JP3250144B2 - Automotive lamp disconnection detector - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention mainly relates to a case where an existing vehicle brake light is changed to a multi-light type brake light or an auxiliary brake light (such as a high mount top lamp) is added to the vehicle brake light. In such a case, a malfunction is not given to the ball-break detection circuit installed in the vehicle in advance, and even if any of the brake lights is turned off, the ball-break detection circuit installed in the vehicle is operated in advance to cut the ball. The present invention relates to an automotive lamp disconnection detection device that promptly warns a driver.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, brake lights are provided at the rear left and right of an automobile.
When the driver steps on the brakes,
Each brake light is turned on, and when these brake lights are cut off, a ball cutout detection circuit installed in the vehicle in advance operates to warn the driver of the cutout.

[0003]

However, when an existing vehicle brake light is changed to a multi-light type brake light or when an auxiliary brake light is added to the vehicle brake light, a brake light signal line is provided. Current increases, so that even if one of the brake lights is cut off, it does not fall below the originally set total brake light current value,
The ball breaking detection circuit previously installed in the car did not operate. Therefore, it was not possible to promptly warn the driver of the broken ball.

[0004] In some cases, the current flowing through the brake light signal line increases, so that there is a risk that the connection line may generate heat or a broken ball detection circuit previously installed in an automobile may be broken.

Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and is intended to be applied to a case where an existing vehicle brake light is changed to a multi-light type brake light, or to a case where the vehicle brake light is used. For example, when an auxiliary brake light is added, even if any of the brake lights is turned off, the current flowing through the brake light signal line is reduced, and the ball breaking detection circuit previously installed in the automobile is operated,
Not only can the driver promptly be alerted of a broken ball, but the current flowing through the brake light signal line hardly increases, and the connection line generates heat or a broken ball detection circuit previously installed in the vehicle. It is an object of the present invention to provide an automotive lamp disconnection detection device capable of preventing the risk of destroying a vehicle.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a first brake light and a second brake light connected to a brake light signal line of a brake, and a relay contact. A brake light signal detection relay connected to the plus terminal of the third brake light; a third brake light to which current is supplied from the plus terminal of the battery; a current detection resistor of the third brake light; A transistor for detecting a disconnection of the third brake light on the terminal side, a resistor for limiting the base current of the transistor, and a current supply switch in which a relay contact is connected to the second brake light on the brake light signal line side of the brake. And a transistor for driving the relay, a resistor for limiting the base current of the transistor, and a resistor for the bias current. The disconnection is detected by a voltage generated in the current detecting resistor. The transistor of the switch is activated, the output of the disconnection detection transistor activates the relay driving transistor, and the output of the relay driving transistor activates the current supply switching relay. The second brake light can be disconnected.

Further, a third brake light to which a current is supplied from a battery plus terminal is connected as an auxiliary brake light, and the break of the auxiliary brake light is detected.

In addition, one or more brake lights are connected in parallel to the third brake light to which a current is supplied from the battery plus terminal, so that a broken ball is similarly detected.

Further, a circuit using a field effect transistor is connected in place of the relay for detecting the brake light signal.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below, for example, when an existing vehicle brake light is changed to a multi-light type brake light, or when an auxiliary brake light is added to the vehicle brake light. In addition, without giving a malfunction to the ball-break detection circuit installed in the vehicle in advance, and even if any of the brake lights are turned off, the ball-break detection circuit installed in the vehicle in advance is operated,
A state in which a driver is promptly warned of a broken ball will be described with reference to the drawings.

First, as one embodiment of the present invention, a basic circuit when a two-light brake light is replaced with a three-light multi-light brake light will be described. As shown in FIG. First brake light 1, connected to signal line A, coil 4a of relay 4 for detecting brake light signal, relay 8 for switching current supply
Contact 8b, the second brake light 2 connected to the common of the contact 8b, the contact 4b of the brake light signal detection relay 4 connected to the battery plus terminal B, and the brake light current connected thereto. A detection resistor 5, a third brake light 3 connected thereto, a disconnection detection transistor 6 of the third brake light 3, a base current limiting resistor 7 of the transistor 6, A coil 8a of a relay 8 for switching the current supply from the signal line A, a transistor 9 for driving a relay 8 for driving the coil 8a of the relay 8, a resistor 10 for limiting a base current of the transistor 9; Current resistors 11 and 1 of the transistor 9
And 2.

When the brake light signal is turned on and a positive voltage is applied, the first brake light 1 and the second brake light 2 are turned on, and the coil 4a of the relay 4 for detecting the brake light signal operates. By the operation of the coil 4a of the relay 4, the current flows from the battery plus terminal B to the contact 4b of the relay 4 for detecting the brake light signal, the resistor 5 for detecting the current, the third brake light 3, and the ground sequentially. The brake light 3 lights up.

Here, the current of the third brake light 3 is supplied from the battery plus terminal B, and the current from the brake light signal line A is only for the first brake light 1 and the second brake light 2. Therefore, there is no change from the current of the two-light brake light. In this case, since the current of the coil 4a of the relay 4 for detecting the brake light signal is extremely small compared to the brake light current, it is ignored in the description.

The current detecting resistor 5 is a current detecting resistor for the third brake light 3 and has a value extremely smaller than the impedance of the third brake light 3. Has no effect.

When the third brake light 3 is normally lit, the current I flowing from the battery plus terminal B is
Since the current flows from the current detecting resistor 5 to the third brake light 3, if the resistor 5 is R, the terminal voltage of the resistor 5 is I ×
It becomes R. (At this time, the current flowing through the base of the disconnection detecting transistor 6 is extremely small and is ignored.) Since this terminal voltage becomes the base voltage of the disconnection detecting transistor 6 as it is, the value of R of the resistor 5 is changed. If properly determined, the disconnection detecting transistor 6 is turned on, and the transistor 6 is turned on.
The base potential of the transistor 9 for driving the relay becomes the same potential as the emitter, and the transistor 9 for driving the relay does not conduct. Therefore, the contact 8a of the relay 8 for switching the current supply does not operate. Therefore, when the third brake light 3 is normally turned on, all the brake lights 1, 2, and 3 are lighted as they are.

On the other hand, when the third brake light 3 is cut off, the current I does not flow from the battery plus terminal B, so that the voltage drop of the current detecting resistor 5 is eliminated, and the base voltage of the disconnection detecting transistor 6 is reduced. Has the same potential as the emitter,
The disconnection detecting transistor 6 does not conduct.

The voltage divided by the resistors 11 and 12 is applied to the base of the transistor 9 for driving the relay, and the transistor 6 for detecting the disconnection is not conducting. The voltage is directly applied to the base of the driving transistor 9.

Here, by appropriately selecting the values of the resistor 11 and the resistor 12, the transistor 9 for driving the relay becomes conductive, and as a result, the transistor 9 operates.

The contact 8b of the relay 8 for switching the current supply
Is connected to the second brake light 2, and when the coil 8 a of the relay 8 operates, the brake light current, which has been supplied from the brake light signal line A, is changed to the brake light signal detection relay 4. Plus terminal B via the contact 4b
Therefore, the current flowing through the brake light signal line A decreases by the amount supplied to the second brake light 2.

When either the first brake light 1 or the second brake light 2 is cut off, the third brake light 3, the disconnection detecting transistor 6, and the relay driving transistor 9 are not affected at all. Absent. Accordingly, since the coil 8a of the current supply switching relay 8 does not operate, the current flowing through the brake light signal line A is reduced by the supply amount of either the first brake light 1 or the second brake light 2 which has been cut off. By operating a broken-out detection circuit installed in the automobile in advance, the driver is promptly warned of the broken-out ball.

In addition, as described above, three brake lights are used.
The basic circuit when changing to a multi-lamp type brake light is shown in FIG.
As shown in the figure, the first brake light 1 connected to the brake light signal line A of the brake, the coil 4a of the relay 4 for detecting the brake light signal, the contact 8b of the relay 8 for switching the current supply, and the contact 8b A brake light signal detecting relay 4 connected to the battery plus terminal B, a brake light current detecting resistor 5 connected thereto, , A transistor 6 for detecting a disconnection of the third brake light 3, a resistor 7 for limiting the base current of the transistor 6, and a current supply switching from the brake light signal line A. 8a of relay 8 for
A transistor 9 for driving a coil 8a of the relay 8, a resistor 10 for limiting a base current of the transistor 9, and resistors 11 and 12 for bias current of the transistor 9 for driving the relay. Although described and illustrated as such, without being limited to this, the third brake light 3 to which current is supplied from the battery plus terminal B is connected as an auxiliary brake light from outside the brake light unit, The breaking of the auxiliary brake light may be detected.

Also, as shown in FIG.
One or more brake lights 14, 15,... N are connected in parallel to the third brake light 3 of the basic circuit when the light-type brake light is changed to a three-light multi-light brake light. Then, similarly, it is also possible to detect a broken ball.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 3, the relay 4 for detecting the brake light signal of the basic circuit when the above-described two-light brake light is changed to a three-light multi-light brake light. instead of,
A circuit using the J-type field effect transistor 16 may be connected. In this circuit, a brake light signal from a brake light signal line A is detected by resistors 17, 18, 21 and is connected to the gate of the J-type field effect transistor 16 by a gate current limiting resistor 19, and furthermore, a resistor 20 Is connected to the source of the J-type field effect transistor 16. When the brake light signal from the brake light signal line A is OFF, the gate voltage becomes the same potential as the source voltage by the resistor 20, so that the J-type field effect transistor 16 does not turn ON. Further, when the brake light signal from the brake light signal line A is O
If N, the brake light signal is transmitted to the resistors 17, 18, 21
And a voltage is applied to the gate of the J-type field effect transistor 16 via the gate current limiting resistor 19,
The source and the drain of the field effect transistor 16 are configured to conduct. By this operation,
An operation equivalent to that of the brake light signal detection relay 4 of the basic circuit can be obtained.

[0024]

As described above, the apparatus for detecting the disconnection of lights of a vehicle according to the present invention comprises a first brake light 1 and a second brake light 2 connected to a brake light signal line A of a brake, and a relay contact 4.
b is a relay 4 for detecting a brake light signal connected to the plus terminal B of the battery; a third brake light 3 to which current is supplied from the plus terminal B of the battery;
A transistor 6 for detecting a disconnection of the third brake light 3 on the plus terminal B side of the battery;
A resistor 7 for limiting the base current of the transistor 6, a relay 8 for switching the current supply in which a relay contact 8b is connected to the second brake light 2 on the brake light signal line A side of the brake;
The transistor 8 includes a transistor 9 for driving the relay 8, a resistor 10 for limiting the base current of the transistor 9, and resistors 11 and 12 for bias current.
The transistor 6 for disconnection detection is activated by the voltage generated in the relay, and the transistor 9 for driving the relay is activated by the output of the transistor 6 for disconnection detection, and the relay for switching the current supply is output by the output of the transistor 9 for driving the relay. 8 so that the second brake light 2 on the brake light signal line A side of the brake can be disconnected.
When the brake light signal is turned on and a positive voltage is applied, the first brake light 1 and the second brake light 2 are turned on, and the relay 4 for detecting the brake light signal is operated. Flows from the relay 4 to the contact 4b of the relay 4, the resistor 5, and the third brake light 3, and the third brake light 3 is turned on.

On the other hand, when the third brake light 3 is cut off, no current flows from the battery plus terminal B, so that the voltage drop of the current detecting resistor 5 is eliminated, and the base voltage of the disconnection detecting transistor 6 becomes Since this transistor 6 has the same potential as the emitter and this transistor 6 does not conduct, this voltage is directly applied to the base of the transistor 9 for driving the relay, and the transistor 9 for driving the relay operates. Of the brake lamp signal line A, the brake lamp current is supplied from the battery plus terminal B via the contact 4b of the relay 4 for detecting the brake lamp signal. Since the current flowing through the line A is reduced by the amount supplied to the second brake light 2, the second brake light 2 is cut off according to the ball-break detection circuit installed in the vehicle in advance. It so, then operation ball breakage detection circuit which is installed in advance in an automobile, promptly warn the ball out to the driver.

When either the first brake light 1 or the second brake light 2 is cut off, the third brake light 3, the disconnection detecting transistor 6, and the relay driving transistor 9 are not affected at all. Therefore, the current supply switching relay 8 does not operate, and the current flowing through the brake light signal line A decreases by the supply of either the first brake light 1 or the second brake light 2 which has been cut off. By operating the ball-break detection circuit installed in the automobile, the driver is promptly warned of the ball-break.

Therefore, when the existing vehicle brake light is changed to a multi-light type brake light, the current flowing through the brake light signal line A is reduced even if any of the brake lights 1, 2, 3 is cut off. ,
Since the ball-break detecting circuit previously installed in the vehicle can be operated, not only can the driver be quickly alerted of the ball-break, but also the current flowing through the brake light signal line A hardly increases. It is possible to prevent the wire from generating heat or breaking the ball breaking detection circuit previously installed in the automobile.

Further, the third brake light 3 to which current is supplied from the battery plus terminal B is connected as an auxiliary brake light, and the breaking of the auxiliary brake light is detected. In the same way as described above, when the auxiliary brake light is cut off, the driver can be immediately alerted of the broken ball, and when the auxiliary brake light is cut off, the heating of the connection wire and the breakage of the broken ball detection circuit can be performed. Needless to say, danger can be prevented.

Further, one or a plurality of brake lights 14, 15,... N are connected in parallel to the third brake light 3 to which current is supplied from the battery plus terminal B. Even in the case of detection, it is needless to say that by appropriately setting the value of the resistor 5, it is possible to apply the present invention to a multi-lamp type circuit. 15. Even if N is cut, the current flowing through the brake light signal line A can be reduced to operate the cut-out detection circuit installed in the vehicle in advance, so that the driver is promptly warned of the cut-off. In addition to the fact that the current flowing through the brake light signal line A hardly increases, there is no danger of the connection line generating heat or destroying the broken ball detection circuit previously installed in the automobile. can do.

Further, by connecting a circuit using a field effect transistor 16 instead of the relay 4 for detecting the brake light signal, when the brake light signal is turned on and a plus voltage is applied, the first brake light is applied. 1. The second brake light 2 is turned on, and the circuit using the field effect transistor 16 operates,
Since the current flows from the battery plus terminal B to the field effect transistor 16, the resistor 5, and the brake light 3, and the brake light 3 is reliably turned on, the reliability can be improved.

In each embodiment of the present invention, the case of changing from a two-lamp type brake light to a multi-lamp type brake light is described and shown. Needless to say, the same effect can be obtained if the first brake light 1 is omitted in the case of the change to. Further, in each of the embodiments of the present invention, the brake light is described and illustrated. However, it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to this and can be applied to other lights.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a basic circuit diagram in a case where a two-lamp type brake light is changed to a three-lamp type multi-lamp type brake light in one embodiment of an automotive lamp disconnection detection apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing another embodiment of the automotive lamp disconnection detection apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing another embodiment of the apparatus for detecting disconnection of lights of a vehicle according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 1st brake light 2 2nd brake light 3 3rd brake light 4 relay 4a coil 4b contact 5 resistance 6 transistor 7 resistance 8 relay 8a coil 8b contact 9 transistor 10 resistance 11 resistance 12 resistance 14 brake light 15 brake light N brake light 16 field effect transistor 17 resistor 18 resistor 19 resistor 20 resistor 21 resistor A brake light signal line B battery plus terminal

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A first connected to the brake light signal lines of the brake
Current is supplied from the first brake light and the second brake light, a relay for detecting a brake light signal having a relay contact connected to a positive terminal of the battery, and a positive terminal of the battery.
A third brake light, a resistor for detecting the current of the third brake light,
A transistor for detecting disconnection of the third brake light on the positive terminal side of the battery, a resistor for limiting the base current of this transistor, and a relay contact are connected to the second brake light on the brake light signal line side of the brake. A current supply switching relay, a transistor for driving the relay, a resistor for limiting the base current of the transistor, and a resistor for bias current .
The disconnection detection transistor is activated, and this disconnection detection
Transistor for driving relay by output of transistor
The output of the transistor for driving this relay.
To activate the current supply switching relay,
The connection of the second brake light on the brake light signal line side can be disconnected
An automotive lamp disconnection detection device having the above-mentioned configuration. 2. A battery-loop of the third brake light is connected as an auxiliary brake lamp current is supplied from Las terminals, automotive lighting such claim 1 which is adapted to detect the ball out of the auxiliary brake lamp Disconnection detection device. 3. Battery plus the third brake light of the terminal than the current is supplied, and further connected one or a plurality of brake lights in parallel, and to detect the ball out similarly claim 1
The automotive lamp disconnection detection device as described in the above. 4. Instead of a relay for detecting a brake light signal,
2. A circuit using a field effect transistor is connected.
The automotive lamp disconnection detection device as described in the above.