Headlamp for motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a headlight (3) for a motor vehicle, comprising a light source module (6) having a plurality of light-emitting diodes, which are arranged in the form of a matrix or an array and are provided for generating pixels of a light distribution; according to the invention, an Ethernet interface is provided for receiving and further processing image data for the light-emitting diodes, and the light source module (6) has an integrated circuit (8) on or in which both the plurality of light-emitting diodes and the Ethernet interface are formed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a headlight for a motor vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1 and to a motor vehicle according to the preamble of claim 7. Background Art

[0002] A headlamp and a motor vehicle of the above type are known from US2021 / 0107397A1. The motor vehicle described therein comprises a control device for controlling a high-resolution headlamp, which has a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) arranged in the form of a matrix. The control device has an Ethernet interface, which transmits image data for controlling the light-emitting diodes to an Ethernet interface arranged in the headlamp. The Ethernet interface of the headlamp is connected to a microcontroller of the headlamp, which controls the light-emitting diodes according to the received image data. The structure described in this document is relatively complex and has a plurality of different components. Summary of the invention

[0003] The problem on which the invention is based is to realize a headlamp of the type mentioned at the outset which is less complex in design and / or has fewer components. In addition, a motor vehicle having such a headlamp should be provided.

[0004] This is achieved according to the invention by a headlamp of the type mentioned in the introduction having the characterizing features of claim 1 and by a motor vehicle of the type mentioned in the introduction having the characterizing features of claim 7. The dependent claims relate to preferred embodiments of the invention.

[0005] According to claim 1, the light source module has an integrated circuit (IC) on or in which both the plurality of light-emitting diodes and the Ethernet interface are configured. As a result, the headlight is less complex to construct. In addition, the number of components of the headlight is reduced. In particular, the design according to the invention can dispense with a microcontroller used in the prior art of headlights, which is usually arranged on a separate control device and receives image data from a control device of the motor vehicle via an Ethernet interface and converts it into a format suitable for the power supply of the light-emitting diodes.

[0006] It can be provided that the integrated circuit has a power driver for supplying power to the light emitting diodes. In this case, the integrated circuit can be configured to convert image data received via the Ethernet interface into a pulse width modulated signal for controlling the power driver. The reception and conversion of image data and the control of the light emitting diodes can thus be performed completely within the integrated circuit.

[0007] There is the possibility that the light source module has a converter component which adapts the voltage level of the incoming Ethernet signal to the voltage level of the integrated circuit, in particular the converter component is arranged outside the integrated circuit. The converter component does not change or decode the image data, but only reduces the voltage amplitude of the Ethernet signal. Alternatively, there is the possibility that the converter component is also integrated into the integrated circuit.

[0008] It can be provided that the headlamp comprises a power control unit having a voltage supply device for the light emitting diodes and a control unit for controlling the voltage supply device, wherein the power control unit is connected to the light source module via a power supply cable. The power control unit is not used to control the light emitting diodes with image data, but only performs the function of a voltage source suitable for the integrated circuit and the light emitting diodes arranged thereon.

[0009] It is possible to design the integrated circuit as a solid-state LED array, in particular as an SSL chip, preferably as an SSL|HD chip.

[0010] According to claim 7, a motor vehicle comprises a headlamp according to the invention.

[0011] It may be provided that the motor vehicle comprises a light control unit having a control device for controlling light-emitting diodes of the headlights. The light control unit may have an Ethernet interface for transmitting image data from the control device to an Ethernet interface provided in the integrated circuit. In particular, the Ethernet interface of the light control unit and the Ethernet interface of the integrated circuit may be connected to one another via an Ethernet cable or an Ethernet bus and, if necessary, via a converter component. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] The present invention is described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The accompanying drawings are as follows:

[0013] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a headlight according to the invention and a light control unit of a motor vehicle according to the invention cooperating with the headlight is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] In the figures, identical and functionally identical parts are provided with the same reference symbols.

[0015] Motor vehicles in Figure 1 The light control unit, generally designated by reference numeral 1, comprises a control device 2 which can generate image data for controlling a headlamp generally designated by reference numeral 3. The light control unit 1 further comprises an Ethernet interface 4 connected to the control device 2, via which the image data generated by the control device 2 can be output. The Ethernet interface 4 is connected to the headlamp 3 via an Ethernet cable or an Ethernet bus 5.

[0016] The headlamp 3 comprises a light source module 6 and a power control unit 7. The light source module 6 comprises an integrated circuit (IC) 8, which has a plurality of light emitting diodes arranged in the form of a matrix or array. The integrated circuit 8 is in particular configured as a solid-state LED array, preferably as an SSL chip, for example, as an SSL|HD chip.

[0017] The integrated circuit 8 also has an Ethernet interface (not shown separately) which is provided for receiving and further processing image data for the light-emitting diodes generated by the control device 2 and output via the Ethernet interface 4. The integrated circuit 8 also has a power driver for supplying power to the light-emitting diodes. The integrated circuit 8 can be provided for converting the image data received via the Ethernet interface into a pulse width modulated signal for controlling the power driver.

[0018] In addition to the integrated circuit 8, the light source module 6 also has a converter component 9, which is connected to the Ethernet bus 5 on the one hand and to the integrated circuit 8 on the other hand. The converter component 9 adapts the voltage level of the Ethernet signal transmitted via the Ethernet bus 5 to the voltage level of the integrated circuit 8. The converter component 9 does not change or decode the image data, but only reduces the voltage amplitude of the Ethernet signal.

[0019] The power control unit 7 includes a voltage supply device 10 for the light emitting diodes and a control unit 11 for controlling the voltage supply device 10. Here, the power control unit 7 is connected to the light source module 6 via a power supply cable 12. The power control unit 7 is not used to control the light emitting diodes with image data, but only performs the function of a voltage source suitable for the integrated circuit 8 and the light emitting diodes arranged thereon.

[0020] Reference numerals list

[0021] 1 Light control unit

[0022] 2 Control device

[0023] 3 headlights

[0024] 4 Ethernet interface of the optical control unit

[0025] 5 Ethernet bus

[0026] 6 Light source module

[0027] 7Power Control Unit

[0028] 8 Integrated Circuits

[0029] 9 Converter components

[0030] 10 Voltage supply device

[0031] 11Control Unit

[0032] 12 Power supply cable

Claims

1. A headlamp (3) for a motor vehicle, the headlamp comprising: - a light source module (6) having a plurality of light emitting diodes, the plurality of light emitting diodes being arranged in the form of a matrix or array, the plurality of light emitting diodes being arranged to generate pixels of a light distribution; - an Ethernet interface which is provided for receiving and further processing image data for the light-emitting diodes, It is characterized in that the light source module (6) has an integrated circuit (8) on or in which both the plurality of light-emitting diodes and the Ethernet interface are formed.

2. The headlamp (3) according to claim 1, characterized in that The integrated circuit (8) has a power driver for supplying power to the light emitting diode.

3. The headlamp (3) according to claim 2, characterized in that The integrated circuit (8) is configured to convert image data received via the Ethernet interface into a pulse width modulation signal for controlling a power driver.

4. The headlamp (3) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The light source module (6) has a converter component (9) which adapts the voltage level of an incoming Ethernet signal to the voltage level of the integrated circuit (8), and in particular the converter component (9) is arranged outside the integrated circuit (8).

5. The headlamp (3) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that The headlamp (3) comprises a power control unit (7) having a voltage supply device (10) for light-emitting diodes and a control unit (11) for controlling the voltage supply device (10); the power control unit (7) is connected to a light source module (6) via a power supply cable (12).

6. The headlamp (3) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that The integrated circuit (8) is configured as a solid-state LED array, in particular as an SSL chip, preferably as an SSL|HD chip.

7. A motor vehicle comprising a headlamp (3), characterized in that The headlamp (3) is a headlamp (3) according to any one of Claims 1 to 6.

8. The motor vehicle according to claim 7, characterized in that The motor vehicle comprises a light control unit (1) having a control device (2) for controlling light-emitting diodes of a headlight (3).

9. The motor vehicle according to claim 8, characterized in that The light control unit (1) has an Ethernet interface (4) for transmitting image data from the control device (2) to the Ethernet interface arranged in the integrated circuit (8).

10. The motor vehicle according to claim 9, characterized in that The Ethernet interface (4) of the light control unit (1) and the Ethernet interface of the integrated circuit (8) are connected to each other via an Ethernet cable or an Ethernet bus (5) and, if necessary, via a converter component (9).

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