WO2015080674A1

WO2015080674A1 - Multifunctional motor vehicle light

Info

Publication number: WO2015080674A1
Application number: PCT/SI2014/000040
Authority: WO
Inventors: Borut PERKO; Peter KRZIC; Jure Razpotnik
Original assignee: Hella Saturnus Slovenija, Proizvodnja Svetlobne Opreme Za Motorna In Druga Vozila, D.O.O.
Priority date: 2013-11-29
Filing date: 2014-07-03
Publication date: 2015-06-04
Also published as: SI24567A

Abstract

Multifunctional motor vehicle light, comprising several light sources (1, 2, 3), wherein each of them is adapted to perform a pre-determined lighting function independently on performing lighting function in each residual light sources (1, 2, 3), and wherein at least one control unit (4) with a belonging DC-DC convertor (5) is foreseen for the purposes of controlling each desired lighting function in each disposable light sources (1, 2, 3) as well as of energizing and operating each of said light sources (1, 2, 3) in the sense of performing said lighting functions, wherein each of disposable light sources is electrically integrated into a separate secondary electric circuit (100, 200, 300), in which in addition to said light source (1, 2, 3) also an electric interrupting assembly (10, 20, 30) is integrated, wherein all disposable secondary electric circuits (100, 200, 300) are in serial electrically connected into a primary electric circuit (50), into which just one single-channel DC-DC convertor (5) is integrated, which is common for all disposable primary circuits (100, 200, 300) and all disposable light sources (1, 2, 3) and connected with said control unit (4), which is adapted to control each disposable electric interrupting assembly (10, 20, 30) in each of said secondary circuits (100, 200, 300) belonging to each disposable light sources (1, 2, 3), as well as to interrupt the electricity supply in the case, when all disposable secondary circuits (100, 200, 300) are short circuits.

Description

Multifunctional motor vehicle light

The invention belongs to the field of vehicles i.e. lighting equipment for vehicles, in particular headlights and fog lights, and more exactly refers to a light, which is in addition to illuminating each area in front of the vehicle adapted to illuminate other areas, namely to a so-called multifunctional light, which is permanently or at least occasionally capable to perform various functions and may therefore serve as a headlight with integrated deep beam and/or dimmed beam and/or parking light and/or turn indicator blinker and/or cornering light, or as a fog light with integrated cornering light, or the like.

The purpose of the invention is to create a multifunctional motor vehicle light, which could with regard to each number of lighting function require less components than the state of the art lights, by which in addition to reduction of manufacturing costs also the probability of functional irregularities will be reduced.

Various multifunctional motor vehicle lights are known to the applicant, which are suitable for performing several different functions, which may also be performed simultaneously, like e.g. function of deep beam, dimmed light, turn indicator blinker, daily light, cornering light, or the like. Typically, each light source, which is used to perform certain lighting function, requires energizing by means of a separate electric source, which is usually a single-channel DC-DC converter. A light source for performing certain lighting function is either a filament bulb, in particular halogen bulb, or a light emitting diode (LED) or a sequence of LEDs, which are integrated within appropriate electric circuit. Integration of each electric sources required for energizing of each disposable light sources is connected with certain expenses, and moreover, large number of components also leads to higher risk of functional irregularities.

The invention generally results from the idea, that each disposable light sources intended to perform different lighting functions could be energized by means of a single electric source, wherein each light source should be capable to perform its function independently on operation of the residual light sources energized by means of said common electric source and even in the case, when certain light source is damaged. Consequently, the number of each required components could be reduced, manufacturing of such light could be cheaper, and at the same time also the probability of functioning irregularities could be reduced.

Therefore, the invention generally refers to a multifunctional motor vehicle light, wherein such light comprises two light sources, which are mounted within a light casing in order to remain protected against various external influences, and are moreover adapted to cooperate with each disposable reflector and/or lens, wherein each of them is adapted to perform a pre-determined lighting function independently on performing lighting function in each residual light sources, and wherein at least one control unit with a belonging DC-DC convertor is foreseen for the purposes of controlling each desired lighting function in each disposable light sources as well as of energizing and operating each of said light sources in the sense of performing said lighting functions in such light.

The invention provides that in such multifunctional light each of disposable light sources is electrically integrated into a separate secondary electric circuit, in which in addition to said light source also an electric interrupting assembly is integrated, wherein all disposable secondary electric circuits are in serial electrically connected into a primary electric circuit, into which just one single-channel DC- DC convertor is integrated, which is common for all disposable primary circuits and all disposable light sources and connected with said control unit, which is adapted to control each disposable electric interrupting assembly in each of said secondary circuits belonging to each disposable light sources, as well as to interrupt the electricity supply in the case, when all disposable secondary circuits are short circuits.

In one of possible embodiments of the invention, said single-channel DC-DC convertor represents an energy source for energizing said primary electric circuit as well of said control unit.

An alternative embodiment of the invention provides that said control unit represents an energy source for energizing said single-channel DC-DC convertor and also said primary electric circuit with integrated secondary circuits.

In accordance with the invention, at least one light source is a filament bulb and/ora light emitting diode (LED) and/or a sequence of light emitting diodes (LED) which are electrically interconnected with each other. The invention further provides that at least one electric interrupting assembly, which is controlled by means of said control unit and is integrated within at least of said secondary electric circuits with integrated light source for performing each pre-determined lighting function, is either a mechanically operating switch or an electro-mechanically operating switch or an electric semi-conductor, optionally a transistor.

Said control unit is adapted is adapted for determining each required lighting functions in each disposable light sources, and optionally also for determining intensity of electric current in said DC-DC convertor, which is required for undisturbed performing of each required lighting functions in each active light sources.

The invention will be described on the basis of two embodiments in relationship with the enclosed drawings, wherein

Fig. 1 is a schematically presented first embodiment of the multifunctional light according to the invention; and

Fig. 2 is a schematically presented second embodiment of the multifunctional light according to the invention.

A multifunctional motor vehicle light, which is schematically presented in Fig. 1, in this particular case comprises two light sources 1, 2, which are mounted within a light casing in order to remain protected against various external influences, and are moreover adapted to cooperate with each disposable reflector and/or lens. Each of said light sources 1, 2 is in this particular case a sequence of light emitting diodes (LED) and is as such adapted to perform a pre-determined lighting function independently on lighting function, which is performed by each residual light source 1, 2. For example, the first light source 1 may function as a dimmed light, while the second light source 2 may functioning as a turn indicator blinker.

As mentioned, both light sources 1, 2 are in this particular case available as sequences of light emitting diodes (LED), although at least one of them can also be available as a single light emitting diode (LED), or also as a filament bulb, e.g. a halogen bulb.

A control unit 4 with a belonging DC-DC convertor 5 is generally foreseen for controlling said lighting functions of each disposable light sources 1, 2, which determines energizing and functioning of each light source 1, 2 in the sense of each desired lighting functions performed therewith.

Pursuant to the proposed solution according to the invention, each of said light sources 1, 2 is electrically connected into a separate secondary electric circuit 100, 200, in which in addition to said light source 1, 2 also an electric interrupting assembly 10, 20 is integrated. Both disposable secondary electric circuits 100, 200 are in serial integrated into a primary electric circuit 50 comprising a single- channel DC-DC convertor 5, namely just one and the same for both secondary circuits 100, 200 and also for both light sources 1, 2. A control unit 4 is connected with said DC-DC convertor 5, and is adapted to control each of said electric interrupting assemblies 10, 20 in each of said secondary circuits 100, 200 belonging to each of said light sources 1, 2. The electric source for energizing said primary electric circuit 50 and also the control unit 4 is in this particular case said single-channel DC-DC convertor 5. Said control unit 4 is in this particular case adapted to determine each desired lighting functions in each disposable light sources 1 , 2 on the basis of controlling electric interrupting assemblies 10, 20 in secondary electric circuits 100, 200. Namely, when certain electric interrupting assembly 10, 20 of each particular secondary circuit is closed, then each belonging secondary circuit is a short circuit, so that the electric current is flowing throughout the electric interrupting assembly 10, 20 towards each further secondary circuit 100, 200, wherein the light source 1, 2 in the secondary circuit 100, 200 which is a short circuit, does not operate. It should be annotated that even by disorder of one of disposable light sources 1, 2, functioning of each residual light sources 1, 2 in each residual secondary circuits 100, 200 is undisturbed and is performed independently on the secondary circuit 1 , 2 comprising a disordered light source 1 , 2.

Generally, said primary circuit 50 is permanently supplied with electric energy by means of a single DC-DC convertor 5, while each lighting function of each particular light source 1 , 2 is obtained by means of interrupting each corresponding secondary circuit 100, 200 by means of each corresponding electric interrupting assembly 10, 20 belonging to said circuit 100, 200, by which the electric current starts flowing through each particular secondary circuit 100, 200 with integrated light source 1 , 2 performing each desired lighting function. When the light source 1 is foreseen e.g. to operate as a dimmed light, then during operation of said light source 1 the electric interrupting assembly 10 is maintained in its interrupted state, and the electric current flows through the secondary circuit 100 towards the residual secondary circuit 200. When the second light source 2 is functioning as a turn indicator blinker, then each required interruptions are performed by the electric interrupting assembly 20 in the rhythm of operating such turn indicator blinker, wherein said control unit 4 is further adapted to terminate energizing when both secondary circuits 100, 200 are short circuits.

A multifunctional motor vehicle light is schematically presented in Fig. 2, which comprises three light sources 1 , 2, 3, which are mounted within a light casing in order to remain protected against various external influences, and are moreover adapted to cooperate with each disposable reflector and/or lens. One light source 2 is a light emitting diode (LED), and the other two light sources 1, 3 are each per se sequences of light emitting diodes (LED).

The source of electricity represents a control unit 4, by means of which a single- channel DC-DC convertor 5 is energized, and consequently also a primary electric circuit 50 with integrated secondary electric circuits 100, 200, 300.

Operation of said primary electric circuit 50 and integrated secondary electric circuits 100, 200, 300 in the sense of performing each desired lighting functions of each particular light sources 1, 2, 3 is also in this case quite analogous like in a previously described embodiment according to Fig. 1.

Said control unit 4 is optionally adapted to determine each desired lighting functions of each disposable light sources 1, 2, 3 as well as for adjusting the intensity of the electric current in said DC-DC convertor 5, which is required for the purposes of performing each desired lighting functions in each active light sources 1, 2, 3. Moreover, said control unit 4 said control unit 4 is further adapted to terminate supply of electricity into said primary circuit 50 in its irregular state, when all disposable secondary circuits 100, 200, 300 are each per se short circuits.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1. Multifunctional motor vehicle light, comprising two light sources (1, 2, 3) which are mounted within a light casing in order to remain protected against various external influences, and are moreover adapted to cooperate with each disposable reflector and/or lens, wherein each of them is adapted to perform a predetermined lighting function independently on performing lighting function in each residual light sources (1, 2, 3), and wherein at least one control unit (4) with a belonging DC-DC convertor (5) is foreseen for the purposes of controlling each desired lighting function in each disposable light sources (1, 2, 3) as well as of energizing and operating each of said light sources (1, 2, 3) in the sense of performing said lighting functions in such light, characterized in that each of disposable light sources (1, 2, 3) is electrically integrated into a separate secondary electric circuit (100, 200, 300), in which in addition to said light source (1, 2, 3) also an electric interrupting assembly (10, 20, 30) is integrated, wherein all disposable secondary electric circuits (100, 200, 300) are in serial electrically connected into a primary electric circuit (50), into which just one single-channel DC-DC convertor (5) is integrated, which is common for all disposable primary circuits (100, 200, 300) and all disposable light sources (1, 2, 3) and connected with said control unit (4), which is adapted to control each disposable electric interrupting assembly (10, 20, 30) in each of said secondary circuits (100, 200, 300) belonging to each disposable light sources (1, 2, 3), as well as to interrupt the electricity supply in the case, when all disposable secondary circuits (100, 200, 300) are short circuits.

2. Multifunctional light according to Claim 1, characterized in that said single-channel DC-DC convertor (5) represents an energy source for energizing said primary electric circuit (50) as well of said control unit (4).

3. Multifunctional light according to Claim 1, characterized in that said control unit (4) represents an energy source for energizing said single-channel DC- DC convertor (5) and also said primary electric circuit (50) with integrated secondary circuits (100, 200, 300).

4. Multifunctional light according to anyone of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that at least one light source (1, 2, 3) is a filament bulb.

5. Multifunctional light according to anyone of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that at least one light source (1, 2, 3) is a light emitting diode (LED).

6. Multifunctional light according to anyone of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that at least one light source (1, 2, 3) is a sequence of light emitting diodes (LED), which are electrically interconnected with each other.

7. Multifunctional light according to anyone of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that at least one electric interrupting assembly (10, 20, 30), which is controlled by means of said control unit (4) and is integrated within at least of said secondary electric circuits (100, 200, 300) with integrated light source (1, 2, 3) for performing each pre-determined lighting function, is a mechanically operating switch.

8. Multifunctional light according to anyone of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that at least one electric interrupting assembly (10, 20, 30), which is controlled by means of said control unit (4) and is integrated within at least of said secondary electric circuits (100, 200, 300) with integrated light source (1, 2, 3) for performing each pre-determined lighting function, is an electro-mechanically operating switch.

9. Multifunctional light according to anyone of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that at least one electric interrupting assembly (10, 20, 30), which is controlled by means of said control unit (4) and is integrated within at least of said secondary electric circuits (100, 200, 300) with integrated light source (1, 2, 3) for performing each pre-determined lighting function, is an electric semi-conductor.

10. Multifunctional light according to Claim 9, characterized in that said electric semi-conductor is a transistor.

11. Multifunctional light according to anyone of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said control unit (4) is adapted is adapted for determining each required lighting functions in each disposable light sources (1, 2, 3).

12. Multifunctional light according to anyone of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that said control unit (4) is adapted for determining each required lighting functions in each disposable light sources (1, 2, 3) and simultaneously also for determining intensity of electric current in said DC-DC converter (5), which is required for undisturbed performing of each required lighting functions in each active light sources (1, 2, 3).