Automobile light-emitting device

Abstract

The invention relates to an automotive lighting device (10), a main substrate (1) having a driver (2) and a main connector (3) coupled to an edge portion (11) of the main substrate (1), the main connector (3) comprising at least four electrical inputs (31) and four electrical outputs (32), each electrical input (31) is configured to receive a power supply and a control signal and is electrically coupled to an electrical trace of the main substrate (1), and each electrical output (32) is electrically coupled to an electrical trace of the main substrate (1). The device (10) further comprises secondary substrates (4, 6) comprising light sources (9) commanded by the driver (2). The device (10) further comprises secondary connectors (5, 7) coupled to an edge portion of a corresponding secondary substrate, each secondary connector comprising at least four inputs (51, 71) and four outputs (52), each input being connected by a wire to one output (32, 52) of a previous connector (3, 5).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of automotive lighting devices, and more particularly to a system and device for transmitting electrical signals between different parts. Background Art

[0002] Light modules for motor vehicles are complex devices that involve multiple technologies in a very small space. Light modules include optical components, light components (such as light emitting diodes LED), electronic circuits for driving the light sources, mechanical supports, and moisture and heat dissipation elements. Assembling such modules is a complex task that requires a high degree of attention and precision. This is especially true for the electrical interconnection of the various electrical components and / or printed circuits involved in such light modules. For example, the control circuit for the power supply of the light source must be connected via a connector to a printed circuit board including the light source to be powered. The operator usually performs these connections without direct visual contact with the connector and the corresponding socket - having to operate blindly because other components have been assembled in the limited space available in the module.

[0003] There are different ways to reduce the amount of wiring harnesses present in these devices. However, it is difficult to provide the same amount of functionality with a smaller amount of cables, since the cables are used to provide both power supply and control signals.

[0004] A specific example is the case where a printed circuit board includes a main driver and a different printed circuit board includes light sources intended to be controlled by the driver. In this case, the driver's printed circuit board must be connected to each of the printed circuit boards including one of the light sources. As a result, it is necessary to multiply the number of pins or create a splice in the wiring harness.

[0005] Therefore, alternative solutions to this problem are sought. Summary of the invention

[0006] The present invention provides a solution to this problem through an automobile lighting device. The automobile lighting device comprises:

[0007] - a main substrate comprising a driver and electrical traces starting in an edge portion of the main substrate and connecting the edge portion to the driver;

[0008] a main connector coupled to an edge portion of the main substrate, the main connector comprising at least four electrical inputs and four electrical outputs, each electrical input being configured to receive a power supply and a control signal and being electrically coupled to an electrical trace of the main substrate, and each electrical output being electrically coupled to an electrical trace of the main substrate;

[0009] a first secondary substrate comprising at least one light source intended to be commanded by a driver of the main substrate, and electrical tracks starting in an edge portion of the first secondary substrate and placing the edge portion in communication with the light source;

[0010] - a first secondary connector, the first secondary connector being coupled to an edge portion of the first secondary substrate, the first secondary connector comprising at least four input terminals and four output terminals, each input terminal being connected to an output terminal of the main connector via a wire;

[0011] a second secondary substrate comprising at least one light source intended to be commanded by a driver of the primary substrate, and electrical traces starting in an edge portion of the second secondary substrate and placing the edge portion in communication with the light source;

[0012] - a second secondary connector, the second secondary connector being coupled to an edge portion of the second secondary substrate, the second secondary connector comprising at least four input terminals, each of the input terminals being connected to an output terminal of the first secondary connector via a wire.

[0013] In such automotive lighting devices, more than one substrate is used with light sources, and all light sources are connected to a driver through a daisy chain assembly. The connection between the driver and each light source is achieved by inserting other substrates.

[0014] A substrate is a component that serves as a support for an electrical circuit. A typical example of a substrate is a printed circuit board.

[0015] In some specific embodiments,

[0016] - the second secondary connector further comprises at least four output terminals;

[0017] - the lighting device further comprises a third secondary substrate and a third secondary connector;

[0018] - the third secondary substrate comprises at least one light source intended to be commanded by a driver of the primary substrate, and electrical traces starting in an edge portion of the third secondary substrate and placing the edge portion in communication with the light source; and

[0019] - A third secondary connector is coupled to an edge portion of the third secondary substrate, the third secondary connector comprising at least four input terminals, each of which is connected to an output terminal of the second secondary connector via a wire.

[0020] This structure can be repeated several times because the present invention supports the connection of successive substrates to connectors having input ends and output ends, wherein the input ends come from the output ends of the previous connector and the output ends (except for the last connector which does not have any output ends) are connected to the input ends of the subsequent connectors.

[0021] In some specific embodiments, one of the electrical traces is configured to provide information about an electrical connection between a corresponding connector and a corresponding edge portion.

[0022] This trace is a connection position assurance trace that provides information about the electrical connection between the connector and the edge portion. There are a variety of ways to perform this action. Such connectors typically have a plurality of contacts of a first length and shorter verification contacts that can reliably make electrical contact with corresponding terminals of the socket only when a certain depth of recessing of the plug into the socket is achieved.

[0023] In some specific embodiments, electrical traces configured to provide information about electrical connection between a corresponding connector and a corresponding edge portion are arranged in an independent circuit separate from the light source.

[0024] Therefore, the connection position assurance problem and the lighting function problem are separated.

[0025] In some specific embodiments, the independent circuit includes a first branch connecting an electrical trace configured to provide information about the electrical connection to a driver, and a second branch having a resistor connecting a node of the first branch to ground.

[0026] This is a very interesting question, because the driver receives information about the connection location guarantee. Each driver can manage this information in its own appropriate way.

[0027] In some specific embodiments, the automotive lighting device further includes a heat sink, and the independent circuit includes a first branch and a second branch, wherein the first branch connects an electrical trace configured to provide information about the electrical connection to the heat sink, and the second branch has a resistor, and the second branch connects a node of the first branch to ground.

[0028] In this embodiment, the heat sink as a conductive part has information about the connection position assurance in its metal body. The measurement of the impedance between this body and the ground is sufficient to check whether the connector is correctly connected.

[0029] In some specific embodiments, one of the electrical traces is configured to provide information regarding a diagnostic related to a status of a light source of a corresponding substrate.

[0030] The driver may use the diagnostic information in any manner it sees fit.

[0031] In some specific embodiments, the input end and the output end of at least one of the connectors are located in opposite sides of the corresponding connector.

[0032] The connector has a shape similar to a parallelepiped. It has six faces that are opposite to each other. The first face is used to receive the insertion of the edge of the substrate. Therefore, there are four faces that are substantially perpendicular to this first face. Due to the natural shape, two of these faces are larger than the other two faces. In these larger faces, the input and output terminals are arranged.

[0033] In some specific embodiments, at least one of the connectors includes a first mechanical retention feature, and the corresponding substrate includes a mechanical second mechanical retention feature configured to cooperate with the first mechanical retention feature to retain the connector.

[0034] In a particular embodiment, the mechanical retention means are located in smaller faces perpendicular to the first face, so as to receive the connection from the edge of the substrate. These faces are side faces that generally surround the connection and have mechanical retention means to avoid disconnection between the connection and the edge portion of the substrate.

[0035] In some specific embodiments, the first mechanical retention means and the second mechanical retention means include arm-protrusion pairs, or hook-latch pairs, or snap-fit ​​connections.

[0036] In some specific embodiments, the light sources of the secondary substrate are configured to cooperate to provide different lighting or signaling functions.

[0037] This means that there are different lighting or signaling functions and the light sources of the substrates cooperate to provide these lighting or signaling functions. This may be because each substrate is dedicated to one of the lighting or signaling functions, or because there are several substrates dedicated to one function and there are other substrates or substrates dedicated to one or more functions.

[0038] In some specific embodiments, the light sources of at least two secondary substrates are configured to cooperate to provide the same lighting or signaling function.

[0039] In some specific embodiments, the connector is a card edge connector and the light source is a solid state light source, such as a light emitting diode.

[0040] The term "solid-state" refers to light emitted by solid-state electroluminescence, which uses semiconductors to convert electricity into light. Solid-state lighting produces visible light with reduced heat generation and less energy dissipation than incandescent lighting. The generally smaller mass of solid-state electronic lighting devices provides greater resistance to shock and vibration compared to fragile glass tubes / bulbs and long, thin filaments. Solid-state light sources also eliminate filament evaporation, potentially increasing the life of the lighting device. Some examples of these lighting types include semiconductor light emitting diodes (LEDs), organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs), or polymer light emitting diodes (PLEDs) as the source of illumination, rather than electrical filaments, plasmas, or gases.

[0041] In some specific embodiments, the automotive lighting device further includes at least one optical element configured to receive light emitted by the light source and project it outside the lighting device.

[0042] An optical element is an element having some optical properties for receiving a light beam and emitting it in a specific direction and / or shape, as understood by a person skilled in the art of automotive lighting without any additional burden. Reflectors, collimators, light guides, projection lenses, etc., or combinations thereof are some examples of these optical elements that can be used to transform a light beam emitted by a light source into an acceptable light pattern for the function selected for the lighting device. All of these optical elements define a focal point, which is the point at which the light emitted by the light source is most efficiently transmitted by the optical element.

[0043] In some specific embodiments, the main connector is fed with a voltage value of 5V or 12V.

[0044] These are typical values ​​for automotive lighting installations.

[0045] In some specific embodiments, the wire includes a wire harness protection element.

[0046] In some specific embodiments, the light sources are light emitting diodes, and the first substrate is configured to provide a matrix beam function.

[0047] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used in this article should be interpreted according to the customary usage in the field. It will be further understood that the terms of common usage should also be interpreted according to the customary usage in the relevant field, and unless explicitly defined in this article, they will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense.

[0048] In this document, the term "comprises" and its derivatives (such as "comprising", etc.) should not be understood in an exclusive sense, that is, these terms should not be interpreted as excluding the possibility that the described and defined content may include other elements, steps, etc. Therefore, the purpose of the present invention is to solve this problem and provide a signaling device that can be easily adapted to different light source components, so as to cope with changes in supply conditions and regulatory differences in different countries.

[0049] List of Figures

[0050] In order to complete the description and for a better understanding of the present invention, a set of drawings is provided. Said drawings constitute an integral part of the description and illustrate embodiments of the present invention, which should not be interpreted as limiting the scope of the present invention, but only as examples of how the present invention may be implemented. These drawings include the following figures:

[0051] In the drawings, the following reference numerals have been used:

[0052] 1 Main PCB

[0053] 2 Drivers

[0054] 3 Main connector

[0055] 4. First secondary PCB

[0056] 5First secondary connector

[0057] 6. Secondary PCB

[0058] 7 Secondary connector

[0059] 8 Radiator

[0060] 9LED

[0061] 10 headlights

[0062] 11 The edge of the main PCB

[0063] 12Third secondary PCB

[0064] 13Third secondary connector

[0065] 14 The edge of the third secondary PCB

[0066] 15 Input terminal of the third secondary connector

[0067] 16 First retaining device

[0068] 17 Electrical wiring

[0069] 18 Second retention device

[0070] 20 CPA routing

[0071] 21 First Branch Road

[0072] 22 Second Branch Road

[0073] 23 Resistors

[0074] 27 protrusions to the electrical contacts of the PCB

[0075] 100 Motor Vehicles BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0076] The example embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to implement and realize the systems and processes described herein.It is important to understand that the embodiments may be provided in many alternative forms and should not be construed as limited to the examples set forth herein.

[0077] Therefore, although the embodiments may be modified in various ways and take various alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown in the drawings and described in detail below as examples. It is not intended to be limited to the specific forms disclosed. On the contrary, all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the appended claims should be included. Throughout the drawings and detailed description, where appropriate, the elements of the example embodiments are consistently represented by the same reference numerals.

[0078] [ Figure 1 ] shows a scheme of the connecting components of the automobile lighting device according to the present invention.

[0079] The main printed circuit board 1 comprises an electronic circuit. This electronic circuit starts in an edge portion 11 of the main printed circuit board 1 and puts this edge portion 11 in communication with a driver 2 intended to manage the lighting and signaling functions of the light sources situated in the lighting device.

[0080] The main connector 3 is coupled to the edge portion 11 of the main printed circuit board 1. The main connector 3 provides the main printed circuit board 1 with power supply and control signals from the vehicle body control module.

[0081] The main connector 3 includes five electrical input terminals 31 and five electrical output terminals 32. The electrical input terminals 31 are configured to transmit power supply and control signals to the main printed circuit board 1. To achieve this purpose, when the main connector 3 is inserted into the edge portion 11 of the main printed circuit board 1, these electrical input terminals are electrically coupled to the electrical traces of the main substrate 1.

[0082] The electrical output terminal 32 is also coupled to electrical traces on the opposite side of the main printed circuit board 1 .

[0083] There are also three secondary printed circuit boards 4, 6, 12. In different embodiments, there may be more secondary printed circuit boards, as the invention is not limited to a specific number thereof.

[0084] Each secondary printed circuit board 4 , 6 , 12 includes an LED 9 and electrical traces connecting an edge portion 41 , 61 , 14 of the corresponding secondary printed circuit board with the corresponding LED 9 .

[0085] The LEDs 9 of each secondary printed circuit board 4 , 6 , 12 are intended to be controlled by the driver 2 of the main printed circuit board 1 .

[0086] This control is achieved through daisy chain connection, such as [ Figure 1 ] as shown.

[0087] The main connector 3 is coupled to the edge portion 11 of the main printed circuit board 1. Each electrical input terminal 31 is configured to receive power supply and control signals from the body control module and is electrically coupled to the electrical traces of the main printed circuit board 1. After feeding the circuits of the main printed circuit board 1, the electrical traces on the opposite side are coupled to the electrical output terminals 32 of the main connector 3.

[0088] The first secondary connector 5 is connected to the edge portion of the first secondary printed circuit board 4. The first secondary connector includes five input terminals 51, each of which is connected to an output terminal 32 of the main connector 3 through a wire. After the circuit of the first secondary printed circuit board 4 is fed with power, the electrical traces on the opposite side are coupled to the electrical output terminals 52 of the first secondary connector 5.

[0089] The second secondary connector 7 is connected to the edge portion of the second secondary printed circuit board 6. The second secondary connector 7 includes five input terminals 71, each of which is connected to an output terminal 52 of the first secondary connector 5 through a wire. After the circuit of the second secondary printed circuit board 6 is fed with power, the electrical traces on the opposite side are coupled to the electrical output terminals 72 of the second secondary connector 7.

[0090] The third secondary connector 13 is connected to an edge portion of the third secondary printed circuit board 12. The third secondary connector 13 includes five input terminals 15, each of which is connected to one output terminal 72 of the second secondary connector 7 through a wire.

[0091] Therefore, control and power are passed through all the PCBs in a daisy-chain connection instead of being delivered in separate harnesses from the main PCB. This type of connection eliminates the need to use large connectors, since the entire control of the three different PCBs is accomplished with five inputs and five outputs.

[0092] In some cases, where the distance between different printed circuit boards is long enough, the wires for a communication bus (eg, CAN) will be twisted between them while the rest of the wires remain straight.

[0093] [ Figure 2 ] shows a specific feature of this connection: one of these lines is dedicated to connector position assurance. This figure shows an electrical trace 17 of an edge portion 11 of one of the printed circuit boards. As can be seen in this figure, each edge portion of the printed circuit board comprises a connector position assurance trace 20. In this figure, the protrusions 27 of the electrical contacts of the connector are also shown. The connector position assurance trace 20 is shorter than the remaining traces 17, so that the connector position assurance trace is in electrical contact with the corresponding electrical contacts of the corresponding connector only when the remaining electrical traces are in electrical contact with their electrical contacts.

[0094] The connector position ensures that this connection between the traces 20 and their corresponding electrical contacts feeds a subcircuit independent of one of the light sources.

[0095] [ Figure 3 ] shows a first example of this subcircuit. The components of this subcircuit do not actively participate in the lighting function performed by the LED. The main function of this subcircuit is to ensure electrical contact coordination between the trace 20 and its electrical contact 28 with the connector position. The presence of current in this line of the circuit indicates that the connection has been successfully made, so all electrical traces are successfully coupled to the corresponding connection parts of the connector.

[0096] This subcircuit has a first branch 21 containing an electrical contact 28 and a second branch 22 including a resistor 23 connected to ground. When the circuit is closed (ie when the connector position assurance trace is connected to the electrical contact 28), the first branch sees the resistor value.

[0097] [ Figure 4 ] shows the connection of all sub-circuits according to an embodiment of the invention. In this case, the connector positions ensure that the lines are connected in parallel, and a single connection is fed to the control output of the driver 2, which is able to measure this equivalent resistor value.

[0098] Since each subcircuit has its own resistor value, the signal at the control output of the driver provides information about the connection status of each printed circuit board: if each connector is correctly connected, the control output will see all resistors in parallel. However, if one of the connectors is not connected, the control output will see a different value, depending on which resistor is not connected to the circuit. Thus, the control of all printed circuit boards is performed via a single control output in the driver.

[0099] exist[ Figure 5] shows a different embodiment. In this case, the subcircuit is the same, but instead of being connected to the control output of the driver, it is connected to a heat sink 8 as a metallized part. The heat sink will therefore be grounded and provide information about the equivalent resistor value of the connector position guarantee trace. In order to check whether each connector is properly connected to the corresponding printed circuit board, this equivalent impedance is measured in an easy process. The result will provide the information necessary to know whether each connector is connected and, in the event of any connector failure, to know which connector is the failed connector.

[0100] [ Figure 6 ] shows an embodiment of the mechanical coupling between each connector 3 and the edge portion 11 of its corresponding printed circuit board.

[0101] The connector 3 has a shape similar to a parallelepiped. It has six faces that are opposite to each other. The first face is used to receive the insertion of the edge 11 of the printed circuit board. Therefore, there are four faces that are substantially perpendicular to this first face. In these larger faces, the input and output terminals are arranged.

[0102] Mechanical retaining means 16 are located in the side faces which generally surround the connection part and are provided to avoid disconnection between the connection part and the edge portion of the substrate.

[0103] In this case, the mechanical retention means is in the shape of a snap-fit ​​connection with a groove 18 in the edge portion 11 , but any other suitable way of achieving this goal is within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A vehicle lighting device (10), comprising: - a main substrate (1) comprising a driver (2) and electrical traces starting in an edge portion (11) of the main substrate and connecting the edge portion (11) to the driver (2); - a main connector (3), the main connector being coupled to an edge portion (11) of the main substrate (1), the main connector (3) comprising at least four electrical input terminals (31) and four electrical output terminals (32), each electrical input terminal (31) being configured to receive power supply and control signals and being electrically coupled to an electrical trace of the main substrate (1), and each electrical output terminal (32) being electrically coupled to an electrical trace of the main substrate (1); - a first secondary substrate (4) comprising at least one light source (9) intended to be commanded by a driver (2) of the main substrate (1), and an electrical trace starting in an edge portion (41) of the first secondary substrate (4) and placing the edge portion (41) in communication with the light source (9); - a first secondary connector (5), the first secondary connector being coupled to an edge portion of the first secondary substrate, the first secondary connector comprising at least four input terminals (51) and four output terminals (52), each input terminal being connected to an output terminal (32) of the main connector (3) via a wire; - a second secondary substrate (6) comprising at least one light source (9) intended to be commanded by a driver (2) of the primary substrate (1) and an electrical trace starting in an edge portion (61) of the second secondary substrate (6) and placing the edge portion (61) in communication with the light source (9); - a second secondary connector (7), the second secondary connector being coupled to an edge portion (61) of the second secondary substrate (6), the second secondary connector (7) comprising at least four input terminals (71), each input terminal (71) being connected to an output terminal (52) of the first secondary connector (5) via a wire.

2. The automotive lighting device according to claim 1, wherein: - the second secondary connector further comprises at least four output terminals (72); - the lighting device further comprises a third secondary substrate (12) and a third secondary connector (13); - the third secondary substrate (12) comprises at least one light source (9) intended to be commanded by a driver of the main substrate, and electrical traces starting in an edge portion (14) of the third secondary substrate (12) and placing the edge portion (14) in communication with the light source (9); and - The third secondary connector (13) is coupled to an edge portion (14) of the third secondary substrate (12), and the third secondary connector (13) comprises at least four input terminals (15), each of which is connected to an output terminal (72) of the second secondary connector via a wire.

3. The vehicle lighting device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: One of the electrical traces is configured to provide information regarding an electrical connection between a corresponding connector and a corresponding edge portion.

4. The automotive lighting device according to claim 3, wherein: Electrical traces are arranged in an independent circuit separate from the light source, the electrical traces being configured to provide information about electrical connection between the corresponding connector and the corresponding edge portion.

5. The automotive lighting device according to claim 4, wherein: The independent circuit includes a first branch (21) and a second branch (22), the first branch connecting an electrical trace configured to provide information about the electrical connection to a driver, the second branch having a resistor (23), the second branch connecting a node of the first branch (21) to ground.

6. The automotive lighting device according to claim 4, further comprising a heat sink (8), and wherein: The independent circuit comprises: a first branch (21) connecting an electrical trace configured to provide information about the electrical connection to the heat sink (8); and a second branch (22) having a resistor (23) connecting a node of the first branch to ground.

7. The vehicle lighting device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: One of the electrical traces is configured to provide information regarding a diagnostic related to a status of a light source of a corresponding substrate.

8. The vehicle lighting device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The input and output ends of at least one of the connectors are located in opposite sides of the corresponding connector.

9. The vehicle lighting device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: - at least one of the connectors comprises a first mechanical retention means (16), and the corresponding substrate comprises a mechanical second mechanical retention means (17) configured to cooperate with the first mechanical retention means to retain the connector, - The first mechanical retention means (16) and the second mechanical retention means (18) comprise arm-protrusion pairs, or hook-latch pairs, or snap-fit ​​connections.

10. The vehicle lighting device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The connector is a card edge connector and the light source is a solid state light source such as a light emitting diode.

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