Flexible Circuit Board Lighting Driver for Automotive Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automotive lighting systems with centralized drivers and large control modules are bulky, costly, and unreliable due to the use of printed circuit boards and multiple connectors, occupying significant space and increasing manufacturing costs while reducing reliability in harsh environments.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a lighting element driver on a flexible circuit board without a printed circuit board, utilizing a flexible circuit board with integrated electrical components and a serial communication interface, and a rigid structure for stability, which supports a serial communication bus and power supply, enabling dynamic control and reducing size and complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a printed circuit board with multiple connectors is used in centralized drivers, then electrical connections are established, but the size, cost, and complexity increase while reliability decreases in harsh environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the printed circuit board and multiple connectors from the lighting element driver design. By using a flexible circuit board with integrated electrical connections, the invention removes the complex rigid PCB structure and separate connectors, thereby reducing device complexity while improving reliability in harsh automotive environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the electrical connection functions into a single integrated flexible circuit board structure. Instead of having separate connectors and rigid PCB components, the invention combines all electrical connections onto one flexible substrate, reducing the number of parts and improving system reliability.
2Ease of manufacture
If printed circuit boards and multiple connectors are used, then electrical connections are established, but manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes the printed circuit board and multiple connectors from the design, eliminating the need for expensive PCB manufacturing and assembly of multiple connector components. This reduction in parts directly lowers manufacturing costs while simplifying the overall device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible circuit board serves multiple functions simultaneously - providing structural support, electrical connections, and signal transmission - eliminating the need for separate PCB and connector components, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity and cost.
3Area of stationary object
If printed circuit boards are used, then electrical components are mounted, but the occupied space increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the bulky printed circuit board from the design and replaces it with a flexible circuit board that can be conformally mounted to the lighting element. This extraction of the rigid PCB structure significantly reduces the occupied space while maintaining all necessary electrical connection functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a flexible circuit board - a thin film structure - instead of a rigid printed circuit board. This flexible substrate can be conformally attached to the lighting element surface, minimizing the occupied space while providing all necessary electrical connections.
4Reliability
If centralized drivers with multiple connectors are used, then power and control signals are transmitted, but the system becomes bulky and less reliable
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the bulky printed circuit board and multiple connector assembly from the centralized driver design. By using an integrated flexible circuit board, the patent reduces the overall volume of the driver while improving reliability through fewer connection points that could fail in harsh automotive environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges power transmission and control signal transmission onto a single flexible circuit board structure, eliminating the need for separate connector assemblies. This consolidation reduces the overall size of the driver while improving reliability by reducing the number of potential failure points.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution reduces the size, cost, and complexity of lighting element drivers, enhances reliability and security in harsh environments, and allows for more efficient installation and control of lighting elements in automotive systems.
Implementation Method 1
the rigid structure has a thermal conductivity greater than 20 watts per meter-kelvin
Data Source
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AI summary
An example apparatus, an automotive lighting system, and an automotive lighting apparatus for driving a lighting element in an automotive lighting system are provided. The example apparatus includes a lighting element and a lighting element driver electrically connected to the lighting element and a serial communication bus. The lighting element driver includes a flexible circuit board, a serial communication interface configured to receive a serial communication message related to the lighting element, a power supply interface electrically connected to a power source, and a lighting element driver processor mounted on and electrically connected to the flexible circuit board. The lighting element driver transmits power from the power supply interface to the lighting element based at least in part on the serial communication message.