Integrated circuit for connecting a headlamp light source module to a bus

Abstract

The present invention relates to an integrated circuit (22), for example an application-specific integrated circuit, for connecting a headlamp light source module (21) of a vehicle to a bus (3) of the vehicle, wherein - the circuit has an interface (221) for connecting to the bus (3) and this first interface (221) is an Ethernet interface and - the circuit has at least one interface (222) for connecting to the headlamp light source module (1) and this at least one second interface (222) is a video interface.

Description

[0001] Integrated circuit for connecting a headlight light source module to a bus

[0002] Description

[0003] The invention relates to a circuit for connecting a headlight light source module of a vehicle to a bus of the vehicle.

[0004] LED matrix headlights have been used in vehicles for several years. For example, the applicant manufactures lighting systems for vehicles under the name SSL-HD, which can be used as headlights in vehicles. SSL-HD stands for "Solid State Lightning - High Definition." The matrix used in such a lighting system has 30,000 pixels formed by LEDs. Depending on the traffic situation, the matrix can generate a light pattern that ensures optimal illumination while avoiding dazzling other road users. For this purpose, the brightness of each LED can be controlled. Controlling each individual LED requires the transmission of a large number of control instructions from a vehicle control unit to the LED matrix headlight.

[0005] The plan is for LED matrix headlights to use light sources with approximately 100,000 pixels in the future. Furthermore, there is currently a trend in automotive technology toward using fewer, more centralized control units for different functions or components of the vehicle, instead of numerous, dedicated, and distributed control units in vehicles.

[0006] Both of these factors necessitate the use of bus systems in vehicles capable of transmitting large amounts of data. This need can be met by Ethernet buses. Ethernet technology has been in daily use for decades in various applications, particularly outside of automotive technology. It has proven itself and has been and continues to be developed further; in particular, the bandwidth of Ethernet connections has been steadily increased. High-bandwidth Ethernet buses have also been developed, enabling the high data rates required for LED matrix headlights with 100,000 pixel LEDs.

[0007] A circuit according to the invention has

[0008] - an interface for connection to the bus, this first interface being an Ethernet interface, and

[0009] - an interface for connection to the headlight light source module, wherein said at least one second interface is a video interface.

[0010] The integrated circuit according to the invention makes it possible to establish a connection between the Ethernet and the headlight light source module, which includes the LED matrix. The integrated circuit is suitable and configured to convert instructions from a control unit for generating light images using the matrix into video signals that the headlight light source modules can process to generate these light images.

[0011] The instructions that the circuit according to the invention receives from the control unit can be generated and transmitted in a format that is independent of the light source module used and the video data or control instructions required by the light source module. The integrated circuit makes it possible to generate video data and control instructions from the data received from the control unit that are adapted to the connected light source module. The integrated circuit can be suitable for providing video signals or control instructions in different formats and at different second interfaces, alternatively or in parallel, so that the integrated circuit makes it possible to connect light source modules from different manufacturers or of different types to the Ethernet in vehicles via the integrated circuit.This allows light source modules to be sourced from different suppliers during vehicle manufacturing, even for vehicles of the same type. The integrated circuit allows the light source module to be adapted to the rest of the vehicle.

[0012] According to the invention, the second interface or one of the second interfaces can be an interface for an RGB signal. The second interface or one of the second interfaces can be an SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface). Any type of SPI can be used, including a Q-SPI.

[0013] The second interface can be a bidirectional interface. The first interface can also be a bidirectional interface.

[0014] The second interface may also be suitable and configured to transmit control instructions and / or sensor signals.

[0015] It is possible that both the first and the second interface(s) are formed by functional blocks of the integrated circuit, as long as they are not mechanical elements, for example connectors.

[0016] In addition to the first and at least one second interface, the circuit can have at least one further interface for connection to the headlight light source module, wherein this at least one third interface is an interface for control instructions and sensor signals. The third interface can be formed by a Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter (UART), which can be a functional block of the integrated circuit. Mechanical elements of the third interface are then preferably not part of the integrated circuit. The integrated circuit can, and this is particularly advantageous, be an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC). This makes the use of more generally applicable microcontrollers unnecessary, which could possibly be used to implement more functions but which, above a certain number of units, are more expensive than application-specific integrated circuits.

[0017] The invention is explained in more detail with reference to the drawing. It shows

[0018] Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of an arrangement with an integrated circuit according to the invention.

[0019] The arrangement comprises a central control unit 1 and a headlight 2, which are connected to each other via an Ethernet bus 3. The headlight has a headlight light source module 21 and the integrated circuit 22, which may be an application-specific integrated circuit.

[0020] A signal can be transmitted from control unit 1 via bus 3, which specifies the images to be generated by light source module 21. Furthermore, control instructions and sensor data can be exchanged via bus 3. Bidirectional communication between control unit 1 and headlight 2 is possible via bus 3.

[0021] The integrated circuit 22 has three interfaces. A first interface 221 forms an external interface of the headlight 2 and is connected to the bus 3. This is an Ethernet interface. A second interface 222 is used to transmit a video signal that is generated in the integrated circuit 2 from the video data transmitted from the control unit 1 to the headlight 2 via the bus 3 and the first interface 221 of the integrated circuit 22, and that is transmitted to the light source module 21 via the second interface. A third interface 223 of the integrated circuit 22 is formed by a universal asynchronous receiver transmitter. It serves as an interface for the bidirectional exchange of control and sensor signals between the integrated circuit 22 and the light source module 21.

[0022] The light source module 21 has an LED matrix light source consisting of a plurality (up to 100,000 pixels) of pixels. These are essentially controlled by the integrated circuit 22 using the video signal transmitted via the second interface 222, which can be an SPI signal or an RGB signal. The LEDs then generate the images desired by the control unit. Additional control data can be transmitted along with the video signal. An integrated circuit according to the invention could also have two or more second interfaces, for example, one for a Q-SPI signal and one for an RGB signal.

[0023] List of reference symbols

[0024] 1 control unit

[0025] 2 headlights

[0026] 21 Headlight light source module

[0027] 22 integrated circuits

[0028] 221 first interface

[0029] 222 second interface

[0030] 223 third interface

[0031] 3 Ethernet bus

[0032] 4

Claims

Patent claims: 1 . Integrated circuit (22), for example application-specific integrated circuit, for connecting a headlight light source module (21) of a vehicle to a bus (3) of the vehicle, wherein - the circuit (22) has an interface (221) for connection to the bus (3) and that this first interface (221) is an Ethernet interface and - the circuit (22) has at least one interface (222) for connection to the headlight light source module (21) and that this at least one second interface (222) is a video interface.

2. Circuit according to claim 1, characterized in that the second interface (222) or one of the second interfaces is an interface for an RGB signal.

3. Circuit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the second interface (222) or one of the second interfaces (222) is an SPI.

4. Circuit according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the first interface (221) and / or the second interface (222) is a bidirectional interface.

5. Circuit according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the second interface (222) is also suitable and configured for the transmission of control instructions and / or sensor signals.

6. Circuit according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the first and the second interface (221, 222) or the second interfaces (222) are formed by functional blocks of the integrated circuit.

7. Circuit according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the circuit has at least one further interface (223) for connection to the headlight light source module, and that this at least one third interface (223) is an interface for control instructions and sensor signals.

8. Circuit according to claim 7, characterized in that the third interface (223) is formed by a Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter (UART), which is a functional block of the integrated circuit.

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