Flashing light circuit
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- DE · DE
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- INNOTEC CORP
- Filing Date
- 2018-11-14
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-09
AI Technical Summary
Existing flasher lamp circuits lack improved performance and are costly.
A flasher lamp circuit utilizing an astable dual BJT multivibrator and a BJT/MOSFET pair as a switch and current regulator for LEDs, providing a cost-effective solution with adjustable duty cycle and frequency.
The circuit achieves improved performance with adjustable frequency and duty cycle, offering a cost-effective alternative for flashing LED lamps, suitable for vehicle warning or indicator lights.
Abstract
Description
GENERAL STATE OF THE ART
[0001] The present invention relates to lamp or lighting circuits and in particular flashing lamp or lighting circuits.
[0002] Numerous circuits and methods are known and used to provide flashing lights and / or the functionality of flashing lights. Examples of such circuits and methods include those using microcontrollers, 555 timers, and motors with rotating reflectors. Nevertheless, there remains a need for flashing light circuits with improved performance and reduced cost. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present invention provides a flashing lamp circuit with improved conductivity and reduced cost. The circuit comprises (1) an astable dual BJT (bipolar transistor) multivibrator and (2) a BJT / MOSFET (metal oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor) pair, which acts both as a switch and as a current regulator for a light source, such as one or more LEDs.
[0004] The present invention provides a relatively cost-effective solution for a flashing lamp or lighting system. The circuit can be used, for example, to operate a flashing LED lamp in a flashing light. One application example of such a system is its use as a warning or indicator light on a vehicle or other piece of equipment.
[0005] These and other advantages and features will be more fully understood and appreciated by referring to the descriptions of the current embodiments and the drawings. List of characters Fig. Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a flashing lamp circuit according to a current embodiment of the present invention. Fig. Figure 2 is a schematic representation of the astable dual BJT multivibrator section. Fig. Figure 3 is a schematic representation of the on / off amplification switch and the current regulator section. Fig. Figure 4 is a schematic representation of the LED lamp part. Fig. Figure 5 is a graphical representation showing the frequency and duty cycle generated by the flashing lamp circuit. Fig. Figure 6 is a schematic representation of a flashing lamp circuit according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF CURRENT VERSIONS
[0006] Before the embodiments of the invention are explained, it should be made clear that the invention is not limited to the details of the operation or the details of the construction and the arrangement of the components that are set out in the following description or in the drawings. The invention can be realized in various other embodiments and implemented in practice in alternative ways or by alternative means that are not expressly disclosed here.
[0007] Furthermore, it should be understood that the wording and terminology used here for descriptive purposes should not be considered a limitation. The use of "comprising" and "comprising" and variants thereof includes the items and equivalents listed thereafter, as well as any additional items and equivalents thereto. Furthermore, an enumeration may be used in the description of various embodiments. The use of an enumeration should not be interpreted as limiting the invention to a specific arrangement or number of components, unless expressly stated otherwise. Nor should an enumeration be interpreted as excluding from the scope of the invention any additional steps or components that could be combined with or incorporated into the enumerated steps or components.Any reference to claim elements such as "at least one of X, Y and Z" is meant to include any one of the elements X, Y or Z, or any number of them individually, or any combination of any one or more of the X, Y and Z, such as X, YZ; X, Y; X, Z; and Y, Z.
[0008] Directional terms, such as "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "upper", "lower", "inner", "inward", "outward", and "outward", are used to help describe the invention based on the embodiments shown in the figures. The use of directional terms should not be interpreted as limiting the invention to any particular orientation(s).
[0009] In Fig. 1 shows a flashing light circuit and is generally used with 10characterized, which is constructed according to a current embodiment of the invention. The circuit 10 is suitable for connection to a power supply circuit 12 to be connected. The circuit 10 features an astable dual BJT multivibrator 14 , a switch / control unit 16 and a lamp part 18 on.
[0010] The power supply circuit 12 (see Fig. 1) is of a conventional design and has a voltage source V1 and a diode D1 The voltage source can be, for example, a battery or the vehicle's electrical system. The turn signal circuit 10 It is designed for use with a power supply with a nominal voltage of 12 V. The power supply 12 It can be virtually any DC (direct current) power supply. The design of the flashing lamp circuit 10Experts should be aware of alternative power supply options.
[0011] The flashing function of the flashing light circuit 10 is achieved by the astable dual BJT (bipolar transistor) multivibrator 14 (see Fig. 1-2). The multivibrator 14 It is of a design that is well-known and will be recognized by experts. The multivibrator features BJTs. Q1 and Q2 , the capacitors C1 and C2 as well as the resistances R1 until R4 on.
[0012] In the Fig. 1 and Fig. 3 is the switch / control part 16 shown. The switching part 16 has a BJT Q3 , a MOSFET Q4 , resistors R5 and R12 and a diode D2 on. The MOSFET Q4 It is and functions as a dual-function component. The MOSFET Q4 is both (1) an amplifier switch between the multivibrator14 and the LED lamp part 18 as well as (2) a constant current regulator for the LED lamp section. Since the gate of the MOSFET Q4 to the multivibrator 14 When feedback is present, the MOSFET operates Q4 in particular as (1) an on / off switch for the flashing and (2) a constant current regulator for the LEDs.
[0013] In the Fig. 1 and Fig. 4 is the LED lamp part 18 shown. The lamp part 18 is of a design known to those skilled in the art. The illustrated embodiment has eighteen LEDs, LED1 to LED18. The LEDs are arranged in groups of three, with each group containing one of the resistors. R6 until R11 connected in series.
[0014] As in Fig. As shown in section 5, the flashing light circuit 10In the current embodiment, the LEDs oscillate at a frequency of 2.3 Hz (Hertz) between a fixed current of 200 mA (milliamperes) and 0 mA and are "on" with a duty cycle of 36%. It should be noted that the duty cycle is not 50%. The circuit 10 It can be set to a duty cycle of 50% if desired, or to any other value. The circuit 10 It can be tuned to achieve a relatively wide range of duty cycles. This ability to adjust the duty cycle is thought to be in clear contrast to known flashing lamp circuits, which are assumed to be limited to a 50% duty cycle. Alternative design
[0015] In Fig. Figure 6 shows a flashing light circuit and is generally used with 110characterized, which is constructed according to an alternative embodiment of the invention. The circuit 110 is suitable for connection to a power supply circuit 112 to be connected. The circuit 10 features a multivibrator 114 and an overvoltage protection circuit 115 , a switch / control unit 116 and a lamp part 118 on.
[0016] The power supply circuit 112 is generally similar to the power supply circuit described previously. 12 Accordingly, a detailed description of the power supply circuit is required. 112 not required.
[0017] The multivibrator 114 is generally similar to the multivibrator described above 14 Accordingly, a detailed description of the multivibrator is provided. 114 not required.
[0018] The overvoltage protection circuit115 protects the flasher circuit 110 In extreme voltage conditions. The overvoltage protection circuit 115 the diode D4 and the transistor Q7 on.
[0019] The switch / control part 116 is generally similar to the switch / control part described previously. 16 Accordingly, a detailed description of the switch / controller circuit is required. 116 Not required. However, the switch / control unit has 116 additionally the transistor Q4 , the resistances R12 and R15 and the capacitor C6 to deliver a short pulse at the beginning of each square wave to improve lamp performance.
[0020] The LED lamp part 118 is generally similar to the previously described LED lamp part 18 Accordingly, a detailed description of the LED lamp component is required. 118Not required. The LED lamp part 118 It features thirty-six LEDs, LED1 to LED36. The LEDs are arranged in groups of six, with each group containing one of the resistors. R6 until R11 connected in series.
[0021] The drawings contain nominal values for all electrical components. These values are merely examples. Those skilled in the art will be familiar with other values. In particular, other values can be chosen to produce different functional results. The present invention is not limited to the values in the examples. The embodiments of the flashing lamp circuit provide a duty cycle and a frequency that depend on the values of the electrical components.
[0022] The above descriptions are of current embodiments of the invention. Various modifications and alterations can be made without deviating from the meaning and broader aspects of the invention as set out in the accompanying claims, which are to be interpreted in accordance with the principles of patent law contained in the doctrine of equivalence.
[0023] This disclosure serves for illustrative purposes and should not be considered a comprehensive description of all embodiments of the invention or a limitation of the scope of the claims to the specific elements presented and described in connection with those embodiments. For example, and without limitation, any single element (or elements) of the described invention may be replaced by alternative elements that provide substantially the same functionality or otherwise ensure equivalent operation. This includes, for example, currently known alternative elements, such as those that might be known to a person skilled in the art, and alternative elements that may be developed in the future, such as those that a person skilled in the art might recognize as alternatives during development.
[0024] Furthermore, the disclosed embodiments have several features which are described in a context and which, when combined, can provide a number of advantages. The present invention is not limited to embodiments that have all of these features or that provide all of the stated advantages, unless the scope is expressly defined in the stated claims. Any reference to claim elements in the singular, for example, using the articles "a", "an", "the", or "a", should not be interpreted as limiting the element to the singular.
Claims
[ ] The embodiments of the invention in which sole ownership or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: [1] Flashing light circuit with: a light source a multivibrator that is suitable for being connected to a power supply, and a switch / controller circuit that is operationally connected between the multivibrator and the light source, wherein the switch / controller circuit acts as an amplifier switch between the multivibrator and the light source, and wherein the switch / controller circuit further acts as a constant current regulator between the multivibrator and the light source. [2] Flashing lamp circuit according to claim 1, wherein the switch / regulator circuit comprises a transistor pair. [3] Flashing lamp circuit according to claim 2, wherein the transistor pair comprises a BJT and a MOSFET. [4] Flashing lamp circuit according to claim 1, wherein the multivibrator comprises an astable multivibrator. [5] Flashing lamp circuit according to claim 4, wherein the multivibrator comprises an astable dual BJT multivibrator. [6] Flashing lamp circuit according to claim 1, wherein the light source comprises at least one LED. [7] Flashing lamp circuit with: a light source that has an LED, an astable dual BJT multivibrator suitable for connection to a power supply, and a switch / regulator circuit that is operationally connected between the multivibrator and the light source, wherein the switch / regulator circuit has a transistor pair, wherein the transistor pair has a BJT and a MOSFET, wherein the MOSFET acts as an amplifier switch between the multivibrator and the light source, wherein the MOSFET further acts as a constant current regulator between the multivibrator and the light source.