WO2008024985A2

WO2008024985A2 - Integrated power source for interior led lighting

Info

Publication number: WO2008024985A2
Application number: PCT/US2007/076779
Authority: WO
Inventors: Matthew A. Kalis; Mark J. Bussis
Original assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
Priority date: 2006-08-25
Filing date: 2007-08-24
Publication date: 2008-02-28
Also published as: WO2008024985A3

Abstract

An integrated LED lighting system includes an LED lighting system and a non-lighting system. The LED lighting system and the non-lighting system comprise common components. The non-lighting system may include one or more of a garage door opener circuit, a display system, a GPS system, a video screen display, a navigational circuit, a video controller circuit, a communications circuit, a Bluetooth communications circuit, a wireless phone circuit, a memo recorder circuit, a sunroof control circuit, a rain sensor circuit, an electrochromic mirror circuit, a temperature circuit, a trip computer related circuit, a telematics circuit, a hands-free phone circuit, and a compass circuit. The common components may include a processing circuit (e.g. a microprocessor), common power filtering circuits, common switching circuits, and/or any number of other common components. The LED lighting system may include a driver circuit that operates at a first voltage, but is controlled by a processing circuit that operates at a different voltage.

Description

INTEGRATED POWER SOURCE FOR INTERIOR LED LIGHTING

RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The present application claims priority to US Provisional Patent Application No. 60/840,137, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

[0002] The invention relates to lighting systems integrated with other components of a vehicle system. In particular embodiments, to an LED lighting system that is integrated into a non-lighting system.

SUMMARY

[0003] One embodiment is directed to an integrated LED lighting system. The system comprises an LED lighting system, the LED lighting system having a light output of at least 5 lumens, and a non-lighting system. The LED lighting system and the non-lighting system comprise common components. In some embodiments, the non-lighting system may be one or more of garage door opener circuit, a trainable transmitter circuit, a display system, a GPS system, a navigational circuit, a video controller circuit, a communications circuit, a memo recorder circuit, a sunroof control circuit, a rain sensor circuit, an electrochromic mirror circuit, a temperature circuit, a trip computer circuit, a telematics circuit, a hands-free phone circuit, and a compass circuit.

[0004] One embodiment is directed to an integrated LED lighting system. The system includes an LED lighting system, the LED lighting system having a light output of at least 5 lumens, a non- lighting system selected from a group consisting of a compass circuit, a trainable transmitter circuit, and an electrochromic (EC) mirror circuit, and a processing circuit configured to control the LED lighting system and the non-lighting system. [0005] One embodiment is directed to an integrated LED lighting system. The system includes a means for providing a non-lighting function and a means for providing an interior lamp function. The means for providing an interior lamp function has common circuit components with the means for providing a non-lighting function. [0006] One embodiment is directed to an integrated compass and LED lighting system. The system comprises a compass circuit, an LED driver circuit configured to drive an LED that is part of an LED lamp assembly, a processing circuit configured to receive data from the compass circuit and calculate compass information based on the data from the compass circuit, the processing circuit also configured to control operation of the LED driver circuit, a power filtering circuit configured to filter power received by the LED driver circuit, and a switch coupled to the processing circuit. The switch is configured to control at least one of the LED lamp system and a compass system, the compass system being comprised of the compass circuit and processing circuit. The LED lamp assembly is at least one of a reading lamp, a map lamp, courtesy lamp, and an overhead lamp.

[0007] According to many of these embodiments, the LED lighting system comprises an LED driver circuit. The LED driver circuit may be configured to receive power from a power filtering circuit at a first voltage and may be configured to receive a control signal from a processing circuit that operates at a second voltage different than the first voltage. In many embodiments, the processing circuit may control the non-lighting system. [0008] According to many embodiments, the LED lighting system and the non-lighting system are configured to receive power that has been filtered by a common power filtering circuit. According to some of these embodiments, the non- lighting system receives power from the power filtering circuit only after a power conversion circuit converts the power from the power filtering circuit to a second (usually lower) voltage. The LED lighting system may receive power at a voltage that is unchanged, but may also receive a voltage that is changed, which can be the same voltage as the non-lighting system or a different voltage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a circuit for an integrated LED lamp according to one embodiment;

[0010] Fig. 2 is an illustration of an integrated LED lamp according to one embodiment;

[0011] Fig. 3 is an exemplary power filtering and voltage conversion circuit according to one embodiment;

[0012] Fig. 4 is an exemplary compass circuit according to one embodiment;

[0013] Fig. 5 is an exemplary LED driver circuit according to one embodiment;

[0014] Fig. 6 is an exemplary trainable garage door opener circuit;

[0015] Fig. 7 is an exemplary processing circuit according to one embodiment;

[0016] Fig. 8 is an exemplary switch circuit according to one embodiment; [0017] Fig. 9 is an exemplary input circuit according to one embodiment; and

[0018] Fig. 10 is an exemplary temperature sensor circuit according to one embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0019] Referring to Fig. 1, an LED lamp 33 includes an integrated lamp circuit 10. Circuit 10 includes an input configured to be connected to a power source 14 which is typically a connection to a vehicle power line 15. The vehicle power may come from a vehicle battery 14. Power from power line 15 is often provided at about 9 to 16 volts, however the power may tend to be messy, may be subject to power spikes, and may be subject to ESD. To avoid damaging the components of circuit 10, circuit 10 may use a power filtering circuit 12, such as the one illustrated in Fig. 3, to filter power received from power source 14 over power line 15. As seen in Fig. 3, power filtering circuit 12 may include diodes configured to prevent reverse voltages, may include one or more capacitors, may include one or more inductors, etc.

[0020] Power filtered by power filter circuit 12 is supplied to voltage conversion circuit 16 and to LED drive circuit 28. Voltage conversion circuit 16 converts the voltage of the power from power filter circuit 12. In some embodiments, voltage conversion circuit is configured to convert a source of power having a voltage of about 5 to 20 volts (e.g. roughly 9-16 V such as 12 V) to a voltage of about 3 to 6 volts (e.g. roughly 3.3 volts, roughly 5 volts, etc.) usable by processing circuit 20, compass circuit 36, switches 24, and/or other circuits 40.

[0021] Converted power is provided to processing circuit 20 which is configured to process data and/or to control various circuits. For example, processing circuit 20 may be configured to control LED circuit 28. Processing circuit 20 may also be configured to control a compass circuit 36. Processing circuit may additionally (or alternatively) be configured to control other circuits 40. Processing circuit 20 may control circuits such as LED drive circuit 28, compass circuit 36, and/or other circuit 40 based on inputs from switches 24. For example, processing circuit 20 may control LED circuit 28 to turn LED 32 on or off based on inputs from switches, may calibrate compass circuit 36 based on a user actuation of a switch, may switch information displayed on display 52 based on actuation of a switch 24, etc. Processing circuit 20 may also control dimming of LED 32 based on dimming signals 45 from a dimming circuit 44. [0022] Processing circuit 20 can include various types of processing circuitry, digital and/or analog, and may include a microprocessor, microcontroller, application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), field programmable gate array (FPGA), or other circuitry configured to perform various input/output, control, analysis, and other functions to be described herein. Processing circuit 20 may be configured to digitize data, to filter data, to analyze data, to combine data, to output command signals, and/or to process data in some other manner. Processing circuit 20 may also include a memory that stores data. Processing circuit 20 could be composed of a plurality of separate circuits and discrete circuit elements. In some embodiments, processing circuit 20 will essentially comprise solid state electronic components such as a microprocessor (e.g. microcontroller). [0023] In one embodiment, processing circuit 20 comprises a microprocessor. The microprocessor may have port pins connected to one or more LED drive circuits (e.g. 2, 3, or 4 LED drive circuits), and port pins connected to another circuit such as a compass circuit, a garage door opener circuit, an electrochromic mirror circuit, a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) circuit, a remote keyless entry (RKE) circuit, and/or another circuit.

[0024] Processing circuit 20 may be configured to receive information from a vehicle bus 21 and/or may provide information to vehicle bus 21. Information received from the vehicle bus may include any number of pieces of information such as vehicle speed, gps data, vehicle dimming data, ambient lighting information, vehicle temperature information, fuel economy information (such as miles traveled, fuel level, etc.), and any other information which may be used by processing circuit 20, compass circuit 36, LED lamp 28, or other circuit 40, and/or which will be displayed on display 20.

[0025] Data provided on vehicle bus could include any data received from LED lamp 33, compass circuit 36, other circuit 40, and/or processing circuit 20. This information could include GPS data, temperature data, vehicle direction data, ambient light data, voice instructions for using and/or programming a vehicle accessory (e.g. compass 36, trainable transmitter 40, etc.), remotely received control data (such as lock and unlock commands in an RKE system), audio portions of A/V data, video portions of A/V data, communication information from communications circuits, rain sensor data, and any other type of data. [0026] Compass circuit 36, such as the one illustrated in Fig. 4, may be controlled by processing circuit 20. For example, processing circuit 20 may control compensation, timing, or other aspects of compass circuit 36. Compass circuit 36 may also supply outputs, such as raw data, which processing circuit 20 may process in order to determine and/or display vehicle heading information. For one example of a processing circuit interacting with a compass circuit.

[0027] Other circuits 40 which may be controlled by processing circuit 20 include a garage door opener circuit (such as the one illustrated in Fig. 6). Other circuit 40 may include a cluster system. Other circuit 40 may include a display system such as a GPS display, a vehicle information display, a video screen display, etc. Other circuit 40 may be a GPS or other navigational circuit. Other circuit 40 may be a video controller circuit such as a controller for a video system. Other circuit 40 may be a communications circuit such as a Bluetooth communications circuit, a wireless phone circuit, etc. Other circuit 40 may be memo recorder circuit. Other circuit 40 may be a sunroof control circuit. Other circuit 40 may be a rain sensor circuit. Other circuit 40 may be an electro chromic mirror circuit. Other circuit 40 may be a temperature circuit. Other circuit 40 may be trip computer related circuits (e.g. gas milage, direction, temperature, etc.). Other circuit 40 may be a remote keyless entry circuit. Other circuit 40 may be a tire pressure monitor system circuit, such as a receiver configured to receive tire pressure data transmitted by monitoring circuits mounted in the wheel area of the vehicle. Other circuit 40 may be a radio circuit. Other circuit 40 may be a telematics circuit. Other circuit 40 may be a hands-free phone circuit. Other circuit 40 may be composed of a single circuit 40 discussed above or may include more than one of the circuits 40 listed above.

[0028] LED drive circuit 28 (such as the one illustrated in Fig. 5) receives an input from processing circuit 20 which is operating at a first voltage and also may receive an input from power filter circuit 12 which is operating at a second voltage. In one example, drive circuit uses power from power filtering circuit 12 to drive LED(s) 32 under the control of a control signal from processing circuit 20. LED(s) may include one, two, or more LEDs which may be the same or different colors. In many embodiments, LEDs 32 will be substantially white (i.e. produce light that appears mostly white to a person). In some embodiments, LED(s) 32 may include two or more separately controlled LEDs such that multiple areas of a vehicle interior can be illuminated independently. [0029] In some embodiments, LED drive circuit 28 may not be controlled by processing circuit 20. For example, LED drive circuit 28 may simply receive a vehicle power input, a vehicle control input (e.g. for dimming, for a courtesy function, etc.), and/or a user input (e.g. from a switch). [0030] Referring to Fig. 2, integrated LED system includes a first board 80 that carries various components of the integrated LED system. Board 80 carries power filtering circuit 12, voltage conversion circuit 16, processing circuit 20, compass circuit 36, and LED drive circuit 28. While not shown, board 80 may also carry components of other circuit 40 such as components of a garage door opener circuit. In some embodiments where board 80 carries components of a compass circuit 36 and a garage door opener circuit 40, board 80 may carry two separate processing circuits where one processing circuit process data for garage door opening circuit 40 and the other processes data for compass circuit 36 and LED drive circuit 28. In other of these embodiments, one processing circuit may process data for both garage door opener circuit and LED drive circuit 28.

[0031] Board 84 carries LEDs 32. Board 84 may include a power carrying portion 85 which carries power and/or control signals from board 80, and a heat dissipation portion 86 (e.g. heat sink) which is configured to aid in the dissipation of heat generated by LED 32. Board 84 is connected to board 80 by conductor 88. Conductor 88 may be a wire conductor, may be a flexible circuit, may be part of board 86 and/or board 80, and/or may take some other form.

[0032] While shown as two boards 80, 84, circuit 10 could be spread across multiple circuit boards. For example, a master control board may be connected to multiple boards which each have a different circuit (e.g. LED driver 28, compass circuit 36, display circuit 48, and/or other circuit 40 may all be mounted to separate circuit boards which are controlled by a master circuit board having processing circuit 20). Alternatively, all of the components of circuit 10 may be mounted on a single circuit board. For example, circuit 10 could be populated on a flexible circuit. In these embodiments, the flexible circuit board may be stiffened in areas such that the components of circuit 10 may be flexed independently from each other or so that at least some of the separate circuits 28, 36, 40, 48 may be rigidly connected. Unless specified in a claim, the components of circuit 10 can be arranged in any manner.

[0033] Referring to Fig. 4, a compass circuit 300 includes a sensor 302 and an interface circuit 304. Sensor 302 may be a magneto-inductive sensor, may be a magneto-resistive sensor, may be a hall effect sensor, or may be any other type of compass sensor configured to sense data suggestive of a direction of a vehicle. Processing circuit 20 may also be connected to a speed sensor 306 and/or a GPS sensor 308. Processing circuit 20 may control operation of the compass circuit 300, the LED lamp 33 (Fig. 1), and any other circuit 40 based on information from the GPS sensor and/or speed sensor. For example, the GPS sensor may be used to estimate a correction value for compass operations, may be used to control display 40, may be used to affect operation of the compass, or may be used in any other number of ways. For additional information on potential compass circuits, including calibration/calculation operations performed by processing circuit 20 when controlling compass circuit 36 (Fig. 1), see, e.g., US Pat. No. 6,964,108, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference to the extent it is consistent with the present disclosure. [0034] Processing circuit 20 may be directly connected to the speed sensor 306 and/or GPS sensor 308. In other embodiments, processing circuit 20 is indirectly connected to speed sensor and/or GPS sensor by way of vehicle bus 21 (Fig. 1).

[0035] Referring to Fig. 5, LED drive circuit 28 includes a first LED drive circuit 28 A for an LED lamp configured to illuminate a driver side area of a vehicle, and includes a second LED drive circuit 28B configured to illuminate a passenger side area of a vehicle. As discussed in more detail below, LEDs 32A and 32B are preferably configured to provide sufficient illumination to serve as interior lamps, such as map lamps, overhead lamps, reading lamps, etc. Note that some lamps may qualify as more than one "type" of lamp. As discussed in more detail below, while shown with one LED, LEDs 32A, 32B may be formed from more than one LED, which may be the same color or may be different colors. [0036] While separate driver circuits 28A, 28B are shown for the driver side area and the passenger side area, LEDs 32A and 32B may be driven by a common driver circuit. Also, circuit 10 could include any number of additional driver circuits configured to drive LED lamps in other vehicle locations such as a cargo lamp, an overhead lamp, courtesy lamps, a glove compartment lamp, and any of the other lamps mentioned below. Each of these driver circuits may be independent or may share common components with each other. [0037] Referring to Fig. 6, a garage door opener circuit 42 (a potential type of other circuit 40) includes various components as discussed in any number of patent applications. See, e.g., US Pat. No. 6,703,941, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference to the extent it is consistent with the present disclosure. The garage door opener may be a trainable garage door opener. The garage door opener may be trainable by actuating an original transmitter 550 and learning the code of the original transmitter. In other embodiments, the garage door opener is trainable based on user inputs to operate with the same garage door opener as the original transmitter 550. The trainable transmitter may be configured to be trainable to control any number of remotely controlled devices 552 such as security systems, home appliances (such as home lighting), garage doors, gates, and other devices.

Control of the LED Lamp Functions by a Processing Circuit [0038] In many cases, a vehicle provides a dimming input to a lamp to provide a "Courtesy" feature when the exterior doors are opened/closed, for instance, to slowly increase or decrease light intensity level.

[0039] A dimming signal generator may send a dimming signal which may be received by a processing circuit 20 of a lamp 33. Processing circuit 20 may then identify the amount of dimming indicated by the dimming signal generator and translate it to provide a dimming signal appropriate for dimming one or more of LEDs 32.

[0040] Processing circuit 20 may translate the dimming signal received from a dimming signal generator by changing the frequency at which the dimming signal occurs. For example, processing circuit 20 may receive a dimming signal that is operating at 100 Hz and translate it to a signal at 500 Hz to control LEDs 32. According to some embodiments, processing circuit 20 translates the signal to operate at a frequency of no more than about 10,000 Hz or no more than about 5,000 Hz. According to some of these embodiments, processing circuit 20 translates the signal to operate at a frequency of no more than about 3,000 Hz or about 1,000 Hz. According to some embodiments (which may or may not include the above mentioned embodiments), processing circuit 20 may translate the signal to operate at at least about 100 Hz. According to some of these embodiments, processing circuit 20 may translate the signal to operate at at least about 200 Hz. According to some embodiments, processing circuit 20 may translate the received dimming signal to generate an LED dimming signal that operates at a higher frequency than the received dimming signal. In some embodiments, the frequency of the LED dimming signal is at least about twice as high as the received dimming signal. In some embodiments, the frequency of the LED dimming signal is at least about four times as great as the frequency of the received dimming signal.

[0041] Processing circuit 20 may also translate the received dimming signal by altering (e.g. increasing) the frequency of the signal and/or number of steps with which the light source is dimmed. Processing circuit 20 may also alter (e.g. decrease) the step size of each change in intensity. For example, the received dimming signal may go from an intensity of 90% to 80% to 70% with each step occurring over an interval of X seconds. Processing circuit 20 may translate the received signal to dim LEDs 16 from 90% to 88% to 86% with each step occurring over an interval of X/5 seconds. One method of controlling the changes in intensity is by adjusting the duty cycle of the signal used to control LEDs 32. While the curve (over time) of the dimming signal and the curve of the translated signal are shown as having a direct relationship in the example discussed above, in some embodiments the translated signal may not have a linear relationship to the received dimming signal. This may be particularly true at low intensities near the end of the dimming process where an LED may act differently than other light sources receiving the dimming signal. Further, one, both, or neither of the dimming signal and the translated signal may dim at a linear rate.

[0042] Processing circuit 20 may further translate the received dimming signal by changing the type of control method used to provide the translated dimming signal. For example, processing circuit 20 may translate a direct current voltage-based dimming signal received from a dimming signal generator to a pulse width modulated dimming signal to control LED 32.

[0043] By varying the duty cycle of the PWM output to the current control circuit, the light intensity may be increased or decreased. By controlling this feature with a microprocessor/microcontroller, the rate of dimming may be customized. This dimming rate may also be varied to match existing incandescent lighting in the vehicle if a mixture of light sources are used.

[0044] While translating a dimming signal has been discussed above, any other signal used to change the intensity of a light source (light intensity varying signal) may also be translated. For example, a signal used to increase the intensity of a light source may be translated (e.g. when a courtesy function is used to turn lights on, when a user remotely changes an intensity of the light source, etc.). Each reference to a dimming signal discussed above (or below) is equally applicable to other light intensity varying signals. [0045] According to some embodiments, the LED lamp is connected to the same wiring and/or operates in response to the same control signals as an incandescent lamp. In this manner, this may allow a user to use LED lamps or incandescent lamps interchangeably, allowing a user greater flexibility to customize the lighting system of the vehicle. [0046] The lighting system may also include one or more incandescent lamps. The light intensity varying signal generated by the vehicle (e.g. the dimming signal) may also be used to control incandescent lamps. The signal used to control the incandescent lamps may be the same signal as inputted by processing circuit 20. In other embodiments, the vehicle may send different signals to the incandescent lamps and the LED lamp 33. [0047] In some embodiments, processing circuit 20 may control LEDs 32 based on an amount of ambient lighting. In some embodiments, processing circuit 20 may be configured to control LEDs 32 based on the amount of ambient lighting for purposes of a courtesy function. For example, processing circuit 20 may control LEDs 32 to not turn on during the courtesy function if there is at least a predetermined amount of ambient light, and to turn on the LEDs during the courtesy function if there is not at least a predetermined amount of ambient light. Processing circuit 20 may alternatively use any other predetermined criteria or algorithm based on an amount of ambient light to control LEDs 32. Also, processing circuit 20 may control the LEDs in any manner in addition to or as an alternative to controlling the LEDs to be on or off (such as using dimmer light during times of high ambient light, and/or by placing the LEDs into more than two states of operation). [0048] As some examples of a courtesy function, a courtesy function may be activated when a command is triggered on a remote keyless entry device (such as an unlock command), when a door of the vehicle is opened, when ignition is turned off and/or when a key is removed from the ignition, etc. The general purpose of a courtesy lighting function is to provide lighting at a time when it is likely that a user would desire or require lighting without requiring the user to specifically (directly) activate the lights. [0049] Preventing the LEDs from not being activated during daytime may allow the lifetime of the LEDs to be extended and potentially decrease the amount of replacement needed for the LEDs.

[0050] According to some embodiments, ambient light levels can be used to control intensity to reduce light interference on the driver from the light source in low light (night or morning) when driving. For example, processing circuit 20 may input information relating to the ambient light level to determine maximum operating intensities for LEDs 32 and/or LED lamp 33.

[0051] According to some embodiments, ambient light levels may be used to control an amount of light provided by a vanity lamp. Light provided by an LED-based vanity lamp may be increased as ambient light levels decrease.

[0052] Other lamps may also be controlled based on the amount of ambient light, such as being controlled during a courtesy lighting function, during low light, and/or in vanity applications in a manner similar to that discussed above for lamp 33. [0053] Ambient light may be measured by a photo sensor (not shown) or any other sensor or device that provides data relating to an amount of ambient light. The sensor may be located in a lamp housing or may be located remote from a lamp housing. Ambient light measurements used by processing circuit 20 may be received from one or more sensors, which may be placed in one or more locations.

[0054] Processing circuit 20 may also be configured to control LEDs 32 based on the ambient temperature. For example, as ambient temperature increases, processing circuit 20 may be configured to reduce the intensity of (e.g. by reducing an amount of current supplied to) LEDs 32.

[0055] In one exemplary embodiment, when a pre-determined ambient temperature is achieved, the duty cycle of the PWM output to the current control circuit may be reduced, reducing the amount of time the drive circuit and LED(s) are kept on. The light output intensity may be decreased, while the junction temperature of the components may be held within predetermined limits.

[0056] The ambient temperature used to control LEDs 32 may be monitored by any number of means. As some examples, processing circuit 20 may include a dedicated temperature sensor (e.g. a thermistor), or may use circuits having a function other than sensing temperature which may also provide information relating to the ambient temperature. With respect to circuits having functions in addition to providing information relating to ambient temperature, some circuits may have properties that change with respect to temperature. These properties can be monitored to obtain information relating to the ambient temperature. For example, a microprocessor/microcontroller might have a timing function whose timing interval changes based on changes in temperature (e.g. the interval may increase when temperature increases). The length of the interval of the timing function may be monitored to obtain information relating to the ambient temperature. In one example, the timing function may be used to reset the firmware running on the microprocessor/microcontroller should the firmware get stuck in a portion of the program. [0057] In some embodiments, the ambient temperature that is monitored may be the ambient temperature in proximity to LEDs 32. In other embodiments, the ambient temperature that is monitored may be an ambient temperature that is not in close proximity to LEDs 32. In other embodiments, ambient temperature may be monitored both in proximity to LEDs 32 and also not in proximity / close proximity to LEDs 32. As one example of monitoring ambient temperature using a sensor that is not in proximity to LEDs 32, the ambient temperature may be monitored in proximity to other LEDs, and used to control LEDs 32. As another example, ambient temperature may be monitored by monitoring a feature of a processing circuit 20 which processing circuit 20 is not in close proximity to LEDs 32. One such feature may be the timing of a microprocessor/microcontroller.

[0058] Switches 24 may be located within a housing of the LED lamp 33 or may be located in a different housing.

[0059] ON/OFF switch inputs 24 may be located remotely from the individual lighting modules. This feature could allow control of the rear vehicle lighting from the driver or front passenger positions, for instance, without lighting the front of the vehicle (not interfering with the driver's vision).

[0060] Switches 24 may also be used to control the intensity of each LED 32. The intensity of each LED 32 and/or lamp may be individually controlled, and may be configured to be controlled by a user using switches 24. For example, each user may individually control dimming level by actuating switch 24 (e.g. an ON/OFF switch) for the appropriate LED. Along with providing ON/OFF control, if the light is switched ON and switch 24 is not immediately released, the continued input to processing circuit 20 may initiate a repeated slow dim and/or slow on feature. Dimming level can then be set by releasing switch 24 at the desired light level. A memory feature may be available to retain this setting each time the LED 32 and/or LED lamp 33 is activated. In some embodiments, this memory may be used in conjunction with a remote keyless entry or other device to remember settings for more than one user depending on the remote keyless entry or other device actuated.

[0061] Processing circuit 20 may include a microprocessor (microcontroller) and additional circuitry.

[0062] A method of controlling a light source, such as an LED 32, includes determining a characteristic of the light source, electronically storing information relating to the characteristic, and controlling the LED lamp based on the information.

[0063] The characteristic of the light source may be determined in any number of ways.

For example, the characteristic may be measured for each light source. Measuring may occur during the process of manufacturing the lamp 33 containing the light source 32, and may occur when the light source 32 is installed in the lamp 33. [0064] In some embodiments, the manufacturer of the light source may measure the characteristic and determining the characteristic might include utilizing the information provided by the manufacturer of the light source.

[0065] Measuring may also occur during operation of the lamp. For example, a forward voltage across an LED circuit may be measured during operation of the lamp. This may be done by any number of means including using an A/D converter to convert the value of the forward voltage to a value readable by a microprocessor/microcontroller or other digital processing circuit. As another example, a light intensity sensor may be located in the lamp 33 or the vehicle such that the intensity of light from the light source 32 and/or lamp 33 can be determined.

[0066] When determining the characteristic, the exact value of the characteristic of the light source may be determined, or the value of the characteristic may be assigned within a range of values (e.g. 30-32 lux of intensity, etc.).

[0067] The measured characteristic may include any number of types of information. Some examples of information that may be useful include the relative intensity of the light source, the color output by the light source, and/or the forward voltage of the light source. [0068] For LEDs, an LED manufacturer may provide information such as a bin # where each bin represents a range of intensities, a range of colors, range of operating voltages, and/or a range of colors in combination with a range of intensities. The bin # for the LEDs to be included in a particular lamp may be used to determine values for one or more of the characteristic(s) of the LEDs represented by the bin #.

[0069] Electronically storing the information relating to the characteristic may involve one or more of any number of electronic devices. For example, the information relating to the characteristic for the light source may be written to a memory (preferably a non-volatile memory) associated with a processing circuit 20 (Fig. 1) such as a processing circuit 20 including a microprocessor/microcontroller. In another embodiment, a value of a resistor or other circuit component may be used to represent the value of the characteristic, which resistor value or other component value can be determined by processing circuit 20. In another embodiment, a circuit component may be placed in series or in parallel with the light source, the value of the characteristic of the light source being used to determine the value of circuit component. In another embodiment, the value may be stored by a mechanical switch (e.g. dip switch) whose position is readable by a processing circuit. In another embodiment, a plurality of conductive traces may exist and one or more conductive traces may be cut to signify the value of the characteristic.

[0070] The information stored can be used to control the operation of the light source and/or the lamp of which the light source is a part. In some embodiments, the light source may be controlled by changing the amount of current provided to the light source. In some embodiments, the light source may be controlled by controlling a switch (such as a solid state switch) which switches through different paths where each path offers a different amount of resistance. Control may be exercised by microprocessor (microcontroller) or by any other processing (control) circuit.

[0071] In one exemplary drive system, the LED forward voltage variation may be compensated by using a current control on the low side of the LED string. By fixing the amount of current running through each string of the LED(s), the differences in the forward voltage of each individual LED may be set such that it does not affect the intensity of the light output. In a purely resistive drive circuit, the voltage drop over the LED along with resistance in the circuit tend to determine the current driven through the LED. By controlling this drive current independently of the forward voltage drop, each string should receive the same amount of current. In one exemplary embodiment, current control may be attained through the use of a National Semiconductor LM317 linear regulator, comparator/FET, and/or BJT transistor circuit and reference resistor. [0072] By having information relating to the characteristic stored, uniformity may be increased between separate lamps even where light sources are selected that have widely varying values for the characteristic. For example, knowing the intensity of an LED may allow a processing circuit 20 to control the intensity of a lamp 33 such that multiple lamps can be configured to have about a same level of intensity even though the particular LEDs used in the lamps have differing intensities at the same current level. A processing circuit 20 may control an amount of current provided to each LED (or string of LEDs) 32 such that each LED (or string) provides a similar amount of light output.

[0073] As another example, a processing circuit may use information relating to a color output by an LED to control multiple lamps to output a same color. For example, white LEDs are generally formed by outputting light of a single color from an LED chip (e.g. blue light) and then including one or more types of phosphors in the resin which encapsulates the LED chip, which phosphors absorb some of the light of the single color emitted by the chip and convert the light to a different color or different colors. The combination of the colors emitted by the chip and the phosphors then appear a different color (e.g. white) to an observer. If such an LED were provided a greater current, then the chip may provide additional light, which additional light might be more than can be handled by the phosphors, which may result in a blended color of light which has a color closer to that of the light emitted by the chip (i.e. the phosphors would absorb and convert a smaller percentage of the increased intensity of light). The opposite may also be true; emitting less light from the chip allowing the phosphors to absorb and convert a greater percentage. Thus, information relating to a color of an LED may be used to control the LED in such a way as to give a more consistent color from one LED or LED lamp to another LED or LED lamp, which control may take the form of adjusting an amount of current provided to the LED. If more than one LED of different colors are used, control of the color may be achieved by adjusting the relative intensities of the various colors of LEDs.

[0074] Values for more than one characteristic of the light source may be determined, stored, and/or used to control the function of the light source or lamp in which the light source is installed.

[0075] In addition to controlling a first light source based on its characteristic, processing circuit 20 may control other light sources based on the characteristic of the first light source. For example, a first light source may be in a string of light sources and processing circuit 20 may control the entire string of light sources based, at least in part, on the value of the characteristic of the first light source. As another example, where multiple LEDs of different colors are used in a lamp, the intensity used to drive one color of LED may be based on the relative intensity of an LED of another color.

[0076] Also, a value of a second light source may be used in combination with the value of the first light source to control one or both of the first and second light sources. [0077] The light sources may be LEDs, but may also be any other type of light source, such as any other type of solid state or diode-based light source.

Characteristics of an LED-based Lamp

[0078] Referring again to Fig. 1, LED lamp 33 may include a housing to contain the components of LED lamp 33. The housing may contain all or a portion of processing circuit 20, one or more user interfaces such as switches 24, and/or LEDs 32. The housing may be a single component housing or may include multiple components. In some embodiments, LEDs 32 may be included in swiveling (or other moving) portions while other portions of the housing remain still. In some embodiments, all of the components of the housing may be configured to be in a moving portion.

[0079] Multiple lamps 33 could be put together in multiple separate housing. In other embodiments, two or more of lamps 33 may be contained in a single housing and/or may share some common circuit components. The housings may be formed from plastic or may be formed from some other material.

[0080] The housing may include vents which vents may allow heat to be vented out of the housing. The housing may also contain connectors which allow the housing to be mounted to a vehicle such as an automobile. The housing may be mounted to or formed in an interior component of the vehicle such as a headliner, a console, a glove compartment, a rearview mirror, a vanity mirror, or other interior component. The housing may also be mounted to or formed in a footwell area, a door, or other portion which may allow light to be provided exterior of the vehicle.

[0081] LEDs 32 may be white LEDs or may be other color LEDs. The light from a single

LED-based lamp 33 may be configured to provide substantially white light, may be configured to provide a tinted white light, or may be configured to provide a color other than a white color (e.g. a shade of blue, or yellow, or orange, etc.). White light and shades of white light may be emitted by using a white light emitting LED or may be emitted by using a combination of colored LEDs (e.g. red, green and blue or blue and yellow) or may be emitted using a colored LED in combination with a color conversion system (e.g. a lens containing phosphors). A single lamp may include a single LED or may include multiple

LEDs.

[0082] While Fig. 1 shows a lamp 33 having a single LED, an LED containing lamp according to a claim below may have one LED, or any number of LEDs more than one, unless specified otherwise. Some exemplary interior LED lamps may include 1 to 5 LEDs, and some of these embodiments may include 1-3 LEDs.

[0083] Reference to an LED may be used to reference any type of LED such as a standard inorganic solid-state LED, an organic LED, a polymer LED, and so on, unless stated otherwise. Many exemplary embodiments would include inorganic LEDs.

[0084] While much of the discussion is directed to LEDs, much of the disclosure is applicable to other solid state light source based lamps and/or to other light sources generally. The claims are not limited to LED light sources unless specified as limited to

LED light sources in the claims. [0085] Any lamp that includes an LED light source may also include other types of light sources as well. For example, a single lamp may include both an LED, an incandescent light, and/or some other solid state light source.

[0086] LEDs may be purchased from any number of manufacturers including Osram, Nichia, Agilent, Lumileds, Toshiba, and other manufacturers. Circuits and/or other components for use in controlling LEDs can likewise be purchased from a number of manufacturers. For example, components may be purchased from National Semiconductor, AMI, Maxim, and/or Microchip. A heat dissipation material such as aluminum may be fixed to a flexible circuit by any number of methods including methods used by Sheldahl Circuits.

Other Properties of Lamps

[0087] Some exemplary locations in which LED dome/courtesy lamp may be incorporated include the headliner, overhead console (including outer surface of bin door), trim (e.g. perimeter trim), overhead HVAC vent, visor, overhead rail modules, along or inside of overhead rails, in assist handle & bezel, pillar trim, on sunroof or glass (panoramic) roof, sunroof shade, and other locations. Some exemplary locations in which LED map/reading lamps may be incorporated include the headliner, overhead console, interior trim around the openings in the vehicle body, overhead HVAC vent, visor, overhead rail modules, on sunroof or glass (panoramic) roof, sunroof shade, and others. Exemplary locations in which LED ambient, orientation, conversation, and utility lamps may be incorporated include the headliner, overhead console, integrated with task or courtesy lamps, in visor, trim system, overhead HVAC vent, overhead rail modules, along or inside of overhead rails, in assist handle & bezel, coat hook, on sunroof or glass (panoramic) roof, sunroof shade, pillar trim, sidewall trim, carpeting (along rocker or below 2^nd/3^rd row cushion), along or inside of floor rails, seat back (front side (office lamp) and rear side (rear seat utility lamp)), seat frame (for floor), seat cushion, seat highlights, head restraint, arm rest, seat belt, seat belt buckle, front or underside of IP, around HVAC vents on IP or floor console, on sides or back of floor console, on door panel, door handle, door pull cup or strap, sill plate, and others. Exemplary locations for LED trunk lamps include the underside of shelf, in sidewall trim/carpet, on underside of deck lid, and others. Exemplary locations for LED cargo lamps include the headliner,trim system, glass (panoramic) roof, sidewall trim, seatback, seat frame, lift gate, and others. [0088] LED visor vanity lamps may be configured to be located along any or all sides of the vanity mirror, on the mirror cover, and/or on the headliner or the trim above visor. Further, a vanity lamp could also be designed to shine through the mirror. LED glove box lamps may be configured to be located on the top surface or sides of the box or may shine through the top or sides of the box. LED ash receiver lamps may be configured to illuminate the ash receiver. Additionally, these lamps could be used to put a ring around all or part of the receiver. LED cup holder lamps may be configured to be located along the bottom or sides of the cup holder, around the top of the cup holder, or on an adjacent part (for example, the floor console, IP, or sidewall trim) to illuminate the cup holder. LED storage bin lamps may be configured to be located on the sides or cover of the bin, shine through the sides or cover of the bin, or may be located above the bin. LED footwell lamps may be configured to be located on the underside of the IP, on the hush panel, on the pillar trim, on the sidewall trim, on the seat frames, on the seat cushion, on the carpeting (such as along the rocker or below the 2^nd/3^rd row cushion), on the sides or back of the floor console, on the sides or front or back of the floor rail module, and other locations. LED door lamps may be configured to be located on the lower door panel (such as a puddle/step lamp; door open lamp, with or without reflector), on the map pocket, on the upper door panel (task/utility light), on the rearward edge (e.g. to highlight for aid in ingress/egress), and other locations. LED lamps may be used to illuminate or backlight decorative features. These decorative features may include features used to identify brands. Further, these lamps could provide bars of light and may define the outline of an object or area such as the passenger or driver seat area. LED lamps may also be used to illuminate various other components. These lamps may be configured to illuminate the steering wheel rim, the spokes, the hub, and various other components of a vehicle.

[0089] According to many embodiments, an LED lamp 33 is an interior LED lamp configured to provide illumination to an interior portion of the vehicle. In many of these embodiments, the LED lamp 33 is configured to provide sufficient light to allow a user to read. According to some embodiments, the LED lamp 33 may provide at least 5 or 10 lux intensity at 20 inches and/or at a target area of the vehicle. According to some of these embodiments, the interior lamp 33 may provide at least about 25, at least about 40 or at least about 60 lux at 20 inches and/or at a target area of the vehicle. [0090] According to some embodiments, the LED lamp 33 provides a light out put of at least about 8 or at least 10 lumen. According to some of these embodiments, the LED lamp provides a light output of at least about 15 or at least about 20 lumen. [0091] In some cases the luminous intensity of one light-emitting diode 32 alone is not sufficient for illuminating a sufficiently large field of illumination with adequate luminous intensity. In these cases several light-emitting diodes 32 may be combined in the lighting device 33, in order to add the luminous intensities of the individual light emitting diodes 32 on the field of illumination.

[0092] In some embodiments, the LED lamp comprises at least one LED rated at at least about 0.4 Watts. According to some of the embodiments, the LED lamp comprises at least one LED rated at at least 0.5 or 0.8 Watts.

[0093] One or more secondary optical elements may be used with the above described LED lamps. Secondary optical elements are components that influence by combination of refraction, reflection, scattering, interference, absorption and diffraction the projected beam shape or pattern, intensity distribution, spectral distribution, orientation, divergence and other properties of the light generated by the LEDs. Secondary optical elements may include one or more of a lens, a deviator, and a diffuser, each of which may be in conventional form or otherwise in the form of Fresnel (e.g. a micro-groove Fresnel) equivalent, a HOE, binary optic or TIR equivalent, and/or another form. [0094] A deviator may be optionally mounted on or attached to the housing or otherwise attached to or made integral with a surface of a lens and may be used to steer the collimated beam in a direction oblique to the optic axis of the lens and/or reflector used in the LED/emissive lamp 100. The deviator may be a molded clear polycarbonate or acrylic prism operating in refractive mode or in TIR mode (such as a periscope prism). This prism may further be designed and manufactured in a microgrooved form such as a Fresnel equivalent or a TIR equivalent. Furthermore, a diffraction grating, binary optic or holographic optical element can be substituted for this prism to serve as a deviator. The deviator may be configured as a sheet or slab and may substantially cover the entire opening of the housing of the lamp from which light is emitted.

[0095] Optionally, a diffuser (e.g. integrated as part of a cover) may be mounted on or coupled to a housing or may be attached to or made integral with a surface of the lens or with a surface of a deviator. The diffuser may be used to aesthetically hide and/or physically protect the internal components of the lamp, and/or to filter the spectral composition of the resultant light, and/or narrow, broaden or smooth the light's intensity distribution. The diffuser may incorporate a unique spectral filter (such as a tinted compound or an optical coating such as dichroic or band pass filter) to enhance aesthetics, hide internal components from external view, and/or correct the color of mixed light projected by the lamp. The diffuser may be a compression or injection molded clear polycarbonate or acrylic sheet whose embossed surface or internal structure or composition modifies impinging light by refraction, reflection, total internal reflection, scattering, diffraction, absorption or interference.

[0096] In some embodiments at least two optical components may be combined into one integral piece. For example, a deviator can be incorporated onto an upper surface of a lens by placing an appropriately machined mold insert into the planar half of a mold for a Fresnel or TIR collimator lens. As mentioned above, a diffuser may also be attached to or made integral with the lens surface or the deviator surface.

The individual light-emitting diodes 32 of the LED lamp 46 may be combined on a printed circuit board, flex circuit, and/or conductor foil (pcb's) so as to form an LED module. Via the printed circuit board or conductor foil the light-emitting diodes 32 can be provided with current centrally and the LED module can be mounted in the form of a prefabricated subassembly in a housing. As a matter of principle, the electronics for driving the light- emitting diodes 32 may be arranged at any place in the vehicle, even at a place remote from the light-emitting diodes 32, for instance by integration into an on-board computer. In some embodiments, the electrical circuits 28 for driving the light-emitting diodes are combined together with the light emitting diodes 32 on a printed circuit board or conductor foil so as to form an LED module.

[0097] If the LED lamp 33 is employed in the exterior region of the motor vehicle or in a potentially wet region of a vehicle interior (e.g. in a door, a floor carpet, a cup holder, etc.), measures may be taken in order to rule out contact of the LED module with water. The moisture protection can be achieved by coating the LED module at least zonally with a water resistant material, for instance by dipping in or applying a water resistant material (e.g. a resin).

The light emitting diode 32 or the LED module may be permanently coupled to the housing. This may be accomplished, for instance, by bonding the components with adhesive. [0098] The lenses may be smooth lenses—that is, lenses having a smooth lens surface. Lenses with surface structure (e.g. Fresnel lenses) are also usable (although the surface structure may tend to reduce the light efficiency of the lighting device). [0099] The protective cover and the housing may be manufactured jointly in a multi-part injection-molding process. The housing and the cover may be manufactured simultaneously in a common injection mold. In the process, the cover connects to the housing at an interface, so that the cover may become an integral constituent of the housing. Alternatively, the two components may be manufactured separately and are connected by a clip connection or other type of connection.

Since fluctuations in the operating voltage in the on-board supply system of a motor vehicle may occur which can damage the light-emitting diodes, measures may be taken to protect the light-emitting diodes and/or circuit components (e.g. control circuit) against overvoltages and/or reverse voltages. For example, at least one protective diode (e.g. as part of processing circuit 24) may be connected in series or parallel to the light-emitting diodes in order to protect them against polarity reversal.

[0100] An LED lamp may be configured as an individual subassembly— ie, with its own housing—and to secure it in or on the vehicle. Instead, an LED lamp may be configured as a subassembly to be combined in part of an assembly such as an overhead console, a rear view mirror, or some other assembly. LED lamp 46 could be integrated into many assemblies of a motor vehicle. Exemplary assemblies include bumpers, sunroof operating modules, luggage-compartment covers, engine-compartment covers, glove compartments, ashtrays, storage compartments, center consoles, seats, and other subassemblies. [0101] While the exemplary and illustrative embodiments illustrated in the FIGS, and described above are presently preferred, it should be understood that these embodiments are offered by way of example only. Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to a particular embodiment, but extends to various modifications that nevertheless fall within the scope of the claims or the invention as a whole. While shown as operating at different voltages, processing circuit 20 and LED circuit 28 may operate at a same voltage. LED driver circuit 28 may reside on the same board as LEDs 32, or may be separated between two or more boards.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. An integrated LED lighting system, comprising: an LED lighting system, the LED lighting system having a light output of at least 5 lumens; and a non-lighting system; wherein the LED lighting system and the non-lighting system comprise common components.

2. The integrated LED lighting system of claim 1, wherein the non- lighting system comprises a system selected from a garage door opener circuit, a trainable transmitter circuit, a display system, a GPS system, a navigational circuit, a video controller circuit, a communications circuit, a memo recorder circuit, a sunroof control circuit, a rain sensor circuit, an electrochromic mirror circuit, a temperature circuit, a trip computer circuit, a remote keyless entry circuit, a tire pressure monitor system circuit, a telematics circuit, a hands-free phone circuit, and a compass circuit.

3. The integrated LED lighting system of claim 1, wherein the LED lighting system comprises an LED driver circuit, the LED driver circuit configured to receive power at a first voltage and configured to receive a control signal from the processing circuit, the processing circuit operating at a second voltage different than the first voltage.

4. The integrated LED lighting system of claim 3, wherein the LED driver circuit configured to receive power from a power filtering circuit at the first voltage.

5. The integrated LED lighting system of claim 3, wherein the processing circuit does not comprise a microprocessor configured to control the LED driver circuit.

6. The integrated LED lighting system of claim 3, wherein the non- lighting system is configured to be controlled by the processing circuit.

7. The integrated LED lighting system of claim 6, wherein the LED driver circuit configured to receive power that has been filtered by a power filtering circuit at the first voltage and wherein the non-lighting system is configured to receive power that has been filtered by the power filter circuit.

8. The integrated LED lighting system of claim 1, wherein the non- lighting system comprises a compass system.

9. The integrated LED lighting system of claim 1, wherein the non- lighting system comprises a trainable transmitter.

10. The integrated LED lighting system of claim 1, wherein the non- lighting system comprises an electrochromic mirror system.

11. The integrated LED lighting system of claim 1 , wherein the non- lighting system and the LED lighting system comprise a common power filtering circuit.

12. The integrated LED lighting system of claim 11, wherein the power filtering circuit comprises a plurality of capacitors.

13. The integrated LED lighting system of claim 11, wherein the power filtering circuit comprises a capacitor and a reverse polarity diode.

14. The integrated LED lighting system of claim 1, wherein the LED lighting system comprises an LED driver circuit, the LED driver circuit configured to receive inputs operating at at least two different voltages.

15. An integrated LED lighting system, comprising: an LED lighting system, the LED lighting system having a light output of at least 5 lumens; a non-lighting system selected from a group consisting of a compass circuit, a trainable transmitter circuit, and an electrochromic (EC) mirror circuit; and a processing circuit configured to control the LED lighting system and the non-lighting system.

16. The integrated LED lighting system of claim 15, wherein the LED lighting system comprises an LED driver circuit, the LED driver circuit configured to receive inputs operating at at least two different voltages.

17. The integrated LED lighting system of claim 15, wherein the processing circuit comprises a microprocessor configured to control operation of the LED and configured to control operation of the non- lighting system.

18. The integrated LED lighting system of claim 17, further comprising a power filtering circuit configured to provide filtered power to the LED lighting system and the non-lighting system.

19. The integrated LED lighting system of claim 18, wherein the power filtering circuit comprises a plurality of capacitors and a reverse diode.

20. The integrated LED lighting system of claim 15, wherein the LED lighting system comprises an LED driver circuit, the LED driver circuit configured to receive power at a first voltage and configured to receive a control signal from the processing circuit, the processing circuit operating at a second voltage different than the first voltage.

21. An integrated LED lighting system, comprising: a means for providing a non-lighting function; and a means for providing an interior lamp function, the means for providing an interior lamp function having common circuit components with the means for providing a non-lighting function.

22. The integrated LED lighting system of claim 21 , wherein: the common circuit components comprise a microprocessor operating at a first voltage; the means for providing an interior lamp function comprises a driver circuit, the driver circuit configured to receive power from a power circuit at a second voltage and configured to receive a control signal from the microprocessor; and the first voltage and the second voltage are different voltages. Atty. Dkt. No.: 027830-5986

23. An integrated compass with LED lighting system, comprising: a compass circuit; an LED driver circuit configured to drive an LED that is part of an LED lamp assembly, the LED lamp assembly comprising at least one of a reading lamp, a map lamp, a courtesy lamp, and an overhead lamp; a processing circuit configured to receive data from the compass circuit and calculate compass information based on the data from the compass circuit, the processing circuit also configured to control operation of the LED driver circuit; a power filtering circuit configured to filter power received by the LED driver circuit; and a switch coupled to the processing circuit, the switch configured to control at least one of the LED lamp system and a compass system comprised of the compass circuit and processing circuit.

24. The integrated LED lighting system of claim 23, wherein the power filter circuit is configured to filter power received by the compass circuit.

25. The integrated LED lighting system of claim 23, wherein the power filter circuit is configured to filter power received by the processing circuit; the system further comprises a voltage conversion circuit configured to convert the voltage received from the vehicle having a first voltage to power having a second voltage; the LED driver circuit is configured to receive power from the power filter circuit at the first voltage; and the processing circuit that is configured to control operation of the LED driver circuit is configured to operate at the second voltage.