D3. For example, in a case where the cathode of the light emitting unit 202_l is shorted to ground when the high side switch SW1_2 is closed, since the effect of the ground fault is eliminated because the 'the diode Dl is provided, the light emitting units 202_2 to 202_4 can be switched on.
In Figure 4B, a short circuit such as a ground fault or a power supply fault occurs at an anode (represented by the Nshort fault node) of the second emission unit of light 202_2.
The control circuit 320 closes the switch on the most adjacent high side SW1_3 on a lower potential side than the Nshort node where the failure is detected. The remaining high side switches SW1_1, SW1_2, and SW1_4 are in OPEN states.
Consequently, the control current I D rv generated by the converter 310 can bypass the fault node Nshort via the switch on the high side SW1_3 and can be delivered continuously to the light emission units 202_3 and 202_4. That is, since ignition states of the light emitting units 202_2 to 202_4 can be maintained, a loss of function can be reduced.
When the failure occurs at an anode of the light emitting unit 202_3, in a similar manner, the high side switch SW1_4 is closed and the remaining high side switches SW1_1 to SW1_3 are closed. Therefore, the lighting of the light emitting unit 202_4 can be maintained.
Here, an example has been described in which the light emission units 202 on a potential side lower than the faulty part are protected, but we are not limited to this. When the failed part appears in the light emitting units 202 near the low potential, the light emitting units 202 on a higher potential side than the stranded light emitting units 202 can be protected. Figure 5 is an equivalent circuit diagram of the lighting circuit 300 in a fault state. In Figure 5, an open circuit failure occurs at an anode of the fourth light-emitting unit 202_4. In this case, the most adjacent low side switch SW2_3 on a higher potential side at the point of failure is closed, and the remaining low side switches are open.
It is generalized that when the light emission unit 202_k whose failure is detected is included in the lighting target range, that is to say when i <k <j, the circuit 320 changes i or j so that the light-emitting unit 202_k is outside the lighting target range. When i is changed, the switch on the high side SW1_i corresponding to i changed is closed, and when j is changed, the switch on the low side SW2J corresponding to the changed j is closed.
The above is the operation of the lighting circuit 300. According to the lighting circuit 300, the CLOSED / OPEN state of the plurality of light emission units 202 can be controlled by controlling the states of the high side switches SW1 and low side switches SW2. In addition, at the time of failure, the failed portion can be separated, and the remaining light emitting units can be protected to maintain lighting.
(Applications)
The lighting device 100 described above can be a vehicle light. In this case, one unit of the plurality of light emitting units 202 may be a low beam, and another may be a high beam. Another can be a daytime running light, and another can be a daytime running light / template.
Given the protection method at the time of the failure, a light having a relatively high degree of importance can be assigned to the side of lower potential, and a light having a low degree of importance can be assigned to the side higher potential. For example, the main and dipped beam headlamps may be considered more important than the daytime running light and the daytime running light / clearance. Therefore, for example, when N = 4, the plurality of light-emitting units 202 may be assigned in order to the daytime running light, the daytime running light / clearance light, the main beam light, and the crossing on the high potential side.
Although the present invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, the embodiments simply illustrate the principle and application of the present invention, and various changes and modifications of the configurations can be made in the embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
(First modification)
Figure 6 is a circuit diagram of a lighting circuit 300A according to a first modification. The converter 310 delivers a negative voltage, and a Cuk converter can for example be adopted. In this case, the positive electrode output (+) of the converter 310 is grounded, and a negative output voltage - V O ut is generated at the negative electrode output (-).
(Second modification)
When the lighting device 100 is used as a vehicle light, a plurality of light emitting units 202 can be used as a variable light distribution headlight (i.e., an adaptive driving beam). The adaptive driving beam dynamically and adaptively controls a light distribution configuration as a function of the situation in front of the vehicle (for example presence or absence of an approaching vehicle, of a preceding vehicle, or of pedestrians) .
(Third modification)
Although it has been explained that the switches on the high side can also be used as bypass switches for the light emitting units on the higher potential side in the embodiment, the switches on the high side, the switches Bypass can be provided in parallel with the light emitting units to control pulse width modulation dimming or individual CLOSED / OPEN states.
When the lighting device 100 is used as a vehicle light, a plurality of light emission units 202 can be used as a variable light distribution headlight (i.e. a driving beam adaptive). The adaptive driving beam dynamically and adaptively controls a light distribution configuration as a function of the situation in front of the vehicle (for example presence or absence of an approaching vehicle, of a preceding vehicle, or of pedestrians) .
In this case, the light source 200 of Figure 2 can be a light source for a high beam. The vehicle light may include an optical system which projects light emitted from the plurality of light emitting units 202 to different areas on a virtual vertical screen in front of the vehicle. By controlling the switching on and off of the light emitting units 202, the brightness of the corresponding areas can be changed, and a desired light distribution pattern can be formed.
权利要求:
Claims (5)
[1" id="c-fr-0001]
1. Lighting circuit (300) configured to control a light source (200) comprising a plurality of light emission units (202JL to 202_4) connected in series, the lighting circuit (300) being characterized in what it includes:
a converter (310) which is configured to supply control current to the light source (200);
a plurality of high side switches (SW1_1 to SW1_4), each of which is provided between an end of a corresponding light emitting unit and an output of the converter (310); and a plurality of low side switches (SW2_1 to SW2_4), each of which is provided between another end of the corresponding light emitting unit and another output of the converter (310).
[2" id="c-fr-0002]
2. Lighting circuit (300) according to claim 1, further comprising:
a diode which is provided between the respective adjacent light emitting units (202_l to 202_4).
[3" id="c-fr-0003]
3. Lighting circuit (300) according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising:
a plurality of monitoring circuits (330_l to 330_4), each of which is configured to monitor an electrical state of one end of a corresponding light emitting unit.
[4" id="c-fr-0004]
4. Lighting circuit (300) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the other output of the converter (310) is grounded, and in which each switch on the bottom side is provided between the other end of the corresponding light emitting unit and ground.
[5" id="c-fr-0005]
5. Vehicle light characterized in that it comprises:
a light source (200) which includes a plurality of light emitting units (202_l to 202_4) connected in series; and
5 the lighting circuit (300) according to any one of claims 1 to 4 which is configured to control the light source (200).
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引用文献:
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法律状态:
2019-08-20| PLFP| Fee payment|Year of fee payment: 2 |
2020-07-28| PLFP| Fee payment|Year of fee payment: 3 |
2020-09-04| PLSC| Publication of the preliminary search report|Effective date: 20200904 |
2021-07-27| PLFP| Fee payment|Year of fee payment: 4 |
优先权:
申请号 | 申请日 | 专利标题
JP2017182400A|JP7023648B2|2017-09-22|Lighting circuit and vehicle lighting|
JP2017182400|2017-09-22|
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