DE29610057U1 - Light emitting diodes in the automotive industry - Google Patents

Description

Industrial Master / Electrical Engineering
Neustadt 39a

02763 Zittau

,5.06.1996

German Patent Office
Zweibrückenstrasse 12

80331 Munich

Utility model application 1 - Description

The present utility model application includes a complete offer for the automobile and vehicle industry for more cost-effective night design for special applications. This includes components that were previously difficult or impossible to illuminate, such as switches and toggles, control wheels, rocker arms, handle recesses and the like. At the same time, the offer offers cost-optimized solutions for replacing existing applications with incandescent lamps and complex light guide systems.

The state of the art is that today, in the age of modern electronics, conventional light bulbs are still used in vehicles for various marking and/or lighting purposes. However, these are energy-intensive and susceptible to mechanical vibrations. Furthermore, their use requires a high level of technical effort (socket, holder, fiber optic cable or material).

The present utility model application can be used in all vehicles. This includes cars, trucks, buses, motorcycles, mopeds, electric vehicles and small motorized vehicles for disabled people and in the sports sector, industrial trucks, excavators and other construction equipment, watercraft.

Only light emitting diodes, hereinafter referred to as LEDs, are used.

1. Decentralized variant:

In control wheels for ventilation and/or heating flaps, as well as other operating elements
One or more LEDs are installed using a circuit board. This circuit board contains: LED, series resistor, connection points or contacts for the on-board voltage.
This variant is preferably suitable for up to 3 LEDs ¹ s.
(See drawing 1, circuit 1).

2.Central variant:

All LEDs are controlled by a resistor network or circuit. Advantage: The electronic circuit can be integrated into the central vehicle electronics. It is also possible to accommodate a circuit board in a rectangular format and without special contours in a simple and cost-effective manner. This eliminates the need for several individual, specially shaped circuit boards. The LEDs are supplied from the central vehicle electronics via a single supply cable of maximum Ix 0.25 - 0.35 mm ² and are crimped directly onto this. The circuit is always connected to the vehicle ground. This enables a much simpler, structural installation of the LEDs on site. This variant is suitable for several applications. (See drawing 1, circuit 2 and drawing 2).

The entire LED range can be used, from mini LEDs to special LEDs that can be operated directly with 9 - 15 V, to high-performance LEDs with luminous intensities of 1-15000 millicandelas (mcd) with a current consumption of max. 20 mA.

It is possible to stagger the light intensity of LED groups across different networks or sound systems in the circuits.

The LEDs are mainly available in red, green and yellow. Certain yellow LEDs are suitable for a white night design. Positioned behind white PC material, a good white effect is achieved.

All circuits are basic circuits that must be specially dimensioned for the application. This depends in particular on which components the various manufacturers have typed and approved for their production in terms of both quality and cost optimization. The version with an integrated circuit enables additional brightness control of all connected LEDs.

3. Night design

This has so far almost exclusively included the conventional area of the dashboard and the visual inspection of control wheels for ventilation and/or heating flaps. Useful extensions are: marking/illumination of door handle recesses on all vehicle doors; ashtray lids in the area of doors, center consoles or seat backs; ignition lock lighting; marking of electric window lifters, trunk lever, radio cover, open door with marking of the upper and lower edge of the door exit, light switch interior lighting (max. lmcd).

In this way, for example, mid-range cars can be significantly upgraded.

In the field of construction machinery, the visual overview of control levers can be improved by color-coding the LEDs. This applies to watercraft as well as to all types of disabled vehicles.

et and written

5.Appendix :

Drawing 1 - simple circuit (1), circuit with resistor network (2); Drawing 2 - circuit with integrated circuit Drawing 3 - design variant for control wheels

Drawing 4 - further design variants for rocker switch lever, gear knob, control wheel, schematic.

Claims (1)

Protection claims ; J*·,. · · .·· · · ··· Barge claim 1 Light emitting diodes for lighting (night design), of fittings, control wheels for ventilation and/or heating flaps and control elements such as door handle recesses on all vehicle doors; ashtray lids in the area of doors, center consoles or seat backs; ignition lock lighting; marking of electric window lifters, trunk lever, radio cover, open door with marking of the upper and lower edge of the door exit, light switch interior lighting, characterized in that these are installed by means of a circuit board on which the diode itself, the series resistor and the connection contacts for the on-board voltage are located. Protection claim 2 Light emitting diodes according to claim 1, characterized in that they are centrally controlled by means of a circuit or resistor network which is integrated into the central vehicle electronics. The diodes are supplied from there via a single supply cable and are crimped directly onto this.