Decentralization of vehicle headlight activation

Abstract

If you want to save on copper in the form of cables and the plastic sheathing surrounding them, this is a relevant solution, not to mention the space it occupies. Similarly, installation on a vehicle is simpler because only one connection is needed at each end of each cable, representing a considerable time saving during wiring. Not to mention the innovative aspect of the system, an idea that deserves to be studied in its entirety. [Drawings]:

Description

Title of the invention: Decentralization of vehicle headlight ignition

[0001] 1. Technical field:

[0002] Transport: all kinds of vehicles equipped with lights Previous technique

[0003] By simple electrical wires coming from the dashboard to the optical group, one wire per light.

[0004] Inspired by the way an LED is used for basic lighting on, for example, a smartphone, I had the idea of ​​applying it to a vehicle (car, van, truck, etc.). By pressing an icon on a dashboard touchscreen, I believe it is possible to activate the various lights of a vehicle via a single cable. The vehicle's computer transmits a signal through this cable to a control unit located in the headlight assembly, which then activates one or more lights (position, low beam, high beam, fog light, reverse light, turn signal).

[0005] The on-board computer can transmit a series of electrical pulses by varying the voltage at a certain frequency so that a unit near, or integrated within, an optical unit receives information in the form of a byte, the meaningful code of which triggers the relevant light. Alternatively, power line communication (PLC) socket technology can be adapted in this context, given that it was invented in the 1990s and therefore the patent(s) should have entered the public domain.

[0006] It should be noted that this solution is particularly advantageous for vehicles with significant cable lengths, for example, semi-trailers. Indeed, in the future, only one cable will be needed to power the rear lights of such a vehicle, and of course, the cable will be sized according to the maximum current required to power all the lights, perhaps with some extra capacity. I can add that vehicles are largely made of a metal frame and can provide the electrical return, that is to say, act as a ground. In all cases, the ground must be provided either by a wire connecting the control unit to the chassis, or directly by the bolt or nut used to attach the control unit to the chassis, which serves as the electrical conductor.

[0007] It should be noted that various solutions can be considered for transmitting the information that triggers the various lights. For example, adding a very thin cable dedicated solely to transmitting the information encoded in bit form. This would bring the number of cables to two.

[0008] Also in the same way via an optical fiber.

[0009] Or we can also imagine that the information is transmitted by radio wave.

[0010] Furthermore, it will be the responsibility of the interested company to draw up specifications for the design and production of an on-board computer capable of managing the information arriving at the control boxes of the optical groups and their integration into them.

[0011] [Fig-1] A single electrical wire runs from the dashboard or from a touchscreen via an on-board computer, transmitting both the electrical current and the lighting command.

[0012] [Fig.2] The same applies to another cable configuration and presentation

[0013] [Fig.3] Example of wiring of a heavy goods vehicle.

[0014]

[11] Ignition of the various lights of a vehicle remotely via a single cable.

Claims

Demands

1. This system, described above, allows for weight reduction and simplifies the installation of a vehicle's electrical system. For example, consider the installation on a semi-trailer, which has at least four electrical cables running from the cab along the truck to the rear, requiring a minimum of four connections. As a reminder, a semi-trailer is 16.50 m long. Thus, a lighting unit can integrate a control box that powers the various lights, and only one connection will be needed between the on-board computer and the unit.

2. there may also be a weight saving at the level of the box receiving the order to turn on the lights if it is light and compact depending on the degree of miniaturization of all the elements composing it.

3. Large-scale production of the described items can lead to a reduction in production costs.

4. Time saved during assembly because it makes perfect sense that it is easier to install one wire than four.

5. Savings can be made at the level of the sheath which carries the various wires along the vehicle concerned, whereas a single simple sheath (which can be oversized if necessary) is sufficient.

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