JP2003063305A - Brake light turn-on circuit - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a compact inexpensive brake lamp turn on circuit for a brake light including an LED as a light source in a motorcycle. SOLUTION: In a brake lamp turn on circuit for turning on a brake lamp of a motorcycle including an LED as a light source, a leak current consuming resistor R4 having a smaller impedance than a light source unit 50 of the brake light is connected in parallel with the light source unit 50 to reduce a leak current flowing into the light source unit 50. The resistor R4 is disposed as a resistor unit outside a housing of the brake lamp including the light source unit 50 provided at a rear of the motorcycle.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a motorcycle, and more particularly to a brake light lighting circuit for the motorcycle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an LED (light emitting diode) is used for a brake light arranged at the rear of a motorcycle, for example, Japanese Patent No. 2855323 and Patent No. 28.
There is one disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 63926 or Japanese Patent No. 30091193. This type of motorcycle brake light includes a brake switch arranged near the brake lever and the brake pedal, which is normally operated by the brake lever or the pedal when the driver performs a braking operation, and a brake switch. An LED that emits light to notify a vehicle behind that the vehicle is in operation is connected in series to a battery (power source). As a result, during the braking operation by the driver, a current flows from the battery to the LED and the LED emits light.

[0003]

However, in the case of a motorcycle, since the brake switch is exposed to the outside, there is no possibility that moisture such as rain will enter the switch contacts even if it has a drip-proof structure. Cannot be eliminated, and a weak leak current may flow between the contacts of the brake switch.
At this time, as described above, when an LED that requires a small amount of current for light emission (a small amount of current consumption) is used as a braking light, this weak power is generated even though the motorcycle driver is not performing a braking operation. It is necessary to give sufficient consideration so that the LED does not emit light only with such a leak current, and as a result, the size and cost of the device are increased.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a compact and inexpensive brake light lighting circuit for a brake light of a motorcycle using an LED as a light source.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention as set forth in claim 1 is a brake light lighting circuit for lighting a brake light of a motorcycle using an LED as a light source. A leak current consuming resistor for reducing a leak current flowing into the light source unit in parallel with the light source unit of the brake light (for example, the light source unit 50 in the embodiment) (for example, the leak current consuming resistor in the embodiment). R4) is connected. With the above configuration, when a leak current flows in the brake lamp lighting circuit, the leak current consumption resistor consumes the leak current to reduce the inflow of the leak current into the light source unit, and the LE caused by the leak current is reduced.
Prevent the lighting of D.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the brake lamp lighting circuit according to the first aspect, the impedance of the leakage current consumption resistor is smaller than the impedance of the light source unit. With the above configuration,
Sufficiently flow the leakage current to the leakage current consumption resistor side,
The influence of leakage current on the light source unit is reduced.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the brake light lighting circuit according to the first or second aspect, the leak current consuming resistor includes the light source unit and is provided at the rear end of the motorcycle. Arranged outside the housing of the provided brake light unit (for example, the brake lamp unit 26 of the embodiment) (for example, the resistor unit 5 of the embodiment).
It is arranged as 1.). With the above configuration, the light source unit is composed of parts excluding the leak current consumption resistor, which is a heating element, and the leak current consumption resistor is placed in a location where the heat dissipation efficiency can be increased and the leak current consumption from the light source unit is increased. By disposing the resistor for use sufficiently apart, the influence of heat generation of the resistor for leak current consumption on the light source unit is reduced.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the brake light lighting circuit according to the first or second aspect, the leak current consuming resistor includes the light source unit and is provided at the rear end of the motorcycle. It is characterized in that it is arranged inside the housing of the provided brake light unit (for example, the brake lamp unit 26 of the embodiment). With the above configuration, the light source unit and the leakage current consumption resistor can be modularized and manufactured.

[0009]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A brake light lighting circuit for a motorcycle according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
First, the structure of a motorcycle to which the brake light lighting circuit of the present embodiment is applied will be briefly described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4. In the description, front and rear and left and right directions are directions with respect to the vehicle body.

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the overall construction of the motorcycle 1 to which the brake light lighting circuit of this embodiment is applied. In FIG. 2, the motorcycle 1 includes a vehicle body frame 2, a pair of left and right front forks 3 rotatably supported by a front end portion of the vehicle body frame 2, and front and rear body parts attached to upper end portions of the front fork 3. A pair of left and right bar handles 4 for steering arranged on the upper part of the vehicle, front wheels 5 rotatably supported on the front forks 3, an engine 6 supported on the vehicle body frame 2, and a front wheel arranged on the front side of the engine 6. A radiator 7, a rear fork 8 supported by the rear end of the engine 6 and a pivot support plate 14 so as to be vertically swingable, and a rear wheel 9 rotatably supported by the rear end of the rear fork 8. , A fuel tank 10 arranged on the upper part of the body frame 1, and the fuel tank 10
Main seat 11 behind which the driver sits
And a pillion seat 12 on which a passenger is seated, and substantially the entire front portion of the vehicle body is covered by a front cowl 15. The pillion seat 12 is located on the upper surface of the rear cowl 13 arranged behind the passenger seat 11.

Next, the tail lamp unit and its peripheral portion will be described. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the tail lamp unit 22 includes a rear end portion of the rear cowl 13 having a shape in which the width in the left-right direction becomes narrower toward the upper side, and a rear end portion of the rear fender 21 attached to the lower side of the rear cowl 13. It is placed inside the part surrounded by and. That is, the rear cowl 13 covers the upper side of the tail lamp unit 22 at its rear end, and the rear end has a shape in which the width in the left-right direction becomes narrower toward the upper side when viewed from the rear, as shown in FIG. In addition, as shown in FIG. 4, when viewed from the left and right sides, it has a tapered shape that becomes thinner toward the rear end side.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the rear fender 21 has a tail lamp unit 22 at its rear end.
It covers the lower side of the rear cowl 13 and is attached to the rear cowl 13 with screws or the like in a state of being arranged below the rear cowl 13. Further, the rear fender 21 is formed with a mounting portion 54 for mounting a rear blinker, a rear reflector, etc. at a lower portion of a rear end portion thereof.

As shown in FIG. 4, the tail lamp unit 22 disposed inside the rear end portions of the rear cowl 13 and the rear fender 21 has a lamp holding portion 23 provided at the front and a rear side of the lamp holding portion 23, as shown in FIG. And a lamp cover 24 to be attached. And the lamp cover 24
As shown in FIG. 3, according to the shape of the rear cowl 13, when viewed from the rear, the width in the left-right direction becomes narrower toward the upper side, and as shown in FIG. Even when viewed from one side, it has a tapered shape that becomes thinner toward the rear end side.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the lamp cover 24 is divided into upper and lower parts, and a tail lamp part 25 which is long in the left-right direction is arranged at the upper part, and the left and right parts are arranged below the tail lamp part 25. A brake lamp portion 26 that is long in the direction is arranged. The tail lamp unit 25 is a tail light that emits light to notify a rear vehicle of the presence of the motorcycle 1, and the brake lamp unit 26 emits light to notify a rear vehicle that a braking operation is being performed when the motorcycle 1 is braking. It is a brake light.

The lamp holding portion 23 has an LED (light emitting diode) 3 for emitting light from the tail lamp portion 25 at a position above the tail lamp portion 25.
1 is arranged in the left-right direction and is provided in only one step in the up-down direction. In the case of the brake lamp part 26 below the LED 1, a plurality of LEDs 32 for making the brake lamp part 26 emit light are arranged in the left-right direction. And, moreover, it is arranged in multiple stages above and below.

Next, the brake light lighting circuit of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram of a brake lamp lighting circuit according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 1, the brake lamp lighting circuit according to the present embodiment includes an LED and a control circuit that controls the amount of current flowing through the LED, and includes a light source unit 50 disposed inside the case of the brake lamp unit 26 and a light source unit 50. And a resistor unit 51 arranged outside the brake lamp section 26, which is provided with a leak current consuming resistor R4 for reducing the inflow of the leak current.

The brake lamp lighting circuit will be described below with reference to FIG. 1. First, the brake lever switch SW1 and the brake pedal switch SW2 are electrically connected in parallel to each other, and the brake lever and the brake operated by the driver are respectively operated. The brake switch is arranged in the vicinity of the pedal and has one end connected to the positive side of the battery V1 and is connected in series with the battery V1. The rectifying diode D1 has an anode terminal connected to the other ends of the brake lever switch SW1 and the brake pedal switch SW2, and is connected in series with either the brake lever switch SW1 or the brake pedal switch SW2.

The varistor B1 is an electric resistor having a characteristic that its resistance value rapidly decreases when the voltage applied to both ends becomes high, and it is connected to either the battery V1, the brake lever switch SW1 or the brake pedal switch SW2, and the rectifying diode D1. Is connected to both ends of the series circuit (connected to the cathode terminal of the rectifying diode D1 and the ground side of the battery V1), and absorbs a surge of high voltage generated by conduction or interruption of the brake lever switch SW1 or the brake pedal switch SW2.

Further, the transistors T1 and T2 and the resistor R
1, R2, R3, R5, R6, R7 and capacitor C
1 and the Zener diode Z1 switch the current path flowing through the LED 32 by switching the current path between the series resistance group including the resistor R1 and the series resistance group including the resistor R2 according to the voltage fluctuation when the voltage of the battery V1 fluctuates. It is a control circuit for controlling. The resistor R7, the Zener diode Z1, and the resistor R6 are connected in series to both ends of the series circuit including the battery V1, the brake lever switch SW1 or the brake pedal switch SW2, and the rectifying diode D1, and are connected to the Zener diode Z1. The voltage at the connection with resistor R6 biases the base terminal of transistor T2.

The capacitor C1 is connected in parallel with the resistor R6 and smoothes and stabilizes the bias voltage at the base terminal of the transistor T2. On the other hand, the collector terminal of the transistor T2 is connected to the rectifying diode D via the resistor R5.
1 is connected to the cathode terminal of the transistor T2, and the emitter terminal of the transistor T2 is connected to the ground side of the battery V1, so that the transistor T2 operates as a switching element and supplies voltage to the element connected to the collector terminal of the transistor T2. To control.

The base terminal of the transistor T1 is connected to the collector terminal of the transistor T2. Further, a resistor R3 is connected between the base terminal of the transistor T1 and the ground side of the battery V1, and the base terminal of the transistor T1 is connected between the resistor R5 and the resistor R3 when the transistor T2 is OFF (cut off). Biased by point voltage. Further, the emitter terminal of the transistor T1 is connected to the ground side of the battery V1, so that the transistor T1 operates as a switching element and controls the supply of voltage to the element connected to the collector terminal of the transistor T1.

On the other hand, the LED 32 is, as shown in FIG.
After connecting four sets of two LEDs connected in series and connecting them in parallel, two circuits are connected in series to form a bundle of 16 LEDs in total, and the anode side of the LEDs 32 is a diode for rectification D1. Connected to the cathode terminal. Further, the cathode side of the LED 32 is connected to the above-mentioned transistor T1 by a series resistance group in which two resistors R1 are connected in series.
Is connected to the collector terminal of the transistor T1 and is connected to the emitter terminal of the transistor T1 (the ground side of the battery V1) by a series resistance group in which four resistors R2 are connected in series.

Therefore, when the voltage across the bias circuit of the base terminal of the transistor T2 by the resistor R7 and the zener diode Z1 and the resistor R6 fluctuates due to the fluctuation of the power supply voltage of the battery V1, it is applied across the zener diode Z1. The ON (conducting) and OFF (cutting-off) states of the transistor T2 change with a fluctuation width equal to or more than the applied voltage. For example, if the transistor T2 is now in the OFF state, the base terminal of the transistor T1 is biased by the voltage at the connection point between the resistor R5 and the resistor R3, the transistor T1 is in the ON state, and the current for causing the LED 32 to emit light is , A series resistor group in which two resistors R1 are connected in series.

Here, the power supply voltage is Zener diode Z.
When the fluctuation becomes higher than the voltage applied to both ends of 1,
Since the transistor T2 is turned on (conducting), and the base terminal of the transistor T1 is no longer biased,
The transistor T1 is turned off (cut off). Therefore, the current for causing the LED 32, which has been flowing through the series resistance group in which two resistors R1 are connected in series, to emit light, is equal to the resistance R2.
4 will be connected in series and will flow through the series resistance group.

Thus, according to the fluctuation of the power supply voltage,
Series resistor group consisting of two resistors R1 connected in series and resistor R
By controlling which of the series resistance group in which four 2 are connected in series, the LED is irrespective of the power supply voltage.
The current flowing through 32 can be kept constant. The resistors R1, R2, R3, R5, R6, R7, the capacitor C1, the rectifying diode D1, the Zener diode Z1, the varistor B1, the transistor T1,
The light source unit 50 is configured by T2 and the plurality of LEDs 32.

Further, the brake lamp lighting circuit of the present embodiment is
The brake lever switch SW1 and the brake pedal switch SW2 are passed to both ends of the series circuit including the battery V1, the brake lever switch SW1 and the brake pedal switch SW2, and the positions connected in parallel to the light source unit 50. The light source unit 5 described above
A leakage current consumption resistor R4 for reducing the leakage current flowing into 0 is provided.

The leak current consuming resistor R4 includes a brake lever switch SW1 and a brake pedal switch SW2.
Leakage current that flows when moisture adheres to the contact of
The LED is prevented from being turned on by the current flowing into the light source unit 50. Therefore, it is effective from the functional viewpoint that the impedance of the leakage current consumption resistor R4 is at least smaller than the impedance of the light source unit 50. Therefore, as an example, the following calculation is performed. For example, the combined impedance of the light source unit 50 is 240 [kΩ], the current value when the LED 32 emits light is 0.05 [mA], and 150 [m]
In order to prevent the LED 32 from emitting light when the leak current value of A] flows, R = 0.05 [mA] / 150 [mA] × 240 [kΩ] = 80 [Ω], and the leak current consumption is If the use resistor R4 is a resistor of 80 [Ω] or less, the leak current is shunted to the leak current consuming resistor R4, and a current sufficient to cause the LED 32 to emit light does not flow to the light source unit 50. .

The value of R = 80 [Ω] above is
It is a calculation guide at the time of design, and in reality, due to variations in the characteristics of the elements of the LEDs 32 and resistors, there are variations in the combined impedance of the light source unit 50 and the current value when the LEDs 32 emit light. It is more preferable that the actual value of the resistor R4 for consuming leakage current has a higher margin of light emission prevention, for example, a value of about 40 [Ω]. Further, since the resistance value of the leak current consuming resistor R4 is small, the resistor R4 when the brake light is normally turned on is turned on.
Power consumption is high. Therefore, in order to improve the heat dissipation efficiency for the heat generation of the leakage current consuming resistor R4, the leakage current consuming resistor R4 puts the winding resistance in a metal case as shown in FIG. The resistor unit 51 solidified by is disposed on the inside of the front side of the rear cowl 13 on the side of the motorcycle shown in FIG. 2, for example.

As a result, since it is not necessary to provide the leak current consuming resistor R4 inside the brake lamp section 26, the brake lamp section 26 itself can be miniaturized. Also,
Since the leak current consuming resistor R4, which is a heating element, is taken out of the brake lamp unit 26, the brake lamp unit 2
6 The temperature change inside can be kept constant, and the LED 32
It becomes unnecessary to make the operating range of the temperature compensating circuit provided so that the number of luminous flux emitted as a brake light fluctuate and to make it excessively large. The location of the resistor unit 51 is not limited to the above location, and may be any location that does not interfere with the operation and does not interfere with the heat dissipation of the resistor.

In the above-described embodiment, the leak current consuming resistor R4 has been described as being arranged outside the brake lamp section 26. However, if the temperature rise inside the brake lamp section 26 can be allowed, the brake lamp section 26 will be described. It may be provided inside 26. In this case, since the brake lamp unit 26 and the resistor unit 51 can be combined into a module, the brake lamp unit 2 in the case of the above-described embodiment.
While the work of assembling 6 and the resistor unit 51 separately is required, it is sufficient to assemble this module, which has the effect of reducing the number of steps when manufacturing a motorcycle.

[0031]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, when a leak current flows through the brake lamp lighting circuit, the leak current consuming resistor causes the leak current consuming resistor to consume the leak current. Inflow of leak current is reduced, and LED lighting due to leak current is prevented. According to the invention of claim 2,
Sufficiently flow the leakage current to the leakage current consumption resistor side,
The effect of reducing the influence of the leak current on the light source unit can be further improved.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the light source unit is composed of components excluding the leak current consuming resistor, which is a heating element, and the leak current consuming resistor is arranged at a location where the heat dissipation efficiency can be improved. By arranging the leakage current consumption resistor sufficiently away from the light source unit, the influence of heat generation of the leakage current consumption resistor on the light source unit is reduced. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the size of the brake light unit including the light source unit, and it is possible to freely arrange the leak current consumption resistor at a place where the heat dissipation effect can be improved. Further, it is possible to obtain an effect that it is not necessary to excessively take measures against heat generation of the brake light unit including the light source unit.

According to the invention of claim 4, the light source unit and the leakage current consumption resistor can be modularized and manufactured. Therefore, as compared with the case where the light source unit and the resistor for consuming the leakage current are separately assembled at the time of manufacturing the motorcycle, it is sufficient to assemble one module, which has the effect of reducing the number of manufacturing steps. can get.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing a brake lamp lighting circuit of the same embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing a motorcycle including a brake light lighting circuit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a rear view showing a tail light structure of a motorcycle including the brake light lighting circuit of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing a tail light structure of a motorcycle including the brake light lighting circuit of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a resistor unit used in the brake lamp lighting circuit of the same embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 motorcycle 13 Rear cowl 22 Tail light unit 26 Brake lamp section 32 LEDs 50 light source unit 51 resistor unit V1 battery R1, R2, R3, R5, R6, R7 resistors R4 Leakage current consumption resistor C1 capacitor D1 Rectifying diode Z1 Zener diode B1 Varistor T1 and T2 transistors SW1 Brake lever switch SW2 Brake pedal switch

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A brake light lighting circuit for lighting a brake light of a motorcycle using an LED as a light source, wherein a leak current flowing into the light source unit is reduced in parallel with the light source unit of the brake light. A lighting circuit for lighting a brake light, characterized in that a resistor for consuming leakage current is connected. 2. The brake light lighting circuit according to claim 1, wherein the impedance of the leak current consuming resistor is at least smaller than the impedance of the light source unit. 3. The leak current consuming resistor is arranged outside the housing of the brake light unit that includes the light source unit and is provided at the rear of the motorcycle, or The brake light lighting circuit according to claim 2. 4. The leak current consuming resistor is arranged inside a housing of a brake light unit that includes the light source unit and is provided at the rear of the motorcycle, or The brake light lighting circuit according to claim 2.