JP2002362220A - Turn signal lamp, turn signal lamp system, and load adjusting device for turn signal lamp - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a turn signal lamp capable of informing disconnection of a light-emitting diode by the change of the flashing period of the turn signal lamp, a turn signal lamp system, and a load adjusting device for the turn signal lamp. SOLUTION: Since a pseudo load unit 50 is connected in parallel to a light- emitting diode element 3 of the light-emitting diode unit 1, the current fed from a flasher relay is equal to that of a bulb system. If one of the light- emitting diode elements 3 of the light-emitting diode unit 1 is disconnected, the disconnection is detected by a disconnection detection current control unit 60, a current control transistor Tr1 is turned OFF, the period of turning ON.OFF of the flasher relay is shorter than the regular value, and the non- disconnected light-emitting diode elements 3 and a front signal lamp are flashed in a short period.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a turn signal lamp and a load adjusting device for a turn signal lamp, which are provided on a body of an automobile or the like and serve as a direction indicator, and more particularly to a turn signal using a light emitting diode. The present invention relates to a lamp, a turn signal lamp system, and a load adjusting device for a turn signal lamp.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, light bulbs are used for turn signal lamps provided at the four front and rear corners of a car, and the light bulbs are turned on and off at predetermined intervals by a flasher relay to change the direction in which the car turns. It is displayed. And if any one of the bulbs before and after is broken, the load on the flasher relay will be halved,
The blinking cycle of the remaining turn signal lamps is shortened (for example, half the normal cycle) to notify the driver of the abnormality.

The structure and operation of a conventional flasher relay and turn signal lamp will be described below with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG.
Is a control IC 111, a relay 112 controlled by the control IC 111, and a relay contact 112a of the relay 112.
, Resistors 113, 114, 115, 116 and capacitors 117, 118. Further, a light bulb 122 of a front left turn signal lamp, a light bulb 123 of a rear left turn signal lamp, and a light bulb 124 of an in-meter indicator are arranged in parallel with the relay contact 112a via a turn switch 140 or a hazard switch 121. It is connected to the. Further, a turn switch 140 or a hazard switch 131 is connected to the relay contact 112a.
Via the front right turn signal lamp bulb 13
2 and the rear right turn signal lamp bulb 133
And the light bulb 134 of the in-meter indicator is connected in parallel. The flasher relay 110 includes a switch 162, a fuse 163, and a main switch 161,
Alternatively, it is connected to the battery 160 via the switch 162 and the fuse 164.

In the flasher relay and the turn signal lamp having the above configuration, when the turn switch 140 is turned on to the left or the hazard switch 121 is turned on when the bulbs 122 to 124 are not disconnected, the bulb 12 is turned off.
Since a current flows through all of the ICs 2 to 124, the control IC 111
Detects a current equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value, and the relay contact 112a of the relay 112 repeats ON / OFF at a normal cycle (for example, 85 times per minute). When one of the light bulbs 122 and 123 is broken, turning the turn switch 140 to the left or the hazard switch 121 turns on the light bulbs 122 to 124.
, The control IC 111 cannot detect a current equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold, and the relay contact 112a of the relay 112 is turned on at a cycle shorter than a normal cycle (for example, twice as fast as a normal cycle).・ OFF is repeated.
In addition, turn switch 140, hazard switch 13
1, the same operation is performed for the light bulbs 132 to 134. Therefore, the driver can easily recognize that the light bulb has burned out by blinking the unbroken light bulb at a shorter cycle than usual.

[0005] In recent years, light-emitting diodes have been used in high-mount stop lamps and the like due to the improvement in luminance of light-emitting diodes, and it is conceivable to use light-emitting diodes also in turn signal lamps.
For example, as shown in FIG. 7, a light bulb is used for the front turn signal lamp 101 of the automobile 100, a light emitting diode is used for the rear turn signal lamp 102, and the front turn signal lamp 101 and the rear turn signal lamp 102 are integrated into one. Connecting to the flasher relay 103 is conceivable.

[0006]

However, when a light emitting diode is connected to a flasher relay for a light bulb as described above, the current flowing through the light emitting diode is much smaller than that of the light bulb, so that the light emitting diode is disconnected. However, there is a problem in that the change in the current value is very small and the blinking cycle of the remaining light emitting elements hardly changes, and the driver cannot be notified of the disconnection of the light emitting diode.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems. In a turn signal lamp using a light emitting diode as a light emitting element, a turn signal capable of notifying disconnection of the light emitting diode by a change in a blinking cycle of the turn signal lamp. An object of the present invention is to provide a lamp, a turn signal lamp system, and a load adjusting device for a turn signal lamp.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, a turn signal lamp according to claim 1 is connected to a light emitting diode as a light emitting element in parallel with the light emitting diode, and is connected to the light emitting diode. And a current control means for reducing the current value of the pseudo load means when the light emitting diode is disconnected.

In the turn signal lamp having this configuration, the pseudo load means has a predetermined current value when the light emitting diode as a light emitting element is turned on, and the current control means has a current value of the pseudo load means when the light emitting diode is disconnected. Lower.

In the turn signal lamp according to a second aspect, in addition to the configuration of the turn signal lamp according to the first aspect, the sum of the current value of the light emitting diode and the current value of the pseudo load means is set to It is characterized in that the current value of the light bulb is substantially the same as that when a light bulb is provided instead of the light emitting diode and the dummy load means.

According to the turn signal lamp of this configuration, in addition to the operation of the turn signal lamp according to the first aspect,
The sum of the current value of the light emitting diode and the current value of the dummy load means can be made substantially the same as the current value of the light bulb when a light bulb is provided instead of the light emitting diode and the dummy load means.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the turn signal lamp according to the first aspect, the current control means detects a disconnection of the light emitting diode. And a current control circuit for reducing the current value of the pseudo load means when the disconnection detection circuit detects disconnection of the light emitting diode.

[0013] In the turn signal lamp having this configuration, in addition to the function of the turn signal lamp according to claim 1 or 2, the disconnection detecting circuit of the current control means detects disconnection of the light emitting diode. When it is detected, the current control circuit of the current control means reduces the current value of the dummy load means.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a turn signal lamp system including a plurality of turn signal lamps including a light emitting element connected in parallel with each other, and using a light emitting diode as the light emitting element; Are connected in parallel to each other, and a pseudo load means that has a predetermined current value when the light emitting diode is turned on, a current control means that reduces the current value of the pseudo load means when the light emitting diode is disconnected, When operating to light each light emitting element, if the sum of the current values of all the lighted light emitting elements and the current value of the pseudo load means is a predetermined value or more, the current is intermittently supplied to the light emitting elements. ON / OFF operation is performed in a predetermined cycle, and when the total of the current values is less than the predetermined value, the ON / OFF operation is performed in the predetermined period. And a flasher relay performed in a short period from the period.

In the turn signal lamp system having this configuration, the pseudo load means has a predetermined current value when the light emitting diode is turned on, and the current control means reduces the current value of the pseudo load means when the light emitting diode is disconnected. .
Therefore, when the flasher relay is operated to light each light emitting element, if the sum of the current values of all the lighted light emitting elements and the current value of the pseudo load means is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the flasher relay intermittently operates the light emitting elements. ON / O to supply current
The operation of the FF is performed in a predetermined cycle, and when the sum of the current values is less than the predetermined value, the ON / OFF operation is performed in a cycle shorter than the predetermined cycle.

In the turn signal lamp system according to a fifth aspect, in addition to the configuration of the turn signal lamp system according to the fourth aspect, at least one of the plurality of turn signal lamps emits light. When a light bulb is used as an element and each of the light emitting elements is turned on, the sum of the current value of the light emitting diode of one turn signal lamp and the current value of the dummy load means is substantially equal to the current value of the light bulb of one turn signal lamp. It is the same.

In the turn signal lamp system having this configuration, in addition to the operation of the turn signal lamp system according to claim 4, a light bulb is used as a light emitting element of at least one of the plurality of turn signal lamps. When each light emitting element is turned on, the sum of the current value of the light emitting diode of one turn signal lamp and the current value of the dummy load means is substantially the same as the current value of the light bulb of one turn signal lamp.

In the turn signal lamp system according to a sixth aspect, in addition to the configuration of the turn signal lamp system according to the fourth or fifth aspect, the current control means detects a disconnection of the light emitting diode. A detection circuit; and a current control circuit for reducing a current value of the pseudo load means when the disconnection detection circuit detects a disconnection of the light emitting diode.

In the turn signal lamp system having this configuration, in addition to the operation of the turn signal lamp system according to claim 4 or 5, the disconnection detecting circuit of the current control means detects disconnection of the light emitting diode and disconnects the light emitting diode. Is detected, the current control circuit of the current control means reduces the current value of the dummy load means.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a load adjusting device for a turn signal lamp used in a turn signal lamp using a light emitting diode as a light emitting element. Pseudo-load means that is connected in parallel and has a predetermined current value when the light-emitting diode is turned on, and current control means that reduces the current value of the pseudo-load means when the light-emitting diode is disconnected. ing.

In the turn signal lamp load adjusting device having this configuration, the pseudo load means has a predetermined current value when a light emitting diode as a light emitting element is turned on, and the current control means has a pseudo load when the light emitting diode is disconnected. Reduce the current value of the means.

[0022]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings, taking a rear combination lamp assembly of an automobile as an example. Here, FIG. 1 shows a light emitting diode unit 1 used as a turn signal lamp of a rear combination lamp.
2 is a cross-sectional view of the light emitting diode unit 1 taken along line AA in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 shows a lamp body 10 in a rear combination lamp assembly 20 showing an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the light emitting diode unit 1, the back cover assembly 15, the outage indicator 17, and the seat packing 19 as viewed from the vehicle body side. FIG. FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a state in which the back cover assembly 15, the outage indicator 17, and the seat packing 19 are provided. FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram of the outage indicator 17 and the light emitting diode unit 1.
In this embodiment, the same flasher relay as the conventional flasher relay 110 shown in FIG. 8 is used.

First, the light emitting diode unit 1 used in the rear combination lamp assembly 20 (see FIG. 3) of the present embodiment will be described. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the light emitting diode unit 1 includes a lens 2, printed circuit boards 5 and 6, a light emitting diode element 3, and a connector 4. The lens 2 is substantially E-shaped in plan view,
It has a front part 2e and a side part 2f erected from the outer peripheral edge of the front part 2e toward the back direction, and is formed in a housing type with an open back part. The lens 2 is integrally molded from a transparent resin, and has a vertically long mounting portion 2a in FIG.
And three light emitting diode element disposing portions 2b, 2c and 2d which are long in the left-right direction. When the light emitting diode unit 1 is screwed into the lamp body 10 shown in FIG. 3 by the screws 30, 30, the mounting portions 2 a are formed with semicircular notches 7, 8 through which the screws 30, 30 pass. In each of the light emitting diode element disposing portions 2b, 2c, 2d, a plurality of light emitting diode elements 3 described later are disposed. The light emitting diode element disposing portion 2b extends laterally from the upper end of the mounting portion 2a, and the light emitting diode element disposing portion 2d extends laterally from the lower end of the mounting portion 2a in the longitudinal direction of the mounting portion 2a. The light-emitting diode element disposition portion 2c stands substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction from the middle portion in the longitudinal direction of the mounting portion 2a to the side.
Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the upper light emitting diode element disposition portion 2b is provided to be offset from the middle and lower light emitting diode element disposition portions 2c and 2d in the back direction.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the printed circuit board 5 is mounted on the lens 2 so as to cover the open back.
6 is attached. The printed circuit board 6 is provided so as to straddle the middle light emitting diode element disposing portion 2c and the lower light emitting diode element disposing portion 2d, and has a substantially U shape in a front view. 2e and have substantially the same shape. The light emitting diode elements 3 are respectively provided on portions of the printed circuit board 6 facing the light emitting diode element arranging portions 2c and 2d.
They are arranged one by one. Further, the printed circuit board 5 is provided corresponding to the upper light emitting diode element disposing portion 2b and has substantially the same shape as a part of the front portion 2e of the lens 2 when viewed from the front. 5 are provided. The printed board 5 and the printed board 6 are connected by a cord 25 (see FIG. 3).

Each light emitting diode element 3 emits light by power supplied from a connector 4 (see FIG. 3) provided in the light emitting diode unit 1. Further, on the surface of the front portion 2e of the lens 2, a number of lens steps 9 are provided so as to protrude as many as the light emitting diode elements. Have been. That is, the lens step 9 diffuses the light emitted from the light emitting diode elements 3 on the front side (left direction in FIG. 2) of each light emitting diode element 3, and the lens in the three light emitting diode element disposing portions 2 front part 2e and light emitting diode element 3
Are constant.

Next, the configuration of the rear combination lamp assembly 20 will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the rear combination lamp assembly 20 is attached to the lamp body 10.
The light emitting diode unit 1, the back cover assembly 15, the outage indicator 17, and the seat packing 19 are provided. A lamp body 10 integrally formed of a resin material is provided with a lens 30 along a design surface of a vehicle body (not shown), and a bulb-type tail & is provided between the lamp body 10 and the lens 30.
A stop lamp 32 is provided. A substantially rectangular holding portion 10a having a through hole 11 for providing a tail & stop lamp 32 is formed in the lamp body 10, and the tail & stop lamp 32 provided in the holding portion 10a is a lamp. It can be replaced from the back of the body 10.

The holding portion 10a has through holes 41, 4 for screwing an outage indicator 17 to be described later.
2 are provided above and below in the Z-axis direction. Further, in the vicinity of the holding portion 10a of the lamp body 10, through holes 43 and 44 for screwing the light emitting diode unit 1 and a back cover assembly 15 described later are provided. Are provided above and below in the Z-axis direction, respectively. In the vicinity of the holding portion 10a, columns 11, 12, and 13 having a substantially elliptical cross section are formed side by side in the Z-axis direction. The cross section of each of the cylinders 11, 12, 13 is
It has an elliptical shape having a long axis in a direction substantially parallel to the X axis, and each column is hollow. In addition, column 1
Openings 2 open in the + X direction are provided at 1, 12, and 13.
1, 22, 23 are formed respectively, and approximately E
The light emitting diode element arrangement portions 2b, 2c, 2d (see FIG. 1) of the L-shaped light emitting diode unit 1 are fitted.

The back cover assembly 15 includes
It has a shape in which a substantially F-shaped cross section is elongated in the Z-axis direction.
A cover body 150 provided with through holes 15c and 15d through which the first and the first 31 penetrate; a power supply line 15e penetrating the cover body 150; and a connector 15a provided at one end of the power supply line 15e and supplying power to the light emitting diode unit. And a connector 15b for supplying power from an outage indicator 17 described later. The back cover assembly 15 covers the light emitting diode unit 1 attached to the lamp body 10 on the back side of the lamp body 10, and a sealing member is interposed between the outer edge of the cover body 150 and the lamp body 10. Is done. The outage indicator 17 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape.
There are provided through holes 17c and 17d through which the light emitting diodes 2 and 32 penetrate, and a connector 17a for supplying power to the light emitting diode unit and a connector 17b for supplying power from a power supply device (not shown) are provided. . The circuit and operation of the outage indicator 17 will be described later in detail. The sheet packing 19 made of a rubber-based material has a substantially rectangular shape having an opening 19a in the center, and is sandwiched between a vehicle body (not shown) and the lamp body 10, from which rainwater or the like enters. It is designed to prevent Note that it is preferable to provide seal members between the outer edge of the cover body 150 and the lamp body 10 and also between the cover body 150 and the power supply line 15e.

In order to attach each of the above members to the lamp body 10, first, the light emitting diode unit 1 is moved in the Y direction and further slid in the -X direction.
The three light emitting diode element arrangement portions 2b, 2c, 2d are fitted into openings 21, 22, 23 provided in the lamp body 10, respectively. Screws 3 are inserted into notches 7 and 8 formed in the fixing portion 2a of the light emitting diode unit 1 and through holes 43 and 44 formed in the lamp body.
The light emitting diode unit 1 is screwed into the lamp body 10 through 0, 30. Next, the connector 15a of the back cover assembly 15 is connected to the light emitting diode unit 1.
Then, the back cover assembly 15 is moved in the Y direction, and the through holes 15 c and 15 d provided in the back cover assembly 15 are fitted.
Then, the screws 31, 31 are passed through the through holes 45, 46 provided in the lamp body, and the back cover assembly 15 is screwed into the lamp body 10.

Further, the connector 17a of the outage indicator 17 is fitted into the connector 15b provided on the back cover assembly 15, and thereafter the outage indicator 17 is moved in the Y direction, so that the through holes 17c provided in the outage indicator 17 are provided. 17d and through holes 41 and 42 provided in the lamp body with screws 3
The light emitting diode unit 1 is screwed into the lamp body 10 through the holes 2 and 32. And the sheet packing 19
Is attached to the lamp body 10 with a double-sided tape (not shown) to form a rear combination lamp assembly 20.

To replace the light emitting diode unit 1 when the light emitting diode unit 1 is disconnected, first,
The sheet packing 19 attached to the lamp body 10 is removed with a double-sided tape (not shown), and the connector 15b provided on the back cover assembly 15 is removed from the connector 17a provided on the outage indicator 17. Thus, if the procedure reverse to the procedure of attaching each member to the lamp body 10 described above is followed, the light emitting diode unit 1
Can be removed from the lamp body 10 and replaced.

Next, the details of the circuit of the outage indicator 17 and the details of the circuit of the light emitting diode unit 1 will be described with reference to the circuit diagram shown in FIG. The outage indicator 17 is used to shorten the blinking cycle of the other turn signal lamps when the light emitting diode element 3 (see FIG. 1) of the light emitting diode unit 1 is disconnected, similarly to a normal light bulb type. It is provided in.

A bulb used for a turn signal lamp of a general one-box car is about 12 V and 23 W. When this bulb is turned on, a current of 1.9 A flows. In contrast, light emitting diodes are
Only about 20 mA of current flows during lighting. Therefore, even if three light emitting diode elements 3 are connected in series and five sets are connected in parallel like the light emitting diode unit 1 of the present embodiment, the flowing current is about 100 mA. In this case, even if the light emitting diode unit 1 is connected to a flasher relay 110 for a bulb-type turn signal lamp (see FIG. 8), the light is flashed at a normal cycle (for example, 85 times / minute) because the load is light. Can't do it. Also,
Even if one of the light emitting diode elements 3 constituting the light emitting diode unit 1 is disconnected, the current flowing is 100 mA.
Since the current only changes from 80 mA to 80 mA, the blinking cycle of the remaining light emitting diode and the front turn signal lamp is reduced to a short cycle (for example, half the normal cycle) because there is no large change in the current value as in the case where the bulb is disconnected. ) To notify the driver. In order to solve this problem, an outage indicator 17 is provided. As shown in FIG. 5, the outage indicator 17 includes a connector 17a and connectors 15a, 1 (not shown) in FIG.
5b (see FIG. 3) is connected to the light emitting diode unit 1.

First, the circuit configuration of the light emitting diode unit 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The light emitting diode unit 1 and the connector 17a of the outage indicator 17 are connected via connectors 15a and 15b (see FIG. 3). The connector 17a is provided with a power supply terminal 51, a disconnection detection terminal 52, and a ground terminal 53. Have been. Further, the light emitting diode unit 1 has three light emitting diode elements 3 and a resistor R connected in series, a light emitting diode group a to e, and a light emitting diode element 3 and a resistor R of each of the light emitting diode groups a to e. Transistor Tr1 having a base connected to the connection portion of the transistor and a collector grounded, respectively.
1 to Tr15 are provided. Further, the emitters of the transistors Tr11 to Tr15 are connected in parallel,
It is connected so that power is supplied from the power terminal 51 of the connector 17a via the resistor R21.

The resistor R21 and the transistor Tr11
A resistor 22 is connected to a connection portion between the emitter and Tr15 to the emitter, and a grounded resistor 23 is connected to the resistor 22. The connection between the resistor 22 and the resistor 23 is connected to the base of the transistor Tr16.
The emitter of r16 is grounded, and the collector is connected to the disconnection detection terminal 52. Also, the transistor Tr16
, A capacitor C9 is connected between the emitter and the collector.

Next, the details of the circuit of the outage indicator 17 will be described. As shown in FIG. 5, the outage indicator 17 includes a pseudo load unit 50 and a disconnection detection current control unit 60. The pseudo load unit 50 includes a Zener diode ZD1 and resistors R6, R7, R9, R1.
0, R11 and a transistor Tr3, and transistors Tr4, Tr5, Tr6, Tr
7, Tr8, Tr9 and resistors R12, R13, R1 connected to the emitters of the transistors Tr5 to Tr9, respectively.
4, R15, R16 and grounded resistors R17, R18
And a load circuit comprising: Due to the pseudo load unit 50, even when the light-emitting diode unit 1 having a smaller current flow and a lighter load than that of the light bulb type is used, the same current flows as the light bulb type, and the same load as the light bulb is generated. Can be done.

Next, the disconnection detection current control section 60 will be described. A power input terminal VT to which a current from a flasher relay (not shown) is supplied to the disconnection detection current control unit 60.
And a ground terminal GND connected to the ground terminal of the automobile, and the power supply input terminal VT is provided with backflow prevention diodes D1 and D2. Further, a surge absorber ZNR1 is connected to the cathode side of the backflow prevention diodes D1 and D2 so that a surge voltage is not applied to a subsequent circuit. A current control transistor Tr1 is provided in the disconnection detection current control unit 60. A resistor R1 and a capacitor C6 are connected in parallel between the emitter and base of the current control transistor Tr1, and the base of the current control transistor Tr1 is connected. Is connected to a resistor R2. Further, the output current from the collector of the current control transistor Tr1 is supplied to the light emitting diode unit 1 through the pseudo load unit 50, the ferrite bead FB1, and the power supply terminal 51. The current supplied to the dummy load unit 50 and the light emitting diode unit 1 is substantially equal to that of a normal light bulb type. Note that a grounded capacitor C4 is connected to the upstream side of the ferrite bead FB1.

The collector of a transistor Tr2 for controlling a base current is connected to the base of the current control transistor Tr1 via a resistor R2. A resistor R6 and a capacitor C3 are connected between the base and the emitter of the transistor Tr2.
C7 is connected. Further, a capacitor C2 is connected to the base of the transistor Tr2, a resistor R3 and a Zener diode ZD2 are connected to the capacitor C2,
The anode of the Zener diode ZD2 is grounded, and the resistor R3 is connected to a power supply line 61 from the cathodes of the backflow prevention diodes D1 and D2.

The base of the transistor Tr2 has
The cathode of the diode D3 and the collector of the transistor Tr10 are connected, and the anode of the diode D3 and the emitter of the transistor Tr10 are grounded. Further, a resistor R4 is connected between the collector of the transistor Tr10 and the power supply line 61, and the transistor T10
A resistor R31 is connected between the base and the emitter of the transistor Tr10, and a resistor R31 is connected to the base of the transistor Tr10.
The other end of the resistor R30 is connected to the resistor R19 and the anode of the tantalum electrolytic capacitor C8,
The other end of the resistor R19 is connected to a power supply line 61,
The cathode of the tantalum electrolytic capacitor C8 is grounded. A capacitor C5 and a disconnection detection terminal 52 are connected to the anode of the tantalum electrolytic capacitor C8.
The other end of the capacitor C5 is grounded.

The operation of the outage indicator 17 configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG. First, when the light-emitting diode units 3 of the light-emitting diode unit 1 have no abnormality and are all lit, the operation of the pseudo-load unit 50 causes the light-emitting diode unit 1 and the pseudo-load unit 5 to operate.
The total (load) of the current values flowing through 0 is almost the same as when a normal light bulb is used. Therefore, the ON / OFF cycle of the flasher relay (not shown) is the same as that of a normal light bulb type. For example, the number of blinks of the light emitting diode element 3 of the light emitting diode unit 1 is 85 times / minute.

Next, when at least one of the three light emitting diode elements 3 connected in series in the light emitting diode unit 1 is disconnected and no longer emits light, the transistor T
The voltage between the collector and the base of the transistor r11 rises, the base current of the transistor Tr11 flows, and the transistor T11
When r11 is turned on, current flows between the emitter and the collector. Then, the current flowing through the resistor R21 increases,
The voltage drop in the resistor R21 is large, and the voltage is divided by the resistors R22 and R23 connected to the resistor R21, so that the transistor Tr
The voltage applied between the emitter and the base of the transistor 16 decreases, and the base current of the transistor Tr16 decreases.
The collector current of the transistor Tr16 decreases and turns off
I do.

Accordingly, the current flowing through the resistor R19 of the disconnection detection current control unit 60 connected to the collector of the transistor Tr16 via the disconnection detection terminal 52 decreases, and the resistance R
19, the voltage drop across the resistor R31 increases, the base current of the transistor Tr10 increases, and the collector current of the transistor Tr10 increases. Then, the current flowing through the resistor R4 increases,
The voltage drop across the resistor R4 increases, the voltage across the resistor R6 drops, the base current of the transistor Tr2 decreases, and the collector current of the transistor Tr2 decreases. Then, the base current of the current control transistor Tr1 decreases, the current control transistor Tr1 is turned off, and the emitter current of the current control transistor Tr1 is reduced by a flasher relay (not shown) whose period is shorter than normal (for example, half of normal time). The current value is reduced to a current value (for example, 0 A) at which ON / OFF is performed.

Here, as for the light emitting diode elements 3 provided in the lamp body 10 shown in FIG. 6, each of the three light emitting diodes a to e is constituted by one circuit (series). When the element 3 is disconnected, the light is turned off in units of three together with the other two connected in series, and the remaining 12 are turned on and off in a short cycle. Further, a front turn signal lamp and a lamp at the driver's seat (not shown) also blink in a short cycle.
Therefore, the driver can easily recognize the disconnection of the light emitting diode element 3.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible. For example, the light emitting diode unit 1 and the outage indicator 17 may be used not only for the rear turn lamp but also for the front turn lamp. Further, in the light emitting diode unit 1, five sets of three light emitting diode elements 3 connected in series are used. However, one set of the light emitting diode elements 3 may be one or more. The number of sets is not limited to five, and may be one or more.

[0045]

As described above, in the turn signal lamp according to the first aspect of the present invention, the pseudo load means has a predetermined current value when the light emitting diode as the light emitting element is turned on, and the current control means has the light emitting diode. Is disconnected, the current value of the pseudo load means can be reduced. Therefore, the ON / OFF operation for intermittently supplying the current to the light emitting element is performed at a predetermined cycle, and when the total of the current values is less than the predetermined value, the ON / OFF operation is shorter than the predetermined cycle. When used in combination with a periodic flasher relay, when the light emitting diode is disconnected, the ON / OFF cycle of the flasher relay can be made shorter than normal, and the blinking period of the light emitting element that is not disconnected Can be notified of the disconnection of the light emitting diode with a shorter period than in the normal case.

According to the turn signal lamp of the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the turn signal lamp according to the first aspect, the sum of the current value of the light emitting diode and the current value of the dummy load means is determined by the light emitting diode. In addition, the current value of the bulb when the bulb is provided instead of the dummy load means can be made substantially the same. Therefore, a turn signal lamp using a light emitting diode and an ON / OFF operation for intermittently supplying a current to the light emitting element are performed at a predetermined cycle, and when the sum of the current values is less than the predetermined value, the ON / OFF operation is performed.・ OF
Even when used in conjunction with a flasher relay that performs the operation of F in a cycle shorter than a predetermined cycle, the flasher relay does not
It can operate normally.

In the turn signal lamp according to the third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the turn signal lamp according to the first or second aspect, the disconnection detecting circuit of the current control means detects disconnection of the light emitting diode. When the disconnection of the light emitting diode is detected, the current control circuit of the current control means can reduce the current value of the pseudo load means.

In the turn signal lamp system according to the present invention, the pseudo load means has a predetermined current value when the light emitting diode is turned on, and the current control means has a pseudo load means when the light emitting diode is disconnected. Can be reduced. Therefore, when operating to turn on each light emitting element, the flasher relay intermittently turns on the light emitting element when the sum of the current values of all the lighted light emitting elements and the current value of the pseudo load means is equal to or more than a predetermined value. The ON / OFF operation for supplying the current is performed at a predetermined cycle, and when the sum of the current values is less than the predetermined value, the ON / OFF operation is performed.
The OFF operation can be performed in a cycle shorter than the predetermined cycle. Therefore, when the light emitting diode is disconnected,
The disconnection of the light emitting diode can be notified by setting the cycle of blinking of the light emitting element that is not disconnected to be shorter than the normal period.

Further, in the turn signal lamp system according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the turn signal lamp system according to the fourth aspect, at least one of the plurality of turn signal lamps may be used. When a light bulb is used as a light emitting element and each light emitting element is turned on, the sum of the current value of the light emitting diode of one turn signal lamp and the current value of the dummy load means is approximately equal to the current value of the light bulb of one turn signal lamp. Will be the same.
Therefore, the flasher relay can operate normally.

In the turn signal lamp system according to the sixth aspect, in addition to the effect of the turn signal lamp system according to the fourth or fifth aspect, the disconnection detecting circuit of the current control means detects disconnection of the light emitting diode. When the disconnection of the light emitting diode is detected, the current control circuit of the current control means can reduce the current value of the pseudo load means.

Further, in the turn signal lamp load adjusting device according to the present invention, a turn signal lamp using a light emitting diode as a light emitting element and an ON / OFF operation for intermittently supplying a current to the light emitting element are controlled. When the sum of the current values is less than the predetermined value,
When used in combination with a flasher relay that performs an OFF operation in a cycle shorter than a predetermined cycle, the pseudo load means has a predetermined current value when a light emitting diode as a light emitting element is turned on, and the current control means has a light emitting diode. Is disconnected, the current value of the pseudo load means can be reduced. Therefore, when the light emitting diode is disconnected,
The ON / OFF cycle of the flasher relay can be made shorter than normal, and the blinking cycle of the light-emitting element that has not been broken can be made shorter than the normal cycle to notify the disconnection of the light-emitting diode.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a light emitting diode unit 1. FIG.

FIG. 2 shows a light emitting diode unit 1 in FIG.
It is sectional drawing in the A line arrow direction.

FIG. 3 is a rear combination lamp assembly 20
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a rear combination lamp assembly 20
It is sectional drawing which shows a structure of.

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram of the outage indicator 17 and the light emitting diode unit 1.

6 is a front view of the lamp body 10. FIG.

FIG. 7 is a wiring diagram of a front turn signal lamp, a rear turn signal lamp, and a flasher relay.

FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram of a conventional flasher relay and a turn signal lamp.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Light emitting diode unit 2 Lens 3 Light emitting diode element 4 Connector 5 Printed circuit board 6 Printed circuit board 9 Lens step 10 Lamp body 15 Back cover assembly 15a Connector 15b Connector 17 Outage indicator 19 Sheet packing 20 Rear combination lamp assembly 50 Pseudo load part 51 Power supply Terminal 52 Disconnection detection terminal 53 Ground terminal 60 Disconnection detection current control unit 110 Flasher relay 150 Cover body Tr1 Current control transistor

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A light emitting diode as a light emitting element, a pseudo load means connected in parallel to the light emitting diode and having a predetermined current value when the light emitting diode is turned on, and when the light emitting diode is disconnected And a current control means for reducing a current value of the dummy load means. 2. The sum of the current value of the light emitting diode and the current value of the dummy load means is substantially the same as the current value of the light bulb when a light bulb is provided in place of the light emitting diode and the dummy load means. The turn signal lamp according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The current control means includes: a disconnection detection circuit for detecting disconnection of the light emitting diode; and a current value of the pseudo load means when the disconnection detection circuit detects a disconnection of the light emitting diode. The turn signal lamp according to claim 1, further comprising a current control circuit. 4. A plurality of turn signal lamps including a light emitting element connected in parallel with each other, and using a light emitting diode as the light emitting element; and a plurality of turn signal lamps connected in parallel to the light emitting diode to light up the light emitting diode. Pseudo-load means that becomes a predetermined current value when the light-emitting diode is disconnected, current control means that reduces the current value of the pseudo-load means when the light-emitting diode is disconnected, and light-up when the light-emitting elements are operated to light. When the sum of the current values of all the light emitting elements and the current value of the pseudo load means is equal to or more than a predetermined value, an ON / OFF operation for intermittently supplying a current to the light emitting element is performed at a predetermined cycle. A flasher relay that performs the ON / OFF operation in a cycle shorter than the predetermined cycle when the sum of the current values is less than the predetermined value. Features a turn signal lamp system. 5. The plurality of turn signal lamps,
When a light bulb is used as a light emitting element of at least one turn signal lamp and each of the light emitting elements is turned on, the sum of the current value of the light emitting diode of one turn signal lamp and the current value of the dummy load means is one turn signal. 5. The turn signal lamp system according to claim 4, wherein the current value of the lamp bulb is substantially the same. 6. A disconnection detecting circuit for detecting a disconnection of the light emitting diode, and a current value of the pseudo load means is reduced when the disconnection detecting circuit detects a disconnection of the light emitting diode. The turn signal lamp system according to claim 4, further comprising a current control circuit. 7. A load adjusting device for a turn signal lamp used in a turn signal lamp using a light emitting diode as a light emitting element, wherein the load adjusting device is connected in parallel to the light emitting diode, and is provided when the light emitting diode is turned on. A load adjusting device for a turn signal lamp, comprising: a pseudo load means having a current value of: and a current control means for reducing a current value of the pseudo load means when the light emitting diode is disconnected.