Vehicle driving lamp with internal voltage sensor receiving HI-BEAM signals

Abstract

Described herein is a vehicle lighting control apparatus including: a sensing line adapted to sense a voltage of a corresponding wire harness; a lighting control module operably connected to the sensing line; and wherein the lighting control module is adapted to detect at least a threshold voltage and / or a voltage change in the corresponding wire harness through the sensing line and, in response, generate a control signal to control the corresponding lighting circuit.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to vehicle lighting circuits and, in particular, to lighting circuits designed for retrofitting into vehicles.

[0002] Embodiments of the present invention are particularly applicable to daytime running lights for automotive applications. However, it should be understood that the present invention is applicable to a broader context and other applications. Background Art

[0003] Currently, the aftermarket installation of daytime running lights typically requires the skills of an automotive electrician, as these installations generally require partial rewiring of the vehicle lighting circuit, including the installation of components such as relays. Therefore, the installation of aftermarket automotive lighting requires professional skills, which poses difficulties for ordinary users.

[0004] FIG. 1 shows an example of a current aftermarket installation, which illustrates a significant amount of rewiring of the vehicle wiring. In FIG. 1, we see the need to install additional wiring and relays, which generally require professional automotive electrical knowledge for proper installation. In addition, the significant amount of rewiring required is very time-consuming and significantly increases the total cost of the installation. As can be seen in FIG. 1, which illustrates a current aftermarket lighting installation, a relay 100 is typically used to switch a moderately high current that may be present in the lighting circuit. The relay 100 generally requires some professional knowledge to be properly installed so that it operates as intended. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the relay 100 may have multiple wire connections, in this case five, each of which needs to be wired to the correct terminal on the relay 100 so that the relay operates as designed. In addition, a control module 102 is typically required to control the operation of the relay 100 and thus control the operation of the lamp 106 via the relay 100. As illustrated in FIG. 1, a large amount of wiring is required when installing an aftermarket lighting system on a vehicle using the prior art.

[0005] Accordingly, there is a desire for a way to install additional aftermarket automotive lights that requires a minimum of skills and minimizes the electrical rewiring required.

[0006] Any discussion of background art throughout the specification should not be construed as an admission that such art is well known or forms part of the common general knowledge in the field. Summary of the Invention

[0007] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle lighting control device, comprising:

[0008] A sense wire adapted to sense the voltage of a corresponding wire harness;

[0009] A lighting control module operably connected to the sense wire; and

[0010] Wherein, the lighting control module is adapted to detect at least a threshold voltage and / or a voltage change in a corresponding wire harness through a sensing wire, and in response, generate a control signal to control a corresponding lighting circuit.

[0011] In one embodiment, the lighting control module is programmable.

[0012] In one embodiment, the lighting control module is programmable to sense a signal change in a corresponding wire harness, and in response, generate a unique output control signal.

[0013] In one embodiment, the lighting control module is programmable to gradually increase the output control signal based on a predefined voltage change of the voltage sensed in a corresponding wire harness.

[0014] In one embodiment, the lighting control module is programmable to turn on or off based on a predefined sensed voltage pattern detected through the sensing wire.

[0015] In one embodiment, the lighting control module is additionally controllable via a serial network protocol.

[0016] In one embodiment, the serial network protocol is a Local Interconnect Network (LIN).

[0017] In one embodiment, the lighting control module is adaptively connected to a user-operable control module.

[0018] In one embodiment, the user-operable control module is controllable via a wireless protocol.

[0019] In one embodiment, the wireless protocol is a Bluetooth protocol. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0021] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a prior art system;

[0022] Figure 2 showing an embodiment of a vehicle lighting control device;

[0023] Figure 3 showing another embodiment of a vehicle lighting device;

[0024] Figure 4 showing the layout of an embodiment of a vehicle lighting device located within a wire harness;

[0025] Figure 5 showing the physical schematic layout of a Figure 2 lighting control device that can be controlled using a serial network protocol; and

[0026] Figure 6 Shows a 4-pin DEUTSCH used in the embodiments. Detailed implementation

[0027] It should be noted in the following description that like or identical reference numerals in different embodiments represent the same or similar features.

[0028] Figure 2 Shows a vehicle lighting control device 2000 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The lighting control device 2000 includes a sensing line 200, which is adapted to sense the voltage in a corresponding wire harness 4002 of the vehicle (as exemplified in Figure 4 . In Figure 4 the illustrated embodiment, the wire harness 4002 is associated with the lighting system of the vehicle.

[0029] Returning to Figure 2 , the vehicle lighting control device 2000 includes a lighting control module 202, which is adapted to sense a threshold voltage or a voltage change within a corresponding wire harness 4002 (as exemplified in Figure 4 ) via the sensing line 200 and generate a control signal to control a corresponding lighting circuit 204. As can be seen in Figure 4 the illustrated embodiment, the output of the lighting control module 202 can be fed into an internal switch 206, which is operably connected to an LED driver circuit 208, and the LED driver circuit 208 provides a suitable output to power the corresponding lighting circuit 204.

[0030] Referring to Figure 3 , shows another embodiment of a device that uses a serial network protocol to control a lighting control module. In the illustrated embodiment, the serial network protocol is a Local Interconnect Network (LIN) protocol. In Figure 3 the illustrated embodiment, the sensing line 200 is operably connected to a microcontroller 302, which is configured to output a control signal to a LIN transceiver 304. LIN is a serial network protocol commonly used in vehicle control systems. Those skilled in the art will understand that other serial protocols may also have similar utilities, and LIN protocol is used because it has a lower cost compared to similar protocols such as CAN bus. In the illustrated embodiment, an array of driving lights 300 is adapted to communicate with the LIN transceiver via the LIN protocol, and the LIN transceiver is adapted to send commands to the driving lights 300. Then, the driving lights 300 respond to the commands sent from the LIN transceiver 304, and the LIN transceiver 304 in turn controls the driving lights 300.

[0031] As in Figure 4As can be seen, the sensing wire 200 can be connected to the main wire harness 4002 using a variety of different methods, including cable ties, heat shrink tape, or electrical tape, to name just a few examples. Ideally, the sensing wire 200 should be securely fixed to the wire harness 4002 to allow the integration of the sensing wire 100 into the wire harness 4002. Generally, the sensing wire 200 is adapted to sense voltage and / or voltage variations on a wire harness associated with a vehicle electrical lighting system (e.g., the wiring associated with the high beam). In this regard, the sensing wire 200 can be tapped into the high beam circuit to sense when the high beam circuit is active. Depending on the configuration of the lighting control module 202, this may result in the activation of the running lights.

[0032] In one embodiment, the lighting control module 202 provides an output in response to a signal received on the sensing wire 200, which can consist of an on / off control voltage that depends on the sensed voltage from the sensing wire 200. In other embodiments, the lighting control module 202 is programmable. In the case where the lighting control module 202 is programmable, the lighting control module 202 takes the signal from the sensing wire 200 as an input and generates an output based on the sensed signal from the sensing wire 200.

[0033] For example, when the operator of the vehicle turns on the high beam through the vehicle wiring harness 4002, the sensing wire 200 will sense the current in the high beam circuit and certain actions can be taken based on the output from the sensing wire. For example, if the operator of the vehicle flashes the high beam, the signal can be detected and sent to the lighting control module 202, which can be programmed to trigger a specific function based on the sensed signal. For example, if a signal indicating a flash of the high beam is detected, the lighting control module 202 can be programmed to perform a ramping function, where the output circuit of the running lights can gradually increase the current from 0% to 100% over a predetermined time interval, and this ramping function can be programmed into the lighting control module. As a result, the operator of the vehicle avoids flashing oncoming vehicles with their high beam. Other examples of functions that can be programmed into the lighting control module 202 can include detecting a pre-programmed detection sequence for turning the lights on or off. For example, if the operator activates the high beam circuit three times within a period of about two seconds, as an example, the lighting control module 202 can be programmed to turn off the running lights. Those skilled in the art will understand that many other functions can be programmed into the lighting control module 202 in this manner. This programmability allows functions to be easily integrated into the lighting control module 202 based on the signals sensed by the sensing wire 200. Additionally, since the only modification required to the existing wiring harness of the vehicle is the integration of the sensing wire, this results in minimal interference with the existing wiring circuit. This can also be beneficial if the lighting control device 2000 is to be uninstalled, as in many cases, this only requires removing the sensing wire from the wiring harness. This is in contrast to the current system where, after removing an aftermarket lighting system, significant rewiring may be required to return the wiring harness to its original state after removal.

[0034] The programmability of the lighting control module 202 can be implemented using an EPROM, EEPROM, FPGA or similar chip, which has the possibility of upgrading the function by reprogramming the chip with new firmware through a programming port (not shown). The chip can be programmed to detect various commonly generated signals and provide a unique output control signal for powering the running lights 300 based on the signals sensed by the sensing wire 200. Other functions such as turning the running lights 300 on or off can be programmed according to the specific signals detected by the sensing wire 200.

[0035] In other embodiments, the lighting control module is adaptively connected to a user-operable control module (not shown) to facilitate control from within the vehicle.

[0036] In other embodiments, the user-operable control module is controllable via a wireless protocol such as Bluetooth.

[0037] In one embodiment, the lighting control module 202 is programmable to incrementally enhance the output control signal based on a predefined voltage change of the voltage sensed in the corresponding wire harness. Alternatively, the lighting control module 202 can be programmable to turn on or off based on a predefined sensed voltage pattern detected by the sense wire 200.

[0038] Reference Figure 5 , an example of the installation of an embodiment of the present invention is shown. In this embodiment, the lighting control module 202 is located within the driving light 300. Those skilled in the art will understand that the lighting device can take various forms, such as a halogen light or an LED lighting matrix as exemplified in Figure 3 and Figure 5 .

[0039] Figure 5 An implementation of an embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, where the lighting control module 202 can be additionally controlled via a serial network protocol. In the illustrated embodiment, the serial network protocol is the Local Interconnect Network (LIN). The serial network control provides the ability to customize the lighting mode by remotely controlling the lighting control module 202 from the interior cab of the vehicle.

[0040] Reference Figure 6 , to interface with the vehicle lighting wire harness 4002, a 4-pin DEUTSCH (DT) connector 302 can be used as one of a plurality of examples. The 4-pin DT connector 302 includes a battery pin, a high beam trigger pin, a chassis ground wire, and an ignition pin. The use of the DT connector 302 facilitates the installation of the lighting control device 2000 without having to splice into the existing wire harness 4002, thereby avoiding potential damage to the existing wire harness 3002. By interfacing in this way, no additional external relay is required, and the lighting control device 2000 can be directly connected to the battery for power supply and the high beam wiring via the sense wire 200, thus minimizing interference with the existing wire harness 4002.

[0041] Explanation

[0042] Unless otherwise explicitly stated, it will be apparent from the following discussion that throughout the specification discussion, the use of terms such as "processing", "computing", "calculating", "determining", "analyzing", etc., refers to the actions and / or processes of a computer or a computing system or similar electronic computing device that manipulate and / or transform data represented as physical quantities (such as electronic quantities) into other data similarly represented as physical quantities.

[0043] In a similar manner, the term "controller" or "processor" can refer to any device or part of a device that processes electronic data (e.g., from registers and / or memory) to transform that electronic data into other electronic data, such as can be stored in registers and / or memory. A "computer", "computing machine" or "computing platform" can include one or more processors.

[0044] References throughout this specification to "one embodiment", "some embodiments" or "an embodiment" mean that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. Thus, the appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment", "in some embodiments," or "in an embodiment" throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Moreover, in one or more embodiments, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner, as will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art for the present disclosure.

[0045] As used herein, unless otherwise specified, the use of ordinal adjectives "first", "second", "third", etc. to describe a common object merely indicates that different instances of similar objects are being referred to, and is not intended to imply that the objects so described must be arranged in a given order in time, space, ranking, or any other manner.

[0046] In the following claims and the description herein, any of the terms "comprises", "is comprised of" or "comprising" is an open term, meaning at least including the element / feature that follows, but not excluding other elements / features. Thus, when used in a claim, the term "comprises" should not be construed as limiting the apparatus or elements or steps listed thereafter. For example, the statement of a device that comprises A and B should not be limited to a device consisting only of elements A and B. Any of the terms "includes" or "is included by" or "including" used herein is also an open term, also meaning at least including the element / feature that follows the term, but not excluding other elements / features. Thus, "including" is a synonym of "comprises", meaning "comprises".

[0047] It should be understood that in the foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, for the purpose of simplifying the present disclosure and facilitating the understanding of one or more of the various inventive aspects, the various features of the present disclosure are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof. However, the methods of the present disclosure should not be construed as reflecting an intention that the claims require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. On the contrary, as reflected in the following claims, the inventive aspects lie in less than all of the features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Accordingly, the claims following the detailed description are hereby expressly incorporated into this detailed description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0048] In addition, although some embodiments described herein include some features included in other embodiments but not others, combinations of features of different embodiments are meant to be within the scope of the present disclosure and form different embodiments, as will be understood by those skilled in the art. For example, in the following claims, any of the claimed embodiments can be used in any combination.

[0049] In the description provided herein, numerous specific details are set forth. However, it should be understood that embodiments of the present disclosure may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, structures, and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure the understanding of this description.

[0050] Similarly, it should be noted that the term "coupled" as used in the claims should not be construed as limited to direct connection. The terms "coupled" and "connected" and their derivatives may be used. It should be understood that these terms are not intended as synonyms for each other. Thus, the statement that device A is coupled to device B should not be limited to devices or systems where the output of device A is directly connected to the input of device B. This means that there is a path between the output of A and the input of B, and that path may be a path that includes other devices or means. "Coupled" may mean that two or more elements are in direct physical, electrical, or optical contact, or that two or more elements are not in direct contact with each other but still cooperate or interact with each other.

[0051] The embodiments described herein are intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the present invention. Although the present invention has been described and explained in terms of specific exemplary embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that additional embodiments can be readily conceived within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A vehicle lighting control device, comprising: A sensing line adapted to sense the voltage of a corresponding wire harness; A lighting control module operably connected to the sensing line; And Wherein, the lighting control module is adapted to detect at least a threshold voltage and / or a voltage change in the corresponding wire harness through the sensing line, and in response, generate a control signal to control a corresponding lighting circuit.

2. The vehicle lighting control device according to claim 1, wherein the lighting control module is adapted to adjust the brightness of the corresponding lighting circuit.

3. The vehicle lighting control device according to claim 1, wherein the lighting control module is programmable.

4. The vehicle lighting control device according to claim 3, wherein the lighting control module is programmable to sense a signal change in the corresponding wire harness, and in response, generate a unique output control signal.

5. The vehicle lighting control device according to claim 3, wherein the lighting control module is programmable to gradually enhance the output control signal based on a predefined voltage change of the voltage sensed in the corresponding wire harness.

6. The vehicle lighting control device according to claim 3, wherein the lighting control module is programmable to be turned on or off based on a predefined sensed voltage pattern detected through the sensing line.

7. The vehicle lighting control device according to claim 1, wherein the lighting control module is additionally controllable via a serial network protocol.

8. The vehicle lighting control device according to claim 7, wherein the serial network protocol is a Local Interconnect Network (LIN).

9. The vehicle lighting control device according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the lighting control module is adaptively connected to a user-operable control module.

10. The vehicle lighting control device according to claim 9, wherein, The user-operable control module is controllable via a wireless protocol.

11. The vehicle lighting control device according to claim 10, wherein the wireless protocol is a Bluetooth protocol.

Images